“You mean Gemma?”
“No. Aunt Pam. She was in the park. I don’t want to go back with her. Don’t make me go. I want to stay with you.”
He hugged her to his side. “Of course you’re staying here. I won’t ever let you go away. Are you sure it was Aunt Pam? Maybe it was just someone who looked like her.”
“No. It was her. I know.” Abby laid her head on his chest and cried. Julie handed her tissues from her purse.
He glanced at Julie, her expression contorted in concern. “It’s all right, Abby. Even if she is here, she can’t take you back with her. She’s not allowed. You’re going to stay here with me and Miss Julie.”
Reassured by his words, Abby stopped crying. She wiped her cheeks and glanced around the office.
Julie cleared her throat. “Gil, Abby has never been here before. Maybe she’d like to see what you do when you’re at work.”
He frowned, puzzled at her suggestion. She raised her eyebrows and stared pointedly back at him. She was trying to distract Abby and give her something else to think about. “Oh, sure. Would you like that, sweet pea?” She nodded and sniffled.
Julie drew him aside as Abby began to wander around the office. “Do you think she really saw your sister-in-law?”
He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. Maybe. But she knows I have a restraining order. Though I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s a very manipulative woman.”
Abby held up a framed photo on his desk. “That’s you and that’s Grandma.”
Gil pointed out his dad and his siblings, then he picked up a picture of Abby when she was smaller. “Guess who this is.”
Abby smiled as she took the frame in her hand. “It’s me.”
“That’s right.” He picked up the other frame. “And here’s one of you and Ruffles. I keep it here so I can look at you when I miss you.”
“Can I have a picture of you to keep in my room?”
Such a simple request, but it took him a moment to find his voice. “Of course.”
Julie dug into her purse. “Let’s take one right now to remember your first visit to your daddy’s office.” She activated the camera on her smartphone. “Stand in front of the desk and smile.”
Gil’s insides melted into a gooey lump. Why hadn’t he thought of this sooner? Julie took several shots, then handed them the phone. The images displayed a sight he never thought he’d see. Him and his little girl together smiling. He looked at Julie to thank her and saw her brown eyes peering at him, as if she was trying to convey a message.
“I have some personal matters to take care of. Why don’t you and Abby spend some time together? Maybe go for pizza, or a burger? I’ll see you at home.”
It was a good idea. One he should have thought of himself. For reasons he didn’t understand, she’d made it her mission to ensure he and his daughter were close. He became more indebted to her each day. Without her wisdom and insight, he might still be dealing with a child who retreated to her room instead of enjoying impromptu father-daughter time. She was showing him how to be a father to his little girl.
He grinned at Abby. “What do you say, sweet pea? Does that sound like fun?” Her wide, happy grin solidified the idea.
Julie waved goodbye and slipped out.
Gil watched as Abby wandered around his office, examining everything she saw. “I’m starving. How about after we tour the shop, we go to Angelo’s World Famous Pizza for supper? I’ll show you how to play the games in the back.”
With a wide smile and a skip, she hurried toward him and took his hand, filling him with so much joy he almost believed he could fly to Angelo’s on happiness alone. He’d never looked forward to pizza so much in his life.
* * *
Julie scanned the list of acts for the talent show one more time. The event had been so popular that she’d had to schedule an intermission to get them all in. As reluctant as she’d been to take on this project, she was enjoying working with those involved. Nancy Scott had proved to be a phenomenal organizer. Jim Barrett, pastor of Peace Community, had become the head cheerleader for the event, coming up with new ideas every day on how to promote it. She and Nancy had to stop him. They were near to filling up the VFW hall as it was, and there wasn’t another place in Dover large enough to hold the event.
Her gaze drifted to the two guitars in the corner of the family room. One regular size, one half-size. Gil had decided to open with “Jesus Loves Me.” He’d found additional verses they could sing. They were also singing “This Little Light of Mine.” Watching the two of them practice, Gil patiently showing Abby the chords and placing her little fingers on the strings, never failed to warm her heart and bring tears to her eyes.
For all her guilt in keeping the truth from them, she wouldn’t trade this time for anything. She’d have warm and beautiful memories to take with her to Paris in a few weeks. But her heart, that would remain behind. She’d given it to Abby the day she was born and, despite her best efforts not to, she’d lost her heart to Gil, too. The attraction between them was growing. She knew he had feelings for her, but she’d rebuffed every one. That one brief kiss the other day had shown her how vulnerable she was to his charm, and she could not succumb to her feelings, no matter how strong.
A glance at the clock reminded her that it was almost time to pick up Abby. She cherished their moments together, and Abby seemed more inclined to talk on the way home. She and Hannah had become best friends, and Julie found endless amusement in the crazy things they wanted to do together. Going to see the upcoming princess movie she could handle. Taking a field trip to the rain forest to find fairies was something else again.
A knock sounded on the kitchen door. It had been a couple of days since Nancy had delivered a cake, pie or cookies. The sumptuous desserts were tightening the waist of her jeans. She opened the door with a smile, but a stranger stood on the low stoop. Something in the icy blue eyes triggered her concern. “May I help you?”
“I’ve come to see Abigail. I’m her aunt Pam.”
A shiver chased down Julie’s spine. Her impulse was to slam the door in her face. But the woman was a relative of Abby’s. She couldn’t ignore that. “I’m sorry. Abby’s not here. Perhaps you could come back this evening when her father is here.”
“Where is she? I have a right to see her!”
There was no way she would give the woman any information. Waves of antagonism washed toward her from the woman, strengthening her resolve. “She’s not home.” The woman’s eyes narrowed, staring at her intensely, scanning her face. Her eyes widened, and a sly, knowing smile appeared on her thin lips. Alarmed, Julie grabbed her keys and purse from the table beside the door. “I’m sorry, but I have an appointment. You’ll have to excuse me.” She locked the door, pulling it shut behind her as she stepped out, forcing the woman to back off the stoop and onto the driveway. “It might be best if you checked with Mr. Montgomery before returning.”
The woman raised her chin, a sly smirk on her narrow face. “I’ll do that.”
Julie hurried to the car, her hands shaking. She longed to call Gil, but first she wanted to put as much distance as possible between herself and Abby’s aunt Pam. She took a circuitous route to the school in case the woman tried to follow her. As soon as she was in the pickup line at the school, she pulled out her phone and called Gil.
“I really thought Abby was mistaken about seeing her. I wanted to think it was a look-alike that triggered her memory. I never thought she’d come here.”
“Maybe all she wants is to see Abby.”
“Maybe, but I know this woman. She’ll stop at nothing to get her way. I discovered she was the source of a lot of the troubles in my marriage. Pam used Leah’s illness to twist everything.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Pam raised Leah from the time she was twelve. She sees h
erself as Leah’s mother. She’s always been overly involved with her life. ”
Julie struggled to swallow past the tightness in her throat. “Gil, what if she comes back?” She hated that she sounded like a scared little kid, but something about the woman had rattled her. That knowing smile could mean only one thing. She’d noticed the resemblance between her and Abby. How long before she shared that observation with Gil?
“You and Abby go shopping or something. I’ll get away as soon as I can. I’ll text you when I’m home.”
“You don’t think she’ll do anything crazy, do you?”
“No. She’s not dangerous, only possessive. I knew she’d want to see Abby eventually, just not this soon. Don’t worry. I’ll fix this.”
* * *
Julie navigated the weekend traffic through downtown Dover on her way to the VFW hall. Gil and Abby’s time together yesterday had gone well. Abby talked about the trucks that went up in the air, how her daddy’s office was bigger than Uncle Linc’s and the games she and her dad had played in the pizza restaurant’s fun room. It was clear both had enjoyed their time together. Gil was much more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. Abby had bugged her dad until he printed out the photo of them from the office and made Julie promise to go shopping for a special frame soon.
Nothing had been heard from Aunt Pam. Gil assured her that Pam had returned to Mobile and he had everything under control if she showed up again.
Thankfully, Julie had preparations for the talent show to occupy her mind. She’d spent most of the morning with Nancy and the committee going over logistics. Julie pulled up at the sprawling VFW hall. Gil was installing the extra electrical power needed to support the lights and sound for the show today. Inside she followed the noises to the back of the building. The air smelled like fresh paint and cleaning materials. It was amazing how the members had taken ownership of the event and jumped in to make the place sparkle. “Gil?”
“Back here.”
She turned at the first open door to find him in front of a large metal box with a pair of pliers in his hand.
“What are you doing here?” His surprised look slid quickly into a warm smile of delight, triggering a sudden bump in her pulse.
She held up the bag from Fil-Er-Up Burgers. She’d discovered the quaint burger joint housed in a repurposed old filling station and couldn’t get enough of the homemade fries. “When you texted that work was going slowly, I thought I’d bring you something to keep you going.”
“Thanks. It smells good. Where’s Abby?”
“She’s spending the day with Hannah. They are watching movies together.”
He slipped the pliers into the tool belt fastened around his lean hips. “Let’s go to the kitchen. I could use some time off my feet.”
They settled at one of the small metal tables. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
“Nannies are trained to think of everyone in the family.”
He raised his eyebrows. “So, you’re saying you didn’t do it because I’m special?”
“Nope. You’re just another one of my kiddos.”
He held her gaze. “I don’t believe you. From what I’ve seen, all your kiddos are special. Even the grown-up ones.”
She blushed. “Eat. You have more work to do and the dinner is right around the corner. It’s looking wonderful in here.”
“Yeah. All it needs is the decorations.”
She thought about the exposed wires and the boxes on the floor that held electrical equipment. “This must be costing you a lot, Gil. Not to mention the time. Why didn’t you have some of your employees do the job?”
“Employees cost money. The boss works for free. As for the materials, we have a whole warehouse full of equipment. Besides, it was time I got my hands dirty again. I’ve been in the office too long.” He shrugged. “These men of the VFW have given to their country and to their community. Now it’s my turn. A chance to help my church and my town.”
“You’re a good man, Gilbreth Montgomery.”
He stopped midbite, lowered his burger to the table and groaned softly. “Who told you my real name?”
“No one. I get the mail each day, remember? One of the bills had your full name on it.”
“I try to keep that name off the radar.”
Julie giggled and popped a fry into her mouth. “Let me guess, it was your mother’s maiden name.”
Gil nodded, his expression pained. “Right. Good old Southern tradition.”
“Don’t feel so bad. My middle name is my mother’s maiden name, too.”
He twisted his expression into an evil glare. “I hope it’s something really awful.”
“Joyce. Her maiden name was Joyce. I’m Julianna Joyce Bishop.”
Gil grimaced. “That’s not even fair.”
Julie couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling up from inside. “Sorry. Are your brothers and sisters all named for family members?”
“How’d you guess? Grandparents, favorite uncles and aunts, grandmothers. I have to admit I didn’t resist when Leah wanted to name our baby Abigail. As far as I know there are no other Abigails on the family tree.”
“Does your mother know you hate your name?”
“Oh, yeah. But she just reminds me what a noble family name it is.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting your mother.”
“I think she’d like you.” Gil balled up the sandwich wrapper and stood, taking his drink. “I better get back to work.”
Julie stood. “Go. I’ll clean up. How much more do you have to do?”
“Another hour or so.”
“I’m going to stay a few minutes. I want to take measurements of the stage.”
“Thanks for the lunch.” He held her gaze a long moment, then walked away, leaving a warm tingle deep inside her middle. She watched him disappear around the corner, unable to keep from admiring his masculine stride and the confident sway of his shoulders. She wanted to know more about him. Everything. A dangerous sign that she was in over her head. Her feelings for Gil would have to remain her secret. A dream that would remain unfulfilled.
Julie took her measurements, sketched a layout on her tablet then prepared to leave the building. She was halfway to the door when she heard a loud pop and a shout. “Gil?”
Heart pounding, she hurried through the building to the back hall where he’d been working. He was seated awkwardly on the floor, holding his hand and grimacing in pain. She ran to him and stooped down. “Are you all right?”
He nodded, gritting his teeth. “Stupid mistake. Guess I’ve been away from this too long.”
He started to stand, and she slipped her arm around his waist for support. Not that she could do much. He was a solid mass of muscle. “Let me see your hand.” Other than a red patch, she didn’t see any other damage.
“I’ll be fine, but this’ll sting for a couple days.”
She took his hand, examining the skin gently with her fingertips, acutely aware of his warmth. “Are you sure you’re okay? When I heard you shout, I thought you’d been electrocuted.”
He stared into her eyes. “No. I just took a nasty shock. It’s a hazard of the trade. But I’m glad you were worried.”
“Of course I was. I care about you.”
“Because you like me, or because I’m Abby’s father?”
“Both.” Standing close to him, the all-male mixture of warm flannel shirt, oil and leather from the tool belt went to her head. Why did he always smell so good? He shifted and slipped his arms around her waist, tugging her close. She avoided looking at him. “You need to be more careful.”
“Because?”
“Abby needs you.”
“What do you need, Julie?”
“Gil, you know I’m leaving soon. We shouldn’t.”
“That’s why we should. We only have this short time together. Shouldn’t we make a memory to carry us through the rest of our lives?”
“Is that one of your pickup lines?”
Gil chuckled. “I’ve been off the market for a long time, Julie. I’m a one-woman man. I don’t have flirting skills.” He slid his hand along her jaw, his thumb gently rubbing her cheek. “All I know is that I like being with you. I like having you in my home. I like having you in my life, and I think you like being here.”
His touch was fogging her thoughts and turning her insides into warm mush. “I do. I wish I could stay. But my future is overseas.” Gil lowered his hand and stepped back, a wry smile softening his features.
“I think that’s one of the things I like about you most, Julie. You don’t play games, you speak your mind. You’re always honest.”
The cold rush of reality chilled her veins and drained the blood from her head so fast she thought she might pass out. “What?”
“After living so many years with lies and manipulation, it’s nice to have someone in my life who’s an open book.” He touched the tip of her nose, then gently steered her toward the door. “Go. Being here alone with you is not a good idea.”
Julie nodded, unable to speak. He had no idea how bad an idea it actually was.
* * *
Julie checked over Abby’s math assignment, smiling as she slid the paper back across the table. “Good job, Abby. I think you’re almost caught up. Maybe we can stop the extra lessons soon.”
“Good. ’Cause I still don’t like math. But it’s not as yucky as it used to be.”
She laughed at the intensity of her child’s comment. “That’s good to hear.”
“I’m going to practice my guitar.”
She remained at the table, sorting through her troubled thoughts. Gil thought she was honest. The sharp edges of her conscience plowed across her heart. She’d driven up to Jackson yesterday to attend church with DiDi, and the sermon about putting off falsehood and speaking truthfully had pierced her to the core.
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