Together With You (20 page)

The counter girl called their number. Carly moved to leave the booth, but Ryan stood first. “I'll get it.”

He turned his back and walked away from her, exquisitely aware of the dried tears on his knuckle.

P
enny, are you ready?” Carly called up to her from the foot of the stairs. They were leaving for Penny's overnight stay with Denise and running late.

“Here I come.” She tromped down the steps with her purple backpack bumping behind her. Packing was an opportunity to teach Penny a practical lesson, though Denise insisted she had everything Penny needed, including a wardrobe.

While Penny stayed with Denise, Carly planned to work on the cloud mural. She needed the connection to home and her roots, especially after the moment with Ryan at Dairy Queen, where he touched her cheek and she almost forgot who she was and where she belonged.

Taking Penny's hand, she walked her to the minivan and lifted her into the booster seat with a playful whoosh. The midday traffic was light, and it took less than thirty minutes to reach Denise's place. As Carly parked, a jet took off at LAX. The closed windows and A/C muted the noise, and Penny didn't seem to mind, but Carly shared Ryan's concern. She planned to mention it to Denise, along
with reminding her about a picture of Jenna. For Penny's sake, the three of them needed to work as a team.

Carly helped Penny out of the van, handed her the backpack, and together they approached the house. They were halfway up the walk when Denise flung the door wide and ran to Penny, her arms outstretched like wings. Hugging Penny hard, she buried her nose in her hair and inhaled. “I'm so glad you're here.”

“Me too.” Penny clung just as hard, then wiggled free and did a twirl, capped off with a curtsey.

Denise applauded, then turned to Carly. “Thank you for bringing her. I'm waiting for the cable guy.”

“I'm glad to do it.” Carly took a breath. “Could I come in for a minute? I'd like to tell you about Penny's routine.”

Denise's brow furrowed. “If you'd like. But I know what she needs.”

“It won't take long.”

Penny grabbed Denise's hand in both of hers and dragged her toward the door. “Do you have a toy for me, Aunt DeeDee? I want it now.”

Denise tossed a helpless shrug at Carly and let herself be hauled into the house.

Carly held back a wince. It was one thing for Penny to expect a little spoiling when her aunt made a special visit, but if Denise wanted to give Penny a second home, the indulgences created a potential problem. Keeping a few steps back, she followed them into the living room, where a large, sparkly gift bag sat on a brick hearth.

Penny broke from Denise and ran to it. After tossing a mountain of tissue paper onto the floor, she pulled out a two-foot stuffed dolphin. “It's a fish!”

“A dolphin.” Denise knelt next to her. “Your mommy loved dolphins. What should we name this one?”

“Donna,” Penny said with authority.

Carly smiled from across the room, but her thoughts ricocheted to Penny's infatuation with boats and her search for her mother. The dolphin could bring clarity or cause more confusion, depending on how Denise explained it. With Jenna's death still so raw, Carly decided not to bring it up. This was a happy moment, and she didn't want to spoil it.

Denise played with Penny and the dolphin for a moment, then stood and patted Penny's shoulder. “Can you play with Donna while I talk to Miss Carly?”

Penny wiggled Donna's head to say yes.

With her eyes beaming, Denise led Carly to the dining area where they could keep an eye on Penny but not be overheard.

“The dolphin's great,” Carly said. “Penny swims like a fish now, but you know that from the pictures.” Carly had sent several of Penny in the pool. The ones with Ryan pulling her in the plastic swan were her favorites.

Denise rested a hand on the dining room table, her fingers drumming lightly. “What do you want to tell me?”

So much for being friendly. If Denise wanted to get to the point, so be it. Carly slipped a piece of paper from her purse. “I wrote out her routine.”

Denise skimmed the schedule, then gave it back at Carly. “I appreciate the effort. But when Penny's here, we'll follow my rules.”

“She needs consistency. I thought—”

“Thank you, Carly. But I know my niece.”

Denise took a step toward the door, but Carly didn't budge. She cared about Penny enough to fight, but she needed to pick the battles that most impacted Penny. Routine was important, but Penny's biggest heartache concerned her mother. “There's one more thing.” She kept her tone casual, even warm. “Ryan asked about a picture of Jenna for Penny's room. Her therapist thinks it's a good idea.”

Denise looked down her nose. “I haven't opened that box yet.”

“I know it's hard—”

“Do you?”

“Yes. I lost my mom.” She didn't mention Bette, but pink-and-silver pain cut through her. “Grief is awful for anyone, but it's especially hard for Penny. She can't process what happened.”

Denise glanced at Penny wiggling the dolphin, almost smiled, but turned back to Carly with the same tight-lipped expression. “I'll see what I can do.”

“Thanks. I'm sure Ryan would appreciate it.” Carly didn't want to leave with the tension lingering, so she turned to a lighter subject. “He told me you're using a zoo theme for Penny's room. She'll love it. You know how she feels about animals.”

“Of course I do. She's my niece.”

That tone! Denise had probably used it on difficult passengers refusing to buckle up. “I just thought—”

“I appreciate your interest, Carly. But this isn't necessary. I know Penny as well as you do. Maybe better, since we're flesh and blood.”

Carly was just the nanny, but even nannies deserved respect. Full of Kentucky pride, she propped her hands on her hips. “For Penny's sake, you and Ryan need to communicate. I'm part of that equation.”

“Temporarily, yes.”

“I'm here now, and I'm part of Penny's life.”

“But for how long?” Denise shot back. “When you leave, Ryan will be on his own again. Frankly, it worries me. She's run away twice now. His judgment is questionable.”

“I disagree.”

“It's true.”

“There's a reason she runs off. We're trying to—”

“She runs off because she's unhappy!”

“She's confused. She's—”
looking for her mother, because you told her she left in a boat!
With her lips sealed, Carly inhaled through her nose. “Ryan's a good father. You haven't seen him
with her at the dinner table, or the way they play in the pool. He reads to her at night, and—”

“Does she still call him Dr. Tremaine?”

“No. They have a special name now.”

Denise's shoulders sagged inside her crisp yellow shirt. “Does she call him Daddy or something else?”

“Dr. Daddy.”

“That's a little formal, isn't it?”

“I wouldn't say that at all.” Carly barely kept her voice level. “They're building a relationship—a good one. Ryan spends a lot of time with Penny. He loves her. I see it in his eyes, how he talks to her. When she has a tantrum, he holds her. He—”

“You're awfully quick to defend him.”

“Because he deserves it! He's a good father. If you could see him the way I do, you'd be impressed. Denise, he's . . . he's . . .”
the man I love.
Blood rushed to Carly's cheeks. Hoping Denise would see anger instead of longing, she kept her chin high.

Denise raised one eyebrow. “It's clear how you feel about him.”

“I
respect
him.”

“Of course you do.”

Oh, that same arrogant tone! It was full of doubt and derision, suspicion and a haughty know-it-all-ness that sent bolts of fury through Carly's veins. Determined to put Denise in her place, she squared her shoulders. “What are you implying?”

“Nothing.”

“I think you are.”

“Is there something to imply?”

“Not a thing.” Except her cheeks were on fire, and her heart was pounding. She wished she'd kept her mouth shut, wished she hadn't tried to talk to Denise at all. Instead of building a safety net for Penny, she'd given Denise ammo to use against Ryan. “If you're jumping to the conclusions I think you are, you're wrong. Ryan's my employer. I'm a professional and so is he. There's nothing between us.”

“Whatever you say,” Denise said mildly.

Annoyed with herself for bickering, Carly gave up and walked over to Penny. “I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?”

Penny held up the dolphin. “This is Donna. She swims like I do.”

“Yes, she does.” Carly absently smoothed a strand of Penny's hair, then kissed the top of her head.

Penny lifted the dolphin with both hands and made it swim. “Do dolphins play in the clouds?”

“They live in the ocean.”

“But the clouds touch the ocean,” she said, still waving the dolphin. “My mommy likes dolphins. Do you think she swims with them?”

A lump shoved into Carly's throat and refused to budge. The issue of heaven, Penny's mother, and boats needed to be clarified and soon, but she couldn't do it now with Denise so hostile. With her chest tight, Carly headed for the front door. Denise opened it and stepped back. A jet roared in the distance, its engines whining into a vibration that shook the entire house. Penny shrieked and covered her ears.

Denise hurried to her side and hugged her. “It's just an airplane, sweetheart. You'll get used to it.”

Carly hoped so, but as she closed the door, the picture of Penny pressing her hands to her ears stayed with her. So did the knowledge that she'd given Denise a new reason to criticize Ryan. Carly needed to tell him about Denise's accusation, a prospect she dreaded down to her toes, and something she needed to do quickly in case he wanted to call Denise himself.

Instead of going home, she drove straight to Pacific Eye Associates. By the time she arrived, Ryan would be done with his last patient. She could speak to him in his office, then go shopping or get coffee or walk on the beach,
anywhere
but to his house after what promised to be an awkward conversation.

When Ryan finished with his last patient, he went to his office to finish making notes in the computer. It was better than dictating, but he disliked the chore, especially now that he looked forward to being home for dinner. He was in the middle of the fourth report when Fran's voice came over the intercom.

“Carly's here. Shall I send her back?”

“Yes, please.” This was her first visit to the practice, and he wondered if there was trouble with one of the kids. He shoved out of the chair and met her in the hallway.

Her rueful expression put his mind at ease. What she had to say wasn't a matter of life or death. Maybe she'd dented the van. “What's up?” he asked, indicating she should step into his office.

She crossed the threshold, took in the big desk and the art on the walls, but stayed on her feet. “I'll only be a minute. I have to tell you about my conversation with Denise. It was mildly crazy.”

“Just mildly?”

“More than mildly.” She gave a mock shudder. “I can't believe I let her get to me, but you know how she is.”

“All too well.” She'd stopped texting him with exclamation points since moving, but he felt even more like that bug under a microscope. “If you told her off, I'll give you a raise.”

“I tried.”

“So what happened?”

Carly winced in that sweet way of hers. “This is a bit awkward, but—”

His desk phone gave two short rings, a signal from Fran. “I better take it,” he said as he hit the speaker button. “Yes?”

“Sorry to interrupt, but a drug rep needs a signature.”

“I'll be there in a minute.” He turned back to Carly. “Maybe we should get out of here after I see the rep. It's going to be one thing after another.”

She glanced at his desk loaded with mail and files, then at the computer monitor that promised even more work. “I guess we can finish at home.”

Ryan had a better idea. “Eric's with Nathan, right?”

“Yes, for a sleepover.”

“Penny's gone and Kyle's hanging out with Taylor. Let's have dinner out for a change.”

While Carly gnawed on her lip, his phone rang again. This time he ignored it. “What do you say?”

“I was going to run some errands.”

“Could it wait?”

A long silence hung in the air. “I guess, but don't you have a lot to do?”

“There's nothing urgent. Just the drug rep, and that'll take a minute.”

Her nose wrinkled in a way that reminded him of a rabbit pondering the way to escape a coyote. “Okay,” she finally said.

“How about a tour before you go?” He enjoyed sharing what he did.

“Sure. I'd like that.”

Mindful of the drug rep, he put on his jacket, turned off the light, and headed for the closet holding samples. With Carly next to him, he gave the rep one minute to give him the spiel, signed the man's tablet, then motioned for Carly to follow him down a corridor decorated with lithographs by a local artist.