Adam rubbed the space between his eyes. What seems to be the problem, Geoff? The current problem.
It was now eight-thirty. At two oclock this morning, the problem had been that Morgan missed her mom and was scared in the unfamiliar bedroom the girls shared, even though Adam had left a closet light on for her. Shed crawled into Elizas bed, which led to Eliza complaining at three-fifteen that Morgan kicked in her sleep. So hed given up his own bed for his disgruntled daughter and stretched out on the small sofa in the common room. At seven, hed awoken to a stiff neck and a bright-eyed Morgan wanting to know why she couldnt find her regular cartoons. The small television in the common room had basic cable but not the array of personalized channels Morgan was used to at home.
Itll be all right, hed assured her. We wont spend that much time in the suite, anyway.
Hed promised them a hearty breakfast in the lodges main dining hall if everyone could manage to get ready.
Geoff flung out his arm, pointing at the bathroom door. The problem is weve got only one bathroom, and Eliza seems to think its her sole dominion.
Whats do-min-on? Morgan asked. Shed insisted on picking out her own clothes, pairing a red shirt covered in pink animal shapes with neon-striped leggings. The overall effect, best described as colorful, was not helping Adams headache. Is it like a dalmatian?
No, pumpkin. Adam knocked on the bathroom door. Eliza?
The door swung open. Jeez, Im finished, she said from around her father, glaring at Geoff. Happy now?
Mumbling a response, Geoff dashed into the now vacant room. He shut the door with just enough force to up Adams need for aspirin without technically slamming it.
Ten minutes later, all three children were ready to go, even if one of them looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope and another was wearing too much eye makeup. Sara had discussed the cosmetics issue with him just before Elizas twelfth birthday and hed deferred to Saras judgment, saying that if she was okay with it, so was he. But he wasnt an idiot. He knew that Eliza didnt leave the house with red lipstick and raccoon eyes on her mothers watch. She was baiting him, but he refused to kick off their morning with a fight.
He held the door open while the kids filed past, dropping a gentle hand on Elizas shoulder.
What? Her voice, probably meant to be challenging, came out nervous and guilty.
I love you, kiddo.
She blinked, the little girl he remembered peering out from inside a ring of uneven eyeliner. Then she was gone. Y-yeah, I know. We better go. If Geoff doesnt get fed soon, hell probably start eating the furniture or something.
With that, she darted into the hall. Adam sighed. The Medical College Admission Test was easier than this.
The good news? It was bound to get better.
Chapter Five
And I assume you want to pay extra for the unlimited miles? Lloyd asked from behind the counter.
Honestly, Brenna thought, no one ever wants to pay extra for anything. But she did accumulate an amazingly high mileage for a woman who spent most of her time driving around a small town, and tomorrow was Saturday. Weekends were often her busiest time. Same deal as last time, please. Extra mileage, extra insurance.
Lloyd grinned at her. Youre one of our favorite customers. Which is really saying something considering youve never purchased a car from us. Ill be right back with the finalized paperwork and your receipt.
Thanks.
Brenna had bought Quinn an early lunch to thank her for her assistance that morning, and Quinn had dropped her off at the auto dealership.
Thanks.
Brenna had bought Quinn an early lunch to thank her for her assistance that morning, and Quinn had dropped her off at the auto dealership.
Sure you dont want me to keep chauffeuring you? her friend had asked.
Thanks, but my schedules a bit erratic for the next forty-eight hours. The Hildebrand family was paying her an exorbitant fee to tuck in their chocolate Lab for the night; shed check on him one last time at about ten-thirty. I cant just keep you at my beck and call.
All right, guess Ill head home. But dont tell Ari we parted ways this early. She was angling shamelessly for an invitation to come hang out at my place and catch glimpses of Gabe in his work jeans. Quinn had waved goodbye with a reminder to call if you need me.
Brenna!
At the sound of her stepfathers voice, she spun around. The sight of his rugged face filled her with affection and exasperation. Josh, you twerp. Shed bet the cost of her latest phone-book ad that Josh had told his parents about her unreliable car.
Hey. She hugged Fred. Didnt expect to see you here. Although she should have.
He patted her on the back. I dont suppose youd believe I just happened to be in the neighborhood?
She sighed. Well, it is Mistletoe. I guess the neighborhoods not that big.
Ive offered to go car shopping with you a couple of times, honey, and youre always too busy. So what better time than now? Youre here, Im here. An entire lot of economy cars await.
You know I appreciate the thought. Mostly. But I need to get over to the Heritage Pond subdivision. Ive got a new-client orientation at twelve-thirty.
Got time in your full schedule for Sunday dinner? Josh and Natalie are coming. Maggies hoping you can join us, too.
She ground her back teeth. On the one hand, she loved the Pierces and enjoyed spending time with them, but Fred and Maggie had already been trying to help her find a nice man even before Josh started dating Natalie. Now all four of them ganged up on her. And she was the fifth wheel, the odd one out even among people who adored her.
She was damn lucky for the Pierce family and never wanted to seem ungrateful. You tell Maggie Ill be there. Can I bring anything?
Just your company and your lovely smile, Fred said warmly. Unlesstheres anyone you wanted to bring? Any guest of yours is always welcome at our table.
Oh, for pitys sake! Josh couldnt just leave it at tattling about the car? He told you about the doctor, too!
Doctor? Fred frowned. What doctor?
Whoops. Shed read too much into Fred and Maggies habitual wishful thinking, immediately making the mental leap to handsome Adam Varner.
Never mind, Brenna chirped brightly. Not important.
But-
Okay, youre all set, Lloyd said from behind them.
Wonderful! Thanks! Beaming at him, she accepted the keys to the getaway car.
Since shed already cited a customer appointment, her stepfather had no choice but to let her go. Unexpectedly her thoughts of Adam were harder to shake. Shed been moved yesterday by his desire to bond with his kids-undoubtedly hed been an imperfect father, but the fact that he was trying so hard counted for a lot with her. Wonder if hes having any luck yet.
ADAM LEANED on the railing of the lodges massive wraparound wooden porch, listening to intermittent birdsong and the burbling rush of the river. Behind him, Geoff and Eliza were trying to teach Morgan how to play checkers. In a minute hed join them, but he hated to push his luck. The day so far had exceeded his most optimistic expectations.
A few months ago, hed kept the kids for an afternoon while Sara and Dan were busy with wedding plans. When Sara had come to pick up the children, shed caught Adam in a moment of extreme frustration with Eliza; hed confessed to his ex-wife that hed never felt so clueless in his life. Shed told him, with a mix of compassion and censure, that half of parenting was just showing up. Today had certainly borne that out. Thank God.
When hed proposed coming to Mistletoe, even Sara had been surprised by his choice of location. There were plenty of great places in Tennessee-Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Chattanooga were far more obvious tourist destinations-but he hadnt wanted to take the kids anywhere theyd already been. Hed wanted the four of them to have a vacation uniquely their own.
Day one, while not yet over, seemed a success. After a buffet breakfast, theyd followed a trail into the woods. It hadnt been too steep or overgrown for Morgan to keep up, but it wasnt so perfectly manicured that they might as well have been walking on a sidewalk in their own subdivision. Even surly Eliza had been charmed by the sight of a mother deer and fawn in a clearing. Theyd also spotted lizards, chipmunks and the white cottontail of a rabbit thatd taken off at the sound of Morgans delighted squeal.
Their lunch back at the lodge had been a lively exchange of everyones favorite moments. Now the kids wore bathing suits under their clothes, and hed promised to take them swimming after their food had settled. They probably wouldnt hit the river until tomorrow or the next day, but the lodge also had a good-size pool with a high, winding waterslide. Hed noticed that when Eliza ducked into the bathroom to put on her suit, shed also wiped off that awful makeup, which he opted to see as a sign of truce.
You cant jump my piece from there, Geoff said to Morgan, shaking his head over the checkerboard. Remember how I already explained that to you?
Geoff sounded as if he had a reserve of patience. Adam decided to intervene while that was still the case. Whos ready for the pool?
Me! the kids chorused.
Geoff took the checkers back to the front desk while Eliza helped her little sister apply sunscreen. Once they were inside the fenced pool area, they took turns passing back and forth the tube of SPF 55. Adam prided himself on not doing an aghast double take when Eliza removed her long T-shirt and revealed an electric-blue bikini. It wasnt so much the cut of the suit that was disconcerting-as two pieces went, he supposed it was modest enough-it was how much older she suddenly looked. His little girl, far too grown up. He wondered if there was any chance Morgan would humor him and wear a one-piece into her twenties.
They had the pool practically to themselves. A man slept beneath the shade of an umbrella, a brunette read a book on her chaise longue, and a mother sat on the steps of the shallow end while her toddler repeatedly filled with water and dumped out a purple plastic pail. The lifeguard, a boy of about sixteen, looked bored to pieces.