Family Ties (5 page)

“Why is that?”

He could read confusion on the child’s face. “Andie’s the bestest mom I had.” She winced, as if in pain. “But I don’t hardly remember my real mom anymore.” Big tears welled up and overflowed on the child’s cheeks.

“Are you happy now?” Andie scooped the little girl into her arms. “Come on, Angel, we’re going home. We’ve got some of those cookies we baked this afternoon to eat.”

Gray recognized the depth of the child’s anxiety when she didn’t respond to the offer of a snack. “Look,” he said, rising to his feet, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her. I just meant to....”

Andie’s eyes snapped at him. “You just meant to stick your nose into something that is none of your business. Don’t worry about it, I’m used to your kind. Everyone seems to think a single woman with four children is fair game for any and all kinds of questions. And so are her kids.”

“I didn’t—”

“You can ask them of me, in the future, Mr. Mills. Not my kids.”

“Fine.” Gray snarled back. “Maybe if you could manage to keep them out of my yard AND out of my house I wouldn’t have any questions.”

“Oh for heaven sakes.” Andie took Chloe’s hand and reached for Jamie. “Come on kids. We’re out of here.”

Her hand met free space and she looked around as if suddenly realizing, as Gray was, that little Jamie had released his grip on her jeans and wandered into Gray’s living room. He stood in front of an end table, his hands clutching one of the few possessions Gray actually cared about - his cherry-red model of a fifty-six Chevy sedan.

“Ah jeez,” Gray muttered.

Andie spoke as well, her tone soft and gentle. “Jamie. Come on Sweetie. We’re leaving now.”

The little boy jumped when she called him, set the model back and slid over to take Andie’s hand. She graced Gray with one last glare before marching out with stiff backed military precision.

Gray growled under his breath after her. There she was, acting as if he were in the wrong, when she was the one who had zero control of her brood.

He absently picked up the model car as he watched her long legs eat up the lawn across the front of her house. She was a pretty woman but when she was riled, her eyes sparked pure energy. He had to wonder what she’d be like in bed.

The kids weren’t hers and she didn’t wear a ring. All of a sudden, the question was much more interesting.

“Oh honey, come on wake up. It’s all right.” Andie brushed the hair off Jamie’s sweaty brow. “Come on, sweetie,” she said cuddling him into a hug. “It’s all right. Andie’s here.”

“Na Na.”

She couldn’t tell if he was calling for his nana or yelling ‘no’. But he’d been loud enough to wake the other children, Andie thought as she tried to calm him. Obviously he’d buried his fears very deep. She rubbed his back as she held him close.

By the time his super hero shirt was warm, he’d relaxed against her and then the tears started. Grief choked out of him, soaking her shirt. Nobody, much less a child should have to go through what he’d suffered in his short life.

When finally he relaxed, she leaned back. “Okay now?” Jamie nodded.

“Do you want a drink or need to go to the bathroom?”

He shook his head.

“Okay. Are you ready to go back to sleep now?”

His eyes got huge and his breathing hitched as he dug into her arms, determined to hang on.

“I’ll stay with you, if you’d like.”

She looked into his eyes and caught his attention. “Would you like that?”

He nodded slowly but definitely. That was a good sign. He was responding and he wanted her to stay with him. “That’s cool. I’ll stay right here.”

Settling him back into bed, she again brushed his hair off his forehead. “You relax and I’ll sit beside you.”

“Do you want me to get you a book?” He tightly clutched her hand in answer. “That’s okay. Why don’t I keep you company?” When he loosened his hold on her hand, she smiled. “Relax, Jamie. There’s nothing or no one who’s going to hurt you. You’re safe. And I’m going to stay with you and make sure you stay that way.”

His lips lifted in a small smile as he squirmed into the warmth of his bed. He watched her carefully, but seemed relieved she’d agreed to stay with him. And stay she would – as long as necessary.

As his rapid breaths settled into soft snores, Andie smiled. He was such a little hero. One of these days, he’d be off running and playing. When that day came, God forbid anyone should find out he’d needed her to sit beside him while he fell asleep. No teenage boy would ever admit he’d spent time hanging onto a woman – not even when it was true.

Yesterday had been the first time in almost a month he’d stepped away from her on his own.

“Holy mackerel.” Andie clamped her hand over her mouth and quickly checked to make sure she hadn’t disturbed his rest. He’d actually walked away from her at her neighbor’s. Her heart started pounding with excitement. Jamie had begun to heal – only a little, but it was a beginning.

Whoa. She put a hand on her chest. She had to stop and think for a minute. He’d let go and moved into the living room alone. She remembered spotting him, then he’d put something on the table and hurried back to her when she called. What had he replaced on the table?

Darn. Why hadn’t she realized what was happening at the time? Mentally she slapped her forehead. Jamie’s investigating something in a strange house was way more important than Chloe sneaking next door. Even if she had been looking for something to eat.

What could possibly have been important enough to draw him from her side, especially in a strange house?

There was no doubt about it, she was going to have to go next door and see for herself. If something in there might help Jamie heal she was going to find it. The sooner he got back on track the better.

Grayson Mills may not like her, or how she supervised her wards. He may not want to see her again, but he’d best get ready. First thing in the morning, she was going to lean on his doorbell until she got the information she wanted. And then she was going to find a way to make sure Jamie got what he needed as well.

***

Already late, Gray sipped his hot coffee as he hurried to the door. Who could be ringing the bell at this hour of the morning?

He flipped the deadbolt and pulled the door open, then stifled a groan. He should have guessed. Andie Bowen.

Would she ever leave him alone? At the rate she was messing up his schedule, he’d never get to work on time. Never mind how she was messing up his schedule to finish the house.

“Good morning, Mr. Mills. I wondered if I could speak with you for a moment.”

“It’s a little early for a social call, wouldn’t you say, Mrs. Bowen?” He purposely hung on to the door and stood in the opening. “But since we’re chatting, why don’t you call me Gray?”

“It’s Ms. Bowen, or Andie and I know it’s early...”

She ran a hand through her long hair and pushed it off her face. For the first time he noticed the dark smudges under her eyes. She looked as if she’d slept as little as he had.

“...but I had to catch you before you left for work.” She looked around him. “Can I come in for a minute?” She was glowing with intensity.

“Sure, why not?” He pulled open the door and stepped out of the way. She probably wouldn’t leave until she got what she wanted. If she started to harass him about that incident yesterday he was going to raise a ruckus of his own. If she couldn’t keep a better eye on her kids, she didn’t deserve to have them. And he was more than willing to start squawking if she didn’t shape up.

She hurried past him and almost ran into the living room, stopping at the coffee table. She picked up his cherry red model and turned to him. “Was this here yesterday?”

“Careful with that, it’s old.” He took it from her and turned it over in his hands. “It’s always on the table. I don’t keep many of them here - most of them are put away.” When he found a place to stay – if such a place existed – he’d bring them from storage.

“You’re sure?”

Didn’t she think he knew what was in his house? “I’m sure.”

A smile relaxed her face and pushed the exhaustion from her eyes as her shoulders settled. “That’s great. Thanks.”

She turned to step around him on her way back to the door.

“Wait a minute. Why did you want to know about the model?” he asked, his body again blocking her way.

“I missed it yesterday, but when we were discussing Chloe, Jamie actually came in here to look at it.”

“So?” He shrugged. “Most boys are interested in models – especially ones of race cars.”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand. Jamie’s only been with me a month and he’s barely left my side in all that time. And never on his own to check out something in a new place.”

When he didn’t respond, the look on her face stated categorically she thought he was an idiot. She spoke slowly. “The model was interesting enough to him that he checked it out. Even though he was in a strange house.”

“Nothing strange about a little boy liking models.” He looked down at the first one he’d completed. “I think all boys love them.” He ran his hand over the fifty-six Chevy, feeling the gobs of excess glue and poorly shaved pieces while remembering how Pops had praised his efforts. It had been the start of something special between them.

“This little boy hasn’t had much of anything to like, Gray. Since he was abandoned by his mother and his grandmother died, he’s been alone in the world. I’m his third home in three months, although I’m determined to be his last. In all this time, he hasn’t shown a spark of interest in anything. Until yesterday.”

The intensity and passion in her voice were unmistakable. And arousing. He wondered what else his neighbor was passionate about. What would she be like in bed?

Whoa. We aren’t going there. Not at all, he reminded himself. Then he realized what she’d said.

“Nothing? Abandoned? Grandmother died? What are you talking about?” He felt as if he’d missed every other word or something.

“I’m talking about Jamie’s past, Gray. He was abandoned by his mother to his grandmother’s care. The older woman died in her sleep while he was living with her.”

“That’s rough.” Gray couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be that alone in the world. He might
resent and fight against Ma’s over-protectiveness, but he’d always known she was there for him.

“Who found the grandmother?”

“He did.”

“God.” He shuddered at the thought of anyone, including and especially a little boy, finding a dead body.

“Exactly. So if he’s found something that catches his interest, I’m going to make sure it’s available to him.”

“Good idea.” It was none of his business, but he couldn’t help asking. “So how’d he end up at your house? You an aunt or something?”

She shook her head, tumbling her wavy hair around her. “No, nothing like that. I run a long-term home for foster children.”

He really should be leaving for work, but he couldn’t help asking one more question. “What’s that, exactly?”

“I provide a home for children who have nowhere else to go. The system expects they’ll stay with me for a long time.”

Before he could stop himself, he asked, “How many of them are yours?”

“Weren’t you listening? All the kids are wards of the court.”

“So you take care of them full-time.”

“I’m a licensed psychologist specializing in childhood trauma.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got to run. Bonnie’s keeping an eye on them for me, but I need to get them organized for school before we’re late. I drive them to school since we moved.” She chuckled. “Besides Bonnie will let them take over the place.”

Her smile reached her eyes, softening them, before she reached out and touched his forearm. “Thanks very much. You’ve given me a way to reach Jamie. Without knowing, you might have changed his life.” She held his gaze for a moment, before she ducked
around him and was gone.

Gray scratched his head, then raked his fingers through his hair, watching her scamper across the driveway and lawn. Unconsciously, he opened his right shirt pocket, took out a mint, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. Who’d have thought something good could have come out of yesterday?

The little guy wasn’t very far from Gray’s thoughts all day. Driving home from work, he couldn’t get the horror of Jamie’s story out of his mind. No wonder the poor little kid didn’t talk or play. Finding his grandmother dead had probably scared him half to death. Hell, most adults would have been scared to find a body, never mind that it was someone important to you. Poor kid.

He hoped she’d bought a model simple enough for the kid to work on. They could be complicated little suckers if you didn’t get the right one. He’d been lucky Pops had bought the first one and guided him building the ones that followed, as they became more difficult. Those were probably the best memories he had of childhood.

Traffic was heavy on the freeway but he noticed the mall off to his right. Making a quick decision, he put on his blinker and pulled into the exit lane. He wouldn’t get involved, but it wouldn’t take long to make sure the kid got the right model to start with. Besides, who knew? Maybe if she was busy helping the boy build a model, the whole family might leave him alone so he could get some work done.