Seventeen

 

 

 

 

 

Naomi had never fixed a turkey dinner before in her life for this many people. Her go-to person for tips had to be Jordan, the quintessential B&B owner who probably could cook with her eyes closed. That’s why Naomi found herself starting her Wednesday morning at Promise Cove trailing Jordan around the kitchen, watching her every move, even taking notes.

But that wasn’t the only reason she was there. “I need to talk to you. I’ve done something sort of crazy. I need you to tell me I did the right thing.”

“Why me?”

“You don’t know? When I stayed here during my initial interview, you were magic. You were a wonder to me. You reminded me of hearth and home, everything I wanted to be but didn’t have the courage to do at the time.”

Naomi stopped gushing long enough to take a deep breath and let it out a little at a time. “You probably heard that I took in the runaway Brent found at the lighthouse.”

“Sure. Everyone’s heard. No one understands how a child could fall through the cracks like that.”

“Right. Well, I took in another one. This time a five-year-old. Her name’s Maddie by the way. Her mother died Monday morning after a long battle with cancer. Maddie didn’t have anywhere else to go. I’m afraid Nick might think this will affect my job, but it won’t. I need to make him understand that come Monday morning, I’ll be at my desk just like before.”

“You actually believe Nick would punish you for taking in children? Not only is that against the law, it’s absurd. And it’s callous, something Nick has never been since I’ve known him.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it. But that’s the reason I’m here, underfoot, rambling on like this. Mothers get harangued all the time for taking off work for their kids. I don’t want to let Nick down, but these girls, they need somebody to be there for them. Me, Jordan. They need me.”

“Where are they now?”

“Colt took them to work with him. They’re helping Drea in the shop.”

“You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I mean, I just started this job. I just bought a house. I don’t want to lose my career and then lose my house. It’s a valid concern.”

Jordan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I get it now. Come Monday morning, if the girls aren’t in school…you’ll need to stay home with them. You’re starting to panic.”

“A lot. Carla assures me I’ll get to register them.”

“Okay. Then sometime before Monday, arrange for after school care at the church. Alert Ophelia or one of the others that you’ll be adding two more to their rosters. And stop worrying. There are all different kinds of moms out there, including foster moms. Believe me, you’ll do fine. Down the road, Nick will be the least of your worries.”

With that said, Jordan turned to the stove. “If it’s tips about fixing a turkey you want, grab your notebook. I’ll go over the easiest way to make gravy. Because at some point, Naomi, you have to start your side dishes today.”

“The day before?”

“Yes. You need to get as many dishes ready in advance, so you aren’t overwhelmed tomorrow. Sweet potatoes are easy to make up ahead of time. And the stuffing. You can whip the mashed potatoes the day of, same with the green bean casserole and rolls.”

Naomi’s head started spinning. “That’s a lot to do in one twenty-four-hour period.”

“You think that’s a lot? Try getting two kids out the door for school, every single morning, five days a week, for ten months out of the year.”

 

 

Colt had never seen such chaos. The kitchen he’d so painstakingly put together resembled a war zone. Perfection no longer existed. The counters were a mess, piled high with a variety of food from every level of the pyramid.

The girls had parked themselves at the counter on brand-new barstools to help with the cooking. While Naomi sliced and diced celery and onion for the stuffing, Tibby offered up advice on how to make her mom’s cornbread dressing. Even now, Tibby sat in front of a huge bowl crumbling up cornbread that looked way too dry. “You put chicken broth in it to make it moist.”

Colt leaned over to look. “If you say so.”

Maddie, on the other hand, sat next to Tibby counting out marshmallows that would go on top of the sweet potatoes, but she kept losing count. “Y’all are making me mess up.”

“There’s an easier way,” Colt suggested. “Just pile as many as you can on top, forget about counting.”

Maddie’s eyes brightened. “’Kay. Will you help? I’m not supposed to touch the pan. It might be too hot.”

Colt surveyed the situation. “Ah. Yeah. That would be a problem. We’ll do it together.”

Across the island, Naomi tossed the veggies into the bowl of cornbread. “I have it from a reliable source that Longboard Pizza put in a soft-serve ice cream machine last weekend.”

“Ice cream!” Maddie yelled. “Can we get some? Can we?”

Being around kids for two days, Colt had become accustomed to only two volumes. Low muttering when they thought they were in trouble. And loud when they were excited about something…anything at all really. It might be a movie. Anything on TV could easily bring on a series of squealing. Or anything scary. He’d learned girls went full volume on scary, without any shame at all.

“So, ice cream after supper?” Colt prompted. “I could meet you guys there. Because I have to get Merlin back home to Simon.”

“Oh, but I don’t want Merlin to go,” Tibby bemoaned.

“You’ll still have Deke.”

“I like Deke!” Maddie shrieked, scrambling down off the stool to prove it. She left the marshmallow project, bypassed Merlin and ran over to where Deke had curled up in the corner to take a nap. The girl got down on all fours and used him for a pillow.

Poor Deke, thought Colt, as he checked his cell phone for a message from Simon. His plane was due to land in twenty minutes. “Amid all this mess, what’s for dinner?”

Tibby spoke up, “Our pre-Thanksgiving meal is homemade burgers. I already helped Naomi make the patties. They’re in the fridge until we’re ready for them. Wish we had a grill…”

Colt traded knowing looks with Naomi. One girl liked to talk. Tibby’s endless chatter might be less about bravado and more about cold-stone fear. The girl was scared to death of being sent back to wherever she came from. The other handled her grief by curling up in the corner with the dog.

Later over burgers, Naomi got bold. “Maddie, when’s your birthday?”

“March. Three. One.” She held up three fingers on her right hand and one on the left.

“March thirty-first. Aries. Invincible Aries. Warmhearted, like me. Color red, the ram. Great. Mine’s August tenth. I’m Leo. Colt, when’s your birthday?”

Colt knew what she was doing, so he played along. “December tenth.”

“Oh, my God, you’re almost a birthday boy. You’re Sagittarius, generous to a fault, with a great sense of humor. Now your turn, Tibby. When’s your birthday? It’s okay to answer. I promise you we won’t be able to do anything with that little tidbit.”

“It’s just a game, Tibby,” Colt added. “When’s your birthday?”

Tibby put her elbows on the table. Keeping her eyes on her plate, she shifted in her chair. “Do I have to say?”

“It’s just a game,” Naomi repeated.

“July. Twenty-fifth. I already know I’m a Leo. I looked it up.”

“Awesome. Born on the cusp of oscillation, right there on the border line between Cancer and Leo. Wow. Proud and brave. Warriors. Hear that, Colt. We’re three strong female warriors.”

Colt held up his hand. “High fives all around.”

Everyone slapped hands, the gesture taking some pressure off Tibby. The girl even seemed to breathe a little easier knowing she’d let out one tiny secret without immediate dire consequences.

Although the girl still looked concerned while everyone pitched in to clear the table. Colt leaned down to Tibby and whispered in her ear, “Go get ice cream and stop worrying. No one’s running out to tattle on you because you gave up one fact about yourself. It’s okay.”

“I think about the other place and get sick to my stomach,” she said quietly.

“Then don’t think about it. You’re here now. They’ll have to come through me and Naomi to get you back. We’re a force. Warriors. Remember?”

Big tears formed in her eyes. “I hope you’re right, I really do.”

That statement rattled Colt. Maybe their best path was to hire a lawyer, just in case. He pulled Naomi aside and took her out on the porch to express his concerns.

She rubbed her temples trying to push away a headache brewing. “The only lawyer in town is Kinsey Donnelly. We should make an appointment. There’s so much to do, Colt. I’m having a hard time keeping up.”

“One step at a time. I’ll head out to take Merlin back and meet you at Longboard’s,” he muttered, planting a kiss on her mouth.

“We don’t get to do that enough, do we?”

“Nope, but then I’m biased. I’m in favor of doing a lot more than kissing.”

She forced out a laugh. “Colt?”

“What?’

“It makes me wonder, are we doing the right thing?”

“Take a look at Tibby’s face tonight when she thinks she might have to go back. There’s your answer.”

 

 

Colt pulled up in front of Simon’s cream and tan Craftsman as darkness descended. The porch light was on, which made Gilly easy to spot as she stood on the steps, waving him down.

He let Merlin out the passenger door, but the dog stuck close to him. “It’s okay, Merlin. You’re home now.”

Slowly the dog trotted up to Gilly.

“In case you were worried, your dog’s still alive. Not that Simon trusted me with him. He sent more than twenty text messages to make sure I knew what to do.”

“I know. I told him he needed to relax.”

“So how was Rhode Island?”

Gilly looped her arm through Colt’s. “I wish you’d been there. Turns out, I mentioned the cove to Simon and suggested the impromptu exchange of vows like you suggested. And he thought it was a terrific idea. So much so that we rounded up a group of people, including the kids, and Gretchen and John ended up acting as our witnesses. Colt, the entire day was amazing, the sun was out. The bay was beautiful as a backdrop. It was a little cold, but I didn’t feel a thing. I was too thrilled to care.”

“So, you’re Mrs. Simon Bremmer now.”

“It’s official,” Simon stated as he joined them on the porch. “Come on inside and grab a beer. Mom says to tell you hi.”

“Maybe some other time. I need to get going. I promised Naomi and the girls I’d meet them for ice cream.”

“Cord sent me an email about that.”

“About what? Me having ice cream?”

“The runaway on Monday. And just today about the other one.”

“Jeez, why don’t you guys just forego the pretense and sit with the other old men down at the diner to spew gossip.”

Gilly found that hilarious. She hit Simon on the arm. “You two work this out. I’m headed to bed. Come on, Merlin. Let’s go get you settled for the night. Jayden and Delaney missed you.”

After his wife left them alone, Simon moved closer. “What the hell’s gotten into you while I was gone?”

“Like you said, nothing stays the same.”

“Did I say that?”

“Yeah.”

“Well I was talking about relationships as a whole, in theory, and not about taking in a passel of kids.”

Colt narrowed his eyes. “So far, Naomi’s the one who’s done all the work. I’ve just been in a support role. But tell me this. How is what Naomi’s doing any different than you and Gilly joining forces, each with a kid, coming together to form a family?”

Simon flushed with discomfort. “Okay. So, it’s not that different. But…”

Colt stuck his hands in his pockets. “These kids needed a home just like Delaney did. The only difference is these girls don’t have parents out there somewhere that a lawyer can just do a drop and run.”

“Fair enough. It’s just that everybody thinks you’re such a tough guy, but they don’t know you like I do. Or like Cord does. You’re a pushover when it comes to kids. Always have been. Remember that black op we did where we came upon those kids in that little village? You remember? Their village had been scorched by Iraqi bombs. They didn’t have anything to eat. You totally turned to mush and insisted on leaving them our supply of MREs.”

“We weren’t at war with a bunch of kids. So, what’s your point?”

Simon scratched the side of his jaw and plopped down on the steps. “Damned if I know. It’s…I’m trying to look out for you, like you looked out for me once upon a time.”

“Cut it out. I mean it. I’m no longer that country bumpkin that just wandered in from a dirt farm.”

Simon held up his hands. “Okay, I get the picture. But kids are forever. There’s no messing up and getting a do-over. It’s hard, harder than you could ever imagine. I just don’t want you getting roped into anything you aren’t fully prepared to take on.”

“You really do think I’m a total screw-up, don’t you? You must think I’m incapable of forming my own thoughts. I’m just some guy who’s pliable, who’s incapable of establishing a relationship with anyone without being taken advantage of, that’s how you see me.”

“No, I don’t. But you do have a tendency to jump headlong into trouble.”

“Screw you,” Colt said as he walked to his truck.

Simon followed. “I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you. I’m just trying to return the favor.”

“No need,” Colt cautioned as he cranked up the engine. “If you’re talking about Kandahar, forget it. I was doing my job, keeping a raw recruit alive so he wouldn’t melt under pressure. You just happened to be that guy.”

Colt stepped on the gas and took off, leaving Simon standing in the middle of the street with his mouth agape.

 

 

That night he made his bed on Naomi’s sofa. The girls made a big production out of getting ready for bed. But they were wired from the ice cream cones. Or maybe they were just wired because they’d been jumping up and down on the bed.

Naomi rounded from the hallway into the living room. “Colt, maybe you can get them to settle down. I’ve tried reading Maddie a story, getting Tibby to read the story. But neither one is winding down. Now they’re arguing over who gets to sleep with Deke.”

“I’d be winging it,” he admitted.

Maddie let out a blood-curdling scream that sounded like she’d just been put on the torture rack.

“Oh, for God’s sake.” He marched down the hallway to the girls’ bedroom door and knocked before bursting in. He spotted Deke huddling in the corner. “What’s going on in here? You’re scaring the dog.”

Maddie rubbed her eyes. “Tibby stole Gertie.”

“Who is Gertie?”

“My unicorn.”

“I didn’t steal it,” Tibby said. “Deke and I were just playing tug-of-war with it.”

Colt put his hands on his hips. “Give Maddie back her unicorn. Now. Both of you get into bed and go to sleep and stop all this screaming.”

“Aren’t you gonna kiss me goodnight?” Maddie asked sweetly, a pout on her lips.

Colt leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. He glanced over at Tibby. “You need a goodnight kiss, too?”

The girl made a face. “I’m too old for that kind of stuff.”

“Suit yourself. I’m turning out the light now.” He flicked off the overhead light and heard Maddie let out another shriek.

“It’s too dark!”

“You’re kidding?” Colt lamented. “Tibby’s right next to you and Deke is here to protect you. What if we leave the hall light on?”

Maddie shook her head. “I need my night light on or Gertie gets scared.”

“I’ll be right back.” Colt trudged down the hallway to the living room where Naomi sat going over her notes on how to cook the perfect turkey. “You wouldn’t by any chance have a night light, would you?”

“No, but I have a flashlight. Why?”

He explained Maddie’s fear of the dark. “I could go get one at Ferguson’s.”

“They’ve closed for the night. It’ll have to be the flashlight.”

Colt went to the hall tree and dug around in an inside jacket pocket. He brought out a skinny device that looked like a pen. “I’ll give her this. I always have it with me for emergencies.”

He went back into the bedroom with his penlight prepared to play hero, but instead found the girls sound asleep. Maddie had her head snuggled up against Deke on her half of the bed. Tibby had abandoned the sleeping bag for the empty space next to the pooch. She’d curled into the dog, her arm outstretched around the younger girl.

“Kids,” he muttered and backed out only to bump into Naomi.

“Situation normal,” she uttered, taking his hand in hers. “Let’s go to bed, Colt. No couch for you tonight.”

“Don’t kid around.”

“Who’s kidding? I need you tonight.”