I Know Who Hold Tomorrow

by Francis Ray

  “No cousins?” she asked, taking everything to the table.

  “My mother was an only child. Daddy—s sisters and brothers live in St. Louis.” He reached over to pull out her chair when she started to sit down next to him. “You already eaten?”

  Taking a seat, she leaned her elbows on the table and linked her fingers. “I wasn—t very hungry.”

  “Humph.” Zachary went to the cabinet, removed a plate, flatware, filled another glass with iced tea. Back at the table he transferred half of the food to the plate. “You have to eat.”

  “I—m not hungry.”

  He forked a potato wedge and held it out to her mouth. Her head went back and she pressed her lips tight.

  He laughed. “Big baby. I bet you—re doing a good imitation of Manda when you tried to feed her the carrots. Open up or I—ll have to tickle you.”

  Not sure he was playing, she opened her mouth to take a small bite. “Satisfied?”

  “Nope, but I plan to be.” He took a bite of meat. “How was your day?”

  She slumped back in her chair. “I wrote out thank-you cards, called my parents and sister.”

  Zachary studied her face again, the shadows beneath her eyes. “Manda run you ragged?”

  She glanced around at the bottles on the counter to wash, the laundry-basket full of freshly dried diapers in the den a short distance away. “A bit. I—m thinking about asking Gretchen to come back next week.”

  He cut a small bit of his roast. “The housework getting too much for you?”

  “I—” That was as far as she got before he placed the meat in her mouth. She had no choice but to chew and swallow. “Sneaky.”

  “Effective. You were saying?”

  In spite of herself, she smiled. “The social worker came by today and she commented on the house. Although it was pretty much in the same state it is now, she seemed to approve.”

  “She should. You—re doing a great job. From experience I know taking care of a baby isn—t easy, and trying to keep the house straight is a losing battle.” He took a bite of food and eyed her, then her plate.

  “I can feed myself.” She popped a carrot into her mouth. “How about your day?”

  “One catastrophe after the other,” he said wryly.

  “What happened?” she asked, taking a sip of tea, enjoying their time together.

  “Mrs. Otis came out to the site, that—s what.” Zachary pushed back his clean plate. “She wanted to change the installed sink in the powder room. Hardwood floors that were a must last week now have to be replaced with Italian tile in the living room. She simply has to have more closet space. All the time she—s changing things, she has two pink poodles yapping at her heels. Her husband is ready to pull his toupee off his head, and the decorator is near tears.”

  Picturing it, Madison laughed, then took another bite of food. “What do you plan to do?”

  “Exactly what I told them. Nothing until they make up their minds as to what they want. We—ve gone through this a couple of times before.” Zachary shook his head. “It—s costing them money and me time. I have other customers waiting. I don—t like having more than four or five houses going up at the same time. As I told you, I have dependable workers, but I like to keep my hand in things.”

  “Yet you come by here twice a day to check on Manda when you could be home resting or getting work done,” she said, still marveling at all he did.

  “I have to pass here anyway,” he replied.

  She eyes him suspiciously. “Is that the truth?”

  “Sure. When I go thirty miles out of my way.” Smiling, he got to his feet, taking his plate and hers.

  “Go on home. I can get the dishes.”

  “You worked hard today just like I did. We—ll do them together.”

  She simply looked at him. Wes had never offered to help with the dishes.

  “I won—t break them.” He turned on the water.

  “It—s not that,” she said, squirting soap into the running water.

  “Then what is it?”

  “Nothing.” She grabbed the drying towel. “Do you have the address of Manda—s great-aunt?”

  His hands unsteady, Zachary dunked the plate in the sink of rinse water, then handed it to her. “I could get it from the lawyer who handled the temporary custody papers.”

  “I thought I—d write or call.” She didn—t know why, but she was almost embarrassed by the admission that she hadn—t done so before.

  “I—d think she—d like that.”

  “I just wanted her to know that Manda is being cared for.” She put up a plate in the cabinet and reached for another.

  “You don—t have to explain to me.” He placed the utensils in the dishwater.

  “Yes, I do. I don—t want you to think because I—m going to contact the great-aunt that I might change my mind about keeping her.”

  He stopped washing the meat fork and gazed down at her. “A moment ago she was Manda.”

  She busied herself with putting up the flatware. “I can finish. You better get home.”

  “Throwing me out?”

  She glanced up expecting to see disapproval or anger. He wore a smile. It still amazed her that he never seemed to think the worst of her. “For your own good.”

  “And I—m staying for the same reason.” Drying his hands with a paper towel, he picked up the roasting pan. “What do you want to put the pot roast in?”

  She looked at the stubborn line in his mouth. “I—ll get a container.

  “How is it that you let Mrs. Otis keep changing her mind?” she asked. He was certainly forceful with her.

  “She—s a customer. Plus my mother always taught me to respect my elders and, most importantly, I don—t have to live with her.”

  How would he react if he lived with an indecisive woman? Treat her like an angel and always be there for her no matter what, she thought an instant later. He was the type of man a woman would find easy to love and depend on. The dangerous thought popped into Madison—s mind before she could stop it. “I—ll get that container,” she quickly said.

  When Madison bent over, Zachary couldn—t help but notice the enticing way her slacks cupped her hips. Need clawed at him. All he had to do was reach out and touch. She—d turn to him, her eyes full of shocked desire. He—d take her in his arms, taste her mouth, savor the rich sweetness of it and enjoy the incredible heat.

  Wanting her with every off-kilter breath he drew, he quickly turned back to the sink. He had to get a grip. “I think I heard Manda.” He was gone before she had a chance to say anything. Deeply troubled, he strode down the hall, hating he had added another lie to the long list, hating that Madison could never be his.

  FIFTEEN

  SATURDAYS WERE LIKE ANY other workday for Zachary. He got up at six or earlier, depending on the location of the construction site, to be there by eight. In the kitchen he gulped down a quick cup of coffee and headed for the front door. A glance at the stainless-steel watch on his wrist confirmed that he—d have enough time to stop at a fast-food restaurant for breakfast. This morning he was going straight to work and would skip going by Madison—s house.

  Last night had been a warning and he was going to heed it. He was fast coming to realize that he—d gone by as much to check on Madison as on Manda during the past weeks. Madison looked so sad and lost at times, Much the way she had whenever Wes had brought her out to see the progress of the house. He—d wanted to console her then, but hadn—t known how. Now he knew exactly how he—d like to take the sadness from her eyes and was even more at a loss.

  Locking the front door, he picked up the morning newspaper on the porch, then went down the steps to his truck. He usually only had a chance to glance at the front page and business section. Pulling the plastic covering from the newspaper as he crossed the dew-covered lawn, he considered for the hundredth time just getting Sunday delivery.

  Opening the door to the truck, he unfolded the paper and started flipping through the sections.
A picture of Madison and Wes jumped out at him. Below was a smaller one of Manda—s mother, Bridget.

  The muscles in his stomach clenched. His heart pounding, he quickly read the article. It was worse than he—d imagined. He had to get to Madison. Tires squealed as he backed out of the driveway. He hoped Madison hadn—t read the newspaper. But even as the thought formed in his mind he realized if she hadn—t, he—d have to be the one to tell her.

  Madison—s hands were trembling. The reaction had started when she saw the photo of Manda—s mother. Madison hadn—t wanted to let her eyes linger on the face, but she had been unable to stop herself. If the black-and-white picture was current, she had been younger than Madison.

  Bridget Taylor stared back at her with a pensive, rather shy look. She was pretty, instead of breathtaking and seductive as Madison had imagined. Unless Manda—s mother projected more in person than in the photograph, she was nothing of the femme fatale Madison had imagined her to be. Not for the first time she wondered what had drawn them together, when the illicit relationship that had produced Manda had begun.

  “Madison?”

  The concern in Zachary—s deep voice shook Madison out of her brooding. She began to read the article. With each word, her anger grew.

  Zachary laid his hand on her tense shoulder. “I wish I could have prevented this some way.”

  Madison stared down at the newspaper clutched in her hands. “She—s never liked me,” she said, speaking of Helen, who was quoted in the article.

  “You think your agent put her up to it?”

  “He—s too greedy to risk me firing him, but all he had to do was point Helen in the right direction. She—s made it no secret that she—d like to have my job,” Madison answered tightly. “The story is written by her live-in boyfriend, Edward Mayes. The article goes to great length to tell how much effort it takes for a couple in our positions to make the marriage work. Listen to this.

  “‘Many famous couples break up because they were apart for long periods of time. But Wes and Madison Reed, known as the perfect couple, somehow managed to remain together despite their frequent periods of separation. Their marriage seemed to thrive while others faltered under the strain. This reporter interviewed several ex-couples who were once as popular as the Reeds. The general public wasn—t aware of problems in their marriage until it came out in print. “Fame,” said one recently divorced actor, “makes for a cold bedmate.” Before his untimely death, Wes Reed had been out oftown on assignment eighteen of the last twenty-three days.—“ Madison—s voice trembled then firmed.

  “ ‘We—re all fulling for Ms. Reed as she struggles with the unexpected tragedy. Once a bright and energetic woman, she has secluded herself from friends and co-workers. We hope that this is a temporary situation and she will return to our midst soon.—“

  Madison balled up the newspaper. “It—s an easy stretch for the public to imagine Wes in need of a woman—s attention.” Stalking into the den, she stuffed the newspaper into the wastebasket. “You know what really peeves me about this?”

  “What?”

  “The bas—” Madison clamped her lips together and glanced down at Manda playing on the carpeted floor with her teddy bears.

  “If you need to go outside and let it out, I—ll understand,” Zachary said.

  The patience in his steady gaze went a long way toward helping to calm her down. In the weeks he—d been there, he—d pushed and prodded, but always, always, he—d supported and believed in her. It was time for her to believe in herself again. “He was right on all counts. But I—m finished hiding.” Her chin lifted. “What are your plans for this afternoon?”

  “I need to go check on a site in Lewisville,” Zachary said, a slow smile growing. “It will probably take a couple of hours, but alter that, I—m all yours.”

  She might have known. Whenever she needed him, he—d be there. “If you—re up for the zoo and lunch on me, I—ll look for you around eleven.”

  “I—m game.” Bending, he picked Manda up from the floor. “Why don—t we say eleven-thirty? That should give both of you enough time to get ready.” He grinned as small hands patted his cheeks. “Then there—s a swing set I wanted to get Manda.”

  “More toys?” Madison tried to sound disapproving, but she ruined it when she smiled.

  “This one you both can enjoy. Isn—t that right, munchkin?” Holding Manda up in the air, she grinned down at him. Settling the baby back in his arms, he said to Madison, “I won—t be surprised if you—re not ready when I get back since I—m waiting for two ladies to get dressed, but I can always hope.” Kissing Manda, he handed her to Madison. He waved at the front door, then he was gone.

  Madison rocked the baby in her arms. “It would serve him right if we weren—t ready.”

  Manda squealed and grinned up at Madison. Madison laughed. “Yeah. We—ll show him.”

  “She doesn—t have any clothes or shoes.”

  Zachary didn—t know how to take Madison—s announcement or the distress in her face. “You didn—t see the Foley—s sack I brought in?”

  Madison waved his words aside. “Those are sleepers. I mean cute little frilly dresses or playclothes. Shoes. She can—t go out in her sleepers.”

  Zachary—s gaze went to Manda playing in her playpen. She wore what looked like a one-piece swimsuit, only it had short sleeves. Hadn—t she worn something similar to get their ice cream and when they took her out in the carriage? Madison hadn—t said anything then.

  Madison sighed dramatically. “She—s in a bodysuit.”

  He—d never paid much attention to clothes. All he demanded was that they were clean and mended. A rip or tear wasn—t that unusual in his profession, and everyone knew jeans didn—t really fit until they gone through the cycle dozens of time. Well, he didn—t notice clothes except when it came to Madison. He always paid attention to what she wore.

  She—d changed into a light-green sleeveless sweater with some kind of paisley silk wrap skirt. She looked absolutely mouthwatering. His hands itched to loosen that sexy little knot holding the skirt together, slide his hands all the way down, then back up those luscious—

  “You don—t have a clue, do you?” she asked.

  “What?” He jumped, afraid she—d been able to read his mind. Then he realized she was talking about baby clothes. “Uh, if you tell me what she needs, I—ll go get it and bring it back.”

  No fuss, no telling her that he was tired, just the offer to make whatever was wrong right, even if he didn—t have the foggiest notion what she was talking about. He probably had no idea how appealing and rare that quality was in a man. Or how attractive he looked in a chambray shirt, jeans that molded his long legs, and cowboy boots. Apparently he dressed for comfort and to suit himself.

  She scanned him from head to toe and felt a pleasant tingle of awareness in the pit of her stomach. She blinked. She had just checked the man out! What had gotten into her? She never did that. Feeling a betraying heat stain her cheeks, Madison cleared her throat and asked, “Who helped you pick out her clothes?”

  He shifted from one eel-skinned boot to the other. “After we checked out of the hospital, I realized she needed things. Since I didn—t want to leave her with anybody, I took her with me. She got kinda upset when a strange woman tried to take her so I just got the things hanging on the rack that said ‘nine-to-twelve months.— I left as soon as I could. I just pointed at the furniture store and they helped load me up.”

  Figures, Madison thought. His first priority had been Manda—s well-being. “What woman was this?”

  He shrugged. “Some shopper. She just said, ‘What a cute baby. You know how Manda is about strangers.”

  Madison had a feeling that the woman might have had more on her mind than just admiring Manda. “Well, since we—ll be shopping together, she—ll fee! safe.” Bending, she picked up Manda. “There—s a specialty children—s shop near here. That—ll be our first stop.”

  A pained expression on his face, Zac
hary grabbed the diaper bag. “Maybe I should stay in the truck.”

  Was there ever a man who didn—t dread shopping with a woman? Her father and David certainly did. “We—ll see.”

  Madison almost felt sorry for Zachary. The only way she could get him to accompany her inside was to convince him that she could go through the racks of clothes quicker if both hands were free. He—d wanted to sit in the air-conditioned truck with Manda, but she had told him that she needed Manda with her.

  He—d taken his time getting Manda out of her car seat, but she had waited him out. “This shouldn—t take long.”

  The look on Zachary—s face said he wasn—t so sure, but he opened the half-glass front door of the store and followed her inside, Manda in his arms. His reluctance was glaringly obvious as he trailed behind Madison as she moved from rack to rack. She worked hard to keep the smile off her face.

  “Excuse me, but aren—t you Madison Reed?”

  Madison, a pink cotton sundress in her hand, stilled. Her smile faded. She felt Zachary—s hand brush her bare arm in reassurance. She turned to see a petite woman in her mid-twenties holding the hand of a dark-haired little boy. “Yes.”

  The woman moistened her lips, swallowed. “I—I watch your show every chance I get. I just wanted to say I was sorry to hear about your husband.” Her pitying gaze went to Manda.

  Despite telling herself she was ready for this, Madison felt every muscle in her body tense. “Thank you.”

  The woman pulled the squirming child closer. “I heard what you—re doing and I think it—s wonderful. I just wanted you to know.” She smiled. “I—ll let you finish shopping. Good-bye.”

  “Good-bye.” Madison hung the dress up. She was so tired of all the lies. She wasn—t this wonderful paragon of virtue people thought she was. Her marriage had been nothing but a sham. “Maybe we should try this another day.”

  Zachary reached past Madison and pulled out another garment. “What about this?”