I've Got You, Babe (Must Love Babies)

by Lynnette Austin

  “’Kay, but I won’t be scared ’cause the monsters and ghosts aren’t real.”

  “That’s right.”

  A touch of cool tinted the breeze. That little nip in the air cried out for trick-or-treaters, apple cider, and a blazing fireplace.

  Turning onto Main Street, Elisa nodded. Once again, Misty Bottoms had done it up right. The shop windows showcased vibrant red, orange, and yellow fall leaves, carved pumpkins, and gold and bronze mums, along with ghosts and goblins. Even the lampposts wore autumn garlands.

  When they reached the street’s end, Elisa pulled to the curb in front of Tansy’s Sweet Dreams Bakery.

  “Pretty, Mommy.”

  Elisa glanced in the rearview mirror at her daughter’s face pressed to the window. Everything became new and fresh when viewed through a child’s eyes.

  Tansy had transformed the front porch of her Victorian from summer to fall with jack-o’-lanterns, pots of autumn flowers, and an orange and black wreath on the front door. A scarecrow stood to the right of the porch stairs, and an old wagon loaded with pumpkins, a small ghost, and fall leaves held place of honor on the left.

  “Gracie Bella’s mommy owns this pretty house.”

  “Uh-huh. Can we get out, Mommy?”

  “For a couple of seconds, then we have to go home. We have lots to do tonight.”

  Daisy clapped her hands. “Twick-or-tweeting.”

  Laughing, Elisa freed her daughter. “I’m sure there will be plenty of tweeting tonight—of a different kind.”

  The house’s front door opened, and Tansy and Gracie Bella stepped out in costume.

  Daisy ran to Gracie Bella, waving her paper pumpkin. “I made it.”

  The girls plopped down on the steps, studying the badly colored jack-o’-lantern and trying to decide which of the ones that lined the steps matched it best.

  “Wonder Woman and Batgirl. Nice. Did you make your costumes?” Elisa asked.

  “I did, with a whole lot of inappropriate language. I can bake. I cannot sew.” Tansy patted her tummy. “I made my cape a little bigger to hide my baby bump.”

  Elisa sighed. “I loved being pregnant and feeling that new life inside me. I’d hoped to have a couple more, but…plans change.”

  Tansy plucked a dead leaf from a plant. “Don’t rule it out. I never in a million years expected Beck to be back in my life and another baby on the way.”

  “I’m happy for you, Tansy, I really am, but we don’t all get fairy-tale endings.” She shook her head. “And listen to me. Debbie Downer’s done, I promise. Daisy and I are morphing into Cruella de Vil and one of the Dalmatian pups.”

  “That’ll be fun. Who are you going with?”

  “Just the two of us. I thought we’d stop at a couple of houses, enough to give Daisy a taste of tradition.”

  “Why don’t you come with Beck, Gracie, and me?”

  Reluctant to play the third wheel, Elisa shook her head.

  “Oh, come on. The girls will have more fun together.”

  “We’re not intruding?”

  “Not at all. We’ll pick you up.”

  A very fast forty-five minutes later, peanut butter sandwiches practically inhaled, Elisa finished transforming herself and Daisy into Disney characters. Beck’s truck pulled up out front while she was drawing the last spot on her daughter’s face.

  Daisy, getting into character, barked as she crawled on all fours to the door. Before they left, Desdemona insisted on being the first to put treats in the girls’ bags, then took enough pictures to fill an album.

  When they finally slid into the backseat of the truck, Elisa sniffed. “What do I smell?”

  “Warm apple cider. I have cups for everyone.” Tansy reached for her thermos.

  “Tut gived us cider, too. And we watched Tangled.”

  “Oh yeah?” Beck grinned. “Got the big bad Marine watching chick flicks, huh? Interesting.”

  Tansy elbowed him. “Tangled isn’t a chick flick. It’s a kid’s movie.”

  They stopped at Beck’s parents’ first. Orange pumpkin lights had been strung along the front porch and votives lined the sidewalk. His mom and dad stepped out, cameras and candy in hand. Daisy turned shy, so Elisa picked her up. The little girl buried her head in her mom’s shoulder—until a candy bar dropped into her bag.

  Cautiously, she peeked at Mrs. Elliot, then into her bag. “Mommy, Mommy! I got candy.”

  “That’s what tonight’s all about.”

  “Will other people give me candy?”

  “If you remember to thank them.”

  “Thank you,” Daisy said quickly.

  “You’re quite welcome,” Mr. Elliot boomed. “You kids have time for a fast picture?”

  “More pictures?” Beck protested.

  His father ignored him and herded the group into a cozy, well-lived-in family room. The five of them stood in front of a huge stone fireplace and smiled for the camera. After, Elisa played cameraman and took a picture of Beck’s parents with the others.

  Then they bundled back into the truck and headed down the driveway.

  “Darlene’s place is on the way to your mom’s, Tansy. How about we stop there next?” Beck asked.

  “Perfect.” Wonder Woman gave Green Lantern a quick smooch.

  Darlene, who owned the quilting shop in town, had festooned her house with jack-o’-lanterns and a life-size witch on the front door.

  Daisy walked beside her mother this time. “Will she give me candy, too?”

  Elisa nodded.

  The instant the door opened, Daisy stepped right up, the treat bag wide open.

  Beck laughed. “She catches on fast.”

  “Yes, she does.” Elisa nudged Daisy. “What do you say to Miss Darlene?”

  “Thanks, Miss Darlene.”

  “You’re welcome.” Just then, Moonshine and Mint Julep, Darlene’s Cairn terriers, came sliding around the corner.

  Daisy let out a happy squeal. “Doggies!”

  “They don’t bite?” Elisa asked.

  Darlene shook her head, but it was unnecessary, as both Batgirl and the Dalmatian pup were already rolling around the floor with the dogs, who wore Halloween sweaters.

  Tansy gave them a few minutes, then said, “Okay, girls. Tell Miss Darlene good night.”

  With more than one glance over their shoulders, the girls allowed themselves to be led back to the truck.

  Beck, who was a reluctant Green Lantern, lifted both girls into his pickup, belted them in, then headed out of town.

  “I still have those green tights, Beck, if you change your mind,” Tansy teased. “They’d go well with your green shirt.”

  He glanced at his wife who sat in the shotgun seat. “I wouldn’t be caught dead in them. This man doesn’t wear leotards. Ever.”

  After a stop at Tansy’s mom’s, Daisy piped up. “I want to go to Tut’s.”

  “Oh, honey, he won’t have candy.” Elisa didn’t want to visit Tuck tonight. She didn’t know what to do about him. Her emotions were in turmoil.

  “Sounds like a great idea.” Beck turned toward Firefly Creek Lane.

  “You don’t have to drive clear out there,” Elisa argued.

  “No big deal.”

  But it was. For Cruella, anyway. Her secret was eating her up. Why hadn’t she told him about her dad the instant she’d suspected? It would be done with. They’d be done with.

  Oh, snickerdoodles.

  When they pulled into Tucker’s driveway, Cruella’s palms grew damp and she fought flight’s siren song. No decorations here, but he had turned on his porch light. It cut through the darkness as though he expected someone, but Elisa was dead-certain he wouldn’t guess that someone would be her and Daisy. Maybe. Then again, maybe he’d hoped to see them.

  Well, it didn’t make a
ny difference what she thought. Since Beck was driving, it was out of her hands.

  She needn’t have worried.

  Tucker opened the door, a big goofy smile on his face. He hadn’t shaved and looked so gorgeous Cruella nearly drowned in her own drool.

  Tucker leaned down to Batgirl and gave her a big smooch. “Does Batman know you’ve left Gotham City?”

  Gracie Bella giggled. “It’s me, Tuck.”

  “No! Gracie? I didn’t recognize you. Why are you out with Wonder Woman and Green Lantern?”

  She giggled again. “’Cause it’s the night everybody gives us candy!”

  Daisy ran across the yard and tugged at Tucker’s jeans. “Hi, Tut.”

  “Do I know you?” Tuck asked. “I’m not sure I’ve ever met a talking Dalmatian. I know a poodle and a couple of terriers, but a Dalmatian? I don’t recognize these spots.”

  Bending her head, Daisy studied the spots on her outfit. Then she tipped her chin to meet Tucker’s gaze. “They’re not real spots. They’re ’tend, huh, Mommy?”

  “Pretend,” Elisa corrected. “And yes, they are.”

  “I don’t know.” Tucker rubbed his chin.

  Daisy patted his knee. “It’s me, Tut. Daisy Elizabeth Danvers.”

  “Daisy? No! I think you’re trying to trick me. My Daisy is a sweet little girl, not a puppy dog.”

  “We’re just ’tending.”

  “Tell you what. Give me a kiss. Right here.” He tapped his cheek. “I’ll know my Daisy’s kiss.”

  He bent down and she kissed him.

  He grinned. “Darned if you’re not right. You look cute, Daisy.”

  “Thanks.” Shy again, she studied her feet.

  “Am I right in assuming you and Batgirl want some candy?”

  “Yes,” both girls cried.

  He disappeared into the house and came back with a fistful for each.

  “Look, Mommy. Look what Tut gived me!”

  “I see.” She glanced at the mound of candy, then pinned Tucker with a hard stare. “Do you think you gave them enough?”

  “Hey, you came to me.” He held up his hands, palms out. “Just sayin’. Besides, I figure Beck can help Tansy ride herd on a sugared-up little girl tonight.” He waggled his brows. “Speaking for myself, I’d be more than happy to go home with you—you know, to help out.”

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  “What’s that mean, Mommy?”

  “It means he’s…stubborn.”

  “Oh. So can he come home with us tonight?”

  When Tucker chuckled, Beck joined him.

  Tansy and Elisa shared a look that said there was no use fighting it. Boys would be boys.

  “Give me a couple minutes to throw together a costume.”

  “Tansy has a pair of green tights in the truck,” Beck offered.

  Tucker stopped half in, half out of the door. “Are you serious?”

  “Wanna borrow them?” Beck asked.

  “Not in this lifetime.”

  “See?” Beck rounded on Tansy. “Told you. Real men don’t wear tights.”

  Elisa, Tansy, and Beck chatted on Tucker’s porch while they waited. The girls, candy abandoned for the time being, chased each other around the yard.

  Not five minutes later, Tuck stepped through the door in his camos. He looked so big, so bad, so male that he stole Elisa’s breath.

  “I swore I’d never wear these again, but this was pretty short notice to come up with a costume.” He whistled for the girls, who came running. He knelt in the grass. “What do you think, ladies? How’d I do?”

  “You’re a soldier.” Daisy crawled onto his knee and gave him a big hug. “I love it, Tut.”

  “Me, too,” Gracie Bella chimed in.

  He dumped the rest of his candy in a basket and set it on the top step.

  “Honor system?” Beck asked.

  “You bet. It won’t matter because nobody will come clear out here for a candy bar.”

  “We did,” Elisa said.

  “Yeah, but only because you know what kind of goodies I have.”

  She turned pink, and he laughed.

  “Cut it out, Dumbo.” She elbowed him in the stomach.

  “Nobody but you picked up on that double entendre.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” She tossed a sideways glance at Tansy and Beck who were both doing an excellent job of looking innocent. “They know.”

  “Considering they’re practically newlyweds, yeah, they probably do.” He had the audacity to wink at her. “Since there’s six of us, we should take two vehicles.”

  The girls didn’t want to split up. Since Daisy’s car seat was already in Beck’s truck, she went with them. Elisa and Tucker followed.

  Alone in the car with Tucker, Elisa again became all too aware of his maleness, and the man smelled so good. She chewed her bottom lip.

  Tucker laid his hand over hers. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite. I’m a soldier, not a vampire.”

  She sighed. “I know.”

  “I miss you and Daisy at the house.”

  She snorted. “You do not. I’ll bet you turned cartwheels when you got us moved into Desdemona’s.”

  He shot her a sideways glance. “No, I didn’t. I’ll admit to a small bit of unease when you first moved in.” He caught her expression. “Okay, a lot of unease, but you kind of grow on a fellow. I was hoping to see you tonight.”

  “Even though Daisy wants you to, you can’t stay tonight,” Elisa warned.

  “Understood.” At the next stop sign, he leaned toward her, wrapped a hand behind her neck, and pulled her in for a whopper of a kiss that curled her toes. “Guess that’ll have to do, huh?”

  Heart racing, she simply nodded.

  The tension broken, they chatted nonstop on the drive into town.

  Their last stop would be Tansy’s aunt’s house. Before they’d left Cricket and Sam’s, Tansy said, “Be warned. Aunt Coralee not only colors outside the lines, she’s erased them.”

  “Actually, we’ve met her,” Tuck said. “She’s one heck of an artist.”

  “Did she tell you she nearly landed in jail over the mural?”

  Elisa had smiled. “No, she left that part out. She did tell us what she does with the money, though, and I think it’s wonderful.”

  Tucker took her hand, his thumb tracing over the back.

  He wouldn’t betray her confidence. Neither would Coralee or Doc Hawkins. Elisa wanted to keep Daisy’s heart issue quiet as long as possible because once people knew about it, they tended to treat her differently.

  When they reached Tansy’s aunt’s house, the vehicles were barely unloaded before the front door opened and a very eccentric-looking witch stepped out.

  Gracie Bella ran to her, but Daisy tried to crawl up her mother’s leg. Elisa lifted her.

  “What a group we have,” Coralee cackled. “I see someone is afraid of me.” She swooped Gracie Bella into her arms. “Tell your pretty little friend I’m okay, Gracie. She’s been here before, but I wasn’t a witch the day she visited.”

  “Auntie is nice, Daisy,” Gracie said.

  “And I have lollipops,” Coralee added.

  “Lollipops?” Daisy wiggled to get down, and Elisa lowered her to the sidewalk.

  Daisy held out her bag and followed Witch Coralee to the porch for goodies.

  When Tansy’s aunt suggested they move inside for some cocoa, Tucker bowed out.

  “Afraid I’ve got an early morning appointment. If I let Gaven meet with the client alone, he’ll give away the shop. The kid’s great with cars, but he’s clueless when it comes to the business end of things.”

  “Would you mind dropping Daisy and me at the house first?” Elisa asked. “My little Dalmatian is dragging butt.”


  Cocooned in Tucker’s Mustang as he drove her home, Elisa said, “Next Halloween I’ll pass out candy at the bookstore, and the decorations will have everybody stopping by, young and old.”

  “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” She twisted slightly in her seat. “It’s like a dream. I lost my job, my home, my hope. The entire bottom fell out of my world. Then I pulled off the road at your shop and, well, as awful as all that was, it turned my life around. I wake up every morning reminding myself how lucky I am.”

  Tucker parked in front of Desdemona’s and glanced in his rearview mirror. “You were right. Daisy was worn out.”

  Elisa nodded. “The pup hit the wall.” Folding her hands in her lap, she said, “Thanks for coming with us tonight.”

  “I enjoyed it. Is Desdemona home?”

  “No. Robin Hood and Maid Marion are at a costume party.”

  He threw her a sexy grin. “The chaperone’s away?”

  She nodded toward the dashboard clock. “It’s late.”

  “I lied about the early morning appointment.”

  “Why?”

  “You looked a little upset. I figured you wanted to get the kid home.”

  And there it was. Tucker understood her better than people she’d known a lifetime. Certainly better than the man she’d married ever had.

  “Why don’t you at least let me carry Daisy inside?”

  “I’d appreciate that.”

  Once she had Daisy tucked in, no doubt dreaming about her bag of Halloween loot, Elisa tiptoed down the elegant staircase to find Tucker waiting. Sprawled on the velvet loveseat in his worn camos, he looked perfectly at home. Tucker Wylder was comfortable wherever he found himself. She envied him that.

  * * *

  Tucker watched Elisa come down the stairs toward him. What was he going to do about her? He’d thought that once she left his house, she’d also move out of his thoughts. How wrong he’d been. If anything, he craved her more. He craved seeing her, hearing her, smelling her. He craved touching her and sharing morning coffee with her.

  He missed Daisy’s laughter, her oh-so-innocent wonder at the world around her. It was fascinating to watch her, to see how her mind wrapped around ideas. She changed every day—and he was missing out on it.