Not for the first time he was glad he’d remembered to buy condoms in Manhattan instead of shopping for them at the mountain. Already he was sampling how small towns worked. His purchase would have been news for somebody, somewhere. He didn’t need anyone knowing which brand or size he bought. And it was his responsibility to protect her. Getting her pregnant a second time before he got his ring permanently on her finger was out of the question.
James sat bolt upright with his thought. “My ring on her finger,” he said aloud and knew with certainty what he wanted. JoAnna beside him. If it meant changing his life to fit hers, then so be it. Hunter Mountain was a thriving place, and the more time he spent there, the more he liked it.
James started to pace in the small space between the sofa and hearth. He still had his law degree and was an active bar member. Yet he didn’t think he was cut out for running a full time law practice. There had to be something he could do for a living, maybe even something he liked. Only time would tell him what that would be. His mind was too cluttered with mergers and acquisitions that still needed his attention back in the city. Once he got several projects completed, he’d feel no remorse in walking away from Montgomery Industries. James pulled out his laptop and began researching the area.
Chapter Six
JoAnna knew if she was relaxed and calm, Daniel would be too. James was almost too relaxed, arriving on time with wine as promised and a small wrapped package. Danny was too excited about the gift to pick up the questioning eyes all around him. Actually, above him, Joey realized.
James was a tall man, standing over six three to her five eight. She had to glance up to see his expressions. As if reading her mind, he bent down to her son and handed him the present.
“Wow, thanks James. What is it, can I open it?”
“It’s your present.”
JoAnna swallowed hard at the idea of the gift. Was this how James was going to worm his way into Danny’s life? If so, she couldn’t compete. Shouldn’t have to, but that would be in a fair world. She watched as his little fingers tore back the paper, his face intent on seeing the picture on the cover of the box.
“A chess set!”
“I used to play a long time ago. I thought you might like to help me brush up.”
“I don’t know much about it,” Danny said, his little voice a bit too serious for James to hold back a smile. “I know it’s a game of strategy…we could go on the internet and find some rules.”
JoAnna didn’t mention that below them was a store where books were ready and waiting to be sold, including ones on chess.
“Yes, we could. I have my computer in the car. If your mom says it’s all right.”
Both sets of eyes turned to her, questioning and she suddenly felt like the big bad witch.
“All right, you guys have twenty minutes to start your search, but dinner will be ready soon.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’ll be right back,” James said, leaving quickly as if he was dodging a bullet. JoAnna’s glaring eyes followed him out the door.
When they were settled at the coffee table scanning screens, she watched from the doorway before interrupting to hand him a glass of wine. His jeans and boots were worn and comfortable looking, he seemed relaxed in her home, as if he belonged. As a distraction she turned on the mountain radio station for background while finishing their meal. Once she’d finished setting the table it was time to interrupt.
“Supper’s ready, guys. Time to wash up.”
Daniel stood. “Let’s go. I’ll show you where the bathroom is.” JoAnna was gone before Danny looked up at James and said, “Every meal, it’s always the same. Got to wash your hands.” His little shoulders lifted and dropped, and he reached his hand to James’, tugging him down the hallway.
They stood side by side at the sink, both washing when Danny added, “Oh yeah, the vegetables. It’s no use, you got to eat them. If you don’t, there’s no dessert.”
“Oh, my, we wouldn’t want that to happen. Thanks for clueing me in.”
“You’re welcome.” Danny pulled a towel from the rack and handed it to James, using the lower half to wipe his own hands. James was holding back a laugh when they returned to the dining room.
Chess rules were a good diversion over supper. The stir fried chicken and vegetables over rice was simple comfort food on a cold night. JoAnna had worried so much about deciding what to make for James. Finally she realized it was silly and he should fit into their world. So he had to see them in their real surroundings. Chicken and rice was a normal supper for her and Danny. Salad and fresh bread completed their meal. Danny drank milk and Joey drank wine with James.
“Do you have a chess board at home, James?”
“Yes, Danny. Several actually, I collect them.”
“You do, why?”
JoAnna watched her son study this man with such a detached interest it was frightening. How could she ever tell him? As the evening wore on, they listened to the details of several of the games James had come to own, hesitating to promise Daniel could see them one day. It became obvious Danny was staring at James, JoAnna called his name to get his attention.
“Daniel?”
The little boy looked toward her and back, sullen and quiet.
“Why don’t you and James go back to the living room and set up a game while I clean this up?”
“Okay. Come on, James, that means we don’t have to dry the dishes.”
He followed along finally, laughing. They were quite a pair, he decided. James stretched his legs out under the coffee table, the sofa as his back rest. Daniel sat on the floor across from him. From the directions they found together, they set up the board and went over how each piece moved. Absorbed in finding the right way to relate with his son, James had thought of chess. It had always been his escape. Why not share it with Danny if he liked the game? It was something they could stay connected with, by computer when he was in Manhattan during the week. He was a smart kid. Maybe he’d pick up on it. If not, no harm done.
He could hear Joey in the kitchen, and the moment became a bit too surreal for James. His eyes filled, and he had to shake himself to pull back. Danny was watching him again. JoAnna saved them, calling them back to the table for dessert.
“What is it tonight, Mom?”
“Chocolate cake.” Daniel and James both said, “Ohhhh,” at the same time. “Coffee’s ready, or would you like more wine?” The simple acts of cutting the cake and pouring the coffee were mundane every day things, which were overruled when Danny didn’t scarf down his cake.
Instead, he dropped from his seat and ran from the table. Joey and James looked to one another in question at Danny’s absence from the room. It was short-lived. He returned to the kitchen and stared at James.
“Daniel, what’s wrong? It’s not polite to stare.” She hoped her voice sounded even.
“I know you,” Danny said, glancing from his mother to the man beside her. “You’re him, I know it.” His voice trembled as he tried to process the information he’d uncovered.
“Daniel, I…”
“You’re the man in the picture.” He was staring at James, watching intently.
While he wanted to squirm in his seat, he didn’t, knew not to. “Yes, I am.” Finally the truth was out, through no doing of his own. He felt relieved and more scared than he’d ever felt in his life.
“But that’s a picture of my dad!” It was obvious the child was stunned. His little mind was trying to fit it all together.
“Come and sit down for a minute and we’ll answer your questions.” Joey’s voice was calm.
She gave James a wide-eyed look for help but no words came. Daniel still stood, carefully eyeing James. “Danny,” his mother said, and he went to her side, his arm going around her shoulder. JoAnna pulled him up on her lap and gave him a hug. “This is James Montgomery. He is your biological father. The situation that kept him from seeing you has changed.”
“It’s only since the first
of the year that I’ve been able to…make changes. As soon as that happened, I came up here to see your mom and to meet you.”
“Are you going to marry my Mom?”
“No,” JoAnna said a bit too forcefully, settling back in her seat. “James has come to get to know you, to be in your life. We’re still good friends, but we’re not going to get married.” Her tone left no doubt as to the conviction behind her statement.
“Your mom and I live very different lives, Danny. I’m hoping I could spend some time with you, get to know each other. Your mom’s right, we’re friends as well as your parents, but we’re not getting together.” He’d almost added, “Yet,” but refrained. He didn’t want to scare his son or Joey at this point.
James found it uncomfortable to be stared at by a five year old. He wanted to have the right words to say, and no major words of wisdom were coming to him.
“Do you have questions?” He watched Danny shift on his mother’s lap and turn back.
“Were you in jail?” he asked, as straightforward as only a child could.
James laughed openly, finally relaxing. “No. I’ve not been in prison. It was a matter of my job and where I did it.”
“Was it some place far away so you couldn’t travel back to see us?” James knew Daniel was hoping to hear some exotic location.
“No. I live and work in Manhattan.” James knew not to look away, but it was hard. Now his son knew he’d been a short drive away and hadn’t wanted anything to do with him.
“I don’t get it. Didn’t you want us? Or was it just me? Rusty Timm’s father left because his mother wouldn’t abort him.” James stared openly, and Joey got flustered.
“Daniel, where did you hear a thing like that? Do you know what it means?”
“Yeah, it makes you not have a baby, and I heard it from Rusty. His father tells him the same thing every month when he comes to visit.”
JoAnna knew she’d dread the phone call to Rusty’s mother tomorrow but would make it anyway. She glanced to James for help.
“I never wanted your mom to abort you, Daniel. I was with her the whole time she carried you. You have our photograph. Didn’t we look happy? Only after you were born, circumstances changed.” James glanced to JoAnna, a silent plea for backup.
“What happens now?” It was the question of all their lifetimes.
“Well, I’d like to spend some time getting to know each other. Actually, I talked with your mom about you and I having a guys afternoon tomorrow. We’ll go to a movie and let her have the afternoon off.”
“Mom’s not coming?”
“No, not all the time Daniel. Sometimes we’ll do things as a group. Other times we’ll do things together, just you and me.”
“What do you think, Mom?” James knew how she acted would seal his fate.
“I think we should try it and see how it works. This is a new beginning for all of us. So we should all have a say in how our lives work. For now, James can spend some time here on the weekends. He’d like to share some of that time with you.” The words almost physically hurt to say, but her conscience wouldn’t let her ruin their future as father and son.
“If it’s okay with you, then I guess so.” He slipped from his mother’s lap and rounded the table, coming to stand near James. “Do I call you Dad or James?”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with. We’ll start with James, and when you’re comfortable you’ll call me Dad.” There was a prolonged silence while the child studied both his parents.
“Is that why you two get all strange around each other?”
“James and I have only spoken in the last two weeks, Danny. We’re strangers to a point, we’ve been apart a long time. We’re learning how to be friends again. We didn’t want to hurt you but we knew we had to explain the situation to you.”
“So it’s kind of like you’re divorced but not.”
“Kind of.” What would JoAnna say? “We were never married because of your grandfather’s meddling,” or “We were three weeks from getting married when your grandfather bribed a laboratory for false test results. A test he insisted upon?” No, best to just let that all sit for a while. Until he asked outright, he wouldn’t offer the information.
“Then why isn’t my last name Montgomery?”
“It’s supposed to be. There was some confusion in the paperwork, but we’re going to have it fixed.”
“So I’m Daniel Montgomery?’
“Daniel Sheridan Montgomery.” JoAnna was quite blunt that her son would carry both their names.
“That’s gonna take a lot longer to write.”
James burst out laughing at all of them. “Don’t worry about it for a while. When we get everything straight, you can decide which name you want to use.”
“Daniel,” JoAnna said. “This is private between the three of us. You don’t have to tell everyone at school right away.”
James shot her a look, and she gave him a scathing one in return. “Why not give yourself a few days to get used to the idea. Maybe next Friday James could pick you up from school and you could introduce him to your friends then?”
“That would be great! They’ll believe me if you’re there in person.” Seeming relieved, he sat and devoured his slice of forgotten cake.
James and Joey continued to stare at each other over Daniel’s bent head. She’d made her point. If James wanted to be in Daniel’s life, then let it begin. If she was going to be the subject of the town’s gossip, she was going to throw James in the center of the pile. A small victory, one she’d gladly give up for her old life back, but that wasn’t possible now, under any circumstance.
When Daniel was settled in his bed, James knelt beside his son, not knowing what to say.
“Are you really my father?”
“Yes, I am. And I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you and your mother these past years. But that’s the past.”
“Are you sure you’re not gonna leave again?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Okay, we’ll see. Night James, see you tomorrow.” His son punched his pillow and shifted under this comforter, asleep before James could digest his words.
Joey was in the kitchen fussing with the dishes. He stood watching her from the doorway, remembering too many times they’d laughed together and loved.
“Joey,” he said, almost too low to hear.
“Yes, James,” she uttered, but didn’t turn back to look at him.
“He’s quite a kid. You’ve done a great job with him.”
“Thanks, but I can only take so much credit. He’s a pretty smart kid in his own right.”
“Scares the hell out of me.”
“Me too, sometimes. You get used to him. Just because he’s short and young doesn’t mean he’s not observant.”
“Do you hate me right now?”
“To a point, I’d really like it if you left now. It’s been a long day and a longer evening.” Her voice trembled, and he moved behind her without thinking, just feeling. He turned her around to face him, holding her tight to his body.
James let himself cry. In the safety of her arms he let it out. All the anguish and disappointment, all the lies and time wasted. It took several minutes to gather some sort of control.
Joey’s soft words of encouragement made him rally. Her arms held him tight, a feeling he never wanted to end. Moving back slightly, she handed him a box of tissues after taking several for herself.
Joey left him alone in her kitchen. By the time she returned, James was composed. “I’ll see you tomorrow around one.”
“Better make it twelve-thirty if you’re thinking of the matinee. It gets crowded early.”
“Thanks, twelve-thirty then.” He hesitated while studying her fresh washed, puffy eyed face. In that instant the enormity of the situation struck him as if someone had actually punched him the stomach. So many questions filled him, but he kept silent knowing the timing was wrong. After his melt down he felt vulnerable and needed to get fresh air to
clear his mind. His right hand reached to her face, his thumb running along her chin line. He kept their eye contact until she closed hers. “Sleep well,” he whispered.
“Drive carefully.”
He left quickly, afraid he’d make a fool of himself and ask her to take him back. Instead, he moved into the cold night air hoping it would clear his brain.
Sunday afternoon was a disaster for JoAnna. Skiing hadn’t given her the release she’d been searching for. It was strange not to have Daniel with her. She missed him and James, which was worse. It was natural to miss her son, but longing for James had to stop. Home early, she wandered around their apartment, wondering how James saw their space.
Occupying the whole second story over her shop, it was large and airy. Originally she’d opened the corner store for her books, then she’d started baking cookies for the kids on story day. From there, it jumped to customers wanting to order for their parties.
Someone asked her to do a birthday cake, and after that it just escalated. She’d taken night classes to get her food handler’s certification and then set about breaking through to the next empty store for baked goods. With this last renovation she now occupied three of the four retail spaces below. Their home, from the first day in Hunter, was upstairs. The old brick building had arched windows stretching from floor to ceiling on the second story. Up here, she’d taken out walls and rearranged the layout to make it a comfortable space for them. Her kitchen was large but homey, a long trestle table in the center where they usually ate and where Danny played while she cooked. There was a dining area off to the side, but they used it only when company came. The living room ran the length of the space, fronting the main street. She had long, billowing lace curtains on those windows, which allowed the sun to shine through and create beautiful patterns on the hard wood flooring.
Her bedroom was large. It had its own private bath and she had room for a sitting area under the side window. Daniel had his own space across the hall decorated with a hockey and skiing theme. He’d grown out of dinosaurs at three. His room shared a full bath with the guest room at the end of the hall. When Aunt Alice and Uncle Henry came to stay, they were always comfortable there. Across from the guest room was a small office. The rest of the space over the unused store was used for storage.
Deceptions Revealed (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 8
