Family Ever After

by Margaret Daley

She pivoted away from him, muttering, “Lonely is better than the alternative.”

  Noah sighed, his sister’s ramrod-straight back emphasizing her position more than words. He wouldn’t get through tonight, perhaps never, but he would keep trying even if he had to travel to Dallas every week.

  Making his way to Cara, he tried to maintain a smile but the corners of his mouth quivered. “Ready to leave?”

  “Are you?”

  “I don’t have a choice. I told her I would if we talked.”

  Cara slid from the stool and walked toward the door. “Were you successful at all?”

  “You saw her toss my card on the floor. I would say no.” Stepping outside, Noah inhaled the fresh air. “We should roll down the window on the way back to Cimarron City. Nothing’s worse than smelling cigarette smoke clinging to our clothes. My father smoked and, growing up, I always hated that smell almost as much as alcohol.”

  At his car Cara settled into the passenger seat, staring at the neon sign that proclaimed the place was a bar. “What are you going to do now?”

  “Go home. Boy, does that sound good right now.” He slipped his hand over hers. “My place was never a home until lately. Thanks.”

  “I haven’t done anything.”

  “You’ve helped me look at my situation differently. I’ve always been so focused on going a mile a minute. I never allowed myself to stop much. Now I see how important it is to take some time off and enjoy the simple things.”

  “I thought you worked hard and played hard.”

  He chuckled. “You see I didn’t even know how to relax while I was playing.”

  Cara glanced at the clock on the dashboard. “I’m glad Laura decided to watch the children at your house. We won’t get back until midnight. This way they will be asleep and we won’t have to wake them up.” With a sigh, she leaned her head back. “It’s been a long day.”

  “Yeah,” Noah started the engine, “I never knew a stakeout could be so much work.” He threw her a smile she probably didn’t see in the dark. “I’m glad you came along. I had fun in spite of the long hours sitting in the same spot.”

  “We could have traded places. You should have said something.” Laughter tinged her voice.

  He drove out of the parking lot next to the bar. “You have to understand that could have been pure torture to a man who is always on the go, but your scintillating conversation was music to my ears.”

  “Then I’m glad I could help.”

  The streetlight cast her face in a soft glow. Every day she grew more beautiful in his mind. There was nothing plain about her. Her eyes sparkled with life. Her lustrous hair lured a person to run his fingers through the strands. Her mouth—he refused to think about that or he would pull over and kiss her.

  By the time he reached the highway and pointed his Corvette north, Cara slumped against the window, asleep. The occasional headlights shone across her peaceful features. Although he would love to have her company on the three-hour trip back to Cimarron City, he couldn’t disturb her rest, especially with the trial coming up on Thursday. She hadn’t said anything on the drive down to Dallas, but he knew how bothered she was with all the negative publicity. He had become very good at tuning out others; she hadn’t. Each hurtful comment found its mark. He did his best to shield her, but the outside world leaked through the screen he had around her.

  Lord, I’m new at this praying. I’m not sure how to do it, but please protect Cara from being hurt at the trial. Make these guys pay for what they did to her.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The evening before the trial, Noah swept his arm toward the tree house. “We have a floor, Houston.”

  Cara couldn’t believe the elaborate construction that they had been working on for almost a week. Noah was getting into it more than even Rusty and Timothy.

  Lindsay screwed her face into a puzzled look. “Who’s Houston?”

  Adam scooped his little sister up into his arms. “With all the TV you’ve watched, I would have thought you’d know, Lindy. Houston is where the Space Center is.” He swung her up. “Hey, I think you’ve gained some weight.”

  The little girl giggled. “Cara’s a good cook.”

  Adam set Lindsay on the ground. “I’m wounded you think Cara cooks better than me.”

  “Is that what you called heating up a pizza or pouring cereal and milk into a bowl?” Rusty put his arm around Lindsay’s shoulder. “We’re here to tell you that you can’t cook.”

  Cara backed away, her heart heavy. Noah had been right about building the tree house. Over this past week everyone had come together as a family—although they really weren’t one. In order to keep the three siblings together, she saw Noah coming to the conclusion he could be a foster parent by himself, especially after his meeting with his sister two days ago. Her time would be over soon, and she and Timothy would leave Noah’s house, possibly even Cimarron City.

  Adam thumped his cast. “Just because I have this on doesn’t mean I can’t wrestle you to the ground. And wait until I get it removed next week. Then you better really watch out.”

  “Oh, I’m scared.” Rusty stepped back. “It’s kinda hard running in that cast.”

  A mockingly stern expression descended on Adam’s face. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just try me. I can run rings around you.”

  Rusty stuck his tongue out and put his fingers into his ears, taunting his older brother. Prancing about, he said, “In your dreams.”

  Adam charged past Lindsay, who shrieked. He went after Rusty. The nine-year-old scampered toward the gazebo, halfway there turning around and jogging backward. With determination on his face, Adam kept hobbling toward his younger brother.

  “Remind me to give Dr. McCoy a bonus next time Rusty goes to see him.” Noah’s whispered words flowed over Cara’s ear.

  She shivered. “The changes in Rusty haven’t only been because of his therapist. You have made a big difference. Did you see his big grin when you showed him how to nail those boards for the floor?”

  “Yeah. For a few seconds I think I know what Peter and Jacob feel like when they are with their kids. Not a bad feeling.”

  “No.” Her heart pitterpattered. He was much too near for her peace of mind. “Those are the moments you cherish and pull out when they are doing something wrong.”

  “You mean they aren’t gonna be perfect from now on?”

  A yell for help from the gazebo answered his question. She gestured toward Adam, who managed somehow to catch up with Rusty and get him on the ground. Her son raced toward his friend and jumped on Adam’s back, then both boys ganged up on the teen.

  “Good thing his cast is coming off on Monday. Should I step in?” Noah started forward.

  “Hi, boss.”

  He stopped and turned toward Lisa coming around from the front of the house with several large pizza boxes. “I’ve got a better idea. Lindsay, go tell your brothers and Timothy dinner is here and I’m starved so if they want any pizza they better hurry.”

  Lisa set the boxes on the table by the pool and strolled toward the coral tree. “I couldn’t resist coming out here and seeing the fort you told us about. Andy would love something like that, especially the slide.”

  “Your son is welcome to come visit anytime. I thought the kids would enjoy having more than one way to leave the tree house.” Noah escorted his employee to the bottom of the structure and described what he was going to have when it was finished.

  Cara made her way to the glass table and opened the boxes. The scents of onion, green pepper, meat, tomato, bread and various spices swamped her, teasing her empty stomach. She lifted up a piece and gave it to her son, who came to a skidding halt at her elbow.

  “The sodas are in the ice chest on the basketball court.” Although the food smelled wonderful, Cara couldn’t bring herself to eat.

  The children dug in and wolfed down several slices before Noah finished with Lisa. When his employee left, Cara retrieved two bottled waters from the
cooler and passed one to Noah.

  “Aren’t you hungry? Water won’t go far.” Noah selected a slice of pizza with the works.

  “Haven’t you heard you should fill up on water before you eat and you won’t eat as much?”

  “Is that what you’re doing? Or is it because you’re testifying tomorrow at the trial?”

  She moved away from the children. She didn’t want them to overhear. “So are you and Adam.”

  “We have truth on our sides.”

  “I know, but when the assistant D.A. went over my testimony yesterday, he prepped me on some of the tactics the defense attorney may use. I don’t like confrontation. I always went out of my way to avoid it.”

  “I’ll be there. So will Adam. When you get upset or nervous, just look at us.”

  “I don’t think the D.A. wants me to start laughing.”

  “Cute. If you don’t watch out, I’ll take pointers from Rusty and stick my tongue out and wave my fingers.”

  “That’s mine.” Rusty tugged a slice from Lindsay’s hand. “That’s my favorite kind.”

  “Excuse me, Cara. I’ll be right back.” Noah jogged over to the two kids playing tug-of-war with a piece of pizza.

  Needing some alone time, she strolled toward the gazebo and sat on one of the cushion seats along the perimeter. She stared toward the pond, trying to wash her mind of all thoughts concerning tomorrow.

  She was glad the protesters weren’t at the restaurant anymore. From Lisa she’d learned that Noah’s business had suffered because of the trial, though. Yes, it was starting to pick up, but the bad week had hurt Noah financially. She’d seen it in the tired lines about his eyes and his occasional faraway look. When she had heard him talking to Peter and Jacob about it, he hadn’t fooled her with his bravado.

  Staring at the family of geese that had joined the ducks on the pond, she folded her arms along the railing and rested her chin on them. Noah had given her so much—everything she needed, except his love.

  Footsteps coming up the stairs into the gazebo alerted her to Noah’s arrival. His presence brought back memories of the dinner the children had surprised them with only a week ago. In that time so much had happened.

  Noah slipped in next to her on the seat. He brushed her hair behind her ear, his touch whisper soft.

  “Who got the pizza?”

  “I did.”

  Cara laughed and lifted her head, angling around toward him. “So instead of one child being happy and one unhappy, you got two who aren’t pleased.”

  “Yep. The pizza was good if I do say so myself.”

  “Even though it was a little worse for wear?”

  “Do you know they are finding certain germs are good for us?”

  “You are a wealth of trivia.”

  “Look who’s talking, the lady who told me about drinking water right before dinner so I’d eat less.”

  “That was in case you ever wanted to go on a diet.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Which won’t be long with your good cooking.”

  He wouldn’t have to eat her food too much longer. The children should be settled in their foster home, whether it was with Noah or not, before school started. At least she hoped so.

  “Have I successfully taken your mind off tomorrow?”

  She checked her watch. “Yeah, up until two seconds ago.”

  “Okay, I’m not very good at this.”

  “At what?”

  “Helping someone through a problem.”

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You do a very good job.” She lifted one of her eyebrows. “Well, usually.”

  “Just think, this time tomorrow evening it will be over with. Keep that in mind.” He took her hand nearest him and cupped it between his large ones. “Let’s meet back here tomorrow night at sundown. We can have our own celebration.”

  “I’ll be ready to put those guys behind me. I’ve even come to accept that very likely nothing will happen to them. Like those ‘sweep under the rug’ public intoxication charges.”

  “We don’t know that yet.”

  “You don’t think those protesters didn’t sway a few people to their way of thinking?”

  “I’m hoping not, but if so, you and I, God and they know what really happened.” He rubbed her hand between his. “One good thing is that the D.A. thinks the trial will go quickly. We might know the verdict by the end of the day.”

  “Have you ever feared and hoped for something at the same time? That’s how I feel about tomorrow.”

  “I called Whitney today before she went to work. I wanted to emphasize that I am here for her.”

  “Did she talk to you?”

  “Not much.” A lopsided grin appeared on his face. “She did listen for a few minutes before she hung up. I call that progress.”

  “Give her time.”

  He rose. “Come on. You need to eat something.” Tugging her to her feet, he pressed her against him.

  “You’ve become a regular mother hen.”

  He laughed, the deep belly kind. “That isn’t a pretty picture in my mind.”

  He smoothed her hair back, his gaze bound to hers. Slowly he lowered his head toward hers, his eyes flaring.

  “Mom! Noah! It’s almost dark and the stars are gonna be out soon.”

  Cara stepped away quickly, her mouth still tingling in anticipation of the kiss she knew he would have given her if it hadn’t been for her son and Rusty clambering into the gazebo. “My son the astronomer. You would think he’d just discovered stars come out at night.”

  “Is this another aspect of being a parent, being interrupted at the most inconvenient times?” He touched his forehead to hers.

  “Afraid so.”

  “C’mon, you guys. We should be able to see Mars tonight.” Rusty stood by the entrance.

  “I promised them I would get out my telescope and we would look through it tonight.”

  “What telescope?”

  Mischief graced his grin. “The one I purchased today.”

  She turned toward the boys, who tapped their feet against the wooden floor. “You are spoiling them,” she said out of the side of her mouth.

  “Is that part of being a parent?”

  “No, that’s a grandparent’s job.”

  “Oh, I got confused.”

  “Yeah, right.” She crossed to Rusty and Timothy. “You say we might get to see Mars. How about the man in the moon?”

  Timothy giggled. “Mom, there can’t be a man living in the moon. It’s made out of cheese.”

  “Then a mouse in the moon.”

  Rusty and Timothy raced toward the house, their laughter drifting to her.

  “You’ve made two little boys very happy.”

  Noah stopped at the bottom of the gazebo’s steps. “Just two little boys?”

  “Well, probably a little girl and a teen, too.”

  Noah peered over his shoulder toward the boys, then yanked her to him. Before she had time to catch her breath, he planted a hard kiss on her mouth that quickly evolved into one that stole her heart.

  “Only the children?” he whispered in the gray dimness right before the sun went down.

  “Okay, maybe one tired and hungry housekeeper.”

  He slipped his arm around her. “Good. Let’s get you something to eat then look at the stars together. Maybe the children will go to bed early. It is a school night.”

  * * *

  “It is official. We managed to wear the kids out.” Noah came out onto the deck, gazing up at the sky. “It was a beautiful night to look at the stars.”

  “So Lindsay and Rusty went to bed without any problem?” Cara slipped on her sweater she had brought back with her from the guesthouse after putting Timothy down.

  “Yep. Lindsay was asleep when her head hit the pillow. Rusty held out for a whole two minutes. How about Timothy?”

  “The same. I barely got him back to the cottage before he started nodding off. It’s not easy undressing a child standing up w
hen they are trying to go to sleep.”

  “You don’t have to help me clean up if you’re tired.”

  “I don’t think I’m gonna sleep a wink tonight.”

  He took her by the arms and waited until he had her full attention before saying, “You are not to think about the trial one more second. Don’t let them have that kind of power over you.”

  “Yes, sir. I’d salute but you have my arms trapped.”

  He dropped his hands away. “Go right ahead. I’m glad you know who is in charge.”

  “I’m just letting you think you are.”

  “I know.” He leaned back against the railing. “This morning I went by a car dealership.”

  His sports car was a symbol of his way of life to him. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of trading in your Corvette?”

  “Not exactly trading it in. I thought I would buy an SUV and have two cars.”

  “An SUV!” Stunned, she lounged back next to him, staring at the French doors and the great room beyond. “That’s something I would like to see, you driving a soccer mom’s car.”

  “Are you making fun of me?”

  Pressing her lips together, she nodded.

  “And here I thought I could tell you anything. You have crushed my faith in the human race.” He projected hurt into his voice, but a grin graced his mouth.

  She jabbed him playfully in the ribs. “It would take more than that. You are one of the strongest people I’ve known.”

  He pushed from the railing and bowed. “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “I wish I had your strength, then tomorrow wouldn’t bother me.”

  As his gaze reestablished eye contact with her, his expression sobered. “I thought we decided we wouldn’t talk about the trial.”

  “You decided. I’m not sure I can just dismiss it like that.” Cara snapped her fingers.

  He captured her hand and drew her toward him. “I am not as strong as you think. I’m just very good at hiding my feelings behind this.” He gestured toward his face.

  “How did you get that way? I wish I didn’t wear my emotions for everyone to see.”

  “I wouldn’t change anything about you.”

  “That’s sweet. You’re too kind.”

  “I’ve never been described as sweet,” he said with a self-mocking laugh. “It took some hard life lessons to get the way I am.”