“I can imagine what a surprise this must be for you.” Maggie looked from Billy to Nick and back again. “Quite frankly, it was a bit startling for me as well. Especially since I know very little about you. I know you held the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, and according to Adam, you’re really good at blowing things up. No offense, but that’s not top on my list of qualifications for this situation.”
“None taken.” Billy couldn’t argue with her. Especially since he thought the same thing.
“The Jameson Detective Agency assures me that you are indeed the shining star everyone believes you to be.”
“You hired the PI?” Nick and Billy echoed from either side of her.
“I did. I apologize for any intrusion into your privacy, but under the circumstances you must understand. Those papers give you the right to contradict any choices I deem in the children’s best interest. Think of it as divorced parents sharing joint custody. Only in this case, parents who don’t know each other.”
“At least we don’t hate each other,” Billy mumbled. Yet.
Nick had sat once again in his chair and perused the pages. “Don’t parents usually get permission from someone before naming them as temporary guardian?”
“The lawyers have been trying to reach Mr. Everrett—”
“Billy.”
“Billy,” she corrected. “For days. And you did tell Mr. Deluca once that you’d be happy to take on his kids.”
When the hell did he…? Quickly his mind ran through years of summers and stopped at the same year he and Adam had bonded over a stopped-up head. “You don’t mean the time Mr. Deluca and I talked about what great kids Adam and Bethany were and how anyone would be proud to be their father?”
“Could be.” She shrugged.
“That does not count as ‘yes, I’d be guardian.’”
“You’re preaching to the choir here. I have no idea why Mrs. Deluca has so much trust in you, but she does.”
“Before you say anything else.” Nick looked to Billy, dropped the pages on the desk, picked up his phone, and tapped at the screen. “I think you should speak to Kara.”
Billy let his friend call his wife, but there was no need to speak to Kara. No need for a lawyer. He was not taking responsibility for two children.
“Gotta love this woman.” Nick stood to the sound of heels clacking down the hallway. “Kara’s coming in the door now.”
The fast tattoo of Kara’s shoes slowed as she approached the office, and came to an abrupt stop when she spotted Maggie at Billy’s desk. “I was just coming by to see if I could steal my husband away for an early lunch when my phone rang.”
“We’ve got an interesting situation.” Nick snatched the papers off his desk and handed them to his wife.
“No,” Billy interjected. “We do not.”
Maggie pushed to her feet and extended her hand. “Maggie Maplewood.”
A bright smile took over Kara’s face. “Oh, Kara Harper. I have a favorite aunt named Maggie.”
“Mine is short for Magnolia.”
“Definitely more original than my aunt’s. She’s a Margaret.”
Maggie smiled. “Dad wasn’t that traditional.”
Two throats cleared, and the women turned from Nick to Billy.
“Sorry.” I should be getting back to the condo to check on the children. I’ll leave the papers here for you to look over.” Turning to Billy with a tired smile and a curt nod, Magnolia retreated.
In silence, the three friends watched the willowy woman walk up the hall.
At the chime of the storefront door closing, Kara collapsed in the seat Magnolia Maplewood had abandoned. “Who wants to clue me in?”
* * *
“So who’s the girl?” Ava Everrett asked her big brother. The same question Billy’s sister Kathleen had called to ask earlier this morning, even though she was living in San Francisco and wouldn’t be joining the clan for dinner anytime soon. And of course the same question his sister Emily had wanted an answer to.
After his odd little tête-à-tête with his mother the other day, she apparently didn’t wait long to inform his sisters—all of them—that he had a girl. Of course when he’d led his mother on that little goose chase, he hadn’t thought he’d be making any deals with one Angela Carson. And he certainly had forgotten all about his visit with his mother when he invited Angela to dinner tonight.
“Yoo-hoo.” Ava’s voice broke into his musings.
“Oh, sorry. What did you say?”
“Never mind. I’ve wrapped up my work a little early, so I’m heading to Mom’s. If you and your new friend want to swing by earlier, that would be great.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Good-byes exchanged, Billy picked up the paperwork Magnolia had left him. The return address on the envelope was from the attorney in Los Angeles. The same attorney he’d been playing telephone tag with for three days.
Not that he needed to speak with the lawyer now. According to Kara, the papers were just a technicality. As long as Magnolia was willing to take on sole responsibility for the children’s day-to-day activity, he had little to concern himself with. And the odds of an illness or injury happening in which he would be the one to make the decisions were also very slim. Basically he was getting bent out of shape over nothing.
And still the whole damn idea that he ultimately had any legal responsibility for these children chipped away at him like a zealous woodpecker.
The clock across the workshop ticked five minutes past three. He’d accomplished next to nothing today. Equipment needing his attention was piled high. His thoughts scampering to and fro with more questions than answers, all he’d managed to service were a couple of regulators. What was the point? He might as well call it a day and go pick up Angela.
That idea finally brought a smile to his face. Until he realized he’d have to tell her about the children. And how was she going to take that news? A woman who desperately wanted children. And him having children he didn’t want dropped in his lap. Even if it was only temporary. “Crap.”
“You’ve got company.” Lexie appeared in the doorway.
“I’m leaving. You handle whatever they want.” “It’s Ms. Maplewood with the Deluca kids.” Pushing to his feet, Billy stepped aside and glanced down the hall to the shop. The ten-year-old boy had grown quite a bit since last year. And holy cow. The daughter was definitely not a little kid any more. Wow. Her mom had better own a good shotgun.
From where he stood watching, something didn’t seem right. And then it hit him. The girl was chatting with Maggie Maplewood, but the boy was not moving. Standing at the woman’s side, he wasn’t looking around. Wasn’t shifting in place. Wasn’t behaving anything like the active kid Billy remembered racing through the shop on eight cylinders. “How long have they been here?”
“A few minutes.” Lexie shrugged.
“Okay.” Billy led the way. What did the woman want now? Wasn’t the kid sick? Shouldn’t he be home in bed? Not feeling well would certainly explain the lack of enthusiasm.
“Mr. Everrett.” Magnolia Maplewood offered a bright smile that looked forced yet sincere.
Billy saw a flicker of despair in her eyes he hadn’t noticed earlier in the day. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
“Adam is feeling better. I thought he might like to see the changes you’ve made to the operation. His father intended for him to participate in the age-appropriate camps.”
The skinny boy with feet the size of a Great Dane studied his toes.
His older sister eased closer to her brother until their arms were touching. Her chin lifted. “If Adam doesn’t want to anymore, he doesn’t have to.”
Billy smothered the urge to smile. Protecting baby brother. The girl was pretty and loyal. Good qualities. “I’m sure no one expects him to do anything he doesn’t want to.”
As though she’d been awarded a full-ride scholarship to Stanford University, Bethany turned to Magnolia and shot her an I-t
old-you-so glare. But Adam continued to contemplate his sandaled feet. Magnolia hid clenched teeth behind a plastic smile.
Squatting in front of the quiet boy, Billy tried to meet his eyes. “Our Bubblemaker camp will be starting in another week. There will be other boys and girls your age. It should be lots of fun.”
Leaning into his sister, Adam dared to glance up, but his face remained void of all expression. Billy looked briefly to Magnolia, who only tilted her head into a hitched shoulder. She didn’t appear to have any more to say than the child huddled against his sister.
“We’ve added a training pool to the shop. It’s out back.” Billy extended his hand to the young child. “Want to see?”
Adam didn’t say anything, didn’t accept the proffered hand, but slowly inched away from his sister. For a brief second, Billy even thought he was going to smile. Shortening his stride to match Adam’s, Billy opened the glass door and waited for Maggie and Bethany to step outside before he and Adam followed.
“We’ve only opened the pool in the last few weeks, and already it’s a big hit. Especially for birthday parties.”
Adam cast a quick glance at his sister before returning his attention to surveying the pool. Which made Billy wonder. “When is your birthday?”
After a short beat of silence, Magnolia answered. “August 7th.”
“But we’ll be home with Mom by then,” Bethany added quickly.
This time Adam’s soulful gaze turned to Billy and all the fears and pain the little boy held inside could be read in his eyes with the ease of preschool picture book.
“I’m sure you will. I hear your mom’s doing very well.” Billy hoped the doctors’ optimism translated into very well. And soon. But the momentary flash of excitement in Adam’s eyes was worth the risk. “Let’s take a closer look.”
“Perhaps…” Magnolia addressed Adam. “We could sign you up for a private lesson tomorrow after we go snorkeling.”
Adam lifted his chin to face Billy. “You coming with us on the boat?”
Adrenaline surged, much like when intel reported there would be no unfriendlies, only to be ambushed upon landing. Likewise, training and survival instincts took over. Maintaining a calm facade, he answered the apparently simple question. “I work here in the office now. Sometimes in the shop.”
Adam turned to Magnolia then back to Billy. “I’m still not feeling that good. Couldn’t I stay to help you here instead?”
“Sure.” Billy smiled at Adam, a bit startled by the sound of his own words and how quickly they’d tumbled out. “If it’s okay with Miss Maplewood.”
When Billy turned to look at the children’s caretaker, her rounded eyes and parted lips showed she was as surprised by his answer as he was.
“Can I?” Adam asked her, his tone hopeful.
Closing her mouth, Maggie blinked, straightened her shoulders, and sported a casual smile with a barely detectable twitch. “If Mr. Everrett is sure?”
Gotta love a woman who answers a question with a question. He nodded and was rewarded with the ten-year-old’s first smile. Damn. No matter what Kara might have told him, Adam Deluca was already becoming much more than a technicality.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Billy’s youngest sister, Emily, stood to the left of the sink dicing vegetables. A peeler in one hand, Ava waved a carrot at her baby sister with the other. The two women were laughing so hard tears streamed down their cheeks. Angela couldn’t help but smile.
“Some things never change.” Billy nudged Angela the rest of the way into the kitchen. “Where’s Mom?”
“In her room getting dressed—again.” Emily set down the knife and wiped her hands on a nearby towel. “We promised not to touch anything on the stove. As usual, the only thing she’ll trust us with are the raw vegetables.”
Ava dropped the carrot and opened her arms to her older brother. “Damn, you look good.”
“You need glasses.” Arms folded around his sister’s waist, Billy dipped his chin and kissed the top of her head.
The contentment on the young woman’s face as she leaned into her brother was matched by the expression of pride on his. For a long moment, they didn’t move, making Angela wonder how long it had been since the siblings had seen each other in person.
“All right. Break it up.” Emily inched up on her tippy toes to kiss her brother on the cheek. “Mom needs you to start the grill. She says you have the magic touch.”
“It’s called a lighter.” Shaking his head, Billy crossed to the island, opened the middle drawer, and pulled out a lighter gun. On his way outside, he slowed by Angela. “I’ll be right back.”
When Billy closed the door behind him, Ava shot her hand out. “Nice to meet you. I’m the favorite sister.”
Emily rolled her eyes and shook her head. “She has spent all of my life and probably all of hers trying to trick Mom or Dad into agreeing with her. Never going to happen since I’m the favorite.” Teeth clenched, she spread her lips in a cartoonish grin. Ava smacked her lightly on the backside.
Angela found herself smiling with the two women and wondered if this is what her life would have been like had she had a sister instead of three brothers.
“You come bearing gifts. Flowers and chocolate. A woman after my own heart.” Ava slid her arm
through Angela’s, linking elbows, and led her to the counter. “I can tell already we’re going to be marvelous friends.”
“I get dibs on the chocolates. We’re already friends,” Emily chimed in.
“Billy said your mother doesn’t drink wine.” Angela’s words came out a little high pitched.
Emily opened an upper cabinet and pulled out a tall glass vase. “But she loves flowers. Which is why I get the chocolates.”
“All set.” Billy came in through the patio doors at the same moment the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.”
In the next ten minutes, a parade of people shuffled about giving hugs and high fives. First Kara arrived with little Bradley, who of course headed straight for Mama Maile’s cookie jar. Next Nick pulled up with Lexie behind him. Dressed in a loose-fitting floral dress of bright pinks and dark purples, Maile joined the growing crowd.
While the Everrett family and friends stood around the open doorway, Emily’s boyfriend rode up the driveway on his motorcycle. Like a pair of salmon drawn upstream, the two former military men migrated out the door and straight to the bike.
“Men. Always focused on what’s between their legs.” Shaking her head, Ava did a one-eighty turn and led the crowd of chuckling women to the kitchen. Bradley footed after his father.
“So glad you could make it.” Maile offered a big smile that helped leach some of the tension that had been building all day for Angela. “Why don’t you three ladies have a seat while we finish up. Then everyone can all move onto the lanai.”
Mimicking the chaos from earlier at the front door, the six women maneuvered around each other. Angela, Kara, and Lexie sat at the big kitchen table while Maile, Emily, and Ava took their places along the counter.
“Mama.” Having resumed her position at the cutting board, Emily pointed to the vase. “Angela brought you flowers. I called dibs on the chocolates.”
The older woman’s eyes traveled from the tip of her daughter’s finger to the lovely floral arrangement at the end of the counter. “Oh, how beautiful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Now,” Ava interrupted, returning her attention to the carrots. “How did you get my dear brother to leave his office and take a whole day off? I want all the juicy details. “
“She’s not a steak, Ava.” Maile pulled the peeler out of her daughter’s hand. “That’s plenty. Get the lettuce out of the fridge, please.”
“Good. My fingers were starting to cramp anyhow.” Ava turned to face Angela, a satisfied gleam in her eye. “So tell us, how long have you and my brother been dating?”
She looked to her left and noticed Kara and Lexie eyeing her with a little too much intere
st. “We’re just friends.”
“Considering what a hermit he’s been since leaving the navy, I’d consider just friends with a girl a damn miracle.”
“I wouldn’t know about that,” Angela replied.
“I would,” Lexie muttered through a smile for only Angela to hear.
Ava stuck her head in the fridge and emerged with a head of lettuce in her hand. “Now can you please do something about getting him back in the water? Or at least on the blasted boats.”
“Ava!” Maile huffed at her daughter. “Really.” “Don’t pay too much attention to my sister,” Emily continued. “Mom dropped her on her head as an infant.”
“Did not.” Ava hefted her hands onto her hips.
Emily ignored her sister’s drama-queen antics. “The filters in her brain never developed properly.”
“Oh, come on.” Ava turned her palms up in a questioning gesture. “It’s what we’re all thinking. I don’t have a lot of time to pussyfoot around. Billy hasn’t brought a girl home since before the navy. Since none of us have been able to figure out what’s going on in big brother’s head, maybe Angela can help.”
“We have been hoping something would change.” Maile abandoned the salad-making on the counter and moved to sit by Angela. “He won’t go in the water, he won’t go on the boats, and he won’t tell us why. We don’t know what happened. Not when he was hurt. Not when he was in the hospital. Not when he stayed on the mainland after they released him. Nothing.”
All eyes were on her, waiting for an answer. Everyone had clearly jumped to the wrong conclusion. She didn’t have any power over Billy. She knew even less than they did. She couldn’t tell them the truth. That she wouldn’t even be here now if Billy hadn’t agreed to try and get her pregnant. Panic inched its way up to her throat and smothered her breath.
Kara turned to Mrs. Everrett. “Has anyone suggested he seek counseling?”
Maile pushed to her feet, shaking her head. “He says he’s fine. He could wrestle—”
“Alligators if he wanted, but he won’t do that either,” Emily finished for her mother.
Almost Paradise Page 17
