Huntington Family Series

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “Thanks.” She smiled, and he smiled back. A delicious tension built between them.

  “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go.” He took her hand and led her out to the snow-flocked drive.

  In the car she said, “I talked to Kim on the phone this morning. You know, Paula’s old roommate.” She knew the information might destroy their evening, but she didn’t want to keep it from him, either. “She was nicer to me than she was to you when you called, or at least more talkative. I like her. I think she’s going to make it. She found a new roommate—an older widow—and it seems to be working out for her. Anyway, she gave me a list of friends and their phone numbers. I found one guy named Loony who says Paula and the children were staying with him but left on Saturday.”

  “On New Year’s?” Blake glanced up briefly from the snowy road. “That was only two days ago!”

  Amanda took a deep breath. “Yeah, but he thinks Paula might have gone to California. He gave me some names to check out about that.”

  Blake’s jaw clenched as he absorbed the information. Finally, he gave a sigh. “Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do about that right now. Thanks for calling. At least we have a direction to look. You sure do have a way of getting information from people.”

  “I’m just tactful. Sometimes you can be . . . well, a little blunt.”

  To her relief, he grinned. “Yeah, it’s a guy trait, I think. So what did Erika say about it? I’m assuming you called her.”

  “I left a message, but she hasn’t called back. I told her we’d be at your place for dinner. I doubt she’ll call until tomorrow, though.”

  Blake nodded. “Okay, then. We’ll wait to hear from her.” Then he added more softly, “This evening will be for us.” One hand left the steering wheel and took hers, sending a happy warmth to her heart.

  At the house he served her chicken and rice with salad. For dessert he made huge banana splits. Amanda eyed them doubtfully. “Didn’t you have enough ice cream on New Year’s?” she asked. “You don’t know what this’ll do to my waistline.”

  He grinned. “It’s just this once. Trust me.”

  “Mmm,” she said, digging in. After only three bites, she felt something in her mouth that definitely wasn’t a nut.

  A ring. She could feel the hardness against her teeth, feel the shape with her tongue. Her heart pounded. Blake was watching her, silent now, his dark eyes alive and intense.

  She drew it out of her mouth, stared down at the simple band with the small, shining diamond. A long moment passed. She’d been engaged once right after high school and nearly engaged last year, but nothing had prepared her for the love she felt at this moment.

  “Well?” he asked. “It is one of the ones you liked in the ad, isn’t it?”

  At that point Amanda wouldn’t have cared if it had been one of the clearance rejects. She slipped the ring onto her finger, still slightly sticky with the sweet ice cream. “Yes,” she said. “It’s perfect.”

  “And?”

  “And I will.”

  Blake sprang from his chair and hugged her, drawing her to her feet. Tears stood out in his eyes. “I know I’ve been occupied with losing Kevin and Mara,” he whispered. “And I’m sorry. But I love you, and I will love you forever.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Their ice cream sat forgotten on the table as they began to plan their future. Where they would live, how many children they would have, and what they would do about work. Blake had Amanda laughing at the jobs he said he would soon start applying for: chief bottle washer at the Gerber Baby Food Company, assistant paint chooser for General Electric appliances (so he could do away with all shades of green), or maybe even executive doughnut taster for the police department.

  The doorbell rang, interrupting their mirth. Both of them froze, staring at each other. Funny, Amanda thought, doorbells never seemed to hold such power before Kevin and Mara entered my life.

  “It’s probably Garth from upstairs,” Blake said. “I bet he smelled the chicken and wants some. He’s a terrible cook.”

  Amanda relaxed. “Well, open the door. He’ll be the first to hear the good news.” She held up her hand with the new ring. “Then we’ll go over and tell Kerrianne. We should call my parents, too. And Mitch—and your brother and his wife.”

  Blake kissed her hand. “Okay, okay. But maybe you ought to run some water over it. I think there’s some chocolate from the ice cream trapped in the prongs.”

  Amanda gasped. “Oh, rats! Can’t have that.” Glancing at the multitude of pans and dishes piled in the kitchen sink, she added, “I’ll just run to the bathroom and clean it.” She wanted to check her makeup anyway and make sure nothing was in her teeth. If they were going to start announcing their engagement, she wanted to be presentable.

  Yes, and maybe she wanted to do a private happy dance to release some of the excitement welling in her heart. She hadn’t been this happy since before Adam had died and the children were taken away.

  If only . . .

  No, she couldn’t think about the search for Kevin and Mara—at least not right now. She’d promised Kerrianne she’d be happy, and she would do her very best to fulfill that promise.

  * * *

  Blake went to the door as the bell rang again, suddenly realizing that Garth always used the door coming into the living room. This bell was from the outside door that opened into the kitchen. Who would be coming here on a Monday night? he wondered. Dread shivered up his spine.

  As he opened the door, shock filled his entire body. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. Only his tight grasp on the doorknob stopped him from falling flat on his face.

  Paula stood there holding little Mara, who was wearing the pink coat Rhonda had bought for her. His cousin appeared small and weary, her eyes red from tears. At her side Kevin looked like a puffy blue marshmallow in his winter coat. Behind them stood Erika Solos, her hands in the pockets of her long black jacket.

  Only a second passed while they studied each other, but for Blake it was an eternity. Then Kevin finally shot at his legs, clinging to him. “Uncle Blake!” he shouted.

  Blake fell to his knees and hugged the child until his arms threatened to rebel at the pressure. Kevin didn’t protest but clung tighter to his neck.

  Blake felt more than saw Amanda come into the kitchen behind them, stopping short as she saw who the visitors were. Kevin wrenched himself from Blake and flew into her arms. Both were crying.

  “Here,” Paula said, offering Mara to Blake.

  “Bk, Bk,” Mara said, her face awash with smiles. Her arms went out to him, her body leaning forward.

  “She missed you,” Paula said. “Look how happy she is to see you.”

  Mara put her short arms around his neck, her tiny fingernails digging into his skin. Blake held her close, felt his tears wet her cheek.

  “Bk, Bk,” Mara said again, squealing with delight.

  Paula stared at her. “She never learned to say Mommy,” she whispered. Her expression was forlorn, and Blake felt a surge of pity for his cousin.

  “She will.” He held out a hand to her. “Thank you for bringing them, Paula. Thank you so much. I’ve missed them more than I can say. Come in, come in. It’s cold out there.”

  Paula shook her head and didn’t move.

  Erika stepped forward, taking a folder of papers from beneath her jacket. Blake accepted the folder. “What’s this?” he asked.

  “I’m giving you custody,” Paula said, her voice low. “You’ll still need to sign the papers and go in front of the judge, but you’ll have custody.”

  “You’re giving me custody?” The thought was unbelievable. Blake glanced at Amanda, who stood close to him, Kevin folded tightly in her arms. “But Paula, I know how much you lo—” He broke off. “What happened?”

  She shook her head, her lips trembling and nostrils flaring slightly. Some of her newly brown hair fell forward over her pale face—a haggard, suffering face that showed a myriad of new wrinkles
around her eyes and mouth. “You were right, Blake. I finally saw myself as you and Mom see me. I should have made this choice a long time ago—when Kevin was born. I still could, I suppose, for Mara, but Kevin loves her so much, and no matter how I want her to be happy, I can’t separate them.” Her voice cracked. “Besides, I’m not that strong, that giving. I have to know where they are. It’s gone too far for anything else. With you, I know they’ll be okay.”

  Tears streamed down Paula’s cheeks, and Blake felt helpless to do anything for her. In his arms, Mara was reaching for Amanda. She took the baby and at the same time handed Kevin to Blake. Kevin buried his face in Blake’s neck. Mara’s innocent giggle filled the glaring silence.

  “We’ll take care of them,” Amanda said at last. “We’re getting married.” She lifted the hand with the new ring.

  Paula gave her a watery smile. “I’m glad. I knew you would take care of them after meeting you that once. I knew I could trust you.”

  “You can get help,” Blake said. “Please, Paula.”

  His cousin nodded. “I’m going to try, but I don’t know if I can do it. And Kevin shouldn’t have to pay for my sins.”

  “You can do it,” Blake urged. “If you turn to the Lord. I know He’ll help you. I know it!”

  A sob escaped her throat. “I want to believe that, Blake, but right now I don’t trust myself. I don’t trust that tomorrow I’m not going to wake up and think crazy again. That’s why I gave you custody. I know you won’t give it back easily unless I’m really ready. I am going to try, believe me, but it’s so hard!”

  Blake didn’t know what to say.

  Paula took a deep breath and wailed, “Oh, Blake, how did I get to be so unfit? No, don’t answer that.” She held up her small hand, willing him not to speak. “I’m going now. I know I’ll hate myself forever for not being strong for them, but I’d hate myself even more if I don’t let them go. Still, it’s tearing my heart out!” With a shaking hand, she touched Mara’s soft cheek and then leaned forward on tiptoe to kiss the back of Kevin’s head. The boy didn’t turn around.

  Paula met Blake’s eyes, her voice lowering to less than a whisper. “Tell them I love them, okay? Tell them every time you think about it or when they ask about me.” At his nod, she turned and ran into the darkness, her sobs lingering behind on the frigid night breeze.

  Blake watched her go. He felt guilty experiencing such joy in having Kevin and Mara back while Paula endured such unspeakable agony. There was a time he would have run after her and begged her to stay, but he had a stronger obligation to the children now. Paula would have to find the strength within herself.

  “I’ll see that she’s all right,” Erika promised. “I drove them over, so she’ll be waiting in my car.”

  “How . . . when . . .” Blake felt too overwhelmed to finish his sentence.

  “She tracked me down on Saturday, and it took me two days to get all the paperwork done. I would have called you before but”—Erika shook her head—“you never know if they’ll change their mind at the last minute.”

  “They’re really mine?” Blake looked first at Kevin and then at Mara in wonder.

  Erika nodded. “Almost. Of course, if she does get things in hand, something might change in the future, but even then you’ll always have some legal rights. As for Paula cleaning up, I wouldn’t hold my breath. These things take time. She’s going to California to work, and I’ve set her up with some groups there. If she continues to want help, she’ll get it.”

  “I want to know where she is,” Blake said. “I’ll want to write her letters, send pictures. And I need to contact the Church there. If she can find her faith, she’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll do that,” Erika promised.

  “Thank you so much,” Amanda said.

  Erika smiled. “All in a good weekend’s work.” She bent down and picked up a large duffle bag. “Here’s some of their things, but you’ll have to come and get the rest at the agency tomorrow. I didn’t have room to get them in my tin can of a car.”

  “I’ll be there,” Blake said.

  He took a deep breath as Erika walked away. Only when he shut the door did Kevin lift his head from Blake’s shoulder. “You’re getting married?” he asked.

  “Yep, bud, we are. Is that okay with you?”

  Kevin nodded. “Yes. It’s really okay.” Then his attention riveted itself on the presents he spied in the corner of the living room. “Are those for me?”

  “Yes. For you and Mara.”

  Kevin grinned and struggled to get down. “Can I open them? ’Cause Christmas is over already.”

  “Wait a minute,” Amanda said, a gleam in her eyes that Blake recognized all too well. In his mind he called it the magic-purse syndrome.

  “Why?” he asked, looking around for her purse.

  “Let’s take them to my house. I have another present for them there.”

  “You do?” Blake didn’t see how she could have bought them more presents when she hadn’t known they were coming home tonight.

  She gave him a crooked grin. “Well, actually, I didn’t know it was for them at the time I got it. I almost got birds instead but . . . Oh, let’s just go!”

  Minutes later they were at Amanda’s house, the brightly colored packages forgotten on the floor as Kevin and Mara played with the golden puppy she had bought after work at the pet shop.

  Blake shook his head at her. “Too big to fit in your purse, huh?”

  Amanda laughed and sat back on the couch. “Hey, I was tired of living alone. I didn’t know if a certain guy I’m dating was ever going to ask me to marry him.”

  “You could have asked him.”

  “Naw. I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart.”

  “Can he come and live with me at Uncle Blake’s?” Kevin gathered the wriggling puppy in his arms.

  Blake met Amanda’s eyes and she nodded once, silently asking him to go ahead. “Well,” Blake began, “we were sort of hoping that in a month or so you and Mara and I could come and live here at Amanda’s.”

  Kevin’s eyes widened. “Here?”

  “It’s bigger than the apartment, you see,” Amanda explained. “I know you like being in a room with Mara now, but when you’re older you might want your own room. Here we have three bedrooms, plus a whole empty basement to build more rooms if we need to. We’ll bring your bed over, of course, and all your toys.”

  The puppy succeeded in freeing himself from Kevin’s grasp. He trotted over to where Mara sat on the floor and flopped his head on her legs. Mara tugged on the long ears, and the puppy turned his head to lick her hands.

  Kevin didn’t seem to notice the dog’s desertion. He leaned forward and curled one arm around Blake’s neck, the other going around Amanda’s. “Okay,” he said, “I’ll come live here. But that means I get to go to Amanda’s school, right?”

  Amanda hugged Kevin, and there were tears in her eyes as she met Blake’s gaze. “Yes, Kevin,” she said. “It does.”

  Kevin pulled away, grinning broadly. “Good. Then let’s go see my new room.”

  Amanda picked up Mara and slid her hand into Blake’s. Together they followed Kevin down the hall, the puppy tripping clumsily after them.

  No Longer Strangers

  No Longer Strangers

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks go to Jana, my wonderful product manager; Suzanne, my editor extraordinaire; Sheryl, the skilled and long-suffering art director; and all the many others at Deseret Book who work hard to typeset, print, market, and sell my books. I so appreciate every one of you. You’re the best!

  Chapter One

  Mitch Huntington groaned as the sound of the doorbell sliced into his unconscious thoughts. Reluctantly, he swam through the murky waters of sleep and managed to open one eye, the other still firmly smashed into his pillow.

  “Coming,” he called in a croaky voice that wouldn’t have made it past his bedroom door, much less carried to the porch. The brightness spilling in from his win
dow was painful, and he blinked that single eye several times to help it adjust. Who would wake him up before eight on a Saturday morning? He hoped it wasn’t one of the neighbor children, newly let out of school for the summer. They often came to see his animals.

  Ding, dong!

  “All right already!” He put both hands on the bed and heaved himself off his stomach, twisting his legs to the floor. Trying to stand, he tripped over the tennis shoe Muffin the Mutt had been using to sharpen his teeth. Mitch’s face hit the carpet, and the top of his head slammed against the ten-gallon glass aquarium that was home to a pair of his gerbils. Or had been. The two animals were no longer alone.

  Mitch opened his other eye, now pressed up close to the glass. He blew his hair out of his face. “One, two, three, four, five, six . . .” That was all he could count before Hiccup covered her new babies, aided by Elvis, her faithful companion of two months.

  “Well, looks like you had a productive night,” Mitch muttered, more than a little irritated. He’d spent half the night waiting for the blessed event and had missed it entirely.

  The doorbell rang three more times, staccato and short, like an impatient woman tapping her foot. Mitch hauled himself to his feet and hurried to the door of his room, stubbing his toes first on the edge of the gerbil cage and then on the smaller aquarium containing Lizzy Lizard, his western fence lizard, who was fighting a cold with antibiotics and two extra heating lamps.

  “That’s it!” Mitch yelled, grabbing his sore toes and hopping around on the other foot. “Tonight, you’re all going back to your own room. I don’t care how many babies you have or how many respiratory diseases you get!”

  Hobbling down the hall and through his living room, he opened the front door in time to see a woman in a trim black suit moving gracefully down his steps.

  She turned. “Oh, good, you’re home,” she drawled with a faint accent Mitch thought might be Texan. She was an attractive woman with long black hair, a full mouth, and dark eyes that were clearly annoyed. Mitch straightened his tall frame that was still too thin despite the ten pounds he’d recently gained. Belatedly, he realized he was wearing his black pajama bottoms, spotted with white soccer balls and topped by a black, short-sleeved T-shirt.