Will raised one eyebrow. “You thought we were going to browbeat Rebecca?”
“We didn’t know why you wanted to talk to her. She was nervous and I wanted to support her,” Vanessa said again, challenging her stepfather with the lift of her chin.
“She’s definitely got the Barlow chin,” he said to his wife.
“Of course we don’t mind if you’re here, Vanessa, as long as Rebecca doesn’t mind. And, my dear Rebecca, we didn’t ask you to come talk to us because you did something bad. Jeff wanted Will to talk to you about his financial arrangements. He said you didn’t want to accept what he offered.”
Vanessa turned to stare at her sister. “Why not?”
“I didn’t even tell him about Joey until he was almost four years old, Vanessa. It hardly seems fair that he wants to give me money for that time period. Besides, I’m doing all right, thanks to your parents, so why should I take his money?”
“He wants to provide for the two of you, for your future,” Will said quietly.
“Dear,” Vivian began, “I know you’re doing fine right now, but no one knows what twists and turns fate will bring us. If you don’t need his money now, have him put it in a trust fund for you or Joey. If after Joey reaches a certain age you don’t need the money, you can give it back to him.”
Rebecca nibbled on her bottom lip. Finally, she raised her head. “I could do that. We could put it in a trust for Joey. But Jeff’s already started a college fund for him.”
“How about I call Jeff tomorrow and we hammer out a trust fund agreement? He can draw up the papers and have you sign them when you go into work,” Will suggested.
“Will you encourage him to reduce the numbers he originally offered this morning?” Rebecca asked.
“I’ll certainly tell him that’s what you’d like.”
“Well, while you’re all here, I’d like to ask something that’s been on my mind. Will, are you and Vivian sure you don’t mind Joey and me staying here?”
“Of course we’re sure,” Vivian immediately answered, without pause. “You’re family, and we enjoy having you here.”
“But with the baby coming—”
“We’ll need you even more,” Will assured her.
“You’re the only one in the house who has been through delivery. You’ll be a great support for Vivian. And you’ll provide an extra set of hands and be another baby-sitter in the house.”
Her eyes watering, Rebecca smiled. “You two are such wonderful people. I can’t thank you enough for what you give to me and Joey. He’s just blossomed since he’s been surrounded by family.”
“He’s a wonderful little boy,” Vivian assured her. “We only hope ours is as good.”
“He or she will be, Vivian, because they’ll be surrounded by such a loving family.”
“Well, now that we’ve all patted one another on the backs, I think it’s time we disband for an early night,” Will said. “Mothers-to-be need lots of rest.”
They all went up the stairs together, happily ending another evening.
REBECCA AVOIDED JEFF as much as possible for the rest of the week. She tried to be sure she was busy at all times, especially when she knew he was in the office. Will had talked to Jeff and brought home papers for her to sign. Since the money didn’t matter to her and she trusted Will, she didn’t bother to read them. Will assured her that the money would go straight into a fund, and she could return it to Jeff when Joey was an adult if she chose to do so.
She didn’t want his money when he couldn’t give her what she really wanted. His love.
Saturday was a cool fall day at the end of September. She dressed herself and her son appropriately and made sure Joey ate a good breakfast. It took work. He jumped down from his seat every time he heard a car go by.
“Joey,” she called for the fifth time, “come back and finish your breakfast.”
“But—”
“Now!” She seldom used that tone, but she was running out of patience.
Joey slid back into his chair. “I bet this trip is my birthday present. It’s almost my birthday, isn’t it?”
Since Joey had had his mom mark off each day on the calendar before October 2, which was circled in red, Joey knew it was only five days until his birthday.
“Don’t you remember? We’re taking cupcakes to school for your birthday, Joey.” Rebecca felt badly that she wasn’t giving her son a birthday party. He’d never had one. But she didn’t want to add to Betty’s chores or bring the disruption of a children’s party to Vivian’s quiet home.
“How many days away is it?” Betty asked as she took dishes to the sink.
Joey held up four fingers because that’s the age he was going to turn. “My birthday is October 2.”
“It is? No one told me about that.”
Rebecca smiled at warmhearted Betty. “I’ve been trying to keep him quiet about it. But we will be invading your kitchen to bake cupcakes for his class on Wednesday night.”
“Aren’t you going to have a birthday party?” Betty asked.
“Oh, those are kind of noisy. We’d have to invite the entire class and there’s eighteen kids in it.”
“Plus Daddy, Chelsea and Bill. They’re my friends, too,” Joey announced. “And you and Peter and Grandpa Will and Grandma Vivian and Aunt Vanessa.”
“Mercy, you have a big party list, young man.”
Joey gave her a big grin. “I do, don’t I? I’m a lucky boy.”
Rebecca kissed his forehead. “Yes, you are. Go upstairs and brush your teeth and we’ll be ready to go.”
As soon as Joey left the room, Betty asked, “Are you sending out the invitations on Monday?”
“The invitations for what?”
“Joey’s party. We can have it here. I’ll bake him a super birthday cake and get ice cream. We can feed them all hot dogs before they eat ice cream and cake. We’ll find some games to play and you can buy prizes, just little things, you know. We can invite the mothers, too, if they want to come. I could fix some chicken salad sandwiches for them, just in case they’re not fond of hot dogs.”
“Betty, that’s too much trouble for you and it’s only five days away. I thought I’d just take Joey to McDonald’s for his birthday.”
“And rob us of our chance to celebrate Joey’s birthday? I’ll talk to Miz Vivian while you’re gone today. I’m sure she’ll agree.”
“But she needs to rest more these days. I don’t want her to overdo anything and get tired.”
“I can handle a birthday party with one hand behind my back, young lady.”
The doorbell rang, and Betty left the kitchen before Rebecca could say anything. She gathered the dishes left from their breakfast and took them to the sink. She heard Joey’s running footsteps in the hallway and stepped out there in time to remind him that he should not run in the house.
“But Daddy’s here, Mommy. I saw his car out of the window.”
Betty led Jeff into the hallway, and Joey ran to his father, arms outstretched. Jeff swung him up into his arms, as he always did. “Are you ready, son?”
Joey beamed. “Yes, Daddy. Is this my birthday present?”
“Your birthday present? No, this is just for fun. I’ll get you a birthday present, something you can unwrap.”
“Oh, goody,” Joey squealed, and hugged his father’s neck again.
Betty patted Rebecca’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry none about the party. I’ll take care of everything.” Then she went back into the kitchen.
Rebecca was left standing with her mouth open.
“What’s wrong, Becca?”
Rebecca looked from Jeff’s concerned face to Joey’s big smile and said, “I’ll have to tell you later.”
“Bill and Chelsea are waiting in the car. Are you ready?”
“I’ll just get my purse.”
“Why don’t you leave it? That way you can’t lose it on the rides.”
“But I’ll need it.”
“For what? I’ve got
enough money for us today.”
“But I might want to buy something.”
“So, I’ll buy it and you can pay me back.”
She glared at him, but he continued to smile at her. “Let me get some tissues in case we have an emergency,” she muttered. She returned several minutes later and nodded that she was ready to go. She’d stuck a ten-dollar bill into her pocket along with a couple of tissues.
Chelsea was waiting in the back seat. Joey actually gave her a hug. When Bill complained he didn’t get a hug, Joey stood in the back seat and hugged Bill’s neck, too. Then Rebecca buckled him in.
It was a forty-five-minute drive and Joey got impatient, wanting to know if they were there yet several times, until Rebecca told him he couldn’t ask that question again. He sagged against her and actually fell asleep for the last twenty minutes.
When Jeff saw that Joey was asleep, he asked quietly, “What do you have planned for his birthday?”
“When’s his birthday?” Bill asked.
“Next Thursday, the second.”
Everyone turned to look at Rebecca.
Finally Chelsea said, “And you didn’t tell us?”
“I thought I’d take him to McDonald’s for his birthday. Now, of course, that’s all changed.”
“What’s changed?” Jeff asked.
“Betty told me this morning that she would organize a birthday party for him and all the kids in his class and the mothers, too. Joey immediately told her you all would have to be invited, too, and Peter, Will, Vivian and Vanessa.”
“And you agreed?” Jeff asked.
“I didn’t have a choice. Betty was kind of hurt that I hadn’t mentioned it before.”
“We are, too,” Bill complained. “It’ll take some time to pick out a good present.”
“Please, don’t spend a lot on him. I don’t want him to get too spoiled.”
They all assured her they wouldn’t, but Rebecca didn’t believe them. She hugged her little boy closer to her, thinking what a lucky child he was. Her own birthdays hadn’t been treated as special days. She’d never had a birthday party.
When they drove into the parking lot, she awakened Joey. “Joey, it’s time to wake up. We’re here.”
One would’ve thought she’d clicked on a switch. From a sleeping child, Joey turned into an excitable boy in no time at all. “Where? Where is it, Daddy? I can’t see it.”
Jeff picked up Joey and pointed through the trees. “It’s over behind those walls. We’ll just get on this little train—” he waved down a tram that gave rides to the front “—and we’ll be there in no time.” At that, the five of them boarded the train.
Rebecca suddenly noticed that because she wanted to stay close to Joey, and that was the only reason, she assured herself, she was seated with Joey and Jeff, which left Bill and Chelsea to sit together.
“I should change seats with Chelsea,” she whispered, and started to move. Jeff caught hold of her arm.
“No, don’t change. We’ll be there in no time.”
He was right, but Rebecca vowed to be more careful. It made them seem like a little family, and they weren’t. They went through the gate with the tickets Jeff had purchased.
“It’s very expensive, isn’t it?” Rebecca asked.
“All the rides are free if you’re willing to stand in line. At least they don’t nickel and dime you to death. All you have to pay for is food and Bill’s in charge of that.”
Joey was so excited he wanted to go in every direction. Jeff took charge and started them off to the left, where there was a pirate ship swinging in the air.
Both Chelsea and Rebecca opted out of that ride, but the men took Joey between them, promising his mother they’d bring him back safely.
“I think,” Chelsea said after watching the ride, “if I’d gotten on that ride, I would’ve lost my breakfast.”
“I made sure Joey ate his breakfast. I hope that wasn’t a mistake.”
“Now I’m doubly glad I didn’t go on that ride.”
“How about the sombrero ride? That’s next. Will you go on it?”
“I think so. It doesn’t look too bad.”
Rebecca looked at the sombreros that spun around and around, like the teacup ride at Disneyland. “Do you think all five of us could fit in one sombrero?”
“I think so. It’d be a tight fit, but I don’t object to squeezing in,” Chelsea said with a smile. She wore jeans today and had tied her hair into a ponytail and looked about eighteen.
“You look good, today, Chelsea,” Rebecca said.
“Thanks. So do you. But I’m glad you’re not a blonde. You’d be too hard to compete with.”
Rebecca wanted to assure Chelsea she wasn’t competing with her, but the men came back from the boat ride without suffering any sickness.
Joey was ecstatic. “Mommy, it was great. I would’ve fallen out if Daddy hadn’t held me in.”
“What about me?” Bill demanded. “I held you in, too.”
“Yeah. Uncle Bill held me in, too. And he wasn’t even afraid I’d get sick, either. He said so.”
“After the ride was over,” Jeff added, and everyone laughed.
“Ready for the hat ride?” Jeff asked.
“I think we can all get in one sombrero,” Chelsea said, looking at Bill from under her lashes.
“I’m all for a good squeeze,” Bill agreed.
They got on the sombrero ride and it was a tight squeeze for them all to get in one, but they made it. Rebecca and Chelsea sat on each side of Joey and the men were closest to the gate. Rebecca noticed that Bill was with Chelsea and Jeff was with her. Their arms were around each other to make more room.
She was thrown against Jeff’s chest several times, and he tightened his hold on her shoulder. They were almost in an embrace except for trying to protect Joey, whose face was aglow with excitement.
“He sure likes this amusement park, doesn’t he?” Jeff whispered in her ear.
“Yes, but—I’m not sure this was a good idea. You should have Chelsea here next to you.”
“I’m not complaining.”
Rebecca didn’t want to complain, either. She loved being in Jeff’s arms, but her conscience told her she should complain and she should be uncomfortable with the way things kept ending up with this foursome. Before she could get up the nerve to talk to Jeff, the ride ended.
“I think I might have some broken knees after that ride,” Bill complained. “I’m too tall to be scrunched up like that.”
“The next ride won’t scrunch you up,” Jeff promised. “And it will cool you off.”
“The log ride!” Chelsea shouted. “It’s my favorite.”
“What’s a log ride?” Joey asked.
“We all get in a carved-out log and go on a water ride. You’ll love it,” Jeff told him.
They got in line and the closer they got to the ride, the more excited Joey got. “Can I be in front, Daddy? That’s the best place.”
“Only if I sit right behind you so I can hold on to you.” Jeff looked at Rebecca. “Is that okay with you?”
“Of course.”
“Good. You sit right behind me and hold on to me.”
“Shouldn’t Chelsea—”
“I’ll hold on to Bill. He’ll feel left out if no one holds on to him. Isn’t that right, Bill?”
“You bet,” Bill agreed, winking at Rebecca.
Rebecca smiled, but she wasn’t sure she understood. Joey, Jeff and Rebecca all got in one log, then Chelsea and Bill got in the log ride behind them. Jeff drew Rebecca’s arms around his waist. “Don’t let loose, okay? If you do, I’ll have to turn around and check on you and I might lose Joey.”
She knew he was teasing, but she locked her arms around his middle and laid her head on his back. His hands patted hers right before the ride started.
“When’s it going to get scary, Daddy? All we’re doing is riding along smoothly.”
“Just wait, son. There’s a big finish.”
Rebecca didn’t look back at the other couple. She didn’t want to see them holding on to each other. When they climbed the last hill before they zoomed down the log flume, splashing water everywhere, Joey began to get excited. “Are we almost there, Daddy?”
“We are, son. Get ready.”
The quick ride down the flume left them all wet and laughing.
“I want to go again!” Joey screamed.
“Look at that line,” Jeff said. “Maybe we’ll do it again later. There are lots of other rides. I love the mine train.”
“What’s that, Daddy? Let’s go ride it.”
“Calm down, son. Let’s get an ice cream and take the sky ride across the park.”
They all got ice cream bars dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts. Then they watched a fake western gun battle in the middle of the street. Joey sat on his father’s shoulders so he could see clearly.
“You’re probably going to have ice cream and chocolate in your hair, you know,” Rebecca warned.
“I’ll survive,” he assured her, grinning.
She was fortunate that Jeff was such a tolerant parent. But then she’d always believed he would be a good daddy. Her plans, as a nineteen-year-old, had included several children after they’d married. But the twists of fate had changed that picture.
Her dreams couldn’t come true for her, because Jeff was going to marry Chelsea. But her dreams would come true for Joey. He would have his daddy, just as she’d planned. But Chelsea would be the “mom” in the picture.
“Hey!” Jeff said, putting an arm around Rebecca’s shoulder. “Did you see the gunfight?”
“Oh, yes, of course. Joey, you should get down from your dad’s shoulders now. You didn’t drip ice cream into his hair, did you?”
“I don’t think so, Mommy,” Joey said carelessly.
Rebecca gave an exasperated sigh. After he put Joey on the ground, Rebecca ordered Jeff to bend his head so she could check his hair herself. She picked out several pieces of chocolate and used her tissues to wipe up the ice cream.
“Okay, I think that’s the best I can do.”
Jeff thanked her. Then he kissed her on her lips.
“Jeff, don’t do that!”
“Chelsea and Bill have walked on ahead and Joey’s with them. Come on, we’ll catch up.” He grabbed her hand and started off after them.
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