That Doggone Baby

by Tanya Stowe

  Justin was wise enough to know he was falling in love−dangerous territory. Things could still fall apart. But he planned to enjoy every minute of the exceptional Ms. Meadows.

  Smiling, he hopped out of his truck and headed up her walkway. When the doorbell rang, Jaci called out, and Justin waited as she spoke to Baby. At last, she swung open the door with a flourish. “Apparently Baby knows it’s you and has no intention of letting me say hi first.”

  Words slipped from his mind. Jaci wore a royal blue dress that fit her form in all the right places. The long sleeves and simple cut made her look trim and curvy at the same time. She’d put her hair up with loose tendrils floating down around her cheeks and the curve of her neck. A light from behind lit her with a golden glow and for a moment, Justin could have sworn he was looking at an angel.

  Then Baby demanded his attention. He knelt to scruff her ears, but still wasn’t able to take his gaze off Jaci. When he didn’t speak, she began to fidget, and a cloud of…something indefinable…shadowed her eyes.

  “Did…did I misunderstand? You did say dinner date, right? Am I overdressed?”

  “Not at all. You look…beautiful.”

  “Oh. Thank you.” Ducking her head, she turned to Baby. “Now you be good. I’ll leave the light on for you, OK?”

  Baby cocked her head to the right.

  Jaci grabbed a little purse and picked up a shawl the same color as her dress, but shot with something metallic. “I have so much to tell you I can’t wait.” She threw the shawl, its silvery threads mirroring the color of her hair, around her shoulders.

  Justin smoothed a ruffle close to her neck.

  “Heartline loved the theme! They were so thrilled they even jumped the gun and started brainstorming ideas for break-out seminars. They want to meet with you as soon as possible. When are you free?”

  “Uhhh, let me see.” Justin stared up at the star-filled sky as if he couldn’t find a spot in his mental calendar. “I guess tomorrow would have to do.”

  Laughing, Jaci play-swiped at his arm. “You had me worried for a minute. I thought maybe you weren’t as thrilled about this as I am.”

  “I’m excited, Jaci. I can’t tell you what a great thing this is for our group. I’ve spoken with my board of directors and they are all on board. They’re even ready to shell out some of our precious funding for grooming and new collars.”

  “Wonderful. That means we’ve got everyone’s approval, even Deedee’s…finally.”

  “What do you mean finally?”

  “I didn’t have a chance to talk to her before I proposed the idea so I explained it to her after I presented it to Heartline. I think that made her unhappy but when I told her how excited they were about the theme, she tabled her concerns and gave me her stamp of approval.”

  “Do you know why she disapproved?”

  “I didn’t ask. Lately, Deedee is more emotional than reasonable so I don’t give her too much info to digest at a time.”

  “Well, that leaves only one more, really important question.”

  She turned to him, those blue eyes wide even the moonlight. “What question?”

  “Do you like Italian food?”

  Jaci laughed. “If you keep teasing me like that I’ll have to come off of cloud nine. I’ve been there ever since Heartline gave me the nod.”

  “I don’t think it’s time to step off that cloud just yet. I have reservations at Trattorio’s and that is definitely cloud nine atmosphere.”

  “Trattorio’s?” Jaci halted in her footsteps. “That place is really expensive.”

  “It’s the finest restaurant in town. Since this is our first date, I thought it should be memorable. Don’t you?”

  “First dates should be memorable but they shouldn’t break the bank either.”

  Justin laughed. Jaci never ceased to make him smile. She was so different from everything he’d experienced. “I’d take you there just for that statement alone. Come on let’s eat. I’m starving.”

  Situated right in the middle of downtown Angel Falls, Trattorio’s was housed in a 1920s building. Newly renovated, it still retained its old style flavor. The plain brick walls and art deco lighting fixtures coupled with dark wood booths created a wonderful ambiance. A violinist tucked in a discreet corner completed the scene. The tables even sported red-checkered tablecloths with half-melted candles stuffed in old Chianti bottles.

  Jaci talked for the first half hour about the details of the conference.

  Justin gave his own ideas, services the dogs could perform and veteran’s groups they should contact.

  She took copious notes on her phone and pointed out spots where her organization would help. No wonder she was a busy woman. She mentioned details Justin never even considered. He was impressed. He just hoped she’d still have time to spend with him in the next month.

  Long before he was ready to call it a night, the restaurant emptied of patrons. They were the only ones left besides the staff. “I hate to say this, but it’s getting late. I think we’d better let them close down.”

  Jaci blinked and looked around. “Wow. Where did the time go?” She gathered her shawl.

  Justin had settled the check a half hour before. He rose and helped Jaci smooth the silky garment over her shoulders…again. Her perfume, a sweet, flower scent, wafted around him.

  Outside, the night sky was clear and the moon bright. Angel Falls had an old-fashioned main street, wide with angled parking places, benches, and small, shady trees along the sides. Twinkling lights filled the tree branches.

  They meandered to his truck, basking in a comfortable silence. Jaci didn’t fill the silence with chatter. He liked that. In fact, he liked everything about Jaci Meadows. If any uncertainties still clouded his mind, they fled with that last realization. Stopping short, he turned to face her. Taking both her hands, he studied her lovely features in the silver light. “Was this a memorable first date?”

  A slow smile spread over her lips. “This was my most memorable first date, Justin.”

  “Good.” He studied their clasped hands. “But I’ve discovered that I don’t just want one memorable date. I want more. I want lots of memorable times together. Would you like that?”

  She nodded. “Yes, please.”

  Her sweet request made Justin smile. Cupping her face, he tilted her lips up for their first, memorable kiss.

  6

  “It was the best first date I’ve ever had, Deedee. I think this guy may actually be the one.”

  “Well, you’re certainly falling fast.”

  The edge in her friend’s voice gave Jaci pause. “I don’t think it’s fast. We’ve been working pretty closely now for almost two months since I took Baby to him.”

  Deedee’s sigh was audible even over their scratchy cell phone connection. “I know you, Jaci, and you jump in with both feet before you think things through.”

  The fact that Deedee’s words echoed Justin’s warning so perfectly made Jaci shift uncomfortably. “I think our relationship is progressing at a pretty normal rate, Dee. I’m not acting foolishly.”

  “This is the worst possible time for a relationship to blossom in your life. You have your family issues and our biggest project in just three short weeks…”

  Light bulb moment. That, in a nutshell, was Deedee’s real concern. She didn’t think Jaci would give Polished and Perfect her best and most professional attention. Ignoring the jab of pain she felt at Deedee’s lack of confidence, Jaci tried to reassure her. “The Heartline conference is sailing along, Deedee. Everything is fine.”

  “See! That’s what I mean. You know as well as I do that event management never sails along.”

  Jaci held her temper and kept her tone even. “Yes, I do know. I also know that in event management you always have a ‘plan B, C and sometimes D’. Trust me, Deedee, you’ve trained me well.”

  “I just know that we can’t afford for you to get caught up in something you can’t handle right now. Please, just take it slowly.
I’ve got to go, Jerry’s waking up. Fax me those updated figures on the facility rental as soon as you can.” She clicked off before Jaci could even say goodbye.

  Most of their recent conversations had gone the same way. Abrupt. Short. Deedee was so stressed she wasn’t thinking clearly.

  Jaci hung up every time determined to have a talk with Deedee on their next phone call but each one went the same as the one before. She hadn’t found a way to confront her friend on the phone. This kind of situation needed to be done in person, and Jaci simply didn’t have the opportunity to “jaunt” to Houston.

  Shaking her head, she dropped the phone to her desk. This was the perfect example. They rarely faxed documents anymore. Most everything was done by email, and Deedee was so far off the mark, she was falling back into old habits.

  Jaci logged back into her computer. Everyone had already left the office. She’d been preparing to lock up and leave herself when Deedee’s call came through. No matter. It wouldn’t take but a minute to dash off the email she’d planned to send in the morning.

  She’d just hit the send button when she heard the bell on the office’s front door. She rose from her desk and peeked around the corner.

  “Hey, Jaci.” Her sister’s husband, Paul, stood just inside the door. He’d gained weight…a healthy weight and the dark circles beneath his eyes were gone for the first time in years. He looked wonderfully fit and well.

  “Paul, what are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to ask for your help.”

  A cool chill crept over Jaci’s stomach. “Paul, this is between you and Linda. I can’t be involved.”

  “There’s nothing between Linda and me, Jaci. She hangs up every time I call, and she refuses to let me see the kids. I don’t expect her to forgive me, but I would like to explain what happened.”

  “You left them without a word, Paul. That’s what happened.”

  “No, I didn’t. I entered rehab and was too ashamed to tell her.”

  Cold washed over Jaci. “Rehab? You had a drug problem?”

  He nodded. “You know the hours I worked and drove for my district manager position. I couldn’t keep up so I took pills to help. Before I knew it, I was addicted. A random drug test for work caught me off guard, and they gave me a choice. Rehab or they’d fire me.”

  “They were generous. Most companies would have fired you.”

  “I know. Of course I went to rehab, and I tried and tried to find a way to tell Linda, but…” He swallowed hard and looked away.

  “But what, Paul? You picked a fight with my sister and walked out on your children. We were worried sick.”

  “I wrote letters.”

  “Yes, you said you were safe and doing better. We thought that meant you were happier on your own.”

  “I wasn’t thinking clearly in the beginning. I thought if I could get straight, I could come back as if nothing had happened. When I finally got off the drugs, I knew I’d lost everything.”

  Tears filled Jaci eyes, and she turned away. “Why, Paul? Why didn’t you just tell Linda?”

  He shrugged and the gesture seemed hopeless. “You know how much Linda liked the lifestyle and the money. I started to feel as if those were more important to her than I was.”

  His words pierced deep like a spear of truth. Linda had been incredibly fond of the lifestyle Paul’s income provided. Now, in the light of Paul’s statement, Jaci realized Linda’s anger with her husband had been centered on what she’d lost, not her broken marriage.

  The cold, hard, truth in Paul’s words flipped Jaci’s perspective. She didn’t condone Paul’s behavior or choices, but she had a very clear understanding of the despair that drove him to such desperate acts.

  Her sister and Paul used to be so in love. But Paul had always been proud and Linda…Linda used to be like Jaci. Her sister filled her time with volunteer work. School programs. Church ministries. Linda was the “go-to gal,” just like Jaci. At least until Linda’s marriage and her life fell apart. Now she was bitter and focused on what she’d lost.

  Justin’s warning floated at the back of Jaci’s mind. Would she become like her sister if she didn’t change her ways? She pushed the thought away. “Why are you here, Paul? What do you want me to do?”

  Drawing a deep breath, he straightened. “I don’t expect Linda or the kids to forgive me. I doubt my marriage can be saved, but I do want to do my part for my family. I know this last year has been horrific, and I want to help any way I can.”

  Jaci gave a short laugh that sounded more bitter than humorous. “Linda needs help with the bills and you don’t have a job.”

  “But I do.” For the first time, his features took on a hopeful expression. “They gave me a place in the warehouse when I got out of rehab. It’s half the pay I used to get, but I appreciate them giving me a hand up. I have money to give her. I just can’t get Linda to talk to me. What do they need? How can I help?”

  Jaci shook her head. “Linda’s very close-mouthed about her debts. I don’t know…wait! Football. The boys desperately want to play football. I was trying to find the money, but I haven’t been able to come up with it.”

  “How much is it?”

  “Almost six hundred dollars for both of them.”

  Paul nodded. “If I bring it to you tomorrow, can they still sign up?”

  “I think so, yes.”

  “I’ll be here right after work.” He turned away but spun back a small smile flitting over his lips. “Do I need to suggest that you not tell Linda where it came from? Let her think you came up with it.”

  Jaci didn’t like lying to her sister, but she knew Linda’s bitterness would not allow her to accept the money…and the boys would lose out. They’d lost so much in the last year, she desperately wanted something to go their way. She gave Paul a tight nod of her head.

  “Thanks, Jaci. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

  He was gone before she could respond. Long after, an uncomfortable feeling lingered in her stomach. But did the feeling come from agreeing to take the money behind her sister’s back or Justin’s warning to change her ways?

  Either way, I think I just made a mistake.

  ****

  Justin glanced into his rear view mirror. In the back seat of his truck, four blonde, tousle-haired children’s heads were tilted sideways sound asleep. Five minutes ago, they’d been singing rounds of Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

  “Take a look back there.” He gestured with his chin to Jaci, and she turned around.

  “Well, that was fast. I know the girls still take naps occasionally, but I’m a little surprised the boys are asleep.”

  “Hey, they have a right to be tired. They played two hours of football in their first scrimmage and then hiked all over Angel Falls. I’m tired, and I didn’t play a game.”

  Jaci laughed.

  Even after months, I love the sound of her laughter. It makes me smile every time.

  “Thank you.”

  He glanced her way. “For what?”

  “For jumping in and helping the boys with their football practices.”

  “That’s my pleasure. I loved my football years.”

  “OK. Then thank you for volunteering to help me out. When Linda asked me to babysit today—on my first free Saturday in a month, I might add—I was dreading it. Then you offered to help and took us hiking at the falls. It was a wonderful day, Justin.”

  He glanced over again catching her gaze. “That was my pleasure, too.” He meant every word, and the depth of his feelings must have registered in his tone. A slow sweet smile filtered over her lips before he had to look back at the road.

  They weren’t far from Linda’s house, and a thought occurred to him. “I wonder if we should stop and grab some fast food for them. After a long day of overtime work, Linda won’t be in the mood to cook.”

  “Did you see my picnic basket? I filled that thing to the brim, and they wiped it out. I doubt if they’ll be hungry for days.”

/>   Chuckling, Justin said, “You didn’t have any growing boys in your household, did you?”

  Jaci laughed too giving Justin another little jolt of pleasure. “OK. It won’t last for days but I’m pretty sure they’ll be all right for tonight. If anything, Linda can rustle up a couple of peanut butter sandwiches.”

  “You’re the boss.” He turned into the driveway and parked beside Linda’s car.

  Jaci quietly woke the children.

  By the time they were climbing out of the car, Linda had exited the house and was halfway down the walkway. The look on her face gave Justin pause. She was angry and looked ready to explode. Her daughters ran up to her, and she barely acknowledged them. “Go on into the house. I’ll be there in a minute.” She greeted the boys in the same manner and then stood waiting.

  Jaci handed her the kids’ sports bags and backpacks.

  “Where did you get the money for the football registration?” Linda asked.

  Jaci froze. “What?”

  Linda pressed forward. “I was talking to Mom today, and she said you’re helping her pay for the service dog. I know you don’t have that kind of money, so tell me where you got the money for the boys’ registration.”

  Jaci hesitated a moment longer, then her shoulders sagged. “I got it from Paul.”

  Linda’s crossed arms flew to her sides, and her hands fisted. “I knew it! I just knew it. He’s been throwing money at me sending checks. I’ve torn up two and now my own sister goes behind my back and takes his money. How could you?”

  “Linda…he wants to help. He’s their father.”

  “Don’t tell me what he is. Was he their father when he left us without a word? What kind of dad abandons his kids? Where was he when I had to pay all his delinquent bills?”

  “He was in rehab.”

  “What?”

  Jaci’s quietly spoken words shocked Justin but barely put a dent in Linda’s diatribe.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m his wife. If Paul had a drug problem, I would have known. He’s manipulating you to get what he wants, and you fell for it. I was building a case against him hoping to get custody of the kids because he’d abandoned us. Now that you’ve taken his money, I can’t prove that. You’ve destroyed my children’s security.”