The older woman put a hand on Lily’s back and turned her from the doorway. “I think it’s best that you don’t. She’ll see that you’re upset and think she should react the same way.”
“Oh. You’re probably right. So, I’ll be back at three to pick her up. Maybe I’ll come a little early.”
The teacher laughed. “If that will make you feel better, Mrs. Champion.”
“Miss…um, Lily. Okay. So, you’ll call me if she needs anything?”
“Cross my heart.” Mrs. Higgins crisscrossed two fingers over her chest.
Lily returned to her car. Grilla sat on the front seat where Chelsea had belted him in. Lily picked up the stuffed monkey and hugged, breathing in Chelsea’s scent. Good thing Helen talked her out of taking you to school. Turns out I need you more than Chelsea does.
*
Rick stood at the copier when Lily entered the office and headed for her desk. His eyes followed her, a grin across his face.
“What?” She furrowed her eyebrows.
“I didn’t realize it was ‘bring your monkey to work’ day.”
“Chelsea was worried about Grilla spending the day at home alone. It took Helen to convince her she didn’t need to drag him to school with her. But I had to promise to bring him with me.”
“You’re hugging him like he’s a lifeline.”
“He is. I just left Chelsea for her first day in school.”
“I hope she’s handling it better than you are. She has been in daycare before, hasn’t she?”
“Yes, but this is different. This is a milestone. She’s fine. She went into the classroom and never looked back.”
“And you wanted her to?”
Lily set the monkey on her desk. “No. Yeah. I guess. I’m not ready for this.”
He pulled the copies from the machine and walked to the counter. “For what?”
“Her growing up. Next thing you know, she’ll be talking about boys and sharing secrets with her girlfriends and…and…”
“And she won’t need Mommy anymore?”
Lily nodded, biting her lower lip to control its quiver.
“Ah, jeez. Don’t cry. Wait. Here.” He pulled a wad of tissues from the box on her desk and stuffed them into her hand.
She took a step forward, resting her forehead on his chest.
Rick patted her back as if burping a baby. When she leaned into him, he encircled her with both arms. “Lily, it’s just kindergarten. You want her to get an education, don’t you?”
“It’s not that. When we stopped in front of the door to her classroom, a memory hit me like a giant wave. I was five years old and my mother took me to school the first day. I didn’t want to stay, and she sat outside the classroom until lunch time. Then the teacher made her leave. After lunch, I noticed something at the window. I looked over and there was my mom, peeking above the window ledge, making sure I was okay.”
“And were you?”
Lily nodded, feeling the smooth fabric of his jacket against her cheek. “I laughed at the sight of her and then I was all right.” She stepped out of his embrace and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”
“We’re friends, remember? It must have been rough, growing up without a mom.”
“It was. And Dad—my father—died too, in his own way.”
“Chelsea’s lucky to have you for a mom.”
Lily looked up at him, his clear eyes sincere, filled with compassion. “Thank you for saying that.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s only eight forty-five?”
“Yep. Hey, I have an idea. I’m going to look at a couple of houses we’re listing. Lock up and come with me. It’ll keep your mind off the clock.”
“But what if the school calls?”
“They’ll call your cell, won’t they? Come on. I’ll teach you how to determine the value of a house and assess needed repairs.”
“We’ll be back before two-thirty?”
“Absolutely.”
*
The first house, a five thousand-square-foot Georgian Colonial, looked more like a small hotel. Lily got lost twice during the tour. “Why would anyone need all this space?”
“Kids. Three or four of them, and this place would be filled to capacity.”
“Your house is about this size.”
“Just about, and I have no intention of filling it. Ready to go?”
She followed him outside and waited while he locked the door. “You don’t want a son or daughter who can take over the family business one day?”
He frowned. “Now you sound like my mother. Maybe I’ll pass the business on to one of my nephews.”
“Or your niece?”
He nodded. “Or to my niece.”
Lily stood beside the car and checked her cell phone for the fiftieth time.
“Hey, everything’s fine. Chelsea’s probably getting ready for lunch right now.”
“Oh, my God.” Panic seized her.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Lunch. I forgot her lunch.”
“Get in. We’ll pick up something and drop it off. What does she like?”
“What every kid likes—peanut butter and jelly. We’re only a few streets from my house. Stop there and I’ll make a sandwich.”
Rick sped along a back street and screeched into Lily’s driveway. She was out of the car before it had come to a complete stop. “I’ll be right out.”
She brushed Pepper aside with one foot while she slathered peanut butter on one slice of bread and grape jelly on the other. She wrapped the sandwich and tossed a banana and a boxed juice drink into a bag.
Breathless, she dropped into the passenger’s seat and directed Rick to the school. He parked in the lot, ignoring the Reserved for School Board Members sign in front of the space.
Lily jumped out of the car, clutching the brown bag.
“Wait, I’ll come with you.” He tweaked the automatic lock button and the horn sounded.
The receptionist called for Lily to stop and sign in.
“But I just brought my daughter’s lunch. I’m not too late, am I?”
“All visitors still have to sign in.”
Lily scribbled her signature on the sheet of paper attached to a clipboard. Rick did the same and followed her down the corridor. Lily stopped in front of K-1, took a deep breath, and tapped on the door.
Through the narrow window, she saw Mrs. Higgins look toward the door, turn and say something to the children. The teacher opened the door and smiled at Rick and Lily. “Mrs. Champion. Is there something you need?”
“I brought Chelsea’s lunch. This morning, in all the excitement, I forgot…” She ran out of breath.
Rick took the bag from her hand and presented it to the teacher. “This is Chelsea Champion’s lunch. Would you see that she gets it, please?”
“Lunch is provided for the students in the cafeteria. You paid for her lunch when you registered. Unless she’s on a special diet?”
Lily closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize, I just thought I’d forgotten.”
Rick took the bag from the teacher’s hand, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. “Thank you. We’ll take this and leave now.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Champion.”
“Oh, I’m not…uh, yeah. Thanks. We’ll be going now.”
Mrs. Higgins turned and began to pull the door closed. Lily stopped her. “Wait. How’s she doing? Does she seem to be adjusting?”
“She’s fine. Chelsea’s very talkative and sociable. I have to get back to my class now.”
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
Lily stared at the closed door. The rustle of paper stole her attention and she turned around. Rick unwrapped the sandwich and took a huge bite, catching a drip of grape jelly with the brown bag. She glared at him.
“What? I’m hungry.”
“You could have told me they serve lunch in the school here.”
“How was I supposed
to know? They didn’t do that when I was a kid. You didn’t remember you paid for it when you registered her?” He held out the other half of the sandwich. “You want some?”
She rolled her eyes and hurried toward the exit. He caught up with her, finishing off the sandwich in two bites.
“Ma’am, you have to sign out,” the receptionist called to her.
Lily noted the time and wrote it after her name, then handed the pen to Rick.
He marked the slot next to his name, leaving a purple smear on the paper. “Sorry. Jelly.” He dropped the pen and sucked the last of the goo from his finger.
They got into the car and Lily leaned back in the seat. “I’m not going to survive this. God, what’s going to happen when she’s a teenager?”
“She’s going to flirt with boys, keep secrets, lie about where she’s been, and come to see you as the enemy.”
Lily lifted her head and stared at him.
“It’s true. My sister did. Didn’t you?”
“I didn’t have to lie or keep secrets. Nobody cared where I went or who I went with. Not until it was too late.” She turned her head and gazed out the window.
Rick pulled from the parking lot. “Let’s skip the next house and get lunch.”
“You just had lunch.”
“That was an appetizer. Besides, you need something.”
*
The restaurant sat on the edge of town, one of those obscure, hard to find places tucked back on a side street. Rick held the door open, allowing Lily to go inside ahead of him.
Lily stopped and looked around. “This is a nice place, homey. I’ve never been here.”
“It’s a neighborhood gathering place, mostly.”
An aproned man behind the counter waved. “Hey, Rick. Grab a table. Sheila’ll be right there.”
“Thanks, Max.” Rick directed Lily to a table by the front window. He pulled a chair out for her. “This place has been around since I was a kid. My folks used to bring us here on Friday nights for dinner. There used to be a skeeball table in the back room, and my sister and I would play for hours.”
A pony-tailed woman wearing jeans and a white polo shirt approached, removing a pencil from behind her right ear. “Hey, Rick. Been a while.”
“It has. Sheila, this is Lily, my new office manager.”
Office manager?
After the waitress took their orders and left, Lily looked at him. “Office manager?”
“It’s a more fitting title for all you do, isn’t it?”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Does it come with a raise?”
“Nope. Just the prestige. Are you feeling any better?”
“I feel ridiculous. You’d think Chelsea was going off to college or getting married.”
“It has to be a challenge, raising a kid alone.”
“Sometimes. But, then, I also get all the credit.”
He glanced out the window before turning his gaze back to her. “I want you to seriously consider becoming an agent. I have plans to expand the company, and you’d be great at selling.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Well, you sold me on hiring you. Then I found out you had difficulty taking phone messages.”
Her smile broadened and heat consumed her cheeks. “I’ll think about it. I need to let things settle first.”
He nodded. “One thing at a time. I don’t want to pry, but if you need to talk…”
“Thanks.”
Sheila returned with their lunch orders. “Anything else?”
Rick picked up a fry. “Not just now. Looks great. Thanks, Sheila.”
The waitress stood over him. “Ya know, Rick, you keep eating like that, you’re gonna lose your babe magnet status.”
He smiled up at her. “I have babe magnet status?”
Sheila shifted her eyes to Lily. “What do you think? Isn’t this guy a heartbreaker?”
“Um, I have to work with him, so I plead the fifth.”
The waitress laughed and slapped Rick on the shoulder. “Enjoy your lunch. I’ll be back with more coffee.”
Still smiling, he turned back to Lily. “So, you don’t think I’m a babe magnet?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Oh, then you do?”
“I didn’t say that, either. Would this fall under the heading of sexual harassment?”
“Are you saying I’m sexy?”
“I’m not saying another word. Eat your lunch. I have to get back to the office, so I can go back to school and pick up Chelsea soon. You know, you should just fire me now. I’ve done nothing today.”
“Sure you have. You helped me assess a house. You made me a great sandwich. And now I have to go to parents’ day at the school.”
“You…what?”
“You heard Mrs. Higgins. She thinks I’m Mr. Champion. What kind of creep will I be if I never show up for a parent-teacher meeting?”
She set down her fork.
“Lily? Did I say something wrong?”
“I don’t like to joke about the fact that Chelsea has no father. She feels the loss, even more so now that she’s getting older.”
“I’m sorry. I was just teasing.”
“I know.”
“I can only imagine how hard it’s been for you.”
She shook her head. “I manage okay. I hate it, though, when the absence of a father in her life is made evident to Chelsea. She’s getting older, and I’m soon going to have to answer her questions frankly.” She sighed. “Can we talk about something else now? How’s your sandwich?”
“Good. It’s good. Want a bite?”
“No, thanks. But…” She reached over and snatched up a French fry.
“Oh, you’re one of those women. You don’t order your own fries so it looks like you’re making healthy choices about food, then you take them from the poor guy sitting across from you.”
She grinned. “Yes, but I only eat half as many, and it helps the poor guy across from me maintain his ‘babe magnet’ qualities.”
“So, I should thank you?”
She stuffed another fry into her mouth. “Absolutely.”
*
Rick dropped her off in front of the office before going out to check on another listing. Lily switched on the lights and hung up her jacket. She checked the messages and placed Rick’s notes on his desk. At two-thirty, she couldn’t contain herself any longer. She grabbed her purse, shrugged into her jacket, and drove to the school. A line of cars and vans formed behind her Toyota. The front doors of the school burst open and a swarm of bodies exited, like bees from a hive. Lily got out of the car and stood, looking for Chelsea. She spied her blonde curls bouncing as she skipped down the walk with Amy and another little girl.
“Chels. Over here.”
Chelsea stopped and looked at her, waved, and turned to say something to her friends. The three girls giggled before Chelsea ran down the walk toward her. “Hi, Mommy. Look, I made this picture. School is fun. I can’t wait till tomorrow. Mrs. Higgins is going to teach us about baby animals.”
Lily stooped to take the picture. She hugged her daughter close. “That’s wonderful, sweetie. What a nice picture. We can put it on the fridge when we get home.”
“Oh. But… I made it for Rick.”
“I see.” A pang of jealousy ripped through her. “Well, I’m sure he’ll love it. Come on. I have to get back to the office.”
Chelsea looked around the back seat. “You didn’t bring Grilla with you.”
“He’s covering the phone for me.”
Chelsea giggled. “That’s silly. He’s just a monkey. He can’t answer the phone.”
Lily’s heart lurched. Just yesterday, Grilla had the capacity to be lonely. Now he was “just a monkey.” She grieved for that bit of innocence now lost.
Chelsea chattered on about her day and her teacher. Lily gave a sigh of relief at the news Chelsea not only liked school, but looked forward to going back tomorrow.
A small, brightly wr
apped packaged adorned by a narrow gold ribbon sat on the counter when Lily entered the office. She picked up the envelope bearing Chelsea’s name. “Hey, Chels. Looks like you got a present.”
“Let me see. I bet it’s from Rick.” Her smiled spread to her eyes.
“I’ll bet. Come on over here and open it. I’ll get you a snack.” She carried the package to the chairs in the far corner near the TV.
Chelsea set the card aside and ripped the ribbon and paper away. She lifted the lid. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an O. “Mommy, look. I got a necklace. It’s a C for Chelsea.”
Lily set down the juice container. “Oh, sweetie. It’s beautiful.”
“Put it on me.” Chelsea lifted the delicate gold chain from the box, examining the lacy letter C centered by a small pink heart-shaped stone.
Once the clasp was secured, Chelsea fingered the bejeweled heart. “I wanna look in the mirror.”
“Aren’t you going to read the card?”
“Oh, yeah.” She tore open the envelope. “Look, it’s the Little Mermaid. How did Rick know I like the Little Mermaid?”
Lily grinned, her eyes scanning Chelsea’s pink Little Mermaid shirt, skirt, socks and matching backpack. “I can’t imagine. Let’s see what it says. Chelsea, A gift to celebrate your first day of school. Rick That was very thoughtful. Be sure to thank him when he comes in.”
“I will.”
“You want your juice now? How about some crackers?”
“Yes, please.”
It wasn’t long before Lily noticed the child’s head bobbing. “Chels, come into Rick’s office and lie down on the sofa.”
Chelsea hugged Grilla close and settled her head on the toss pillow, her hand clasped around the necklace. Lily kissed her cheek and returned to her desk.
The back door opened. “Hi, where’s the shortstop?”
“She’s sleeping on your sofa.”
He grinned. “Like mother, like daughter, huh?”
She ignored his comment. “She loves your gift. That was very kind of you.”
“The first day’s a big deal. How’d she do?”
“She did fine. I’ve never seen a kid so adaptable. Do you need to use your office? I can wake her.”
“No, don’t. I just need to go through a few files. I’ll be quiet.”
Renting to Own Page 14
