“Tina can probably watch Jake on Friday. You can pick him up in the evening.”
Molly nodded her agreement.
Brett stood, his purpose completed. “So, have you had lunch yet?”
Molly started to smile, as if warming to the idea, then looked at her watch and eyed a pile of reports in her in-box. The guarded expression she’d worn earlier replaced the smile.
Brett swore silently. She obviously didn’t want to be alone with him, even in a crowded restaurant.
“I take it you’re too busy,” he said, not waiting for her answer. “I’ll head on home. See you about five, or are you working late again?” Molly responded with a guilty, stricken look.
It looked like his dig had hit home. He needed a reaction from her to show him that she still had some kind of feelings toward him, that the passionate, caring woman who consoled him through Jake’s illness hadn’t been completely absorbed by the polite stranger who’d been living with him since.
“No,” she said tiredly. “I shouldn’t be late tonight.”
“Good.” He grabbed his gloves and strode out the door.
Any remaining enthusiasm Molly had for her work left with Brett. Who had she been trying to fool? She was handy as a sometimes baby-sitter and sounding board for Brett’s childraising concerns. But he didn’t need her any more than he needed Tina, or Josh, or any other of his friends. And, if she referred Jake to the Shermans, he’d no longer consider her a friend.
There was one way she could draw Brett to her. She had the power to mark Jake’s file unavailable to other prospective parents. Doing so and telling Brett would make him ever grateful. No! She refused to stoop her mother’s level and use manipulative tactics to trap a man in a relationship he didn’t want. Besides, changing the record falsely would be unethical and jeopardize her job. And sadly, without Brett and Jake, all she had was her job.
She’d concentrate on getting through the next week until her conference in New York. The conference, followed by his working up north for the weekend would give her a four-day respite to bring her life back into perspective. By then, Brett’s application could be approved and she could move on.
She’d survive. She always did.
It felt funny to come to Thayer House and not see Molly, Brett thought as he climbed the stairs to the office she shared with Charles. She’d been kind of jumpy the past few days since he’d asked her to watch Jake. He didn’t know if she’d been nervous about speaking at the conference or nervous about being around him.
He didn’t have that problem. Living with her felt comfortable, right to him. Visions of Molly sitting across the dinner table from him flush with excitement, telling him about an adoption placement she made mingled with a picture of her flush with another kind of excitement, her gold-red hair spread across the pillow. Until the past few days, he’d felt they were growing closer. Maybe not as close as he would have liked. His body tightened in response to his thoughts. But closer just the same.
He’d really expected her to call last night from New York to tell him about the conference and check on Jake. Brett had wanted to hear her voice, share his day with her, know she was okay. When she hadn’t called, he’d tossed and turned most of the night, waking at every creak and groan the old house uttered.
Could he have been that wrong about Molly’s feelings for him? He’d been making enough of a fool of himself over her since Jake’s illness for her to know how he felt. Did she see him and Jake as simply part of her job? If so, it could soon all be over.
Brett had caught Charles’ message on the answering machine when he’d gone back to the house for his surveying equipment after dropping Jake at Tina’s. Rather than call the caseworker back, Brett had decided to stop by Thayer House on his way north to the Conrad job.
Charles hadn’t said outright that Brett’s adoption application had been approved, but he did say he had good news. What other good news would he have? Brett took the remaining stairs two at a time. When he reached the office and saw Charles, he couldn’t keep the grin from his face.
“Hey, Charles.” He strode over to the desk.
“Hey man.” Charles looked up from his paperwork. “I didn’t expect to see you today.” He stood and offered Brett his hand.
Brett shook the extended hand enthusiastically. “I’m on my way to a surveying job. I got your message before I left and decided to stop in, rather than call. What’s the good news?”
Charles paused dramatically. “Maybe you should sit down, Charles said. “The good news is because of the extenuating circumstances, Korean Child Welfare approved your application ahead of the official January 1 date for allowing single parent applications.”
Brett leapt up from the chair before he’d even hit the cushion. “Does this mean Jake is ours, I mean mine?” He’d automatically thought of him and Molly and Jake as one, again.
“Yes,” Charles answered, settling back in his seat.
“All-right!” Brett exclaimed. He hadn’t been this excited since he’d gotten his driver’s license.
“You got ahead of me by stopping by, so I haven’t written the referral letter yet.”
“Then, it’s not official?” Brett’s excitement plummeted as quickly as it had arisen.
“Oh, no, it’s official. All I need to do is update Jake’s computer records.” Charles turned to the computer and typed in Jake’s identification number.
Brett sat back down, elbows on knees, hands folded. A concerned look on Charles face caused Brett to lean closer, trying to see the computer screen. The reflection of the sun streaming through the window behind Charles made it impossible for Brett to read anything on the screen.
“What the blazes has she done now?” Charles muttered more to himself than to Brett.
“What’s wrong?” Brett asked, moving around the desk behind Charles, for a better view of the screen. He skimmed the record, but didn’t see what could be causing Charles’ reaction. “What’s wrong?” he repeated more forcefully.
Charles looked over his shoulder at Brett. “I’m going to have to verify some of the information here.”
“Well, do it.” Brett motioned to the computer. Something was wrong, very wrong.
“I have to check with whoever last updated Jake’s file, Charles said, avoiding direct eye contact with Brett.
Brett studied the other man’s profile. Charles knew something he wasn’t saying.
A movement on the computer screen drew Brett from his speculations. Charles had his hand on the mouse poised to close the file.
“Wait.” Brett stepped closer and, when Charles hesitated, he quickly re-read the information on the screen. The word Referred hit him like a sledgehammer. He swore vehemently. Molly’s name leaped out at him from the screen. Unbelievable. “Molly referred Jake to another family, didn’t she?”
Charles closed the file and spun his chair around to face Brett. “As I’m sure Molly told you, she had to list Jake in the Waiting Children Book. Korean Child Welfare insisted.”
“No,” Brett said tightly. “She didn’t.” No wonder she’d been hiding in her room all week. Her conscience, if she had one, wouldn’t let her face him. He’d never been so wrong about a woman—anyone—in his life. What a front. All along, he’d thought Molly was a caring compassionate person, when in reality she was looking out for number one.
Brett paced the office, trying to contain his anger and disbelief. Why should he contain his anger? He had every right to be angry. Molly had deceived him and led him on one merry chase. He couldn’t believe he’d been such a fool.
Spinning to face Charles, he demanded, “Tell me. Did Molly refer Jake to someone else?”
“I don’t know,” Charles answered, shaking his head. “I don’t know. We had a computer network crash earlier in the week.”
Nice try, Brett thought. Charles was fishing for excuses to cover for Molly. Obviously, she had him as bamboozled, too. Despite their long friendship, Charles didn’t seem to know Molly’s true natur
e any better than he did. Brett tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for more of an answer from Charles.
“I’ll talk with Molly and get this straightened out over the weekend,” Charles said. “You’ll be back in town Monday?”
“Yeah, you do that.” Brett knew that, if Molly had referred Jake to another family, Charles couldn’t rescind the referral. The only way he’d get to keep Jake now was if the other people didn’t want him. Fat chance of that.
“You okay, man?” Charles asked.
“Fine, great, couldn’t be better,” Brett replied.
“Why don’t you sit and cool it for a minute?” Charles walked over and placed his hand on Brett’s shoulder in a friendly gesture. “I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding.”
“Uh, uh. I’m outta here. I want to spend what little time I have left with Jake.”
Chapter Thirteen
Brett made it home in record time. Trash the job. He had to pick up Jake and get away to think. Molly would be home soon and he wasn’t in the mood for any more of her do-gooder lies. He’d pack a few days’ essentials for Jake and they could go up to his grandfather’s old hunting cabin where there was no phone, no interruptions.
His mind rushed on. Maybe he could sue. He’d talk with Tina when he got back, after he’d made sure Molly was gone. Right now, he was tired of talking.
He slammed into the house, threw some clothes in a bag for himself and Jake and headed over to Tina’s.
“Hi,” she greeted him looking, up from the game of blocks she was playing with Jake and Amy. “What did you forget?”
“Nothing, I canceled the job. Jake and I are going away for a few days.”
“What’s wrong?” Tina’s voice was laced with concern.
“Nothing, everything. I don’t want to talk now. I just want to get out of here.”
“Calm down, sit down. I can’t let you take Jake when you’re so upset.”
“Yes, you can. Jake’s mine, for the time being.” He started toward Jake, a look of alarm on the little boy’s face stopping him. Great, now he’d frightened Jake.
Brett breathed deeply. “Sorry, Bud,” he said reassuringly. “You play with Amy while I to talk to Tina.” Jake’s chin quivered ever so slightly, and Brett reached down and tousled his hair. “Everything’s okay, really.”
Jake looked up at him trustingly.
“Why don’t you go help Amy with her building,” Brett prompted.
“‘Kay.” Jake stuck his thumb in his mouth and padded back to the pile of blocks.
“You’re okay?” Tina questioned Brett.
“I’m okay,” he answered in a quiet voice. “I’ve got some hard thinking to do and I can’t do it here, not while Molly is still in my house. Can we leave it at that?”
Tina nodded. “I’ll get Jake’s things together.”
“Thanks,” he said wearily. “I’ll explain it all when I get back. I may need your help, your legal help.”
“Sure, you know where to find me.”
“Yeah.” At least he could count on Tina.
Tina had Jake help her round up his belongings and stuff them in his backpack. She handed the pack to Brett. “Oh, wait. This came today, UPS. We were out in the yard, so I signed for it.” She handed Brett the overnight envelope.
He read the shipping label. From Donahue & Donahue; To Mr. and Mrs. Brett Cahill. He tore open the envelope. The check from Molly’s trust fund. How fitting. It was made out to both of them. She’d denied him Jake; he could stop her purchase of the condo.
“Keep an eye on Jake for a couple of more minutes, would you?” Brett walked to the door, deep in thought. “I’ve got to take care of something.” He left Tina’s house with her and the kids staring after him.
* * *
Molly pulled into the driveway surprised at the dark house. Brett usually left the porch light on. He must have forgotten. She carried her bags to the house and tried the door. Locked. Funny, Brett generally left the door open when Tina watched Jake in case Tina needed something of Jake’s. And where was Humphrey? He should have made an appearance by now if he were outdoors or be barking up a storm inside. She fumbled in her satchel for the house key. The lack of light made fitting the key in the old door difficult.
Once inside she switched on the light and brought her bags from the porch. The stillness of the house spooked her a bit. She’d never been here alone at night before. Well, she wouldn’t be alone for long. She turned to walk back out and over to Tina’s to get Jake. The envelope on the table by the door caught her eye. Mr. and Mrs. Brett Cahill. Seeing their names written out as one gave her a tingle. If only . . .
She stopped her train of thought. No. No sense getting into if onlys.
Molly picked up the envelope and found it opened. She checked the label again. Tina had signed for the delivery. The woman had a lot of nerve. Molly intended to give her a good piece of her mind. But, first, she pulled the contents from the envelope.
Brett’s handwriting, bold and black jumped out at her.
Here’s the check for your condominium. Don’t worry, I’ve endorsed it. I expect you to be gone when I get back.
Molly dropped the paper as if burned. Brett wanted her out. They’d been distant the past week but she hadn’t imagined him so anxious to have her gone. And what about Jake? Excitement replaced the emptiness inside her. The adoption must have been approved while she was in New York. That was it. Jake could stay with Brett. But she couldn’t. Like a popped balloon, her excitement was gone in a boom. She closed her eyes against the pain.
Now that Brett could adopt Jake, he didn’t need her around anymore. And the other day she’d been worried about using him. They’d kept to their marriage agreement and used each other. Well, almost kept to the agreement. Tears seeped from under her closed eyelids as she remembered how she’d felt in Brett’s arms, like she belonged, like she’d come home. She blanked the picture from her mind, if not from her heart. She had the condo now. She didn’t need Brett’s home or his family. A loud sob escaped. Liar. Molly wrapped her arms around herself and let the tears stream.
Outside, the wind moaned with her, rattling the shutter on Jake’s bedroom window. Jake. A light glimmered in the gloom. At least she had the weekend with Jake. She could say her good-byes to him, if not to Brett. Molly wiped her palms across her wet cheeks and went to the bathroom to repair the damages before facing Tina. Tina would know all, she thought with irritation.
The lights shone brightly at the house next door, lighting the way across the yards. Molly lifted the doorknocker and let it drop. She could hear little Amy calling to her mother and the sound of footsteps moving toward the door, then a slight pause while Tina glanced out the window before opening the door.
“Molly.” Tina didn’t invite her in.
“I’m here to pick up Jake,” Molly tried to keep her voice steady.
Tina stared at her. “Jake’s not here. Brett picked him up this afternoon.”
“They’re not at the house,” Molly said. Did that sound as inane to Tina as it did to her? Obviously, they weren’t at the house or she wouldn’t be here to pick up Jake. “Where did they go?” Brett wouldn’t have taken Jake on the job with him.
“He didn’t say.”
The wind whipped the porch chimes causing a jangle of sound. “Did he say when he’d be back?”
“Not really. In a few days he said.”
Brett had a casual attitude, but not toward Jake. He knew he wasn’t supposed to take Jake out of the area without notifying Thayer House. It didn’t make sense that Brett would receive his adoption approval and take off with Jake.
Molly’s mind raced for an answer. Oh, no, maybe Brett’s application had been denied. The possibility hit her with such force she gasped out loud. Please, anything but that, she prayed.
“Tina, please, do you have any idea where he went? I have to get a hold of him.”
“No, and if I did, I don’t think he’d want me to tell you. Whatever you did, you’r
e about the last person he wants to see right now.”
Did to him? Molly had thought he’d wanted her to leave because their deal was concluded. Tina thought she’d done something that made him take off with Jake. Oh, no! The computer files. The pieces were starting to fall into place.
She made a noise somewhere between a groan and a sob that caused Tina’s expression to soften. “Tina,” Molly pleaded. “As Brett’s friend, you have to help me. I didn’t mean to, but I may have hurt him big time.”
“All right, come in.”
The slam of the door behind her told Molly that Tina was still on the defensive. She sank into couch and reached for her cross. Tina faced her in an armchair.
“We had to list Jake in the Waiting Children Book. I had no choice. Korean Child Welfare explicitly told us to.” Molly could tell from Tina’s blank expression that Tina wasn’t following her. She took a deep breath. “Early this week, I had a couple who saw Jake’s photo in the book and asked for him.”
“No,” Tina whispered. She looked as stricken as Molly felt. “What did you do?”
Molly rubbed her cross. “Fortunately, the computer network was down, so I couldn’t call up Jake’s records for them. When the network came back up, I marked Jake’s file REFERRED. I shouldn’t have. It could mean my job. But after the Shermans asked about him, I was afraid other people might ask about him. That one of the other caseworkers would refer him to a family before Brett’s application could be approved. I figured Charles would let me know when Brett’s application was approved and I planned to go back into the file and delete the REFERRED entry.”
Tina whistled. “You think Brett’s application was approved while you were in New York and Charles told him Jake had already been referred to another family.”
“Yes,” Molly said quietly.
“That would explain his cold fury when he burst in here this afternoon. Having Jake means the world to him.”
“I know,” Molly said, unable to keep a quiver from her voice. “Instead of helping Brett, I might have truly ruined his chances of adopting Jake.”
Bachelor Father Page 13
