by Ann Roth
Adam had no idea. “This is probably a good time get hold of Dwight Cornell.”
“I did, just as soon as I hung up from bawling out my mother this morning. He’s going to squeeze me into his schedule this afternoon.”
“That’s good.”
“Except, I can’t find anyone to watch William. I can’t bring him with me. I called several of his school friends’ moms, but no one can take him today. Betty is out of town, and Jana and everyone else I can think of is working. By the way, before Betty left, I told her you and I stopped seeing each other.”
Adam nodded. He opened his mouth to ask Sam how she was doing otherwise, but something else came out. “I’ll watch William for a few hours.”
His own words surprised him. Had he really offered to babysit? He needed every second of his time off to study.
“I don’t know, Adam. William still talks constantly about you.”
“Then seeing me today won’t make much difference. I won’t encourage his feelings toward me. We’ll hang out until you get back.” She didn’t look convinced. “You’re in a bind. Let me do this for you.”
She gave a resigned sigh. “All right. I’d planned to take him to see the horses this afternoon. Betty hired a man who stops by every morning to ride and care for them, but she invited us to stop by and visit with them any afternoon.”
“I can take him over there.”
“If you’re sure. It isn’t far, just across the field out back. My appointment is at 2:30, and I should leave by 2:00. I have no idea how long I’ll be gone, but it could be a few hours. That’s a long time to entertain a five-year-old boy.”
Adam figured he could handle it. “We’ll be okay.”
Sam visibly relaxed. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Her grateful smile made him feel good, as if he’d walked into the sunshine. All too soon, the smile faded and her eyes narrowed a fraction.
“Why exactly did you stop by?” she asked.
If that wasn’t the sixty-four-million-dollar question. “I thought you’d want to know I’ll be taking my written exam a week from today. And, uh, I miss you.”
“Really?” She sat back and crossed her arms. “I would never have guessed.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “You’re the one who decided we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”
“You could have called.”
“What would be the point of that?”
Her lips suddenly compressed into a tight line. Wrong answer, Adam. Then she’d wanted him to call?
He would never understand women. Wishing he’d followed his own advice and driven straight home instead of coming here, he scrubbed his hand over his face. “What do you want, Sam?”
“The usual, world peace and an end to hunger and disease.”
“What do you want from me?”
She hesitated then opened her mouth, and Adam braced for whatever she would say. But after a glance at the clock, she stood and collected the mugs. “I don’t have time for this right now. I should run to the store before I pick up William.”
“And I need to study for that test.” Adam pushed to his feet. “I’ll be back early this afternoon.”
Chapter Fifteen
‡
Seated in a plush chair in Dwight Cornell’s hushed reception area, Samantha set aside the People magazine she’d picked up and checked her watch for the umpteenth time. She’d been waiting nearly twenty minutes. She appreciated that the attorney had squeezed her in, but for Adam’s sake, she wished he would hurry up.
Adam wouldn’t want to watch William for long. She hated burdening him with the responsibility in the first place, but she hadn’t exactly had a choice. Without his help, she wouldn’t be here now, and with Jeff arriving next week, she didn’t have the luxury of postponing this appointment.
For those reasons, she was beyond grateful Adam had stopped by when she most needed him. The trouble was, talking and sitting across the kitchen table from him had felt all too right, as if it should always be this way between them.
He’d asked what she wanted from him. The unnerving answer had popped instantly into her mind.
She wanted him to love her and William.
Which only proved she was losing her mind. For starters, the timing was all wrong for love in her life. As for Adam…. The chances of his falling for her were about as likely as world peace.
The receptionist, a professional-looking woman about the same age as Samantha’s mother, hung up from a call, rounded her gorgeous mahogany desk and approached Samantha. “Mr. Cornell wanted me to let you know he’s just finishing up with a client. He should be out soon.”
Relieved, Samantha texted Adam that she was running late.
No doubt William would be thrilled. He’d been overjoyed to see Adam, his grin lighting his up his whole face. Adam had been as friendly as always, but it was obvious the he regarded William as a nice little boy, period.
And now, Jeff was coming to town.
Although the temperature of the waiting area was comfortably warm, Samantha suddenly felt cold. Rubbing her arms didn’t help because the chill came from inside her.
Down the hall, a door opened, and two men exited through it. One shrugged into his coat. The other, tall, graying at the temples and dressed in a suit, strode toward Samantha.
“You must be Ms. Everett,” he said, smiling. “I’m Dwight Cornell.”
His handshake was as firm as his direct gaze, and Samantha liked him at once. “Please call me Samantha. Thanks for seeing my on such short notice, Mr. Cornell.”
“It’s Dwight. You’re lucky I had a last-minute cancellation.”
He led her to an office every bit as luxurious as the reception area. Samantha wondered how he much he charged and hoped what she needed from him wouldn’t add too much to her debt load.
Never mind. William’s well-being mattered far more than money.
The attorney gestured her to sit down across the desk, then took his own seat. “What can I do for you?”
He took notes as her story poured out—Jeff’s infidelity, the divorce, the non-existent child support, and that now, after three years of silence and indifference, he suddenly wanted to see his son. “I don’t know what he wants, or what to do,” she finished.
“You’ve come to the right place,” Dwight replied. “I can help you.”
*
As Adam and William entered the barn, the two stabled horses poked their heads out in curiosity and snorted.
“Cocoa is the brown horse, and Gordy is the other one,” William said. “That’s how they say ‘hi.’”
Adam nodded. The old building felt surprisingly solid and comfortable, a snug buffer against the cold and damp.
The boy turned to the animals. “I brought my friend, Adam, today.”
Relieved he understood they were just friends, Adam greeted the huge geldings. “Hey there, guys.”
“I’ll bet you missed me,” William said.
They both seemed to nod, and Adam couldn’t help but grin. “They sure are happy to see you, sport. Which one is your favorite?”
William leaned in, cupped his hand around his mouth, and whispered loudly. “Cocoa, but don’t tell Gordy. I don’t want to hurt his feelings.”
Adam had always liked animals, but as a kid he’d never spared a thought for their feelings. Impressive that William did.
“Do you want to help me feed them their carrots?” William asked.
Clearly, he preferred to do the honors himself. Adam shook his head. “You go ahead. I’ll sit on that hay bale against the wall and watch.”
“That’s where my mom likes to sit.”
Adam settled back and imagined Sam beside him, smelling of vanilla and cinnamon and making him laugh.
He shook his head and told himself to knock it off. No way, no how.
William took his time, petting and murmuring and slowly doling out the dwindling supply of carrots, first to one horse and then the other.
That took
awhile. Before long, Adam’s mind wandered. Sam had texted that Dwight was running late, but surely by now, they’d met. If anyone could help her, the attorney could.
When William ran out of carrots, he climbed onto the hay bale and scooted close to Adam. Adam stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. William attempted to do the same, only his feet didn’t reach the ground by a long shot. It was kind of cute.
“Ever ridden a horse?” Adam asked.
“Uh-uh. Have you?”
“Nope. Do you want to learn?” William nodded, and Adam went on. “I’ll bet if you asked, Mrs. Randall would give you a lesson.”
“My mom will never let me do that.”
“Why not?”
“She’ll get scared that I’ll fall and hurt myself.”
Sam was pretty protective, all right. “It can’t hurt to ask.”
The boy grew visibly excited. “Do you think she might say yes?”
“If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
“Will you be there when I do?”
“Sure…if I’m around.”
“Like when she comes home later?”
Adam had no idea whether Sam wanted him to stick around then, or if he even wanted to start up with her again. “Whether I’m there or not, give her a chance to hang up her coat and relax. Then you might have better luck.”
“Okay.” William screwed up his face in thought. “Today, everyone in this barn is a boy. No girls allowed.”
“Hey, I like girls…. Women, I mean.”
“Not me.” William’s little nose wrinkled.
“What about your mom?”
“She’s not a girl, she’s my mom.”
Adam barely stifled his snort. “I see. When you’re older, you’ll change your mind about girls.”
William scooted forward and swung his legs back and forth, kicking the hay with his heels. “I wish I could take Cocoa and Gordy home with me.”
“You’re out of luck there, sport, but you can come visit them any time you want.” Adam’s cell phone beeped, signaling a text. “I’ll bet that’s your mom.” He checked the message. “She’s on her way home. Ready to go?”
The boy nodded and slid to the ground. He waved at the horses. “See you later, crocodile.”
Adam chuckled. “You mean alligator. That way the words rhyme.”
“What’s a rhyme?” William asked as they ambled toward the barn door.
“When words make that the same sounds. Like ‘later’ and ‘alligator.’” Outside, Adam started to close the door.
“No,” William said. “My mom lets me do that.”
Adam put his hands up and stepped back. “Have at it.”
After much grunting and effort, William secured the latch.
“Good job,” Adam said.
The boy seemed to stand taller. As they started across the field, he reached up for Adam’s hand.
Cold, trusting little fingers clasped hold, and emotions Adam didn’t understand crowded his chest. He coughed to clear his throat. “We’re buddies, but that’s all we are. Okay?”
William nodded somberly. “You’re my very bestest friend, ever. Even better than Douglas and Harper.”
What could Adam say to that? “I like you, too, sport.”
*
By the time Samantha pulled up the driveway, the sun was slanting toward the horizon. Poor Adam must be anxious to leave. Expecting him to be waiting with jacket in hand, she entered the house. Instead, she found him at the kitchen table, flipping through a magazine, while William crawled around the floor with several of his race cars.
The picture of a peaceful father and his son. Except fatherhood wasn’t even on Adam’s radar. Samantha firmly pushed the thought away.
“Mom!” William jumped up to give her a hug.
“Hi! Did you and Adam have a good time?”
Her son gave an enthusiastic nod. “Cocoa and Gordy were happy to see me. I fed them all my carrots, and Adam sat on the hay and watched, just like you do. Adam let me latch the door, too, and I know what a rhyme is. It’s when words have the same sounds, like—” he broke off and looked to Adam.
“Boy and toy,” Adam said.
“Like that.” William paused for a moment then added, “Adam says that someday I’ll like girls. Blech.”
The man’s guilty-as-charged shrug and unrepentant grin had her shaking her head and smiling. “Did he?”
“Yeah.” Nose wrinkled, William plunked onto the floor again and returned to his race cars.
“Did the meeting go okay?” Adam asked.
“Yes.” Samantha didn’t want to say anything more in front of her son. “We’ll talk about that later.”
William tugged on her pant leg. “Mom, I’m hungry.”
“All right, I’ll start dinner.”
“Can Adam eat with us?” A pleading look filled his widened eyes.
Samantha hated to say no, but with her heart on the line, she couldn’t handle that. Over her son’s head, she met Adam’s questioning gaze. He didn’t seem keen to stay, either.
“I’m afraid not, sweetie. Adam’s been here for a long time. He has a big test next week, and he needs to study.”
“She’s right.” Adam ruffled William’s hair. “I should get home.”
“Wait, Adam!” William jumped up again. “Mom, are you relaxed and stuff?”
“I guess so,” she said, confused. “Why?”
“’Cause Adam said to wait to ask until you are.”
The firefighter glanced down and shook his head, making her curious. “Ask me what?”
“If I can ride Cocoa or Gordy.”
“I don’t know…. I mean, they’re big animals, and you’re a little boy….”
“Not too little! Tell her, Adam.”
“It’s her decision, sport. But if it were me, I’d ask Mrs. Randall what she recommends.”
“Will you talk to her, Mom? Will you?”
“She’ll be gone for a couple more weeks, but the next time I see her, yes.”
“All right!” Her son fist-bumped Adam.
“Listen, sport, I need to talk to your mom before I leave.”
William nodded and glanced from Samantha to Adam.
“By ourselves,” Adam said. “Take your cars into the living room and play with them there, okay?”
Her son left the room. “How did he do this afternoon?” she asked in a low voice.
“Just fine. You’re raising a great kid.”
“I try.” She gave a proud smile. “I’m not sure about the horse riding thing.”
“See what Mrs. Randall says. Tell me about the meeting.”
“Thanks for referring me to Dwight. He’s going to draw up a document asking Jeff to give up his parental rights in exchange for me not suing him for the back child support he owes. If I sue, Jeff will either have to pay me the money he owes or face jail time. He’s never been good with money, and I’m guessing he doesn’t have anything saved.”
“Sound like a fair offer to me.”
“Let’s hope Jeff agrees. I just wish I knew what he wants to talk to me about, and why he suddenly wants to see his son. I guess I’ll find out.”
Samantha shuddered at the very thought, but as Dwight had assured her, with a face-to-face meeting, she could hand him the relinquishment of parental rights document.
“Are you going to let him see William alone?”
“No way.” She crossed her arms.
“Smart. When are you going to tell William that his dad is coming to visit?”
“Not until I have to. A few days before Jeff arrives.”
Her face must have reflected her dread, for Adam gave her a sympathetic look. “You’re in a tough spot. If you need me to stand beside you, just ask. What day is he coming?”
“He hasn’t said yet. You’ve already done so much, Adam. This something I need to do alone.”
“All right. By the way, you’ll be happy to know William considers us as fri
ends and nothing more.”
“That is a relief,” Samantha said, hoping her son understood Adam would never be more than a friend. “Thanks again for helping me out today. I owe you, big-time.”
“No problem.”
They started toward the entry, stopping in the living room, and Samantha called out to her son. “Say good-bye to Adam, William.”
He jumped up, ran to Adam, and threw his arms around his legs. “Bye! I had fun visiting the horses with you.”
Adam patted his little shoulder awkwardly. “Back at ya, good buddy. Remember to do what your mom says.”
The boy nodded before scampering back to his toys.
After shrugging into his jacket, Adam touched Samantha’s cheek with his warm, roughened fingers. His eyes darkened irresistibly with heat. Hardly aware of her own actions, she started to lean into his touch.
No, she silently ordered. She ducked away. “Good luck with the studying.”
“Good luck with your thing, too.”
Will I see you again? The question hung foremost in her mind, but she wasn’t going to ask.
To her disappointment, Adam said nothing more. He reached for the doorknob. As he stepped outside, a gust of cold air rushed in.
Shivering, Samantha shut the door. Then she returned to the kitchen to make dinner.
Chapter Sixteen
‡
The email from Jeff, the appointment with the attorney, and losing battle over her wayward feelings for Adam added up to an exhausting day. After tucking William in for the night, Samantha wanted to crawl into her own bed. And she would, as soon as she prepped for baking for the following morning. She was scooping flour into the bowl of the commercial mixer when Jana phoned.
“You called earlier. Sorry I couldn’t get back to you until now. You sounded worried.”
The mixing could wait. Samantha sank onto a kitchen chair. “You have no idea. The worst has happened. Jeff has decided to pay us a visit next week.”
“No! I’m in shock.”
“You and me both.” Samantha filled her friend in. “I’m scared, Jana. What if he tries to take William away from me?”
“Then you text me immediately. I’ll round up some of our men friends, and we’ll take care of him.”
