Family Ties (3 page)

Especially now with a handful of kids next door. Out of control, loud, noisy kids next door.

As he ducked his head under the shower his thoughts drifted to one-sixteen. He liked long-legged women. Especially when their legs were long enough to wrap around him. But not living next door. And not with a bunch of kids hanging around her and a husband lurking in the background.

In mid-swipe he stopped, remembering the little guy plastered against her. About six or seven and scared to death, by the looks of him. A flash of sympathy caught Gray in the gut. He hadn’t had much to do with kids. Hadn’t wanted to. That wasn’t going to change, but he felt sorry for the little gaffer. There was something unnatural about a kid who wouldn’t leave his mother’s side.

Forcing his mind to the issues at hand, he made a list of tasks he had to finish before he could list this place with the Realtor. One kid too quiet and what seemed like half a dozen screamers all living next door. He was in a big hurry to sell.

The sooner the better.

“What’s going on?” Billy demanded.

He stumbled out of his bedroom and down the upstairs hall, his skinny twelve-year old body looking even smaller in gray boxers and a faded blue and white ‘Seattle Mariners’ tee shirt. His blond hair stood out in all directions, his eyes were wide and round and there was a hint of wary apprehension in the set of his shoulders. “I heard something. What—”

“It’s okay.” Andie carefully pulled Jamie’s bedroom door closed, then settled an arm around Billy. “Jamie had another bad dream. That’s all it is.”

Billy blinked a few times. “Again?”

“I’m afraid so.” Jamie had been tormented by his dreams every single night of the month he’d been with them.

“Poor little kid,” Billy muttered as he relaxed against her. Andie squeezed his shoulder, relieved to feel the tension drain from his body. Four years ago, Billy had been the new arrival with nightmares. Unexpected noises in the middle of the night still bothered him but, apart from that, he’d managed to put his past behind him.

If only Jamie could be so lucky.

“What was his dream about?” Billy asked as Andie guided him back to his room.

“I don’t know.” Actually Andie had a pretty good idea but she wasn’t going to share it with Billy. Then she’d have two kids with nightmares.

She followed Billy into his room, wincing at the chaos that greeted her. She’d done a darn good job of getting the main floor organized yesterday. Today, she’d tackle the kids’ rooms.

Billy navigated around the stacks unpacked boxes. “Why doesn’t Jamie say anything?”

“I’m not sure.” Jamie hadn’t spoken since he arrived. Hadn’t made a sound if she discounted the night time screaming.

“I wish he would,” Billy grumbled. “It’s hard to know what’s wrong with him if he won’t tell us.”

“That’s very true.” Repeatedly, Andie had been through the thick “Jamie Ryden” file social services had sent over, hoping for a glimmer of something more she could do to help the little guy. But, even with her clinical experience and years of post-graduate education she’d been unable to come up with anything to relieve his terror and help them both get a full night’s sleep. All she knew was that he’d had a trauma and needed time. Whoopee.

She pulled aside Billy’s blue and white Mariner’s quilt so he could climb into bed. “He just needs some time to get used to us, that’s all. Then I’m sure he’ll be talking our ears off.”

Billy snuggled down. “I hope he hurries up. I want to teach him how to play baseball.”

“That would be nice.” Andie bent to kiss his forehead. “Or do you just want him to field fly balls for you?”

Billy grinned, his teeth flashing white in the darkness. “Maybe. But I’d let him bat sometimes too.”

“Yeah right.” Andie ruffled his hair. “You go back to sleep now.”

“Okay.” Billy threw himself over on his side and burrowed down into the covers.

Andie watched him for a moment, then wandered down the stairs. Billy would fall asleep in a matter of minutes but she wasn’t so lucky. It had taken hours to settle Jamie after his nightmare and now she was wide-awake.

She meandered into the kitchen to heat herself a cup of tea, then carried it on into the living room. She’d stayed up extra-late to get this room into some semblance of order and now she was glad she had. The furniture was nothing spectacular – a few family heirlooms, a green pattered couch, a glider-rocker and couple of comfy chairs. Spread around this spacious room, with its glorious hardwood floor and bricked in fireplace it looked warm and secure and inviting, just the impression she’d wanted to create.

She set her teacup on a low oak table she’d inherited from her Grandmother, then relaxed back into a green overstuffed chair. From here she could watch the night sky lighten to day. It was going to be another warm, beautiful May day in Calgary, if dawn was any indication. The pinks and golds streaking westerly across the eastern sky promised the famous blue skies of summer.

The tea’s steam rose between her and the window facing the street. As she admired the play of colors in the burgeoning sunlight beyond the mist, a movement to the side broke her reverie. She wasn’t the only one up early this morning. Mr. “you don’t supervise your kids well enough” was out there, putting tools into the box of his truck.

Apparently Gray liked to get an early start- an admirable trait she could add to a short list. She sipped her tea and gave herself a lecture on tolerance. Everyone in the galaxy didn’t have to like children the way she did. Of course, they didn’t have to be as nasty and self-righteous about it as he’d been either.

Except when he’d spoken to Jamie. Had there been a flicker of something – kindness maybe – when he’d knelt to say hello to the little boy? Or had she imagined that?

Gray placed a couple of bags in the truck, then went digging in the box behind the cab. Andie couldn’t help noticing how his jeans pulled as he bent over the side of his truck. One cheek was clearly defined in his work denims. Not bad.

Physically, the whole package was put together nicely. His long legs met in a tight butt below a narrow waist. There was something to be said for broad shoulders developed from carrying piles of lumber.

Yesterday, she’d noticed he was taller than her five foot eight. She could probably wear heels with him if she wanted to. Which she didn’t. Not at all.

Dark hair. Dark eyes. Strong jaw.

He hauled a box of tools from the garage then turned toward her house. When the sunlight caught his brown hair, sparking it with warm gold, her fingers got itchy. She remembered a strong chin, brown eyes, and lashes to die for. Without yesterday’s five o’clock shadow, he was even more attractive than she remembered.

Eye candy.

Her sister Dina was going to drive her crazy about him, even though he’d been rude and snarly.

To be fair, though, she had to give him another point. Any man who could quietly load tools in a truck at, she flicked her wrist and checked her watch, five-twenty in the morning must have some redeeming qualities.

She watched him climb into the cab of the truck, back expertly onto the street and drive off. Must be something about dawn that turned a practical woman’s heart to fantasy. Yesterday, he had been darn unpleasant, yet here she was watching him drive away in his big red machine, thinking about how much of a hunk he was and looking for positive character traits. Maybe Dina was right. Maybe she was lonely.

Andie jumped to her feet. That was ridiculous. She had four high needs kids. She couldn’t possibly be lonely.

She might not be lonely but later that day Andie decided Gray probably was.

She watched his red truck pull into the driveway late that afternoon. He climbed out, moving with the measured, worn pace of a man who’d spent a too long day doing physical activity. He should have someone in there to share his day with, Andie mused as she returned to the kitchen and plopped more chocolate chip cookie dough on the baking pan.

Someone who would tease away the tired droop of his shoulders, work with him to make a savory meal. Instead he was walking into a quiet, empty house – while hers was anything but. A couple of Billy’s friends were over, shouting and laughing as they played in the back yard. Bonnie was upstairs watching music videos, Chloe had a CD going in her bedroom while Jamie curled up on the family room couch, watching a children’s TV program. Andie bit her lip as she studied this little boy. It did look as if he were watching TV but if it were turned off, she wasn’t positive he’d notice.

Billy burst into the kitchen. “Mark and Steve both want more cookies.” He eyed the plate on the table. “So do I.”

The oven timer buzzed. “Go ahead,” Andie advised over the noise. “Only one more each though. You don’t want to ruin supper.”

“Thanks.” Billy grabbed a handful and dashed away. Chloe wandered in after he’d left, a blue and white plastic plate clutched between her fingers. “All three of my dolls are very very hungry,” she announced.

Andie fought with her twitching lips as she pulled a tray of hot, fragrant cookies out of the oven, then slid another one in. “They are, are they?”

“Yes.” Chloe nodded very serious. “They need more cookies.” She set her plate on the table, and started to load it up. “Lots and lots of cookies.”

Andie moved in to stop the cookie theft. “I don’t think so.”

“But Andie---”

Andie hunkered down in front of Chloe so she could look the child straight in the eye. “How was school today, honey?”

Chloe eyed the cookie tray. “Okay.”

“Did anything bad happen?” Andie pressed. After six months with Chloe she’d figured out that the little girl’s method of coping with stress was to eat.

Chloe shook her head. “No.” She picked up a cookie and took a bite. “Except Gordon and Arnold wouldn’t listen to the story.”

“Oh?”

“No.” Chloe’s voice grew very soft. “Mrs. Sherwood had to yell at them to make them be quiet.”

“I see.” Chloe’s background was something of a mystery, but there must have been some violence in it since raised voices and confrontation bothered her so much. “Well, too many cookies will give your poor dolls a stomach ache. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

Chloe’s little brow furrowed as she considered that. Finally she shook her head. “No.”

“How about if they all share one big cookie?” Andie chose one of the larger cookies, ceremoniously broke it into three pieces and arranged them on Chloe’s plate. “How’s that?”

Chloe studied it for a moment. “Okay, I guess.” She picked up the plate and toddled off, her blond curls bouncing behind her.

Andie straightened and was just turning back to her baking when Bonnie clattered down the stairs and wandered into the kitchen. “Have you seen my science textbook?” she asked as she chose a cookie off the plate. “It’s blue with black lines and a picture of something exploding on the front.”

Andie paused to consider it. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh.” Bonnie didn’t look particularly concerned. “Well, I guess it must still be packed.”

“If it is, then it’s in your room. I unpacked pretty much everything else today.” She’d accomplished a lot today, Andie decided with a small feeling of triumph. Not only had she managed to deal with most of the boxes, she’d also mixed up this batch of cookies, all with Jamie right beside her every step of the way. “I’m sure you’ll find it when you finish unpacking tonight.”

Bonnie shrugged. “I can’t unpack tonight. I’m going out.”

Chloe returned to the kitchen, carrying the empty plate. “Can we have just one more cookie?”

“Okay but nothing more until supper time.” Andie broke another cookie into pieces while focusing on Bonnie. “Who are you going out with?”

To her surprise Bonnie’s face colored. “Some friends.”

Andie set the pieces on Chloe’s plate. “What friends?”

“MY friends.” Bonnie snapped. “It is okay for me to have friends, isn’t it?”

Andie’s temper rose in response to Bonnie’s belligerent tone.
Teenagers can be difficult. Teenagers can be difficult.
“It’s great that you have friends. But it is a school night, I’m sure you have homework—”

“Not that much.”

Jamie slid off the sofa and crossed the room to press himself against Andie. She put a hand on his head. “And there are exams coming up...”

Bonnie’s voice rose. “They’re weeks away. What’s the big deal? Don’t you want me to have any fun?”

From the corner of her eye, Andie saw Chloe following the conversation, her head turning as she looked from Andie to Bonnie, then back again. This conversation was upsetting both of the younger children. Hey, it was upsetting Andie as well. “Of course I want you to have fun but I want you to do well in school too. And as your mother...”

“You’re NOT my mother.”

Andie drew in a few deep breaths. She best get used to this. She had three other kids to get through teenagerhood. “No, you’re right, I’m not. But I am responsible.” The back door banged shut. Probably Billy coming in for more cookies, Andie thought distractedly while she searched her mental textbooks for advice on how to handle the situation. Choose your battles. Was this really worth fighting over? “However, if you think you’ve got your schoolwork under control I am not going to disagree with you.”