Kitabı oku: «Mommy in Training», sayfa 3

“You know what? I wouldn’t put it past her to stay out later than you!”

“Me, neither. That woman’s phone rings more than any teenager’s.”

After another hour, Lane went on his way and Matt stood alone, watching the trucks come and go and thinking for the first time that maybe Lane had gotten it all wrong. All this time, he’d been thinking how good it was to be in Crescent View because it felt familiar and like the only real home he’d known.

But as he thought of Wanda’s upcoming move to the retirement condo, the changes that SavNGo would bring, as well as his move back to Crescent View, maybe the opposite was true. Maybe nothing stayed the same. Maybe nothing ever did.

And if that was the case, Matt wondered what he was going to end up holding on to when he finally decided to trust someone besides Wanda Wyzecki.

Chapter Six

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful with yet another argument. Minnie was beginning to think that the sun wouldn’t come out without a whole lot of fussing from a certain curly-haired five-year-old. “You’ve got to come out of the bathroom sooner or later,” Minnie called out from her side of the door. “There’s no food in there.”

“I don’t care. I don’t wanna go to church.”

They’d already gone through this. Several times. “You don’t have a choice. It’s what we do on Sundays. Besides, last week you said you had fun.”

“I don’t remember sayin’ that.”

“I do. Come on, I bet some of those girls can’t wait to say hi.”

A pause lasted just long enough for Minnie to think she had won. Then all reason went out the window. “George should be able to go, too. I don’t want to leave him here.”

“Guinea pigs can’t go to Sunday school. You know that.”

“Then I’m gonna stay here, too. I want to be with George.”

Minnie tried the door handle one more time. Shoot, it was still locked. And because she was tired and frazzled and sick to death of trying to do her best, even when she didn’t know what that was, she snapped. “Kimber, if you don’t start listening, George is going to have to leave us and go to another home. The home of a little girl who minds.”

“Nooo!”

The scream and the wails that followed on its heels made Minnie feel like the Wicked Witch of the West.

And, the worst of all things, a liar. Minnie didn’t think she’d ever be able to actually give away that silly little guinea pig. George was pudgy and cute and almost cuddly.

Minnie supposed this was what she got for giving in to Kimber’s constant request for a pet. In a moment of true weakness, she’d bought the fifteen-dollar guinea pig and forty dollars’ worth of guinea pig supplies.

Kimber loved him, and that made Minnie happy. But after finally receiving what she wanted, Kimber had moved on to the next item on her willful agenda.

“Kimber, you’re going to have to learn to leave George home sometimes. He needs his sleep and you need to be with your friends. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t have any friends at church.”

No, she didn’t. And that’s why she needed to keep going to Sunday school. The teacher had confided that after a rough beginning, things were finally on an upward swing. Minnie was about to deliver yet another ultimatum when Kimber shouted, “There’s Matt! Hi, Matt!” Minnie heard a creak and a groan as the bathroom window slowly slid upward. “Hi, Matt! You coming over?”

His voice echoed through the crack below the door. “Maybe.”

“Please come over. Now. Minnie’s being so mean.”

“I find that hard to believe. Your Aunt Minnie’s about the sweetest person I know.”

“Not today she’s not.”

Minnie heard Matt’s boots on the front porch. Great. Just who she needed to see…the other person in her life who was attempting to drive her crazy.

After knocking a few times, Matt turned the knob and peeked in. “Minnie, how you doing?”

She leaned against the wall. “About how you might expect.”

“She wearing you out?” Minnie felt his eyes roam over her for a second before meeting her gaze. “Can I help?”

Her insides warred. She wanted some reinforcement, but she didn’t want Matt…did she? When Kimber kicked something in the bathroom, the offer of assistance won out. “Maybe. We’re in the midst of yet another battle. I seem to be losing.” Again.

His lips twitched, telling Minnie that her Kimber problems were not a surprise. “What’s this one about?”

“Sunday school, her lack of friends and one pudgy orange guinea pig.” A little more loudly, Minnie said, “Kimber, you’re about to be in a heap of trouble, and once more, Matt’s going to see you be in it.”

“You’re in trouble, too. I don’t like you, Aunt Minnie.”

Words from a fuming five-year-old weren’t supposed to hurt so much, but they did. Minnie closed her eyes to keep from reacting in front of Matt.

But obviously she wasn’t doing a very good job. “Hey,” he murmured, stepping a little closer. Close enough for Minnie to smell his aftershave and see the faint shadow of his beard. With the edge of a callused thumb, he gently brushed a wayward tear from her cheek. “It’s going to be okay.”

Even though she didn’t like him—Correction. Even though she didn’t want to like him, Minnie accepted his touch. “I know. I’m just tired of constantly battling.”

“One day, Kimber will be tired of it, too.”

“Promise?”

“I’ve been where she is, more or less. I promise.” After treating Minnie to one more reassuring smile, Matt stepped over to the door, rapped a knuckle against the wood and deepened his voice. “Kimber, I heard every mean word you’ve been saying, and I have to tell you, I’m kind of shocked. Little ladies don’t speak to their elders that way.”

After a pause, Kimber answered. “They don’t?” Her voice was small and insecure.

“No, they don’t. Nice girls remember how to listen and say yes, ma’am. Especially with people who love them.”

“But Minnie’s going to take George away.”

“George?”

“The guinea pig,” Minnie provided.

Matt’s blue eyes danced for a moment before he knocked on the door again. “Open up this door. If you still have that window open, I bet George is about to have heat stroke.”

One minute later, the lock clicked and the knob turned. Out peered a very flushed and freckled face. “I’m going to come out now.”

Matt crossed his arms. “It’s about time.”

Face all splotchy, Kimber stepped out, holding a cage tightly. “Minnie, are ya really going to send George away?”

“I should.”

Kimber pulled on Matt’s cuff. “Tell her no.”

“Why do you think I should say that?”

“Because Minnie likes you.”

Minnie felt her cheeks heat. “Don’t bring Matt into this.”

Kimber puffed up her chest like a medieval warrior. “But Matt, don’t you see—”

Matt looked tempted. But then he shook his head. “You’re making us late.”

“Are you going to church, too?”

“I am.”

“Really? Why?”

“Learn to be agreeable, Kimber.” Minnie felt her control on the situation slipping, which was actually pretty laughable, because she really didn’t have any control at all. She didn’t know what she was doing with Kimber. She didn’t know how to act around Matt Madigan.

Before Kimber and Matt had come back into her life, she’d thought she’d had everything she could handle with Carried Away.

Which just went to show what happened when you started thinking that everything was going to be just fine. Trouble came along. In spades.

Kimber was back to fighting about church. “I don’t wanna go. I never get to do what I wanna do.”

Minnie stifled a moan. Did that statement come from sheer willfulness and disappointment at their current argument, or was she speaking of other things? Like the fact that she’d been moved across the country and was still having to adjust to new people, new faces and new rules?

Kimber wasn’t spoiled, but she definitely had a stubborn streak, not unlike Paige’s. Added to the mix was the fact that she was still grieving. It sometimes made the simplest of decisions major battles.

And because the counselors had said that the best thing for dealing with losses like that was a firm, steady hand, Minnie did her best to be that way. “Kimber, we’re not going through this again. Say goodbye to Matt and go put George down.”

“But—”

“Or I’m going to pick up the phone and start calling everyone I know who might want him.”

After glaring at Minnie, Kimber looked sorrowfully Matt’s way. “Bye, Matt.”

“Bye, Kimber.” As the little girl marched to her room, Matt glanced at Minnie. Now that they were alone, she once again felt the tension that seemed to sizzle between them, just under the surface. “You going to be all right?”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks for your help.”

“No problem, Min. No problem at all.”

MATT HAD JUST SETTLED into the back pew and picked up a hymnal when his cell phone started vibrating. Quickly he fished it out of his pocket and noticed that it was Ben Lambright, the vice president of finance at SavNGo. This call had to be taken.

With a couple of nods in the direction of the folks around him, none looking too pleased that he was getting up and leaving before the service had even started, he moved to the entryway and answered. “Madigan.”

“Hi, Matt. Sorry to bother you on a Sunday. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”

With another nod toward the people entering, Matt pushed open the wide oak doors and trotted out to the parking lot, the bright sun blinding him as he did. “Not at all, Ben.” After all, if a guy at his level in the company was working on a Sunday morning, Matt couldn’t very well say he didn’t want to work either. Could he? “How may I help you?”

“I’ve got some bad news. Second-quarter earnings are about to be announced. They’re not good, Matt.” He paused. “I’ve been told to tell you that we’re going to need to rebid all the subcontractors for Store 35.”

Matt had been through this before. Although the chain was huge, the board and financial officers watched every transaction like a hawk. Two years ago in Arkansas, they’d had to rebid, too. But in Arkansas, he hadn’t known a lot of the subcontractors. Asking people to rebid had just been business. This felt vastly different. “All of them?”

Papers shuffled in the background. “All the contracts that haven’t begun. You know the drill, Matt. Explain the situation and tell them they’re going to have to rebid.”

“But—”

“They’ll do it, they always do. Cement poured yet?”

“It’s scheduled for end of next week.”

“Keep the cement contractors, but tell everyone else that we need lower bids, pronto.”

“Yes. All right.” Matt’s shoulders slumped. He’d fought like hell to get Store 35 built in Crescent View.

“It’s going to be busy. I appreciate your extra time on this, Matt. You’ve got quite a reputation of sticking to budget and getting things done the way we want them. I know you’ll meet our expectations for Store 35, as well.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” After a few words about baseball, they hung up. Matt slumped against his truck, deflated.

Nearby, a car zipped into the parking lot and a couple hurriedly unbuckled and then ran into the building, just as the faint hum of the organ and church choir started drifting his way. Folding his arms across his chest, Matt figured his spot outside felt somewhat typical. Once again, he was standing on the outside, looking in.

He’d brought the supercenter to town as a way of trying to do good. Of trying to show everyone that he was worth something. He’d contracted friends of his and local businesses, in an effort to spark the local economy and fire up hope in everyone.

Now he would have to tell Lane that he was going to have to rebid, and most likely wouldn’t have near the money he’d planned to have in the bank. His journey into the community’s good graces was about to get bumpy.

In fact, the only saving grace seemed to be Kimber, who came over to visit Wanda a lot, and therefore him. Little Kimber who liked him but was so fragile, her moods were mercurial and ever changing.

Kind of like his, come to think of it. More often than not, Matt found himself rethinking every decision these days. He wanted to do the right thing for SavNGo. He wanted to do the right thing for Wanda.

But he also wanted to show everybody that he was just as successful and worthy as they thought he was. Even though inside he didn’t feel worthy at all…just a fake.

And then there was the whole Minnie thing. He found her attractive. He found himself thinking about her at odd times, in the middle of the night. Or in the morning, when he had a cup of coffee outside by Wanda’s pool.

He wondered about his attraction to Paige’s little sister. Was it because she reminded him of Paige?

Or because she was a link to the past?

Or because he felt bad that the store he’d pushed into Crescent View was going to put her business in jeopardy?

Or was it none of those things? Was he merely attracted to her because she touched something in him that made him feel valued and good inside, and worth more than his dad had ever guessed? He wanted her to need him. He wanted to be her protector.

Minnie Clark, the darling of the neighborhood, her family and the town, still seemed so alone.

Was he the only one who thought that was strange?

Chapter Seven

It was Back to School Night. A whole week had passed since the first day of school. And, like the Texas summers that hung with tenacity through August, Minnie felt as though her efforts to get a handle on things were never ending.

With a frown, she tossed yet another sweater set and skirt on the bed and looked down at it. She needed to figure out why she was so nervous and change her attitude, fast. It wouldn’t do for Kimber to get a whiff of her vibe. She’d be sure to catch it and adopt a bad case of the shakes, too. Just like the flu.

She knew what was wrong. Plain and simple, Minnie was nervous about being a parent and doing parent things. Hmm. Funny how knowing what the matter was didn’t help things in the slightest.

Kimber rolled in with a stuffed bear. “Whatcha doin’?” she asked, hopping up on the rumpled bedspread.

“Trying to get ready to meet Mrs. Strickland.”

“She’s nice.”

Forcing a smile, Minnie said, “I’m anxious to meet her. She’s going to tell me all about what you’ve been doing at school. I want to hear about your progress.”

Kimber looked away before speaking. “I wrote my name and made a book.”

“Yes, I know. You told me about it. I can’t wait to read it.”

With a purse of her lips, Kimber nodded. “Mrs. Strickland told me it was okay.”

There was something going on that she wasn’t hearing. With some worry, Minnie wondered if maybe she was going to get a big surprise. Then, just as quickly, she put all those worries from her mind. It was kindergarten, not high school. Mrs. Strickland was probably going to tell Minnie how Kimber needed to learn to tie her shoes!

“What color sweater do you think I should wear?”

“Blue.”

She picked up the set. “Okay. Any special reason you like this one the best?”

“Matt has blue eyes. Daddy did, too.”

“Even though you have your mom’s pretty brown eyes, I’ll wear blue.”

They heard a knock on the front door, and Minnie glanced at her digital bedroom clock. “I bet that’s Grandpa. He’s coming over to watch you.”

“Is Matt coming over, too? He still hasn’t played with George.”

“I don’t think so.”

Kimber’s chin tilted up. “How come he never comes over? I only see him when you let me visit with Mrs. Wy.”

“I’m sure Matt’s been busy. He’s got a real important job.” And he hadn’t been invited, Minnie privately added. She did not want to see him. No matter how hard she’d tried to fight it, the plain and simple truth was that she still had a crush on Matt Madigan, and he still made her feel all nervous and silly inside.

And resentful.

“I wish he would come over.”

“Well, we don’t always get what we wish for.” Before Kimber could spout off about that, Minnie pointed to the hall. “Go open the door, would you? Grandpa’s going to think we’re not home.”

Kimber went. Within seconds, her father’s roaring voice flew down the hall. “You’re going to be late if you don’t get a move on, Minerva.”

“I’m working on it.”

Quickly she slipped on the blue sweater set—for Kimber, not Matt—and grabbed her purse.

Minutes later, she gave her dad a hug. “Thanks for coming over. I really appreciate it.”

He patted Kimber on the head. “No trouble being with my best girl.”

Kimber puffed out her chest. “That’s me.”

Minnie and her dad shared a bittersweet smile. “Best girl” had been Paige’s pet name. “I know it is, honey.”

The frantic squeaking of George spurred Kimber into action. “George needs me!”

When they were alone, her dad clapped his hands. “Any directions?”

Her dad could take care of a roomful of kids with his eyes closed. He’d been a great father, and he always seemed to do everything with just enough humor that even the hardest task never seemed insurmountable.

“No, no directions. You know what to do, Dad.”

“It’s been a while. How about a refresher?”

“All right. Let’s see. Bedtime is at eight. Kimber will try to talk her way out of it, but don’t give in. Five minutes never works with her, it always morphs into twenty then thirty then a meltdown. Be sure and watch George. He’s chubby but fast. And wily. He can move faster than you’d ever believe.”

“Watch the pig. Got it.”

“Hmm. Oh. For bedtime, Kimber likes to read Corduroy, and she likes to say prayers.”

Which brought up something she should have realized her dad would need to be warned about. “She likes to pray for Paige and Jeremy. Then she likes to hear stories about Paige. Sometimes that, uh, takes a while.”

Eyes sobering, he whispered, “You’ve been doing this every night?”

Minnie hoped her shaky bottom lip wouldn’t betray her. “Yeah.”

Giving her a hug, he said, “You’re a pretty good mom, Minnie.”

That stopped her in her tracks. “You think?”

“I do. Didn’t you hear yourself? You know everything that little girl needs, and you’re getting it done.”

“Thanks.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Of course, you won’t get much done if you’re late.”

And with that, she ran out the door. It wouldn’t do to be late for school.

“SO YOU SEE, Ms. Clark, Kimber’s a child in crisis,” Mrs. Strickland said.

Minnie’s hands shook as she once again fingered her niece’s book. She’d written one, all right. Wrote a book all about how everyone she loved was dead and in heaven. It had broken her heart, until she saw the pictures of Matt.

Kimber really liked Matt Madigan.

Aunt Minnie hadn’t been mentioned at all.

Minnie felt defensive even though she knew Mrs. Strickland had good intentions. “Kimber went to a counselor for a while. When she said Kimber just needed time, I assumed we were okay.”

“Well, I don’t know if that’s the case. She’s behind in everything. She doesn’t know her alphabet, and she can’t count past ten. She has a hard time sharing and isn’t making friends easily. I’m so glad you had time to visit us tonight.”

Minnie narrowed her eyes. Glad she had time? If Minnie had known that all this was happening—and she hadn’t—she would have been a lot more involved.

A lot more.

Actually from the moment she’d arrived at the open house, she’d felt out of the loop. While other parents seemed to know each other, she felt conspicuously left out. When she heard about soccer teams and Brownies, Minnie realized that she hadn’t done a real good job of getting Kimber involved socially.

Though she was just a little girl.

Then when she was asked to stay after and talk, Minnie’s heart had fallen, feeling once again she wasn’t quite doing everything right.

The conversation they were having wasn’t helping much, either. “As you know, Kimber hasn’t been living with me very long. Just a little over seven months. She’s been through a lot.”

“And I can appreciate that. However, I have to tell you that no matter what her circumstances are, it’s my responsibility to ensure that she learns everything she needs to. Already I’m having serious concerns about whether or not she’s ready for our rigorous pace.” She paused. “Maybe, Ms. Clark, you’d like to think about putting her in a pre-K program and having her in kindergarten next year?”

“There’s only been a week of school. Kimber’s a bright girl.”

“That may be so, but she’s really struggling.”

“I can’t pull her out of this classroom. It would be devastating.”

“So would keeping her in a place where she’s unable to keep up. It’s not fair to make her struggle, do you think?”

Minnie didn’t know what to think. “How about I’ll talk to Kimber about her schoolwork and study her alphabet and counting some more? Then we can plan to talk again in two or three weeks.”

Mrs. Strickland closed Kimber’s work folder with a snap. “Well, you are the guardian. I’ll let you make the decisions now…if that’s what you want.”

Guardian. Not parent. “It is.”

Slowly Minnie exited the school, feeling every burden of the world on her shoulders. Her business was about to suffer some serious financial problems, she still felt an overwhelming, fierce ache whenever she thought about the loss of Paige. And now, here was new evidence that she wasn’t doing all that well with Kimber, either.

“You okay, Minnie?”

“I’m sorry?” The gal who spoke only looked vaguely familiar.

“Tracy Velasquez.” She held out a hand graced with an assortment of silver rings and bangles. “My Nanci is in Mrs. Strickland’s class, too.”

“I’m sorry,” Minnie wasn’t sure why she’d been approached. Had Kimber done something to Nanci? Or was she about to get a talking-to about her lack of involvement? “I know we’ve met before, but my mind was on something else.”

“I have a pretty good idea what. Did the iron lady get to you?”

The blunt language surprised a smile. “The iron lady? Is that what you call Mrs. Strickland?”

“Among other things.” With a knowing look, Tracy added, “Nanci is my third child. We’ve been through kindergarten before.”

“I’m completely overwhelmed. I didn’t know Kimber was supposed to be doing so much.”

“Kindergarten is a whole lot more rigorous now than it used to be, that’s a fact.”

Since she had nothing to lose, Minnie admitted, “There’s a chance I may have to pull Kimber and put her in another room. I think that’s going to be really tough.”

“Want some advice?”

“I want anything you can give me.”

Tracy grinned. “Oh, she did give you a hard time! Okay, here goes. First, Mrs. Strickland is an iron lady on the outside, but inside, she’s a marshmallow. So, if you disagree with her, don’t be afraid to speak up.”

“Okay.” Minnie felt a little better for insisting Kimber stay in the class.

“Next, she’s chewed on just about everyone I know in the ten years she’s been at the school. So don’t take her criticism personally.”

Minnie thought that might be harder to adhere to but agreed gamely.

“Finally, here’s the most important thing to remember. Mrs. Strickland really does love these kids. So all her words and such are meant in a good way.”

Minnie had a difficult time swallowing that. The teacher’s stern look and veiled—okay, maybe not so veiled—insinuation that she was doing the wrong thing for Kimber stung.

It had been as if Mrs. Strickland had known just where Minnie felt weakest and had gone in for the kill. “Anything else?”

Tracy shrugged. “Maybe…don’t worry so much?”

Minnie felt that worrying was her middle name. “That, I don’t know if I can do. But, hey, thanks for stopping and giving me these tips. You helped a lot.”

“You’re welcome. I know with your shop you can’t volunteer every week, but try to sign up for a party or something. You’ll like seeing the other kids, and you’ll meet a few moms. We’ve all made a vow to help each other as much as possible.”

Having a support system like that sounded terrific. “I’ll do that.”