by Lori Wilde
It was a cactus, and the gift card read, You’re prickly, but you make a great burger. And it was signed by Elaine Jackson.
Well, well. This got more interesting every day.
Barney muttered, “Why the heck did she send me a plant? I can kill even a cactus.” But his eyes twinkled even as he went on mumbling and grumbling. He was clearly pleased by the fuss everyone was making over him.
He hadn’t lost any of his skills, either. Jake watched him flipping eggs and marveled at his competence. Something settled down inside him, making him feel that life might go back to normal.
Normal plus Lucas.
Normal plus Lucas and an excited feeling at the mere sight of Abbie.
All of which unsettled him an hour later when Abbie brought Lucas down to meet the legendary Barney.
“Well, young man,” Barney said, “nice to meet you. Want some eggs and sausage with a biscuit?”
“No,” Jake and Abbie said in chorus.
“Next year?”
“Maybe.”
When Jake’s phone rang, he answered with hesitation. Rafe’s phone call was an ugly bump in an otherwise promising day.
“Of course Lucas will be fine with Abbie,” his friend said firmly after Jake had confirmed the rumor that he was going to New York, “as long as both of them go along with you.”
Jake took the conversation outside, preparing for an argument. “I thought he was supposed to have a stable environment,” he reminded Rafe, feeling pretty smug, because for once, he thought he had his friend strung up in his own web.
“He is, but it’s more important for him to be with you.”
At least Rafe hadn’t used the word bond. Jake sighed. “You think Lucas has to go to New York with me.”
“And Abbie, so she can take care of him while you’re doing business.”
Jake had a suspicious feeling about Rafe’s insistence. It was one thing for his sister-in-law to be matchmaking, but one of his best friends? Didn’t they understand how impossible the match was on a long-term basis? Still, he couldn’t help feeling a rush of heat at the thought of being alone—well, more alone than they’d ever been—in New York with Abbie.
“Abbie said she’d take care of Lucas here. I think that’s the best idea.”
“I think they should go with you. I bet Abbie would jump at the chance. Ask her,” Rafe said.
Rafe had a point. Maybe Abbie would like to come to New York. He constantly worried about taking advantage of her, and now here was something nice he could do for her.
“Okay, okay, I’ll ask what she’d like to do.”
“You do that,” Rafe said, his voice stern. “Be sensitive to her feelings.”
Jake knew his brother well enough to know what he was saying. Rafe had figured out there was a change in Jake’s relationship with Abbie, and he, like everyone else in town, didn’t want to see her hurt.
Neither did Jake. “I said I’d ask if she wants to go.”
“And if she says yes?”
Jake blew out a sigh. “I’ll make sure she has a wonderful time.”
Rafe seemed appeased. “Good. Because Abbie deserves to be treated well.”
“I know.” He hung up the phone and went up to the apartment. Abbie was reading a book while Lucas napped.
When he walked in, she gave him a bright smile and said, “Hi, what brings you upstairs?”
Unable to stop himself, he walked over and slipped his arms around her waist. “Rafe says I have to take you and Lucas to New York. Naturally, I hate the idea, but I was wondering…”
Her eyes sparkled at him. “I hate the idea, too. I mean, what an imposition to have to go to New York.” Then she laughed. “I’d love to. There’s so much I could do there with Lucas.”
“And with me?” Jake kissed her lips lightly, then to stop himself from doing more, he moved back toward the door. “Okay, then, it’s a date.”
When he got downstairs, he called Richard Stein at Abernathy Foods, who seemed wary. Jake knew why—he assumed Jake was canceling again.
And he sounded so relieved that the opposite was true, that Jake was bringing along an entourage and a freight container of baby supplies. It appeared that he was willing to buy the St. Regis if it would make Jake comfortable.
“We’ve already booked a suite for you,” he crowed. “Wanted you to feel at home. Three bedrooms? Will that do it?”
“Of—”
“So it’s just a matter of two more plane tickets.”
“Lucas is only eight, no, nine months old,” Jake said.
Stein chuckled warmly. “My boy,” he said, “when I was younger and poorer, my wife and I took several flights handing a squirming baby back and forth, and if you do that, you won’t be fit to talk business.”
So it was a done deal. In a few days, he and Abbie and Lucas were off on an adventure. It would be great as long as nobody got hurt by getting too close to each other, then suddenly being torn apart by distance and responsibilities.
A thought hit him hard. Lucas could get hurt, too, if Abbie, always there, suddenly wasn’t.
17
The New York trip settled, Jake returned to the kitchen, feeling optimistic about the upcoming meetings.
A few hours later, the squeal of tires caught his attention. Maury, who’d evolved into the star blocker of the football team, arrived at the restaurant late each afternoon with tires screeching. Today they sounded as if they had a life expectancy of about two weeks.
“Problem?” Jake inquired.
“Of course, there is,” Maury moaned. “The first game’s tomorrow night.”
“I know that,” Jake said. “Everybody knows that, and the whole town’s looking for a win. Is that causing you a problem?”
“It means I can’t be here at all.”
“Of course not,” Jake said. “You’ll be too sweaty.”
When Maury gave him a disgusted look, he added, “We have our interns to help out.”
“I know.” That one came out as a groan.
Jake had to hide his smile. He had observed that while he’d expected Maury to learn from the interns, Maury seemed to be teaching them.
“Don’t worry. Our customers will forgive us anything if you win the game.” Jake grinned at him. Maury knew he wasn’t hung up on the team’s winning and wouldn’t be upset if it tanked.
Turning to his work, his back to Jake, Maury said, “I wish you could be there.”
“Me, too.” Suddenly a thought occurred to him. “You know,” he said slowly. “Maybe I can.”
Maury spun. “No way,” he said. “You can’t. You have to keep an eye on—”
“The interns, yes, but I’m also under orders to do cool things with Lucas,” Jake said, “and I think he’s ready for his first football game.” He cleared his throat and deepened his voice. “Can’t start too early on those manly things.”
On this note, he called Rafe back. After explaining that yes, Abbie and Lucas were coming with him to New York, so Rafe and Clint could just get off his back, he said, “You guys must be going to Maury’s game.”
“All of us,” Rafe said. “We’ll fill up a quarter of the seats.”
“I was thinking I might take Lucas.”
“Good,” Rafe said. “Make a jock out of him early.”
“No,” Jake said, “a loyal Bulldog fan.”
“You can get away on a Friday night?”
“If I work my tail off getting the prep work done and then try not to think about the final results, because I don’t think Maury and I have ever been away from Jake’s Place at the same time.”
“We’ll hold down a couple of rows in the bleachers. Plenty of room for the three of you.”
Jake bit his lip. To his family, it was a given that Abbie would come along. “I haven’t asked Abbie yet.”
“She’ll want to come,” Rafe said. “I’m sure of it.”
Yeah, he was sure she’d say yes, too, which made him very happy.
Abbie’s da
y was getting better and better. The glow she felt inside was starting to flame into pure ecstasy. “I’d love to see the game,” she said. “And I’m so glad we’re going to New York with you. I know you’ll be busy, but Lucas and I are making plans of our own.”
“I hope you don’t get bored.” Jake sighed.
“Bored in New York? Not possible. There are museums meant for kids, and just walking around the city he’ll see and hear so many new things. He’ll probably love the subway.”
“You’ll have to order in from room service,” Jake said. “I’m sure you’d be more than welcome to go to dinner with us, but Lucas could reduce a top-flight restaurant to a beanery with one well-aimed bread plate.”
Abbie nodded. “It’s a terrifying thought. Don’t worry. Lucas and I will have a great time.”
How could she not have a great time? She’d be with her two favorite men.
“He can’t have popcorn,” Jake said nervously before he’d even sat down beside Rafe’s youngest foster care boy, Nick, to give his shoulders a quick squeeze.
“Hey, Uncle Jake. Hey, Lucas.”
Soon all of the boys were saying hi to Lucas. Clint was lined up on the bleachers with Rafe’s foster care boys. The oldest, Jason, was flanked by two very pretty girls, his own steady girlfriend and Becky’s daughter. Maury must have a date with her! Jason took Lucas from Rafe and said something to him that made Lucas giggle, then grab Jason’s hair with such ferocity it made Jake wince.
The girls were delighted. Jason was wearing a look Jake was familiar with, the look of a teenage boy who’s in the middle of something “cute,” and he doesn’t do “cute.”
Maury was in the locker room, of course, undoubtedly wondering not how the game would turn out, but how the spareribs would turn out.
The stadium consisted of a regulation-size field with banks of bleachers on each side. Not a bad seat in the place. Didn’t need them with a total of five hundred fans—from both high schools.
Jake glanced around for Abbie and saw that she’d slipped away to visit with Lilah. He hoped she’d come back because he felt an empty spot beside him. And suddenly there she was, saying to Lucas, “We’re going to sing our national anthem, so put your hand over your heart, like this.”
The game began. It was a great night, huge moon, stars everywhere. They hardly needed the field lights. It felt a bit cold, the way autumn should feel, and Jake began to relax, settle in, and consider the possibility of having a good time.
He sighed. Sighing brought him closer to Abbie. Her thigh touched his lightly. It was nice, soft, and warm. Everything about Abbie was nice, soft, and warm.
He realized he was happy. Just thinking about that.
“Go, Maury,” Abbie cheered.
“Go, Maury,” he shouted, leaping up. He hadn’t been too out of it to see that Maury had just intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
“Mo,” Lucas yelled, undoubtedly having no idea why Jake and Abbie were yelling but caught up in the general enthusiasm.
Jake was suddenly filled with an exuberance he didn’t know was inside him. “Lucas, cheer for Maury! Mo,” he yelled.
Abbie and Rafe’s whole crew stood up too. “Go, Mo,” they chanted.
Then a wonderful thing happened. Maury tipped his helmet up, looked into the stands, and waved—directly toward Lucas, who was shouting “Mo” at the top of his lungs. Maury beamed.
Rafe had his family, but Jake suddenly felt he had his family, too.
It was an amazing sensation.
“Do we have everything?” Jake surveyed the paraphernalia they’d piled to the side of the front door with a combination of amazement and pure horror. Abbie had a small suitcase and a carry-on. He had a garment bag and a carry-on. For Lucas, they were taking two sizeable suitcases, his folding stroller, a car seat, and the inevitable diaper bag.
“We have everything except what we’ll realize we’ve forgotten when it’s too late,” Abbie told him, “and it’s too late right now. The car’s here.” She gazed at it through the window. “I’ve never gone anywhere in a limousine.”
He had, but he’d never tell. “I appreciate the limousine right now,” he said. “I’m too tired to drive.”
She smiled at him. “Well, the first of the worst parts is over.”
“What do you mean, ‘the first of the worst parts’?”
“We’re packed, we’re dressed, and Lucas, for the moment, is clean and dry.”
“Thank goodness for small blessings,” Jake murmured.
“Hear that, Lucas?” Abbie said, swooping Lucas up into her arms. “You’re a small blessing.”
“When’s the next of the worst parts?” Jake asked her while he loaded his arms with luggage and baby transportation.
“Well, there’s the trip to the plane, then waiting for the plane. There’s the flight itself; there’s the wet diaper, or worse, during the flight, there’s settling into the hotel…”
“Okay, okay, you’ve given me enough to dread for now. I’ll take this stuff out and come back for more.”
He went through the front door, and the driver rushed toward him. “I’ll take those, sir,” he said, snatching the two suitcases and the stroller out of Jake’s grip. He stashed them in the trunk and said, “Is there more?”
“Oh, yes,” Jake sighed.
“Seems you’re traveling with a baby.” The driver’s deadpan expression took on a faint smile. “I’ve been there, done that.”
“Are you relieved they’ve grown up?” Jake asked him.
“Nope,” the man said. “They were easier back then.”
Jake groaned and led the way up the stairs.
Lucas didn’t even make it to the airport with a dry diaper. Jake didn’t know the Amarillo airport had porters, but one mysteriously appeared, pushing a cart, and while the driver loaded the luggage onto it, Abbie went inside with Lucas and the diaper bag to change him.
Jake, alone now with a full cart, waited for them. He saw Abbie and Lucas emerge from the women’s restroom, Lucas flushed and happy, Abbie perfectly serene. Did any kid ever have a more unflusterable nanny? Did any kid ever have a more beautiful nanny?
She came up to him, beaming in spite of the fact that her first words were, “I forgot the baby wipes. He’s fine for now. I’ll add them to my list.”
Her list. They’d left home two hours ago, and she already had a list.
They checked in and rolled on to security. After Lucas’ diaper bag had been dissected by the guards, one of them followed Abbie’s carry-on down the conveyor belt, and giving her a soothing smile, said, “Ma’am, may I take a look inside your bag?”
Naturally they’d want to subject her to a random search. She looked every inch the terrorist, especially when she was holding Lucas.
To his surprise, she blushed. “Of course,” she said, then handed Lucas over to Jake and followed the man to a long counter where he opened her bag. Jake followed with Lucas, the diaper bag, and his shoes dangling from one hand. If Abbie needed help, he’d be there for her, and he was there—when the guard delicately pulled from the carry-on something pink and so sheer that Jake had an idea he wasn’t supposed to see it yet, but could hardly wait until he did. Preferably on Abbie.
“Okay, pal, help me put on my shoes,” he said, whisking Lucas away before he embarrassed himself.
Abbie joined them in a few minutes. “It was my cuff bracelet the machine zeroed in on,” she said. “The nice man decided not to arrest me for it.” She sounded stiff and formal, as if she were covering her embarrassment, so Jake didn’t do what he wanted to—wink at her and suggest she ought to be arrested for that pink whatever-it-was.
“They have to be careful these days,” he said, swallowing his smile and saying it with deadly seriousness.
When at last they were on the plane, divided by Lucas in the middle seat, Jake got a glimpse of what it would be like to be a newlywed with a baby who woke up crying at inopportune moments.
He’d imag
ined Abbie and him engaging in whispered conversation while a perfect baby slept soundly, even if he was between them, but under the current circumstances, there was no way he could get Abbie’s attention.
The perfect baby wasn’t sleeping soundly. Lucas wasn’t happy in his seat, since the plane looked like a fun place to crawl around in, and she was coaxing him to chew on a gummy-looking teething biscuit.
Then she was making faces at him, which finally brought out a smile. The smile led to some embarrassingly loud screeches, which she quieted by singing, “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
He glanced around the cabin. No one was looking at them, probably hoping that if they didn’t look at them, they’d go away.
“May I get you something to drink before the flight?” The attendant stood at his side, smiling not at him, but at Lucas.
“Abbie?” he said.
“I need more coffee,” she said.
“Two coffees.”
After the flight attendant moved on, Abbie was busy again, getting Lucas interested in his favorite cloth-bound book, the alphabet book.
“A is for apple,” she hummed, pausing to outline the apple with her fingertip, then point to each letter.
Jake realized he’d have to act like a grown-up and wait his turn.
Mercifully, Lucas soared into the air fearlessly, then immediately fell asleep with his head against—
Not Abbie’s shoulder, but Jake’s.
“Look at him.” Her voice was soft and loving. “You have no idea what he’s been through in the last few hours. Us in a flurry, everything off-schedule, a strange car with a strange man driving the car. A terminal changing room, a waiting room, the plane taking off—”
He hadn’t imagined that their whispered conversation would be about Lucas, but her smile made him want to tease her.
“I went through the same things,” he complained. “Nobody’s letting me sleep with my head on their shoulder.”
“You have to wait until we get to the hotel,” she said sternly.
