Falling for Leigh

by Jennifer Snow

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “IS THIS RIGHT, Miss Leigh?” Isabel asked, sitting on a chair in Leigh’s kitchen behind the table where she cut the shape of a pumpkin out of orange construction paper early the next day.

  Too early. Leigh hid a yawn as she nodded. “Yes, sweetie, that’s great.” She glued a set of googly eyes to a cutout of a ghost and handed it to Dylan. “Just set this on the window ledge to dry with the others and they should be ready for you to take home at the end of the day.”

  The oven timer chimed and Leigh grabbed her oven mitts from the counter. “Everyone stay in your seats, away from the oven, while I get the cookies,” she said, before removing the tray of shortbread and placing them on the cooling rack above the stove.

  “They smell yummy. Can we decorate them now?” Melissa asked, standing on her chair to peer at the shortbread cookies with interest.

  “They have to cool first, and chairs are for bottoms.” Leigh motioned for the little girl to sit as she removed her oven mitts and got out her decorating tools and bags of colored frosting and sprinkles.

  The house phone rang and she scanned the messy kitchen for her cordless. She moved the art supplies and the baking dishes on the counter, guided by the muffled sound of the ringing. “Guys, have you seen the phone?” she asked, shuffling the loose sheets of construction paper on the table.

  “Here it is,” Isabel said, moving a bag of pipe cleaners. Instead of handing it over, she answered it. “Hello?”

  Leigh put her hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side. She hid a grin as she waited.

  The girl’s eyebrows wove together as she listened. “Yeah, she’s right here. Hold, please,” she said, extending the phone to Leigh. “It’s for you.”

  “You’re kidding?” Chuckling, she took the phone. “Hello?” She cradled the phone against her shoulder as she got the milk out of the fridge. Then opening the dishwasher, she removed the clean plastic multicolored cups and placed them on the counter.

  “Leigh Norris?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

  “Yes, this is Leigh.” Straightening, she turned and motioned for the noisy kids to quiet down. Very few people called her home phone anymore. She’d get rid of the landline altogether, but with operating the day care, it was safer in the case of an emergency.

  “This is Michelle Bennett from the New Jersey Adoption Center.”

  Leigh’s heart raced and her pulse thundered. Swallowing the lump in her throat and forcing her voice to remain steady, she said, “Hi, Ms. Bennett.” The letter she’d received stating her deposit had arrived had indicated it would be months before she’d hear anything. That was only a little over two weeks ago. Was a call this soon a good thing or a bad thing?

  “Have I caught you at a bad time?”

  Leigh plugged her other ear to the shrill noises in the background and winced, moving out into the hallway. Letting the swinging door close halfway behind her, but keeping it propped open with her foot to keep an eye on the kids, she said, “No, not at all. I run a day care in my home,” she explained. Please don’t let this woman form an opinion of my parenting skills based on the noise level in my home.

  “Oh, okay. Well, that explains the noise,” Michelle said.

  “Yes, I’m sorry. It’s arts-and-crafts time. They can get...excitable.” Leigh’s hand shook and she switched the phone to the other ear.

  “No apology necessary. Children having fun is a wonderful sound.”

  Leigh’s shoulders relaxed. She liked Michelle Bennett already, she decided. “What can I do for you, Michelle?” Her nerves were jumping. Had she sent the wrong amount for the application? Had they found a reason to reject her application already?

  “I was hoping to set up a time for an interview and home visit.”

  Leigh’s mouth dropped and the phone slipped out of her hand. She blinked through a dizzy spell. “Already?” she managed to choke out when she’d grabbed the phone up again.

  “Yes. I know it’s probably sooner than you expected.”

  Leigh stammered, “Um...yes....”

  “Well, if it’s not a good time—”

  “No, please excuse my hesitancy. I just hadn’t expected to hear from anyone so soon, but this is wonderful,” she said as she leaned against the wall in the hallway. Her knees felt like rubber and she didn’t trust their ability to hold her upright. A home visit. Already. Excitement welled in her chest.

  “Great. Would sometime next week work for you? I don’t want to give you any false expectations, though. Be prepared for this process to take some time.” The woman hesitated and then added, “But we do have a situation currently that we feel may be a fit.”

  Tears forced their way into her throat and she swallowed hard. “I understand.”

  “So, next week? Monday?”

  “Yes. I have the day-care children until five-thirty. Would six be okay?” Logan would have to do without her for an evening. If he was still here. The thought hit her with a wave of sadness.

  If he knew what she was about to do, would he approve?

  She heard Michelle hesitate. “If we need to meet earlier...” She’d figure something out. Maybe Ashley could work that afternoon and take the children to the playground on the corner.

  “No, six will be fine. Most home visits are in the evening when couples are home from work. We’re flexible. I’ll see you then.”

  “Great, thank you.” Leigh disconnected the call and held the phone to her chest. Her thoughts and emotions were indecipherable. A home visit...the first real step in the process. She could have a child sooner than she’d originally hoped or expected. Tears welled in her eyes and she swallowed the resurfacing lump in her throat as she leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on the photo of her parents hanging on the wall across from her.

  They didn’t know of her plans yet. She hadn’t wanted to tell too many people in case things didn’t work out and yet, they were her parents. They loved her and she could only imagine that they would support her in this. Maybe they’d even come home more often when they became grandparents. The very idea took Leigh’s breath away. She had to tell them. She would try to call them soon.

  The swinging kitchen door opened and Melissa came out into the hall, her hand glued to a piece of construction paper. “Miss Leigh, I’m stuck.”

  Leigh bent to squeeze the little girl tight. She was so happy she thought her heart would explode. “Okay, let’s go get you unstuck so we can decorate some cookies.”

  * * *

  LEIGH GLANCED AT the call display on her cell phone as she answered on the third ring later that evening. Seconds before, the home phone had been ringing, but she hadn’t found the cordless in time. “Hi, Rachel, sorry I’m late. I’m almost ready.” She cradled the phone against her shoulder as she secured her hair behind her ear with a bobby pin.

  “Don’t rush, we’re not going.” Her cousin sounded upset.

  “What? Why not?” Earlier that afternoon, when she’d called her to share her goods news about the home visit, Rachel had been excited about the Halloween party at the community hall that evening. Since the birth of the twins, Rachel and Nathan rarely went anywhere together without the children. They deserved a break, but finding someone to babysit five kids wasn’t easy. And whenever there was an event in town, finding someone who wasn’t attending was even harder.

  “The Halloween costume doesn’t fit,” she said with a sigh. “Apparently I have more baby weight to lose than I’d thought.” She sounded close to tears. “Losing the weight on the other three hadn’t seemed this hard.”

  “I’m sure the costume can be made to fit, right?”

  “No, it can’t. I’m disgusting.”

  “No, you aren’t. You’re beautiful,” Leigh heard Nathan say in the background.

  She smiled. After thirteen years
and five kids, the couple’s relationship was as strong as it had always been. It was encouraging to see that things could work out.

  “You have to say that. You’re the one who keeps making me fat,” Rachel said to her husband, then into the phone, added, “Anyway, Leigh, I hope you hadn’t canceled any plans for tonight. I think we’ll just stay home.”

  Leigh scanned her closet. The witch’s costume she wore every year for the day care children’s Halloween party caught her eye. She was a little shorter than Rachel, but the dress was loose and flowy; it was sure to fit her cousin’s motherly curves. “If you don’t mind going as a witch, I have a costume you can wear,” she said, taking it out and reaching for the black, pointed hat.

  “Oh, were you planning to go to the party tonight? Oh, now I feel bad—”

  “No, no, Rachel,” Leigh interrupted. “It’s just my day-care Halloween costume.” She sat on the edge of her bed and tugged her flat leather boots over her skinny jeans.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ll bring it right over.”

  “You’re a lifesaver, Leigh.”

  Ten minutes later, Rachel inspected herself in the full-length mirror in the master suite of the family’s quarters of the bed-and-breakfast.

  Nathan whistled his approval, as he stared at his wife’s fishnet stockings, showing quite a bit of her leg under the witch’s dress.

  Rachel looked at him. “I don’t know...”

  “Are you kidding me? You look amazing. You’re wearing it.” Nathan folded his arms. “Tell her, Leigh.”

  “You look great, Rachel.”

  “It’s a little short.” Rachel tugged it farther down her legs.

  “You’re a little taller than me. Trust me, I don’t wear it that short around the kids,” she was quick to explain.

  Nathan gave her a pointed look.

  “Oh, but for an adults party, it’s perfect.”

  Rachel still didn’t look convinced.

  A horn honked outside.

  Nathan stood and glanced through the curtain. “There’s Luke and Vic. Are we going?” He paused hopefully.

  Rachel hesitated a second longer, then said, “Fine...okay.”

  Nathan beamed.

  “Great. Where are the kids?” Leigh stood and followed them out into the hall. She hadn’t seen or heard them since she came in, which was odd.

  “The babies are already asleep and the others are spending the night at Aunt Lindsay’s.” Rachel picked up her purse and led the way downstairs, baby monitor in hand.

  “Really? Lindsay agreed to babysit?” Nathan’s sister was a nurse at the local clinic and she was a fantastic aunt to the kids...but she didn’t seem the type to be able to handle three kids for any period of time.

  “Yes, she’s dating a single dad from Beach Haven. He’s in town with his daughter this week. She’s trying to demonstrate her love of children.” At the bottom of the stairs Rachel hesitated as Nathan gathered their coats from the front closet.

  “Wow, easy night, then.” She was a little disappointed, as she’d been looking forward to seeing the baby girls, but at least now she had time to talk to her parents. Leigh reached for the monitor, but Rachel clutched it tight, a worried expression crossing her face.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes...no.... We just haven’t been away from the twins before.”

  Leigh gave her a knowing smile. She saw parents’ reluctance to leave their children all the time when they first started day care. “I understand. But they’re already asleep. I’m sure they’re out for the night.”

  “Come on, Rachel,” Nathan pleaded.

  Rachel slowly released the monitor. “Okay...you’re right. The babies will be fine. They’re in great hands. It’s the older kids at Lindsay’s I should be worried about.” She forced a smile, but the worry remained in her eyes. Turning, she slid into the open coat Nathan held for her.

  He untucked her hair from beneath the coat and handed her her mittens and scarf.

  Rachel lingered at the open door.

  “Rachel, they won’t even know we’re gone,” Nathan called, already at Luke’s truck.

  Victoria and Luke waved to Leigh.

  Waving back, she gently nudged Rachel outside. She waved the monitor. “Don’t worry, I got this.”

  Rachel released a nervous laugh. “I know, I’m sorry. I’m being ridiculous. You do this for a living. The kids are probably safer with you. Call Nathan’s cell if you need us.”

  “I will. Go. Have fun.” Leigh shivered as a cold blast of air scattered the leaves on the front porch. The weather that month had changed drastically in a matter of weeks.

  “Okay, I’m going.” She slowly made her way to the truck and hesitated at the door.

  Nathan pulled her inside and shut the door, yelling, “Go, Luke, go!”

  Leigh laughed as she closed the door. Wrapping her sweater tighter around her and grabbing her laptop, she headed into the sitting area. The old stonework fireplace blazed, creating a warm, inviting heat. A corner lamp provided the only source of light in the cozy room as Leigh sat in the rocking chair and propped her feet on the ottoman.

  A couple descended the stairs from the guest quarters, dressed as zombies. They waved in greeting as they passed the sitting room on their way out.

  “Have a great time,” she called, opening the internet connection on her laptop and typing in the Inn’s pass code for their Wi-Fi. The high-speed internet was the first upgrade Victoria Mason had introduced as the new co-owner the year before.

  Leigh had emailed her mother earlier that day to arrange a time to call and she was nervous about sharing her news. Would they be happy? Supportive at least? It saddened her that she wasn’t close enough to them to be sure of a positive reaction. She waited while the computer connected, and then she placed the call to her parents in South Africa. Eight o’clock in Brookhollow meant it was 5:00 a.m. the next day in the remote community where they were stationed until Christmas, but she knew they started their shift at the clinic at six.

  “Hello? Leigh?” Her mother’s thin face appeared on the blurry screen as she searched the computer for Leigh. “Leigh, you there?”

  No matter how many times they did this, her mother still wasn’t completely familiar with the process. “Yes, hi, Mom,” she said with a wave.

  “Leigh, darling, can you see us?” her mother asked, obviously before her delayed response registered on their end, so Leigh didn’t respond. Things could get confusing with the slight delay if everyone started talking in the moments of silence.

  “How is she?” Her dad appeared on the tiny screen behind her mother.

  “Ask her—she’s right there,” her mother said, moving over to allow him to plaster his face to the screen.

  “Leigh?”

  “Hi, Dad, you look great,” she said, smiling. All she could see of him on the monitor was his forehead.

  “How are you, honey? Everything okay?” Usually they waited until Sunday evenings to chat, but she hadn’t wanted to wait. “Where are you?”

  “I’m great, everything’s good. I’m at the B-and-B, babysitting for Rachel and Nathan. The Halloween party at the community hall is tonight.”

  “You didn’t go?” Her mother pushed her father aside and her head appeared in the far right corner of the screen.

  “No, not this year.” In truth, she hadn’t gone since the divorce. Neil had always loved Halloween—really getting into the spirit with over-the-top costumes and transforming their front yard into a grave site and crime scene. Then he would stand in the sunroom wearing a white blanket, a strobe light flashing behind him, pretending to be a ghost for the trick-or-treaters while she handed out candy. Essentially he’d gotten Halloween in the divorce settlement.

  “Isn’t the p
arty kind of early? They usually hold it the week before Halloween.”

  “Yes, but Mrs. Dawson is also hosting a murder-mystery party at the hall next week, so...” She didn’t want to discuss all of this, but at least it gave her time to stall before sharing her news. She took a deep breath. Like pulling off a Band-Aid: do it quickly. “Anyway, as I mentioned in the email, I have some news I want to share with you both.”

  The screen lost connection and the image disappeared for a second. Oh, come on. She watched the silent circle on the screen processing, trying to reestablish the connection. The internet had the worst timing. This happened when she was trying to tell them about the divorce, as well. Maybe the connection was trying to tell her something, she mused. The connection reopened, and her parents reappeared. They were both leaning over the screen, pressing buttons and bickering.

  “I’m back. I’m here.” Leigh waved a hand in front of the camera on her laptop.

  “There she is,” her mother said.

  “Okay, Leigh, darling, I have to go. Fill your mom in on the news and she’ll tell me all about it,” her father said, blowing her a kiss and disappearing.

  “No, Dad, wait,” she said, but she could see the front door close behind him in the background behind her mother.

  “Sorry, his pager was going off—an emergency snakebite victim needed anesthetic. So, what was the good news?’

  Leigh hid her disappointment. A snakebite sounded serious, and over the years, traveling with her parents to Third World, impoverished communities, she’d learned compassion for others and how to put the needs of others before herself. She’d also learned from an early age that she would have to accept the limited time her parents could afford her. But she’d really been hoping to tell them both. “Um...I’ve made an important decision.”

  “You’ve decided to do missionary work?” Her mother’s eyes lit up.

  Great, now any news she had would pale in comparison to that statement. She knew her parents would have loved for her to follow in their well-traveled footprints, helping others. She wished they could see that while it was on a smaller scale, she felt she was helping others with her day care and now with her decision to open her home and her heart to a child. “No, I haven’t—”