“I guess the kid does have good reason to consider me temporary,” Zady conceded. “I keep hoping we’ll bond, but things are deteriorating. And I still think it could be partly my fault.”
“Why?”
“When he attacks me, it reminds me of the bad relationship I had with my ex-boyfriend’s three kids.” She checked the wall clock. Twenty minutes left, and for once, she had no desire to hurry back to the office.
“Whatever you’re feeling, Caleb’s probably picking it up,” Franca agreed. “What happened with the boyfriend’s kids?”
“They were horrible to me.” Memories darkened Zady’s mood. “They used to call me names and refuse to eat my cooking. They even threw my clothes on the floor and stomped on them. Every visit was a battle. Dwayne didn’t support me at all. He was usually out working. Or, in retrospect, cheating on me.”
“And the children took it out on you,” Franca murmured.
“Yes. Their hateful behavior went on for years,” Zady said. “I could understand it when they were toddlers, but by the time I broke up with Dwayne, they were in their teens. The kids should have been old enough to see I was trying to be their friend, trying to please them.”
“How old were they when you and their father got involved?”
She searched her memory. “Two, four and six.”
“Did he leave his wife for you?”
“Yes. He was unhappy,” Zady hastened to add. “His wife treated him like a meal ticket. Of course, she resented me. Maybe she put them up to it.”
There was a pause while Franca mulled over this information. Outside the cafeteria, Zady saw Marshall in conversation with Cole and the administrator. She could afford to stay a few more minutes.
“How did you meet Dwayne?” Franca asked.
“I was working in a toy store during Christmas,” Zady said. “To help pay for college. He came in to buy presents for his kids. He seemed kind and nurturing, not at all like my dad.”
“A sympathetic father figure.”
“Yeah. What a joke that turned out to be.”
“How old were you?”
“Twenty,” Zady said. “Vulnerable and stupid.” A picture sprang to mind, of Dwayne’s penetrating blue eyes and the sympathetic tilt of his head as he’d flirted with her. The children he was shopping for had hardly seemed real to her...and evidently to him, either.
“But he wasn’t much of a father, was he?”
“No.” Then it hit her, the piece of the puzzle she’d been looking for. “What a jerk! His wife was struggling with three little kids and he dumped them to run off with a wide-eyed admirer. No wonder they hated me! I wrecked their home.” Guilt swept over her. “I must be an awful person.”
“You’re responsible for your own actions,” Franca said. “But you didn’t betray their mother’s trust or run out on them. Their father did that.”
“All the same, it makes sense now,” Zady said. “I never had any chance of winning them over, no matter what I did. And I don’t have a chance with Caleb, either.”
“But you aren’t responsible for Caleb losing his mother or his grandparents,” Franca put in.
“In his eyes, I might be. Perhaps you’re right, and Caleb unloads on me because he can’t aim his anger at his dad, and that’s what Dwayne’s kids were doing,” Zady reflected.
Oh dear, she’d lingered too long, Zady thought as Marshall entered the main cafeteria room from the patio. “Gotta go. Franca, you’ve been a great help.”
“Please call if you have questions.” The psychologist handed her a business card. “And you might, after you’ve had a chance to consider all this.”
“Okay.” Lifting her tray, Zady glimpsed an unfamiliar expression on Marshall’s face as he regarded the two of them. Wistfulness? And it wasn’t for her, she felt certain.
If he liked Franca, Zady seconded that emotion. Much as it hurt to confront her guilt toward Dwayne’s children, the insight had opened a window of understanding for her.
Now she had to figure out what the new vista meant and how it affected her current relationships.
* * *
ON SATURDAY MORNING, at the end of a long shift, Nick was retrieving his belongings from a locker in the doctors’ lounge when Jack Ryder, green eyes shining with fervor, waylaid him. The other obstetrician had been called in to assist with a spate of extra deliveries and C-sections.
“Monday afternoon, five o’clock, our break room. Be there,” Jack commanded.
“Is this about our rebellion?” Receiving a nod, Nick noted guiltily, “It’s my day off. I should spend the time with my son.”
“It’s an important strategy session. Thanks to your relationship with Marshall, you’re a key player for us.” Enthusiasm vibrated through the other doctor.
“Is there some kind of hurry? The Porvamm won’t be ready for occupancy until next fall.”
“Next summer,” Jack corrected. “They’ve moved up the target date. So they’ll be handing out the offices any day now.”
Nick peeled off his soiled white coat and stuffed it in a laundry bin. “That does sound ominous. What kind of strategy are we devising, short of marching around with signs?”
“That shouldn’t be necessary now that we have a secret weapon.” As if unable to contain his news any longer, Jack burst out, “We’ve enlisted Fightin’ Sam!”
“Who?” If Nick didn’t get out of here soon, he’d drape himself over the other doctor and fall asleep.
“Dr. Samantha Forrest, pediatrician.” Jack spoke the name reverently. “She’s famous for going to bat for her patients and standing up to the hospital’s powers that be.”
Nick remembered meeting Samantha Forrest. The blonde had a forceful personality, as well as another distinction. “Isn’t she married to Dr. Rayburn?”
“Which makes her the one person at the hospital who isn’t afraid to face off with the administrator!”
The situation worried Nick. Was it really fair to pit husband against wife? “Personally, I like Dr. Rayburn, and I have the impression he’s a good listener. Also, plenty of people aren’t afraid to stand up to him. Dr. Tartikoff, for instance.”
“Dr. Tartikoff’s not in our group,” Jack reminded him.
“True.” And once the new office space was assigned, there’d be little to no chance of changing things. “I’ll rearrange my schedule for Monday.”
“Till then!” With a wave, Jack sauntered out.
Nick was curious to hear what Dr. Sam and their colleagues had in mind, and the office space was important to him, too. Plus, he wouldn’t mind one-upping his cousin.
Not that he viewed the controversy as a personal conflict between him and Marshall, but the man’s arrogance reminded him of the put-downs and brush-offs he’d doled out during their teen years. Nick had always had shabbier clothes, less approval from their strict grandfather and more character flaws, as Marshall had been quick to point out.
This time, the guy had overstepped. Marshall wielded a lot of influence, thanks to his growing reputation and the possibility that he could help secure surgical fellowships. But he ought to respect the doctors in other specialties rather than dismissing their request.
During the short drive to his house, Nick’s thoughts flew ahead to Zady. She’d taken on far more responsibility than she’d signed up for, and he’d have to ask her for yet another favor in order to attend Monday’s meeting. He wondered if it would cause more problems with Caleb. Why couldn’t Zady get along better with Caleb? His son was a sweetheart. If only Nick weren’t so tired and distracted, maybe he could figure out what she was doing to provoke the boy.
Grateful to be home, he turned into his driveway, pressed the remote and rolled into the garage. Wait a minute. Why was there water on the floor?
The door from the hous
e flew open. Caleb, his body quivering with eagerness, bolted toward the car.
“Hang on!” Nick’s voice finally stopped him. “Hey, little guy. What happened here?”
Caleb studied the small pool of water. “It’s Auntie Zee’s fault.”
Here she came, her mouth twisting as she heard the accusation. “Seriously, did you do this?” Nick got out carefully.
Her gaze traced the source of the puddle. “The water heater must be leaking. Caleb! Come back here. And take your shoes off before you go inside.”
Pouting, the boy obeyed. Nick returned his attention to Zady. “Well?”
“Well, what?” she demanded. “You think I broke the water heater?”
His tired brain churned into action. The water heater, housed in a small closet within the garage, must have sprung a leak, as she’d said. Caleb’s accusation had been knee-jerk. “No. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll call the landlord,” Zady said.
“Please don’t.” A shiver of dismay ran through Nick as he recalled his rash offer. “I promised to take care of small problems in exchange for a break in the rent.” Honesty won out. “I don’t have a clue how to fix a water heater.”
“Neither do I,” Zady said.
“Maybe I could figure it out, but I’m too exhausted to function,” he said, aware of Caleb watching wide-eyed from the doorway.
She nodded. “I can see that. I’ll handle it. But would you back the car out and clear the garage?”
“I can manage that.”
When he entered the house, he found Zady on the phone. “Thanks, Lucky,” she said. “We’ll call him.”
“Who?” Nick asked after she hung up.
“A plumber. Lucky says you don’t fix water heaters, you replace them.” She regarded him with what appeared to be a slim margin of sympathy. “Go to bed. I’ll take care of it. You get to pay, though.”
“Mr. Tran said he’d reimburse me for materials.” Thank goodness Nick had retained enough working brain cells to remember that.
“I’ll save the receipt.”
“You can pay with this.” He handed over his credit card, then addressed their small audience of two. “Hi, munchkins. I’m sorry I’m too tired to do anything but collapse. Zady is a magician. She will magically fix everything.”
“Zady will have a few words with you later,” she said. “Once you’ve rested.”
“Absolutely,” Nick mumbled, and staggered into his room. He barely managed to pull off his shoes before he fell, fully clothed, onto the bed. Sleep took him instantly.
Chapter Fourteen
The exhaustion on Nick’s face eased Zady’s irritation. Adrenaline might have powered him into action if another baby had to be delivered, but otherwise he’d reached the limits of his endurance.
Summoning plumbers wasn’t among her duties, but they both had to pitch in and function as a team, for the children’s sake. However, she wished his first instinct hadn’t been to assume she was at fault.
Throughout the morning, Zady remained aware of the guy sprawled on his bed. She’d glimpsed him there after he’d accidentally left the door ajar. His long, lean body had tempted her to loosen his clothes and settle him comfortably. She might also wipe a washcloth gently across his face and stroke the hair from his forehead.
Or not. Definitely not. Instead, she closed the door.
The plumber Lucky recommended proved a cooperative soul. After asking her to provide information posted on the heater, he picked up a replacement en route to the house. He worked quickly, and as quietly as he could. From Nick’s bedroom, Zady heard no signs of stirring.
Since she had to stay on the premises and entertain the kids, she turned the occasion into a teaching moment. On the internet, she found an article about how water heaters work. Fortunately, the devices were simple enough for a child to understand—just a tub and a heating apparatus connected to pipes. The toddlers seemed fascinated to learn how hot water arrived in their faucets.
“Here, show Linda what it looks like.” On the couch, Zady let Caleb hold her tablet, tracing the picture with his finger.
He peered at the page. “Is it as big as ours?”
“Yes.” It hadn’t occurred to her before, but to a child, a tiny picture might as easily represent a toy-size apparatus as a life-size one.
“Big water.” At Linda’s insistence, Zady had carried her into the garage when she went to jot down the specifics for the plumber. Caleb had accompanied them, carefully avoiding the puddle, which had expanded slightly.
“Enough water for us all to take hot showers,” she said.
“Cool.” Linda had picked up that word at day care.
“You mean warm.” Caleb grinned.
“Very clever.” Zady fist-bumped him.
After the plumber left and they ate lunch, she drove the kids to the Bear and Doll Boutique. The owner, a sixtyish woman with champagne-colored hair, introduced herself as Ada Humphreys and assured them she could repair the doll.
“I broke it,” Caleb admitted.
“It’ll be good as new,” Ada assured the children. “By the way, I teach craft classes here. When you guys are older, you might enjoy making your own teddy bears and doll clothes.” To Zady, she added, “They’re a little too young yet.”
“Caleb is advanced for his age.” While not certain that was true, Zady wanted to praise him, since he’d been cooperative this morning.
“I’m sure he is,” Ada said. “Your children are both darling.”
My children. Zady could hardly speak through the lump in her throat. “Actually, I’m the care provider. But thanks.”
The funny part, she reflected as she watched the children trot about examining the bears and dolls, was that she felt as attached to Caleb as she did to Linda. With her goddaughter, the bond had been instantaneous. Until a few weeks ago, Caleb had been a stranger. Yet today, she experienced a rush of tenderness toward the little boy.
Was it because he reminded her of Nick? But the attachment was more personal than that. She treasured Caleb’s inquisitive personality and spark of intelligence. What fun it would be, and what a challenge, to help him grow and develop.
Don’t forget, he isn’t yours.
Her cell jingled. She’d been experimenting with ringtones and hesitated for a second, at first believing it might be the store’s piped-in music. Oh, wait, she’d chosen that sound for Nick.
“It’s all taken care of,” Zady said to him when she answered. “I left you two receipts, one for the heater and one for the labor. They’re on the kitchen table.”
“I miss you.” The ragged edge to his voice cut right through her defenses.
Surely he meant he missed the children. “We’re at the toy store.”
“Let’s spend the afternoon at the harbor. I’ve been promising to take Caleb.” He didn’t refer to his initial remark or her evasion, so she must have been correct.
“What fun!” Zady signaled the children. “Come on, little people.” Then, cautiously, she asked, “Did you just mean your son?” She’d hate to promise Linda a trip that didn’t materialize.
“Won’t you join us?” There it was, a note of yearning. Her foolish, gullible heart gave a leap, to which any sensible woman would have responded by smashing it with the nearest baseball bat.
“We’d love to,” Zady said.
For Linda’s sake, of course.
* * *
WHEN NICK WAS growing up, family had meant parents who quarreled and couldn’t be relied upon. It had also meant stern grandparents at whose house he’d gathered on holidays. There, his aunt and uncle could be counted on to criticize him and praise their supposedly perfect son.
He’d longed for an ideal family like those he’d seen on classic TV shows: wise fathers and resourcefu
l mothers with mischievous, adorable children. After his experience with Bethany and a few other brief, failed relationships, though, Nick had doubted such a thing existed in the real world.
Until today. Now he understood how a couple could function as a team, exchanging a few words that resolved differences without conflict, and share the same special moments. How had this happened?
He’d awakened to a silent house. Everything had been in order, except for a scattering of toys in the living room. The plumber had done his deed, the water in the garage had vanished, the beds were made except for his own, and after a hard night’s work, he should have luxuriated in the solitude and peace. Instead, he’d missed Zady with an intensity that rocked him.
He’d feared she might insist on handing over his son and spending a free day with her goddaughter. Or demand that he babysit both tykes, considering how much extra effort she’d put in this week.
Instead, she’d joined in the fun with all four of them. Or, rather, she’d created the fun. It was Zady who invented a simplified scavenger hunt along the wooden quay, girls versus boys. They competed to spot a boat with a red sail, a surfboard in a shop window and a fisherman on the pier with a bucket by his side. No one worried about winners or losers. Both children were winners, in Nick’s opinion, learning colors and words while moving so fast they stayed warm despite the crisp sea breeze.
“What does the air smell like?” she asked the kids when the game wore thin.
“Salt,” Linda said.
“Fish,” Caleb added.
“Both right,” Nick said. “And coffee.”
Zady grinned, her freckles standing out in the thin February sunshine. “That’s our cue to have a snack.”
He bought them muffins and hot chocolate—plus coffee for him—at the harborside Sea Star Café, where they chose an outdoor table with an overhead warmer. As an elderly couple passed, Nick heard the woman observe, “What a lovely family.”
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