A Family of Her Own

by Brenda Novak

  With a frown, she glanced over at Troy, who was sleeping in his infant seat. She’d canceled the baby-sitting she’d lined up with her mother for today because Ashleigh and Rebecca had been asking to see the baby—and she felt bad about accepting her mother’s help when she knew how upset Tami would be to learn that Katie had acted on her feelings for Booker, and that he’d responded. She planned to marry him with or without her parents’ approval. She knew now that she was so in love nothing could stop her. But it would certainly be nice to have their support for a change….

  Rebecca swept into the salon, her face flushed from hurrying. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I had to drop off some film to be developed at Finley’s and ran into…a distraction.”

  The way she said distraction made Katie curious. “What kind of distraction?”

  “Mary Thornton.”

  “Oh, that kind of distraction.” Katie went back to looking through the magazine on her lap. “Well, being late is no problem. As you can see, it’s slow around here.”

  “Where is everyone?”

  “Ashleigh’s in back, straightening the storeroom while I watch the front. Mona’s taking the day off.”

  “What about our appointments?” Rebecca stopped at the desk to check the scheduling book. “Rita Price was supposed to come in for a perm at one.” She glanced at her watch. “That was nearly forty minutes ago. Didn’t she make it?”

  Katie put her magazine aside. “I haven’t heard from her. I tried to call her a couple of times, but there was no answer.”

  Rebecca tucked her dark blond hair, which was getting quite long and conservative for Rebecca, behind one ear. “She’s usually more reliable than that. She has a standing appointment every two months for a cut, every four months for a perm.”

  “What are you two talking about?” Ashleigh asked, emerging from the back. “Didn’t Rita show?”

  Rebecca tapped a pencil against the desk. “No, which is strange. And Katie said she’s not answering her phone.”

  Troy started to fuss, but before Katie could take two steps in his direction, Ashleigh rushed over to get him. “Oh good, he’s waking up. Can I hold him?”

  Katie smiled and nodded. She wasn’t sure what had happened the night Booker had gone home with Ashleigh. But from the beginning, Ashleigh had been open and friendly, and Katie was finding it surprisingly easy to like her.

  “You brought the baby?” Rebecca crossed the salon to huddle over Troy as well.

  Katie shrugged. “Since I’m only going to be here for a few hours, I thought it might be okay.”

  “It’s fine. I told you, you can bring him anytime.” Rebecca pulled back the blanket so she could peek at his face. “Look at him….”

  Katie wasn’t sure bringing Troy into the salon was such a good idea when she saw the expression on Rebecca’s face. She wondered how Rebecca’s fertility treatments were going, but was afraid to ask for fear the answer wasn’t the one she wanted to hear.

  “He’s beautiful,” Ashleigh gushed. “I can’t wait to have kids of my—” Her words fell away as she glanced at Rebecca. Clearing her throat, she immediately turned the conversation in a different direction. “I mean, I met the cutest guy at the Honky Tonk last night. You two should’ve seen him. Tall and blond and—”

  “I thought you had a thing for Booker?” Rebecca interrupted, her gaze still on Troy.

  Katie stiffened as she awaited Ashleigh’s response.

  “Booker’s gorgeous and all that,” she said. “He’s nice, too. But it isn’t going to work out between us.”

  “Why not?” Rebecca asked.

  Ashleigh rubbed the top of Troy’s head with her thumb. “I can tell he’s not really interested in me.” She shot Katie an envious smile. “If you want to know the truth, I think he’s still in love with Katie. She might have moved on, but he’s never gotten over her.”

  Rebecca arched a brow at Katie. “I told you,” she said. “Everyone can see it but you.”

  “Actually…” Katie was about to admit that she and Booker were seeing each other again. The excitement she’d felt before she started thinking about her family had returned, making her miss Booker already, even though she’d only been away from him for an hour. But the bell rang over the door and, when she looked up, she saw her mother walk in. Travis was with Tami and, to Katie’s complete amazement, so was her father.

  “Katie, we’d like a word with you, if you don’t mind.” Her mother settled her purse more firmly at her elbow and folded her arms. “We tried to reach you at your cabin early this morning, but you weren’t home.”

  Tami’s formal tone didn’t bode well. She’d said, “You weren’t home,” as if there was something innately wrong with her being gone.

  Katie felt her pulse kick up as she looked from Rebecca to Ashleigh. “Can you…can you watch Troy for me?”

  As far as Katie knew, her father had never seen Troy before. She noticed the way his eyes kept moving to the baby, but he seemed intent on whatever purpose had brought him and didn’t come any closer.

  “Should we go in back?” Katie asked.

  Tami nodded. “If you think that’s best.”

  Katie had no idea what was best. She had no idea what had precipitated this little family gathering, especially after her father had gone so long without even speaking to her. “This way,” she said, and led them to the stock room.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked as soon as they were alone.

  “Your mother told me what you said about Booker yesterday, Katie,” her father began.

  Katie noticed that Travis was wearing a dark scowl. When their eyes met, he raised his hands and shook his head. “I’m not really part of this. I’m only here because they made me come.”

  Katie returned her attention to her father. “What did you say?”

  “That your mother told me you think you’re in love with Booker.”

  “I am in love with Booker.”

  A muscle jumped in her father’s cheek. “Katie, after everything you’ve been through, I’d expect you to use some caution. Surely you don’t want—”

  “Katie?” Rebecca called from the front.

  Katie stuck her head out of the stockroom. “Yes?”

  “Booker’s here. He’s brought you something to eat.”

  Leaning farther into the hallway, Katie could see Booker standing at the desk, holding a take-out bag. Oh God, they were all here together….

  She hesitated, wondering what to do. She wanted to tell Booker to take the food to the garage, that she’d meet him there later. But if her family was ever going to accept him, she’d better start including him. “Booker? Could you come back here?”

  “Katie, this is a family meeting,” her mother said, clearly not pleased.

  “Booker’s part of my family,” Katie insisted.

  A moment later, Booker strode into the stockroom wearing the faded jeans and Lionel & Sons T-shirt that served as his warm-weather apparel. He must have set the food he’d brought her someplace else because his hands were now free. He spread his legs and crossed his arms as he eyed Don and Tami, his expression shuttered. But he nodded a hello to Travis.

  “I’m not part of this,” Travis reiterated.

  “Maybe it’s better that Booker’s here,” Don said to Tami. “I think it’s time we got this out in the open.”

  “What out in the open?” Booker asked.

  Katie stepped closer to him and felt the reassuring weight of his arm as he slid it around her shoulders.

  “We’ve heard about your recent troubles with the law,” Don said. “First the fighting, then the robbery. And now we hear you’ve stolen another car.”

  “He hasn’t stolen anything.” Katie’s voice had risen enough that she knew everyone in the salon could probably hear, but she didn’t care.

  “You don’t have to defend me,” Booker muttered.

  “I don’t see how anyone can defend you.” Tami had picked up on his words, even though they we
re only intended for Katie. “Katie has a baby to think about now. And we’re that baby’s grandparents. We have a responsibility to look out for Troy, too. She doesn’t need to be getting involved with the likes of you—again.”

  Katie could tell by the hard line of Booker’s jaw that he was angry, but she knew she could rely on him to hold his temper. She’d grown to trust him a great deal since she’d come back.

  “I’ll take responsibility for the fight,” he said, “But—”

  Katie whirled to face him. “You will not take responsibility for that fight!”

  He ignored her. “—but I didn’t rob the Smalls or anyone else, and I didn’t steal another car.”

  “Then how do you explain the car they found hidden in that gully at your place?” her father asked. “We just saw Orton at church. It’s like he said. No one hides a working car beneath a bunch of brush and lets it sit there for months without having some reason. We knew Hatty well enough to know that she took care of her land and property. She never would’ve left a car in a gully to rust. Which means it must’ve gotten there after she died.”

  “Maybe it did,” Booker said. “But I didn’t steal it.”

  “You expect us to take your word for it?”

  “Check with Chief Clanahan, if you want.”

  Katie could hear Troy crying out front. She didn’t want to leave Booker on his own with her family, but she needed to comfort her baby. She was just about to get him when his cries grew louder and Rebecca appeared. “Troy wants you,” she said, passing her the baby.

  “Thanks.” Katie kissed and held Troy close, and he quieted almost instantly.

  But Rebecca didn’t leave. “I know this is none of my business,” she said. “But I can’t stand what’s happening.” She glared at Katie’s parents. “Why don’t you two come out here and let me call my father? He’ll tell you what he told me this morning. The car they found in that gully on Booker’s property belonged to Katie.”

  “To me?” Katie echoed. “What are you talking about, Rebecca?”

  Rebecca’s confidence seemed to falter. “You don’t know about it?” She looked to Booker. “Booker?”

  He shook his head. “None of that matters. That car is nobody’s business but mine.”

  Her car? Since she’d sold the Cadillac, she didn’t have a—Suddenly the memory of Booker handing her three thousand dollars flashed through Katie’s mind. “Oh, my gosh! It’s the Cadillac, isn’t it? They found the Cadillac in that gully!”

  He didn’t answer.

  No wonder he’d given her cash! He couldn’t write her a check without revealing that he was the one who was buying her car—a car he didn’t need. He’d basically given her that money. When her own parents had turned their backs on her, he’d taken her in, fed and clothed her, and bought her that computer and all her software.

  “Booker, is it true?” she asked.

  His scowl darkened. “It’s no big deal. I can always sell it.”

  “But you haven’t been trying to sell it. You’ve been hiding it so I wouldn’t know you gave me three thousand dollars for nothing. Just because I needed it. Why?”

  His gaze shifted to meet hers and his expression softened. “Why do you think?”

  Warmth filled Katie as she thought about all the good things Booker had done for her. She didn’t care about his reputation or the mistakes he’d made in the past. She didn’t care about anyone else’s opinion of him. She knew him. He’d been there for her when she had no one else. It was his love that had nourished her.

  Bringing Troy to her shocked mother, she threw her arms around Booker’s neck. “I’ve never known anyone with a more beautiful heart than yours,” she said and kissed him.

  Booker looked a little uncomfortable having an audience to such praise. Certainly he wasn’t accustomed to it. But Katie could tell he was fighting a smile. And she knew Rebecca understood how she felt because of her silly grin. Even Katie’s parents seemed awestruck.

  “So what now?” Don asked.

  “We’re getting married,” Booker said.

  Tami held Troy against her shoulder and patted his back. “When?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “At least wait a while to make sure—” Don started, but Tami placed a hand on his arm.

  “It’s too late for that, Don.” She turned her gaze on Booker. “Just tell me you’ll take good care of my grandson. You don’t mind that he’s not your baby, do you?”

  Booker reached out and took Troy from her. “He is my baby now.”

  “What about Delbert?” Don asked.

  “He’ll stay right where he is,” Katie said.

  “You’re going to let him live with you?”

  Katie knew Booker felt responsible for Delbert, as a big brother of sorts, and could never send him away. She didn’t want him to. She loved Delbert, too, loved knowing that Booker’s heart was big enough to include him. “Yes.”

  “Hey, can I live with you, too?” Travis asked, and chuckled weakly when his parents glared at him. “Just kidding.”

  Katie looked at her father. “Will you come to the wedding, Dad?”

  “I don’t know, Katie. I—I don’t know what to think.”

  “Will you at least consider it?”

  He nodded as Ashleigh came rushing into the storeroom. “Rita Price just called,” she announced. “You’re never going to believe why she missed her appointment today.”

  Katie and Rebecca both said, “I hope she’s okay.”

  “She’s fine. But someone broke into her house this morning while she was at church—and he was still there when she got home.”

  “The poor thing’s got to be sixty!” Rebecca cried.

  “And she lives alone,” Tami added.

  Ashleigh rubbed her hands together. “She might be a widow, but guess what? She caught him! He flashed her but couldn’t get his pants up fast enough to make his getaway. He tried to run out the back, tripped and fell, and she hit him over the head with a skillet. Knocked him out cold.”

  “Who was it?” Booker asked.

  Ashleigh grinned. “Are you ready for this?”

  Rebecca nudged her. “Just tell us.”

  “Officer Orton’s son.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “DO YOU THINK MY FATHER will come to the wedding?” Katie asked as she and Booker packed up her belongings later that day.

  “I don’t know,” Booker replied. “Why don’t you call him?”

  Katie didn’t want to call her father tonight, just in case the answer was no. She planned to make dessert for her new family—Troy, Delbert, Bruiser and Booker—and afterward relax in Booker’s arms while watching a good movie. She hated to let anything spoil the simple peace of it. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”

  “We could stop by their place on the way home if you want,” he said.

  She definitely didn’t want to take that much of a risk. “No, it’s okay. They rushed off because they had company coming. I’ll handle it later.”

  A knock on the open door caused Katie to turn. Mike was leaning against the lintel, his hands in his pockets. “You two need any help?”

  “I think we got it,” Booker said.

  Mike tipped his hat back. “You know you stole my girl, don’t you?” he said to Booker.

  Booker glanced at Katie as he finished latching her suitcase. “It was nip and tuck there until the very end.”

  Mike chuckled and shook his head. “No, you had me beat a long time ago.”

  Booker set Katie’s suitcase on the floor. “So, are you going to start seeing Mary again?”

  Mike rolled his eyes. “I was never seeing Mary! I was bored and wanted an occasional dinner companion, and she was available. But I’m beginning to believe I’ll never live it down.”

  Laughing at Mike’s exasperation, Katie put Troy in his infant seat and arranged a blanket around him. “I don’t think she’s the woman for you.”

  “No.”

  “But there
’ll be someone.”

  “Let’s hope I find her before I turn forty.”

  “First you have to overcome your fear of commitment,” she said.

  “I’m not afraid of commitment!”

  Katie heard Booker laugh softly at her baiting and liked having him with her. He was part of her. They belonged together, for better or worse. “Thanks for everything, Mike,” she said, giving him a hug as Booker carried out her suitcases.

  “Actually, I came out here today to tell you I found Andy.”

  Katie froze. “Where?”

  “In San Francisco. He’s living with someone named Margot.”

  The women who’d worked with her, the one he’d had the affair with. “How did you find him?”

  “His cousins put me in touch with his parents who put me in touch with him. I guess he’s been calling them for money, so they had the information.”

  “Did he say what he did with my computer?”

  “No. I’m afraid I couldn’t get that back.”

  “It’s okay, Mike,” she said. “Thanks for—”

  He held up a hand. “But I got something better. It’s my wedding present to both of you.” Pulling an official-looking document out of his pocket, he passed it to her.

  “Waiver of Parental Rights,” she read aloud. Then her eyes skimmed rapidly through several paragraphs of fine print. I, Andy Bray, hereby relinquish all parental rights to my son, Troy Matthew Rogers…. At the bottom she found Andy’s signature.

  Katie pressed a hand to her chest. “I can’t believe it! How did you get this?”

  Mike straightened. “I wish I could say it was hard, but it wasn’t. I called him to see if I could reclaim your computer, but he didn’t have it anymore. So I told him I’d forget about the computer and pay him a small fee if he’d sign this and mail it back to me. He agreed, and I received it yesterday.”

  “How much did you have to pay him?”

  “A hundred bucks.”

  Giving up Troy for a mere hundred bucks was a sad commentary on Andy’s state of mind, but Katie wasn’t about to complain. Mike had solved the one thing she’d been worried about—that her past might someday come back to haunt her, and possibly hurt Booker and Troy. “Thanks, Mike. You’re a wonderful friend,” she said and felt it to the tips of her toes.