by Nadia S. Lee
“I trust you, Charlie.”
He cleared his throat. “Okay. Thanks.”
Molly drove in silence, then parked the car. She and Charlie went to a drugstore. She made a move toward the carts, but he grabbed one before she could and started pushing.
“Lead the way,” he said.
She knew exactly what she was doing down each aisle. At least he thought so. She occasionally pursed her lips, which he found fascinating. Her mouth had nothing but a coat of some shiny pink stuff, and the fitted shirt showed a nicely proportioned torso that dipped into a tiny waist and flared out into curvy hips encased in tight blue denim.
Idiot, he told himself. It was pointless to notice things like that. As a matter of fact, it was pretty perverse of him to notice them at all at a time like now, when he needed her help. Hitting on women had never been his forte, and Molly wasn’t just any woman, but Sam’s baby sister. If anything went wrong, things could get real awkward between him and Sam’s family, and he didn’t want to lose them. Sam’s father and mother, Steve and Patty, were like a second set of parents to Charlie.
Molly tossed a big bag of disposable diapers into the cart, followed by wipes and formula.
The baby bottles were next. “Do we need that many?” he asked.
“Unless you plan to wash the same one every time she gets fed. Believe me, it’s easier this way.” She also grabbed a few other items whose purpose he couldn’t fathom.
“And those things?”
“All necessary. Trust me, I know what I’m doing. You remember how I used to earn my spending money…”
“Babysitting for neighbors.” He blew out a breath. “Okay. You’re right. I’m just…frazzled.”
She made a sympathetic noise. “Get any sleep last night?”
He shook his head. “No. I was planning on sleeping in, since Sam wouldn’t be coming by to drag me off fishing or whatever, but then…” He shrugged.
“Really?” Her eyebrows rose. “I thought you guys did that almost every weekend.”
“Did,” he agreed, “but, you know. He’s married now. Not that interested in spending time with his old buddy.”
She laughed. “I don’t think he’s choosing her over you. Lina can be a bit eccentric. She was telling me how awesome it is to combine donuts with pickles before you came.”
His face scrunched. “That sounds vile.”
“I know, right? She was trying to get me to give it a shot.”
Just the idea of it made his stomach turn. “Did you?”
“Nope. I know what I like.” She grinned.
“My, my. Aren’t you two cozy.”
The smile slipped from her face, her body suddenly tensing. A scowl forming on his face, Charlie turned and faced Beatrice Bodin, an odious “superior than thou” old biddy.
As usual, the woman was dressed in a fancy designer outfit that probably cost too much, although it didn’t do a thing to make her look friendly or warm. An expensive-looking handbag hung from her bent and bony elbow. The cliché “butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth” probably existed for her and her kind. Her cold blue eyes swept over him, lingering on the stains on his clothes, then on Molly’s shirt with her jewelry designer company logo and URL across the chest.
Beatrice sniffed, fingering a large diamond stud earring. “I can’t imagine anybody wanting jewelry made by a nobody.”
Red tinged Molly’s cheeks, and for the first time in his life, Charlie felt an urge to smack an older person. And a woman, at that…although calling Beatrice a woman might be a bit too much, since she was more like a joy-sucking demon overlord—the big boss in a role-playing game that hero misfits had to vanquish to bring peace and happiness to the world. He’d heard what she’d done to Spike’s girl Amy and how she’d threatened to sue Steve.
But this was real life, so Charlie restrained himself.
“Hmm.” Beatrice’s gaze fell to the cart, then she gasped. “Baby goods?” Her eyes narrowed. “How intriguing.”
His teeth ground together. “It doesn’t concern you, Beatrice.”
“The town’s morality does. I wouldn’t want to live in a place riddled with scandals.”
“What are you implying?” Molly demanded.
Beatrice placed a hand over her chest. “How dare you raise your voice at me? What are you trying to hide? Or do you not even feel the need to hide since it’s the twenty-first century?” She snorted. “Times may change, but right and wrong doesn’t.”
“If you cared so much about right and wrong, maybe you shouldn’t jump to conclusions and level groundless accusations at your neighbors,” Molly shot back.
Beatrice bristled. “You’re no neighbor of mine.”
“Thank God!” Charlie said. “I’m pretty sure hating your neighbors is a sin or something. Isn’t that right, Beatrice?”
“I would’ve moved rather than to spend a day next door to the likes of you.” Beatrice’s gaze raked both of them. “Good luck with your…baby. I’d hate to see an innocent young life harmed by two amoral fools.”
Sneering, she spun around and stalked away in her black patent leather shoes.
Charlie made a face.
“That woman!” Molly grated out, her body vibrating with anger.
“I know.”
“I can’t believe she said such awful things.”
“Don’t worry about it. There’s a reason nobody likes her.” Tentatively, he reached out and squeezed her shoulder. He usually avoided touching Molly—had started avoiding touching her when he’d noticed what a beautiful woman she’d become—but this was probably okay. She really seemed to need the support. “Come on. Let’s get going.” He pulled out his credit card. “We have a baby to re-diaper and feed.”
Chapter Three
Molly breathed in and out gently. Her left shoulder still tingled from the squeeze Charlie had given her. He’d probably been just being supportive after that horrible confrontation with Beatrice.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t get to enjoy it or her cheeks didn’t heat. Charlie almost never touched her. He always treated her like some kind of asexual being, so much so that this felt like something more than it probably was. So long as she kept the last part in mind, she wouldn’t make a fool out of herself or cause any awkwardness between them. She’d die if he stopped coming by. He’d lost his parents when he was twenty-one and been alone since, so she didn’t want him spending the holidays by himself.
Charlie took the bags from the trunk and carried them all into Sam’s house, where they’d left the baby.
“We’re back,” Molly announced.
Lina and Sam had cleared the table except for the bacon and donuts, and the sweet little baby was smiling at them as though she wanted the pair to be her mommy and daddy.
“Fabulous.” Lina straightened, wiping at her eyes. “Silly me, getting all emotional. But she’s just so…perfect and adorable, and my biological clock is ticking madly.” She laughed self-deprecatingly, and Sam squeezed her hand. “Anyway, the baby’s been a superstar, but she’s been making those funny pursing motions with her lips. I think she’s hungry.”
“I bet. Let’s go ahead and get the formula ready.”
“Uh, you might want to change that diaper first,” Sam said. “Just in case.”
“Right, right.”
Molly spread the waterproof sheet from the store and carefully laid the baby on it. “Now, watch,” she told Charlie as she tugged at the sticky flaps holding the diaper together. With a few deft moves, she wiped the baby down and put her in a new diaper.
“Wow, you’re good,” Charlie muttered.
“Like you said, this is how I made my spending money in school. And I’ll have you know I was a superb babysitter. In high demand.”
Sam grinned. “True. Mrs. Jackson was so mad when you said you were unavailable that night.”
Molly laughed. “I remember that! She was livid, but it was my prom. I wasn’t going to miss out on the fun.” She rose to her feet, the
dirty diaper and used wipes in a plastic bag. “Now, let’s see about feeding her.” She went to the kitchen and washed her hands and the bottles she’d bought with hot, soapy water, then sterilized everything.
“Do you have to boil them every time?” Charlie asked, watching her.
“Just the first time. They came from a factory, which probably isn’t all that clean. Then after that, you can just use the dishwasher although I’d sterilize ’em again every month or so to be on the safe side.”
She pulled the bottles and nipples out of the boiling water after about five minutes and let them cool before making the formula. The baby fussed a bit. “Sorry, little girl, it’s coming soon.”
“Thank you, Molly. I wouldn’t have known what to do.” Charlie made a face. “That poor baby might’ve died without you.”
She rolled her eyes with a teasing smile. “Please. You’re a smart guy—you would’ve figured something out.”
She went to the living room, and the baby immediately clutched the bottle and sucked everything down. “Whoa, girl, take it easy,” Molly said with a grin. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”
“Are you supposed to let her hold the bottle?” Lina asked.
“If she can do it and wants to, yes. It helps them feel more independent.”
“How old is she? I thought babies couldn’t do that until they were older.”
“It depends. Some do it faster. She doesn’t have any teeth, so I don’t know for sure. She’s still really young, probably not yet six months.” Molly straightened and glanced at Charlie. “Do you think we should name her? I mean, unless you know her name…”
“I don’t,” Charlie said.
“Then we definitely should name her. We can’t just call her ‘it’ or the ‘baby,’” Lina said.
“That’s a point.” Molly turned to Charlie. “Got anything in mind?”
“Me?”
“Well, she was left with you…”
He shrugged and opened his mouth a few times, but nothing came out.
“Were there any clues about who she is?” Molly asked. “Like an anonymous email or a note or something?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“You’re not going to believe this,” Lina said, reaching into the infant car seat.
“What is it?”
“A note.” She held it up, eyebrows raised. “It was tucked into the bottom, and I imagine the baby was sitting on it, which is why we didn’t see it.” She handed the piece of paper to Charlie, who read it and promptly threw his hands up in the air.
“What?” Molly rose, but Sam snatched it first.
“‘I can’t do this anymore. Not alone, anyway. You’re the only one. Sorry.’”
Lina’s mouth parted, and Molly stared at Charlie, unable to believe what she’d just heard.
“Who is this woman?” Sam asked finally.
Molly turned to Charlie with dread curling in her chest, waiting for a response. Yes, who is she? You said—emphatically—that the baby wasn’t yours. She braced herself. This was going to hurt no matter what. He might’ve found the one.
Now, now, don’t jump to conclusions, the calm, rational part of her cautioned, wagging a finger. The woman isn’t here, is she?
Charlie spread his arms. “I have no idea.”
“Didn’t you, uh, go to Vegas a little over a year ago for some kind of conference?” Sam asked.
“So?”
Sam cocked an eyebrow. “Well…?”
“Look, I might be a computer geek, but I know what it takes to make a baby. And there was no…activity that would result in one.”
Right. Makes perfect sense. Of course he wouldn’t.
“Maybe you were drunk…?” Lina suggested.
Molly gave her sister-in-law a warning look. Alcohol was a sore point for Charlie.
His voice grew tight. “I don’t drink.”
“She probably got you mixed up with somebody else,” Molly said…although she couldn’t imagine what fool could’ve gotten Charlie mixed up with another man. Unlike some of his tech buddies, he was all lean muscle and wiry strength. She couldn’t remember the number of times she’d drooled over his super-sexy forearms flexing as he typed away on his computer.
“Probably,” Charlie said, shooting Molly a small, grateful smile.
“Should we call the sheriff and see what he says?” Sam said. “Maybe he can place the baby in foster care.”
“Foster care?” Molly made a face. “That’s terrible.”
“Contrary to what the TV shows will tell you, not all foster families are bad,” Sam said. “Most are good people.”
“Yeah, but this poor baby…” Molly looked at Charlie, wanting to know what he was thinking.
He stared at the baby and the note, which was now on the floor next to the waterproof sheet. His mouth tightened, and Molly’s chest tightened too. He probably wanted to hand the baby off to someone, even though getting put into foster care would be less than ideal. The baby had been abandoned once already, obviously unwanted by her mother. Molly hated the idea of the tiny girl being rejected yet again.
Unwanted. Whether the sweet thing remembered or not, Molly was convinced she would feel it in her little heart somehow.
His shoulders slumping, Charlie let out a long sigh. Then he slowly straightened up, his spine stiffening, hands on his hips. “Okay. Her name is Emilia.”
“What?” Molly said, stunned.
“You’re right about her needing a name. We can’t call her just ‘baby,’ right?”
“No,” she breathed, a slow smile curving her lips.
“So I’m naming her after my mother. She’s Emilia. And until I hear back from her mother, I’m keeping her.”
* * *
The smile Molly gave him was so bright it almost shorted his eyeballs out. Charlie wasn’t sure if he was making the best decision—after all, what did he know about taking care of a baby?—but he was strangely reluctant to dump her into foster care. Most people were adults when their parents passed away, but this baby wasn’t so lucky. And although Sam was probably right about there being a lot of great foster families, he didn’t want Emilia being shuffled around in some huge, bureaucratic system. She wasn’t going to become a number.
But Emilia aside, and uncertain or not, he’d make the same decision again just to get that smile from Molly. It made him feel about ten feet tall.
“If you need help with babysitting, I could pitch in,” Molly said.
“Thanks.” He smiled, then placed Emilia in her seat. “I should get going. Taken up too much of your morning already.” He grinned at Sam and Lina. “I know why Sam isn’t coming over every weekend anymore.”
Lina flushed. “Stop teasing.”
“Let me grab Emilia’s feeding stuff,” Molly said, going to the kitchen.
By the time Charlie had gotten the diapers, wipes and other baby things from the living room, dumped them in his car and set Emilia’s seat correctly in the back, Molly had come out with the sterilized bottles and nipples.
“I’ll drive over to your place with you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“You’re gonna want to think about babyproofing and stuff. Plus, you still need a few more items. I’m sort of free today, so I don’t mind helping.”
He hesitated. Although he was tired and wanted a little nap, he didn’t want to turn her down…even though a small internal alarm was saying that it was counterproductive to spend a lot of time with her. “But what about your website? Didn’t your store just go live today?”
She shrugged. “The site’s fully automated to handle orders. And I can’t mail anything until Monday anyway.” She slung her bag over a shoulder. “Besides, I’ve got my phone. Anything urgent comes up, it’ll let me know.”
All quite logically laid out. Before his brain could fire the appropriate response, his mouth said, “In that case, sure. Appreciate it.”
She smiled and got into her car. An odd mixtu
re of disappointment and relief welled up.
Jeez, what was wrong with him? She had to take her car, since she lived too far from his place to walk home. It was only rational that she drive.
But he couldn’t help but wish she’d jumped into his SUV. Him, her and Emilia…all in one happy vehicle…
Chapter Four
Molly followed Charlie. He didn’t live that far from Sam’s place. He rented a small two-story house with two bedrooms. It was owned by an old couple who’d retired to Florida, and when her realtor uncle Bob had asked him why he didn’t just buy the place outright, he’d said he didn’t mind funding the couple’s retirement…which was super sweet.
Her uncle, being a practical man, had opined that Charlie probably didn’t want to get tied down to anything. “He’s a bright young fellow. Good future ahead of him. He’s probably just looking for the right opportunity to present itself. Real estate is like high tech, you know. Timing is everything.”
Molly had ignored her uncle’s pronouncements, unwilling to entertain the idea that Charlie would want to leave Silver Springs one day. But realistically speaking, Uncle Bob was probably right. The town wasn’t exactly teeming with high-tech firms.
Charlie’s home came into view after a final left turn. He might give out the best candy, but he never bothered to decorate for Halloween. Molly couldn’t understand why, since half the fun was cool decorations. She loved skeletons and zombies, bats and pumpkin carvings and all the other great stuff that signaled it was the day to spoil the little ones with sweets.
He grabbed everything from the back, and Molly got Emilia. Her eyes were closed and she was snoring lightly, apparently satisfied with the formula in her belly and the fresh diaper.
“She’s sleeping,” Molly whispered to Charlie.
“Okay.” He shut the door to his SUV quietly.
They went inside his house together. While Charlie put away the stuff they’d bought from the store, Molly looked around. She’d never been in Charlie’s home before. He usually hung out with Sam or came to her parents’ for gatherings. They liked to invite him over for dinner every so often, especially after his own parents’ untimely deaths in a car crash involving a drunk teenager from out of town.
