Huntington Family Series

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “Okay, it’s your call.” Loony shrugged, tucked his lanky figure into his tan, knee-length coat, and left the house.

  Paula went into her room and collapsed on her bed, pulling the covers over her head.

  Only one more day.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Blake couldn’t believe he was going to be late to Thanksgiving dinner with Amanda’s family. He’d been so pleased with himself for eliciting an invitation to their celebration, but now he wasn’t so sure. Mara had woken up cranky and cried on and off all morning. She was probably teething, as Amanda had suggested last night when she watched the children at her place during his study group. Half an hour ago, he had given Mara some pain medication for babies that Amanda had bought, and she had calmed down at least marginally. Unfortunately, she had a blow-out diaper and she’d soiled her outfit—after she’d already managed to spill her bowl of breakfast mush on her first set of clothing.

  And Kevin. Blake had to shut his eyes so he wouldn’t explode at the colorful drawings Kevin had created with markers on the kitchen wall while he was occupied with Mara.

  How easy it would be to get ready without the children around! He’d simply shower, dress, grab a piece of toast, and drive to Amanda’s parents’ house in Alpine where they had agreed to meet. So simple. So utterly simple. But not now. There was breakfast and diapers and dirty clothes—and a wall to wash. Why hadn’t he ever appreciated his freedom before?

  “Are you mad?” Kevin asked, looking up from the wet rag Blake placed in his little hand. Tears stood out in his blue eyes.

  Blake shook his head. “Not really. I am disappointed, though. You know better than to draw on the walls.”

  “I was making it pretty.” Kevin’s lower lip jutted out, quivering slightly with an onslaught of tears.

  Blake’s irritation vanished. He pulled Kevin into his arms and hugged him tightly. “It’s okay, bud. I’ll help.”

  “Mommy says I’m going to live with her in a few weeks,” Kevin whispered in his ear. “Do I have to?”

  Blake swallowed hard. If Paula got her way, he’d have all the freedom he wanted. He could jump into the truck and take off with no diaper bag or car seat. Kevin’s books wouldn’t be strewn across the seat. There would be no more walls waiting to be scrubbed down. “Don’t you want to live with your mom?”

  Kevin was silent a long time. “If Mara goes, yes. But I think we should stay here.”

  “Then I’ll try my best to keep you here.” Blake rubbed Kevin’s hair. “But even if you go live with her, I’ll see you all the time.”

  Kevin gave him a small, sad smile. “I love my mommy,” he said, “but, you know”—his voice became even softer—“I sometimes wish that Amanda was my mom.”

  Blake didn’t know what to say to that. With all his four-year-old wisdom, Kevin seemed to know not only what he wanted but what was best for him.

  “Come on, let’s leave this wall and go see Amanda. We can clean it later.”

  Kevin threw down his wet rag. “Okay,” he said, brightening. “I hope they like you. ’Cause if they don’t, they won’t let you marry Amanda.”

  Blake chuckled. “Amanda’s a big girl. She makes her own choices.”

  Yet even as he said it, Blake worried that they wouldn’t like him. What had Amanda told her parents? What would they think about Kevin and Mara? They can’t help but fall in love with the children, he reasoned, but they might not be so understanding if they think Amanda will have to deal with them for very long. And despite all the headache this morning, Blake wanted more than anything for them to stay with him forever.

  They had put on their coats and were just about to leave the apartment when his phone rang. He debated whether or not to pick up but decided it might be Amanda calling to see what was keeping him.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Blakey. It’s me, Aunt Bonny.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving,” he said, touched that she would remember him. “How’s it going?”

  “Wonderful. There’s some snow here, but everyone is so . . . Oh, Blakey, Paula came. She actually came!”

  Blake felt his heartbeat falter. “She did? I can’t believe it.”

  “Me, either. She showed up without telling us she was coming. Got a ride from a friend who was coming to Blackfoot. They have to leave in the morning.”

  “How does she look?”

  “Well, that’s just it, Blakey, she looks great. She’s talking to Tracey and Hal as though they haven’t been at odds for the past ten years. You should see it. She’s practically got them eating from her hand.”

  “Does she . . . is she . . .” Blake stumbled over the words.

  “She’s drinking some,” Aunt Bonny said, “but she says she’s passed a drug test. She’s acting quite normal.”

  Blake knew this was good news for their family, but for some reason hearing it only brought a heaviness to his heart. “So do you believe it?” he asked “You think she’s really changed?”

  There was a silence over the phone during which Blake’s heaviness grew. “I know it sounds disloyal,” Aunt Bonny said in a near whisper, “but I think . . . well, I’ve seen this before. I can’t help but think it’s an act. At one point she was telling us how they plan on testing her every week for a while, and there was this . . . I don’t know . . . tone in her voice. More than anger. Maybe disgust, or something. It made me feel like she has something to hide. And she’s angry, Blake. Very angry—at you. She’s halfway convinced Tracey and Hal that you’ve dreamed all this up to take her kids away. I told them I was the one who called DCFS, but she keeps saying you put me up to it.”

  Blake knew how convincing Paula could be. “That doesn’t matter,” he said, though it did. “What’s important is if she’s really turned the corner.”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t. There’s something in her eyes that’s not quite right. But I can’t tell you how good it’s been to see my kids together.” Her voice became teary as she uttered these last words, and she sniffed several times before continuing. “I just want to believe so badly that it’s real.”

  “We all do,” he said.

  “Well, she wants to talk to you,” his aunt said. “She’s just come into the living room where I am and sees that I’m on the phone. She’s walking this way. Do you want to talk to her? She said earlier that she can’t unless you agree.”

  Blake’s eyes fell on Kevin and Mara who were crawling in circles around a farm set he had bought them, pretending to be animals. Both still wore their bulky coats. “Okay, I’ll talk to her,” he agreed, feeling he owed it to Kevin and Mara to see for himself how their mother was progressing.

  “Hello, Blake?” Paula’s voice came on the phone.

  “Hi, Paula. How are you?” At the sound of his mother’s name, Kevin froze in his play. Sitting down, he turned his face toward Blake.

  “I’m doing really good,” Paula said, her voice sugar-sweet, “but I’d hoped you’d call me before now. I told Miss Solos I wanted you to call.”

  “I’ve been busy,” he said.

  “Well, you should be very proud of me. I finally took your advice and made up with my sister and brother. In fact, they’ve promised to come for the custody hearing to speak in my behalf.”

  “I see.” Blake did see. Whoever was advising Paula must have told her how important her family’s support was to her case. “Your mom said you went to the drug testing?”

  “Yes.” The sweetness evaporated. “That was not fun, Blake.” The way she said it held him responsible. “But I passed—and I’ll pass next week, too. See if I don’t.”

  “I want you to pass,” he said.

  She chuckled. “I’ll bet. Well, I will pass, whatever you want.” Her voice lowered and hardened, sounding more like the woman he knew. “What’s more, I won’t even have to change my lifestyle to pass.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing, Blake, absolutely nothing. But I’m going to get my kids back. I’ll stop at not
hing.”

  “That’s what we all want, Paula,” he said, fighting the sick feeling in his stomach. “When you’re ready. Meanwhile, they’re doing fine. I guess that’s what you wanted to talk to me about, isn’t it?”

  “What? Oh, of course.” Her tone softened. “How are my babies? Tell them I miss them so much.”

  “You can tell Kevin yourself.” Blake hesitated before adding, “I’m staying on the line, just so you know.” He turned his back on Kevin and went into the living room for the cordless phone he had purchased for just such an occasion.

  “I never imagined you could be such a jerk,” Paula snapped.

  “I just want to sleep,” he countered, his voice low. “Kevin doesn’t need any more nightmares about being kidnapped.”

  Before she could respond, he said loudly, “Kevin, your mom wants to talk to you.”

  Kevin came right over. “Hi, Mommy,” he said into the receiver. “Where are you?”

  “I’m with Grandma in Idaho. I wish you could be here with me.”

  “We’re going to eat with Amanda.”

  “Amanda? Was that the lady I talked to on the phone that once?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “So, is she your uncle’s girlfriend?”

  “What does that matter?” Blake inserted.

  “They kissed once,” Kevin said helpfully.

  Paula laughed. “I’m glad your uncle finally has a girlfriend. Maybe now he can get married and have some children of his own. You would like some cousins, wouldn’t you, Kevin?”

  Kevin scrunched up his brow, thinking. “No,” he said at last. “I have Mara. And Misty and Benjamin—and Caleb, even though he’s so tiny.”

  “They’re friends,” Blake explained, not wanting to bring up the fact that DCFS felt it was better for the children to go to a baby-sitter than to be with their own mother.

  Paula laughed. “I love you, Kevin,” she said. “You and Mara. You know that, don’t you?” Blake heard the ring of truth in those words as he hadn’t in any of the others she’d said so far.

  “I love you too, Mommy.” Kevin answered.

  “I’d give anything to be with you,” Paula added. “But I’ll see you really soon.”

  “Okay.”

  “Bye, sweety. Give Mara a kiss for me.”

  “I will.”

  “Wait,” Blake said, taking Kevin’s phone. He was more confused than ever. Was Paula’s recovery for real? She was obviously angry with him, but she seemed sincere in her desire to make things good for her children. How could Blake know the right way to progress? I need more time, he thought. Only time would tell the truth. He would pray for that.

  “What?” She sounded annoyed.

  “I just wanted—Paula, wouldn’t it be better to wait on the custody hearing just a bit? I heard you started a new job. I know how hectic that can be. Finding a sitter while you’re gone—that’s a huge expense. They really are fine here. I—”

  “I need my children,” she said shortly. “I will not wait. The more I sit back and let it happen, the more justified those people will feel in taking them from me.”

  “I’m only trying to help—to do what’s best for them . . . and for you.”

  “Well, you’re not helping, Blake. You’re just being a stupid jerk.” Paula hung up, leaving Blake shaking his head in frustration.

  In the living room, Kevin bent over Mara. “Here’s a kiss from Mommy,” he said, planting one on her forehead. Mara grinned. Kevin looked up at Blake. “Now can we go to Amanda’s? My tummy’s hungry.”

  “Sure. Let’s hurry.” There was nothing Blake could do at the moment about whether or not Paula would regain custody, but he could try his best to make a good impression on Amanda’s family—if he hadn’t ruined things by being so late. Picking up Mara, he hurried out to the truck with Kevin.

  All the way to Alpine, he worried about what would come next.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Amanda was in her parents’ living room waiting for Blake and the children. She had debated what to tell her family about her Thanksgiving guests, but in the end, she had left a message on her mother’s answering machine, telling her only that she was bringing a few friends. She knew her mother wouldn’t mind the extra company. Over the years Amanda had brought a wide variety of friends and all had been welcome. Still, that morning as she carefully dressed in her shimmering black pants and holiday sweater, she wondered what her parents would think when Blake arrived with two children in tow.

  Probably that her head needed to be examined.

  And they might be right.

  She knew they wouldn’t be impressed with his current career—that was sure. They’d wonder if she was out on another rescue mission that had resulted in many strange friendships in the past. But it wasn’t like that. At least not anymore.

  Amanda sighed. True, she was spending a lot of time baby-sitting lately. With work and school, Blake kept busy. She hadn’t had a moment alone with him since their date almost two weeks before, though she spent a lot of time with him and the children. Romance had certainly taken a backseat. Not that she didn’t love spending time with Kevin and Mara—she did—but she worried secretly that he might see her now as only a friend. Where once that had been her plan, now she wanted him to notice her and not her motherly abilities.

  Yesterday, she’d had the kids at her house while Blake went to study group. In her journal list of his attributes she had added will have a better job soon under the pros and studies too much under the cons. And then she sighed. Her evening with Kevin and Mara was good, though, and she’d been almost reluctant to let them go home with Blake. “Make sure he wears his warm pajamas to bed,” she’d told him. “And here’s some teething medication we went to buy. I think Mara’s teething.”

  “You sound like a mother,” Blake had teased, the twinkle in his eyes sending a delicious shiver up her spine.

  The truth was at that moment she’d felt like a mother. “Well, everyone needs a mother,” she’d teased back. “Even you.”

  There was a noise, and they’d turned to see Kevin watching them from the open door, all bundled up in his hat and gloves, an odd expression in his eyes.

  Amanda had knelt down next to him, concerned that her comment might have upset him. “Oh, honey. I only meant that everyone needs some nagging. Especially Blake, since his mommy’s in heaven. But I know that no one can take the place of your mother. I just like being with you guys.”

  Kevin nodded solemnly. Then he surprised her by wrapping his arms tightly around her neck. Amanda found it impossible to speak past the sudden lump in her throat. She’d carried him out to Blake’s truck, clipped on his seat belt and waved good-bye, not even missing—at least until later—the good night kiss she hadn’t received from Blake.

  “Are they here yet?” Kerrianne came in from the kitchen where she had been helping their mother with last-minute preparations for the meal. Amanda was to have been here earlier to help as well, but she’d overslept after a restless night and had been late. Thankfully so, she realized now, since there hadn’t been time for questions regarding the identity of her guests.

  Amanda spied the blue pickup. “He just drove up now.”

  “He?” Kerrianne turned an interested face to the window, squinting in the weak sunlight coming through the panes. “But that’s . . . hey, it is. It’s Blake and the kids!”

  Amanda’s heart jumped. “Uh, yeah.”

  Kerrianne put an arm over her shoulder. “You are such a sweetheart. I didn’t even think that they might not have some place to go—and I’m their baby-sitter!” She ran to the door, calling to Kevin and Blake before they reached the steps. “Come in, come in! I’m so glad you could come.”

  Kevin hugged her briefly before running past her to Amanda. “Did you bring your purse?” he asked brightly.

  Amanda grinned. “Of course. But let’s wait a bit, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Here, I’ll help you off with your coat,”
Amanda said to Kevin, not meeting Blake’s eyes. “Just put it here on the couch with the others.”

  Blake greeted Kerrianne, who immediately took Mara from his arms, and then turned to Amanda. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said.

  Amanda lifted one shoulder. “It’s fine. We’re just putting the food on the table now.”

  An awkward silence fell between them. They’d become accustomed to exchanging a hug each time they met, but Amanda, acutely aware of her sister’s interested stare, didn’t move toward him.

  “Come on,” Kerrianne urged, tossing Mara’s coat onto the couch. Blake added his own to the growing pile.

  Amanda and Blake followed Kerrianne into the large kitchen. In the attached dining room, her family was beginning to gather around the banquet-sized table. Her mother was setting down a gelatin salad, Mitch lounged against the wall talking to Adam, who held a guitar in his hands, and Kerrianne’s older two children were already seated. Only her father and the new baby were nowhere in sight.

  Misty bounced on her chair for joy when she spied Kevin. “Oh, good! Come over here. We have room.” She raised her voice. “Grandma, I want him to sit by me!”

  Her mother, Amanda noticed, wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on Blake and the children. “Amanda,” she said, her smile showing too many teeth to be natural, “aren’t you going to introduce us?”

  Amanda didn’t like the gleam in her mother’s blue eyes, the one that so clearly radiated disapproval over Amanda’s choice in men. Divorce simply wasn’t in Jessica Huntington’s vocabulary, and Kevin and Mara’s presence could only mean a divorce.

  “Mom, this is my—uh, friend, Blake Simmons. Kerrianne is carrying Mara.” At the sound of her name, Mara giggled and held out her arms to Amanda. Grinning, Amanda took Mara from her sister. “And that big boy over there with Misty is Kevin.” Amanda didn’t explain further, taking some obstinate kind of pleasure in keeping their familial relationship a secret. “Blake, this is my mother, Jessica Huntington.”