Perhaps she should mention Toby to George the next time she saw him. It was sure to send him running. From what Nora said, no man was interested once he found out there was a child in the picture.
And she was more than happy with that.
The only male she wanted in her life was Toby.
***
The rest of the afternoon ran smoothly. Harry brought Toby and Miranda back at three o’clock. Nora finished her shift and took her little girl home, and Toby went in to the play area, where a couple of other children had congregated.
Elle hated the fact she didn’t have time to spend with Toby at the moment. She really hoped once she’d fallen into a rhythm, she’d be able to leave Drew to close up so she could steal a few extra hours with her son. But it would be some time away. Drew had to prove she was responsible.
By the time the last customer had left, Mary-Beth had restocked the bookshop and Drew had cleared and set the tables. Elle tallied up the tip jar and split it between the girls based on the hours they worked, and put Nora’s aside to give to her later.
Then she locked the café door behind them as they left and went to tally the register. Toby was playing happily where she could keep an eye on him.
“I’m hungry, Mom,” he said as she brought the till tray to one of the tables.
“I know. I’ll get dinner for us soon. I need to count the money first.”
“I’ll help.” He got to his feet and hurried over. He was tall for his age and, after learning to ride on the ranch, had great coordination.
Toby would insist, so she took out the pennies and put them on the table in front of him. “Awesome. Put them into piles of ten for me.” She showed him what she meant, helped him to count out the first ten and then concentrated on the bills in front of her.
By the time she’d counted out the bills, made up her change for the morning and started on the coins, Toby had finished with his pennies.
“How many piles have you got?” Elle asked him.
He stuck out his tongue and counted the piles aloud. “Six and not a full pile.”
Elle smiled. “How many are in the not full pile?”
While he counted she surreptitiously checked his stacks to make sure they were correct.
“Five.”
She added the total to her list and got him to count out the nickels. When they’d both finished he said, “I was a real help, wasn’t I, Mom?”
“You sure were,” she said, giving him a hug. “You’ve been such a good boy all day that I think there should be ice cream for dessert. What do you think?” She turned and put the money away.
He nodded in all seriousness. “Yes, I deserve it.” Then he added, “Even if Dad doesn’t think I do.”
The laugh Elle was biting back died.
It had been six months since she’d left Dean, and Toby hadn’t mentioned his father in all that time. He’d asked about his uncles and his Memah and Pepah, and Elle had explained they needed to have a break from them, but he’d never asked about Dean.
Elle wasn’t at all surprised. Dean had barely tolerated Toby’s presence, particularly if he’d been working on a screenplay. Then he’d needed total silence and even Toby’s quiet murmurings when he was flicking through a picture book had induced acts of rage.
Toby’s Memah, Dean’s mother, had often taken him out on the ranch to watch the horses and cattle while Elle was required to stay in Dean’s study and act as his muse. She’d been too eager to please, too scared of his rages, to disagree.
At the end of the day, Toby’s Pepah would take him for a ride, first sharing the saddle with him, and then with Toby sitting up by himself. The first time Elle had found Toby on the back of a horse she’d freaked out. He’d only been two and she was sure he would fall off, but Dean’s father had calmed her and explained all his boys had been riding since that age. She hadn’t wanted to cause a fuss, and Dean had been unconcerned, so she’d allowed it. By the time she’d fled the ranch, Toby had been as comfortable on the back of a horse as he was on the ground. It was one thing she regretted about cutting all ties with Dean’s family. She’d really had no problem with them, only their son, but she knew if they knew where she was, so would Dean. She couldn’t risk Toby in that way.
“It doesn’t matter what your dad thinks,” she said. “We’ve got each other and we know you’re the best.” She tickled his sides and it brought a smile to his face. “Let’s go home.”
She took his hand and kept up a light banter all the way to the car. But on the inside she was cursing herself for not having the courage to leave Dean sooner.
***
The next week flew by. The café had its quiet moments mid-morning, before the lunch rush, and late afternoon, for which Elle was grateful. It gave her a chance to tidy up, catch her breath, and ensure Nora got her coffee and lunch breaks.
Aside from Sarah’s shifts, Elle had set up a roster for another two women who wanted a few hours’ work during the week. So far it was working well.
Marla had convinced her book club to hold the meeting at the café on Thursday afternoon, and that session consisted of a riotous two hours of women laughing, arguing and eating cake.
Elle envied their camaraderie, and hoped when she formed a book club it would be as lovely as theirs. There was real friendship in it and she’d never had that. Nora was the closest Elle had to a friend, but even they weren’t close. They helped each other out, but that was more because they were neighbors and because Toby and Miranda were the same age than from any deeper bond. Nora had no idea about what had happened with Dean, and Elle wasn’t going to tell her. She was the biggest gossip in the apartment building.
Toby was getting used to his new routine. Harry picked up him and Miranda at ten o’clock and brought them back around three. The rest of the day he was with Miranda either in the converted store room/playroom or out in the café play area. There were the inevitable fights or tears but they were generally well behaved. However, by the end of the week, it was obvious both children were tired.
Harry had dropped them off while Elle was at the bank, and when she returned to the café she found both children screaming, Nora completely flustered and Drew trying to appease the customers.
As she rushed forward to herd the children back into the playroom she registered a man seated in one of the high-backed chairs in the book area. She glanced at him, registered with dismay it was George, and then continued to Toby. Sweeping him up into her arms, she left Miranda to Nora and took him out the back.
“Shush, Toby-boy. What’s the matter?” she said as she lowered him to the ground again.
“Miranda took my horse.”
“It’s my horse,” Miranda said as Nora carried her in.
“Is not!” Toby shrieked and Elle winced.
She dug a tissue out of her pocket and wiped Toby’s eyes, making soothing, shushing noises, and he began to settle.
She glanced around the room and noted the horse that was obviously at the root of the problem clutched in Miranda’s hand. She met Nora’s eyes and saw the same exhaustion in them as she was sure was in her own.
“The horse is yours, but it would be nice if you let Miranda play with it,” Elle said.
“But it’s mine!”
“Toby, we’ve talked about sharing before. You’ll have a chance to play with the horse after Miranda goes home.” Toby scrunched up his face but before he reverted to tears again Elle added, “I bet Miranda’s never seen a real horse before.” Hoping she was right, she turned to the little girl. “Have you?”
Miranda shook her head.
“Toby used to ride the horses at his grandparents’ ranch.”
Miranda’s eyes opened wide and Toby wriggled out from under his mother’s arm.
“I did. I rode them by myself.”
“Why don’t you tell Miranda all about it?” Elle suggested.
Toby walked over and took Miranda’s hand. “You can play with my horse,” he said and led her to the mat t
o tell her all about his grandparents’ ranch.
Elle stood and exchanged a relieved look with Nora, who was still shaken.
“I’m sorry, Elle. I couldn’t get them to stop.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s inevitable. Why don’t you take a minute and I’ll go and help Drew?”
Nora nodded and Elle went out to check the damage.
There were only a few people left in the café. Elle walked over to Drew, who was cleaning the coffee machine. “Any complaints?”
“One couple, but they complained about everything: the temperature of the coffee, the selection of pastries and the types of books available. I wouldn’t worry, people are used to kids having tantrums.”
Drew was right but Elle worried about the image it portrayed to her customers. She wanted people to come back.
She surveyed her place and found George watching her, his expression thoughtful. She jolted. Damn, she’d forgotten about him.
Forcing a smile on to her face, she wandered over. “Hi, can I help you with anything?”
George was silent for a moment, before he said, “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by to discuss your music needs.”
There was something about the way he said “needs” that sent a shiver through Elle. She ignored it. Now wasn’t the best time to discuss music, but she was afraid if she postponed it he’d suggest after hours, and that wouldn’t work at all.
“Sure, what do you want to know?” She perched herself on the edge of the chair across from him.
“Why do you want music?”
It wasn’t the question she was expecting and she took a minute to consider her answer. “For the ambience and to draw people in.”
He nodded. “Any preference for the type of music?”
“It needs to please the family crowd, and it can’t be too loud. Acoustic only so those who want to chat aren’t drowned out.”
He was silent for a long time.
“It was only an idea, something I thought I’d try.” She hated that she was so defensive, so ready to back down from an idea both Nora and Drew thought was fantastic. She shut her mouth firmly and waited for a response.
“Could the singers sell their merchandise?”
“Of course.” She figured if they were willing to do a gig at the price she could afford to pay them, they should be able to earn more from CD sales.
“Do you want a commission?” he asked, watching her.
She hadn’t considered it. She supposed they might take sales away from her books, but she doubted it would be much.
“It won’t be necessary.”
“Will you advertise?”
“On my website and a flyer in the front window.” She couldn’t afford any more than that; as it was every change to her website cost her. “Will you?”
“Of course.” He appeared to be enjoying their negotiating and Elle had to admit she was too. It had been far too long since she’d been treated as an equal by a man.
“I’ve got some artists for you to consider.” He handed her a CD. “Have a listen and get back to me.”
Elle took the CD. She only had a player in her car, so she’d have to listen to it on her way home from work.
“Mom.” Toby’s voice and his hand on her arm had her turning, but she caught the surprise on George’s face.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Can Miranda go riding at Memah’s?”
Elle’s heart sank. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have now. “We’ll have a chat about it later,” she said. “Would you like to meet –?” She paused, not knowing what George’s surname was. Face flushed she said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name.”
“Jones.”
“Toby, this is Mr. Jones.” She turned to George. “This is my son, Toby.” Did he hear the defiance in her tone?
“Nice to meet you, Toby,” George said, holding out his hand. “Call me George.”
Toby hung back, examining George’s hand, and then turned to his mother for confirmation. She nodded.
He stepped forward and shook George’s hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” George sounded sincere. “How old are you, Toby? Aren’t you too young to be riding motorbikes?”
Toby frowned. “I’m five and I don’t ride motorbikes.”
“Oh, I thought you said you wanted to take your friend Miranda riding.”
Toby laughed, the same way as he used to laugh when his uncles teased him, so loud and carefree. It tugged at Elle’s heart.
“Horses, not motorbikes.”
“It sounds mighty scary to me. Aren’t you afraid?”
“Nah. My Pepah says if you treat them right, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I give them carrots and apples.”
Toby hadn’t been that animated with an adult since they’d left the ranch. She debated whether she should interrupt them, because she didn’t want George knowing their history.
“Toby, can I go?” Miranda shouted from across the café.
Elle turned in time to catch Nora’s wince. “Why don’t you go play with Miranda and we’ll talk about it tonight?”
Toby nodded. “Bye, George,” he said and headed back to the playroom.
Elle waited for George’s comment but when it didn’t come, she asked, “Where were we?”
“I was about to ask you whether there’s a Mr. Carter I need to be aware of,” George said, his gaze focused on her.
Elle gaped at him as heat flooded her body. They hadn’t been talking about anything of the sort. What had they been talking about? She cast her panicked mind back and her gaze rested on the CD she held. She was going to listen to it.
“No,” she said and stood. “I’ll listen to the CD. Do you want to leave a card with Drew? I need to … do something out the back.”
She fled.
***
George was surprised by the panic in her eyes. Surely she’d had men ask her out before? She was an incredibly attractive woman.
She was also young to have a five-year-old boy.
Toby brought a whole other set of values into the equation. Not only would Elle have less flexibility to go out to dinner, but also – where was Toby’s father? Had he left her, died, had she left him?
He needed to tread carefully because he did want to get to know Elle better. She fascinated him.
Here she was setting up her own business with a young child to care for. Did she have a lot of family to support her? Toby had mentioned his grandparents, so perhaps she did.
She had a quick mind too. Watching the thoughts race over her face while they discussed music was fascinating.
He was glad he’d dropped by. Elle had been on his mind all week; he couldn’t shake her from his thoughts. It didn’t matter to him that she had a son. He liked kids – he had always spent a lot of time with Kate, who was effectively his niece.
Standing, he went to the counter to leave his business card. He needed to figure out how he could spend more time with Elle, find out what he needed to do to get her out of his system.
He handed his business card over to Drew, who smiled and batted her eyelashes at him. She probably wasn’t much younger than Elle, but she held no interest for him at all. “Tell Elle I’ll call her at the end of next week if I haven’t heard from her,” he said. That would give Elle something to mull over. He wasn’t going to go away if she ignored him.
As he moved toward the door, Toby and Miranda came prancing out of one of the back rooms, neighing and pretending to be horses. He caught annoyed glances from a couple sitting having coffee and Nora was right behind them.
“Whoa there, horses,” he called as they went to pass him. Both children stopped and looked up at him.
He wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was. He’d guessed by the way Elle had picked up Toby and hustled him into a back room that they weren’t supposed to be on the shop floor. He felt sorry for the kids, but also knew it would be difficult being a single moth
er who needed to earn a living.
“You’ve broken out of the corral.”
Toby shot him a wicked grin and George immediately knew Toby was going to make a break for it. Before he did, George grabbed both of their hands. “Gotcha. Let’s go quietly and you might get a carrot.”
Luckily that satisfied the children and they trotted alongside him, neighing.
Nora took Miranda’s other hand. “I told you both you needed to stay in the playroom,” she said.
“We broke out,” Toby said proudly.
“Well good children don’t break out.” Nora’s tone was full of frustration.
George couldn’t imagine what it was like to work so hard and have kids to care for.
“But we’re horses, not children,” Miranda told her mother.
“Good horses wouldn’t break out either,” George said. “If you’re treated well, like your Pepah said, you’d want to stay.”
Toby was silent for a moment, then he nodded. “That’s why Mom and me broke out.”
Chapter 4
Toby turned to Miranda and grabbed her hand. “Come on, we can pretend the mat is grass.” George watched as both kids disappeared out the back.
Did Toby mean his grandpa hadn’t treated them very well, or was it someone else?
If it had been her ex, it would explain why Elle was so skittish.
Nora was watching him closely.
George forced a smile. “I’ll see you around,” he said and left the café.
He had a lot of thinking to do.
***
Nora came into the kitchen where Elle was hiding out, doing the dishes and waiting for George to leave. She’d been so stupid to get flustered. It might make him think she was interested.
Which she wasn’t.
She should have made it clear. Or better yet, lied and said yes, there was a Mr. Carter. That would have kept him away.
She groaned.
“He’s good with kids,” Nora said, placing dirty dishes on the sink.
“I don’t want to know,” Elle told her. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.”
The Texan Quartet (Books 1-4) Omnibus Page 57
