Husband Wanted (13 page)

The sun was still high in the sky, but a gentle breeze coming off the river made it pleasant. They passed a craft store, where handmade cradles and high chairs held expensive porcelain dolls with human hair and exquisite lace nightgowns and frilly gingham dresses. Mandy’s attention was drawn to a newborn model tucked beneath a patchwork quilt in a handmade crib.

“Oh, look!” she said. “The doll appears so real, and the fuzz on her head is the same color as mine.” She looked at Frannie. “I’ll bet I looked like that when I was born.”

Frannie opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. How could she tell Mandy that she had not seen or held her after her birth? “I, um—”

Clay interrupted. “I’m not going to spend the afternoon looking at dolls,” he said. He grabbed Frannie’s hand, gave it a tug, and they walked to the next shop. The smell of fresh coffee and pecan pie wafted through the open doorway. Although it took a great deal of willpower, they passed the shop and stepped inside the next one, The Christmas Shoppe, as it was called, where artificial trees were adorned with fake white birds and with gold angels holding harps. Red satin bows had been tied to another tree that had been sprayed with artificial snow, and tiny elves played among the branches. Lights flickered and bells sounded various Christmas tunes.

“Wow, it’s Christmastime all year-round here,” Mandy exclaimed.

Frannie smiled and nodded, thinking of how different her holidays must’ve been from Clay’s and Mandy’s. There was little money to buy gifts, especially after her father had left. Nevertheless, Christmas had been a special time. If they couldn’t afford a big turkey with all the trimmings, they could at least buy a hen and make do with vegetables from the garden. Frannie’s last Christmas with her mother had been a happy one and that’s all that had mattered.

They left the shop a few minutes later and followed Mandy into a T-shirt store. Clay purchased a variety of T-shirts, most of them bearing the words,
Welcome to Savannah
. He held one up that read,
Hot Stuff,
and winked at Frannie. “After this morning I think you’ve earned it.”

“Never mind,” she mumbled, cheeks flaming. She grabbed the shirt and returned it to its place before Mandy saw it.

They ate dinner in a restaurant Clay recommended. Mandy asked him to order a dozen raw oysters, and the two of them enjoyed watching Frannie shudder as they ate them.

“I prefer my food cooked,” she said.

The shops were still open when they made their way back to the hotel, all three holding hands and talking. Frannie could not remember the last time she had been so happy. At the same time, she dreaded putting Mandy on a plane the next morning.

“Did you know we have pay TV in the room?” Mandy said, almost skipping down the thickly carpeted hallway. “What d’ya say we sit up all night and watch it?”

“Aren’t you at all tired after sitting up last night?” Frannie said laughingly.

“I’m too excited to sleep. I know, let’s go swimming first. You brought your bathing suit, didn’t you?”

Frannie nodded. She’d brought Blair’s bathing suit, but she hadn’t tried it on.

“I’m game,” Clay said.

Fifteen minutes later they were back on the elevator headed for the pool. Frannie was thankful that Blair had provided a one-piece bathing suit. Even though it hugged her curves—a fact which Clay noticed right away—it was still modest enough so that Frannie did not feel too self-conscious.

Mandy dropped her towel on the concrete floor and dove into the water.

“I’m going to miss her like crazy when she’s gone,” Frannie said as she watched her daughter swim to the other side of the pool. “I can’t stand the thought of letting her go.”

“Maybe you won’t have to.”

She gave him a funny look. “What are you talking about? Of course I have to.”

“She can still visit.”

“Not if she’s living on the other side of the world.”

“You’ve heard of airplanes?”

She sighed. “It would not be fair to her adoptive parents.”

Mandy paused at the shallow end of the pool. “Aren’t you guys coming in?” she asked. “The water’s perfect.”

Without warning, Clay took off, jumped high and tucked his legs beneath him, splashing Frannie once he landed in the water. She shrieked as the cold water hit her. She was not one of those who could dive in and be done with it. She had to acclimate herself to the water. She started down the steps, slowly and one at a time, while Mandy and Clay laughed and cajoled and splashed. Once in, Clay began a wicked game of dunking the two of them. Finally, the girls teamed up and shoved him under the water, but he managed to grab a firm hold on each one and hold them under until they came up coughing and sputtering.

The hotel room was cold when they entered more than an hour later, wrapped in fluffy oversize towels they’d had to sign for at the pool. “I’m taking a hot shower,” Mandy announced in a shivery voice as she made for her room.

“Me, too,” Frannie muttered, heading in the opposite direction. She hurried into the bathroom, stripped off her suit, and stepped into the tiled shower. She adjusted the water temperature and turned on the nozzle. The warm spray took the chill off her skin immediately.

“Scoot over,” a masculine voice said, climbing into the shower behind her.

Frannie was so taken by surprise, she almost slipped. Clay reached out and steadied her. Her mouth flew open and filled with water. She coughed and spit it out, then tried to cover herself. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

He chuckled. “You weren’t supposed to. Stop hiding, Frannie. I’ve already seen everything you’ve got, and I must say I approve.”

She frowned. “Don’t you ever wait to be invited?”

“Never. Now, stop fussing and let me wash your back.” He took the soap and washcloth from her hands and worked up a lather.

Frannie sighed but offered him her backside. It wasn’t an easy task. Despite having made love with Clay, she was still uncomfortable standing before him in the light of day. She remained perfectly still as he washed her back, each hip, and finally her thighs and legs, slipping into crevices that made her heart beat faster.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he said. “Turn around.”

“Clay—”

“Hurry up. Mandy’s going to wonder what’s taking us so long.”

Frannie did as he said. Once again, Clay worked up a generous lather and soaped her all over, spending an inordinate amount of time on her breasts. Despite her modesty, Frannie felt her body respond. Finally, he moved his hand to the reddish-gold tuft at her thighs. Frannie closed her eyes and leaned against him as his fingers worked their magic and left her shivering for several moments afterward.

They found a solemn-eyed Mandy on the sofa in the sitting room when they entered later, both wearing a terrycloth bathrobe provided by the hotel. The girl was holding her cell phone.

“Why so glum?” Clay asked, then noted the blank television set. “I thought you were going to sit up all night watching the latest movies.”

“I just phoned home,” Mandy said. “My parents were called out of the country tonight for some top secret international emergency. I didn’t realize it, but my cell phone has been off the whole time I’ve been visiting.”

“A teenager without a smart phone pressed against her ear?” Clay said. “That’s got to be a first.”

Frannie took a seat beside her daughter. She could see the girl was near tears. “Where are they going?”

Mandy shrugged. “Who knows? When the White House calls, my father goes without question. This time my mother went with him.”

Frannie glanced at Clay then back at the girl. It didn’t make sense that her parents would make arrangements to leave the country without seeing to their daughter’s welfare first. “Who will take care of you while they’re gone?”

“My mean Aunt Rhea,” she said miserably.

“She can’t be all that bad,” Clay said.

Mandy looked at him. “You have no idea. I can’t do anything right in her eyes. She constantly puts me down.”

Frannie nibbled her bottom lip as she met Clay’s gaze. “I wish there was something we could do,” she said.

“You don’t suppose—” Mandy paused and looked at Frannie, her expression hopeful. “You don’t suppose I could come back home with you.” When Frannie hesitated, she went on quickly. “It’s only for a week. Until spring break is over.”

“Of course you can come back with us, Mandy,” Clay said. “You’re family. You’re welcome any time.”

Frannie couldn’t hide her appreciation. The fact that Clay was so willing to take her daughter into his house touched her deeply. She knew Walter would be just as eager. The only problem, she was due back at work the next day. She would have to ask for more time. “We’d love to have you, sweetie,” she said. “Shouldn’t you cancel or change your flight? Would you like for me to call your aunt?” Frannie was ready to do whatever she could to help.

Mandy shook her head quickly. “I’ll take care of it, I have an app and everything for the airline,” she said. “I’m used to having my aunt yell at me.” She got up from the sofa, a look of immense relief on her face. “I’ll make the call in my room if you don’t mind.”

Frannie waited until they were alone before she said anything. “Thank you, Clay. You didn’t have to do that.”

He shrugged. “What was I going to do, send the kid back when it’s obvious she doesn’t want to go?”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit strange,” she asked, “for her parents to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice? I suppose her father must be pretty high up if he takes orders directly from the White House. I had no idea he was so important.”

Clay looked thoughtful. “There is something about this that doesn’t feel right,” he said.

Frannie nodded. “I agree.”

They were still discussing the situation when the bedroom door opened a few minutes later and Mandy stepped through. “Is everything okay?” Frannie asked.

The girl offered her a sheepish smile. “Frankly, I think Aunt Rhea was relieved. She said she’d relay the message to my parents.
If
and
when
she hears from them.”

Frannie and Clay exchanged anxious looks. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Frannie asked.

“It means they are probably going to a high-risk location,” Mandy said.

Once again, Frannie sought Clay’s gaze, then shook her head, unable to take everything in. This was not the time to talk about it. She reached for Mandy’s hand and squeezed it. “You look exhausted, honey. Why don’t you go to bed? We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“You’re right, I am tired,” Mandy confessed, then gave Frannie and Clay a brief hug. “I had a great time today,” she said before making her way to the adjoining bedroom.

Frannie waited until Mandy closed her door before speaking. “I feel very uneasy about this whole situation, Clay,” she said. “Why would anyone tell a child her parents were going into a high-risk area? And if that’s the case, why would Mandy’s mother—”

“Adoptive mother,” Clay interrupted.

“Why would the woman go with her husband to a location that might prove dangerous when she has a daughter to consider?”

“The whole thing smells fishy. I hope you don’t mind, but I plan to look into it. I’ll need whatever information you can give me, her adoptive parents’ names, addresses, phone numbers, anything you’ve got.

“My boss just fired me,” Frannie said to Clay the following morning when he joined her on the sofa in the sitting room, where she was having her first cup of coffee. She quickly got up and poured him a cup.

“Why were you fired?” he asked when she rejoined him.

“I can’t get anyone to pull my shift at work tomorrow or the next day. I was told if I did not show up at five-thirty tomorrow morning that I could look elsewhere for a job. It’s just as well because I was going to have to give him a two-week notice.”

Clay listened, but he couldn’t help noticing how clean and fresh Frannie looked in white jeans and a navy pullover. He was also disappointed that she had showered and dressed without waking him. They had not made love the night before, not because Clay had not wanted to, but he knew Frannie was concerned about Mandy. He’d simply held her close while they slept.

“I don’t understand,” Clay said.

“It’s my senior year,” she said. “I have to intern nine hundred hours in my field of study in order to get my degree. Not only do the hours count toward my degree, it’s a paid position. If I do well, I’m likely to be offered a job.”

“When and where will you start?”

“Two weeks from now at the mental health center,” she said. “I had a practicum there for three hundred hours in my junior year so I pretty much know what to expect. My boss at the time was kind enough to grant me a leave of absence. I knew my present boss wouldn’t go for it.”

“I did not know interns received pay,” Clay said.

“Those with the highest grades and other skills are usually offered the best internships,” she said, looking pleased. “Since they already know me, there is also a good chance I’ll be hired on permanently.”

“That’s great news!” Clay said. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you.” She wondered if he had any idea what those words meant coming from him.

Two days later, Clay arrived home from work and found Frannie in the kitchen with Greta. “Jean-Paul and Louisa had to return to their regular job, for a few days,” Frannie explained. “We’ve decided to make dinner easy by cooking burgers on the grill. We chose you as our grill-master.”

“I don’t have a problem with that,” he said. “Where’s Mandy?”

“She and your father are at the stables. Why?”

“I need a word with you if you have a moment.”

“Sounds serious,” Frannie said, but followed him from the kitchen to the living room. “Is this about Mandy?”

“Yes.” Clay didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “A friend of mine, a retired cop, did some checking around for me.”

“And?”

Clay gave a huge sigh. “I don’t quite know how to tell you this, Frannie, but the girl has been lying to us all along.”

Frannie offered him a blank look. “Lying? About what?”

“It’s bad, Frannie. Really bad. You should sit down. We
both
need to sit down.”