31

 

Jarek’s lips parted to accept the grape as he pulled out of the shopping center.

“You know, if we keep eating them there won’t be any left for the fruit salad,” he mumbled.

“That’s why I bought a big bag. Mindy loves frozen grapes,” Cali said, squinting at her phone in the sun’s glare. “Are you sure you haven’t gotten a call?”

Digging his phone out of his pocket, he handed it over. She’d been like this all morning. Afraid they would miss Mindy’s call at the gun range, she had insisted on placing both devices on the counter where she could see if they lit up. Since then, she had checked her phone every two or three minutes while they picked up groceries.

“The text this morning said that they would call after they got done with the interviews.”

“Then I’m sure they will.”

“What could be taking so long?”

“Bureaucracy and paperwork?”  

Cali sighed, slumping lower in the seat. “I’m just starting to get my life together. I don’t know if I can handle being responsible for another one.”

He opened his mouth but she wasn’t done.

“Part of me keeps thinking, look at Nat. She has two kids and she’s only two years older than I am.” She ran her fingers through her hair and bounced the back of her head off the seat. “Then I think about some of the stupid shit she does. What is that going to do to the kids when they get old enough to understand?”   

Jarek kept his mouth closed on that one. She had it covered.

“Mindy is at a critical age. She’s already been through so much, seen so much shit. Do I know how to deal with that? What if I don’t have the right answers? Shit. Am I even strong enough to be a mom? If I had stood up to Benny, this wouldn’t have happened to her.”

“I’m not trying to trivialize what Mindy went through, but you and I both know it could have been a lot worse. On top of that, she knew where to run,” he said, shooting a glance her way. “That’s more than you had. When the bullshit started, you were a kid with no one to help you.”

“That’s not an excuse.”

“Maybe not. But it’s the truth.”

Cali shook her head, turning toward the window.

“You need to cut yourself some slack. You told Mindy that day in front of the Johnson’s house that you were still trying to figure out how to take care of yourself. There’s no shame in that. You’re eighteen years old.”

“Nineteen in a couple of weeks.”

He smiled. How had he known she would say that?

“I’m four years older than you and I’m still figuring things out.”

“Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job of it,” she muttered as the garage door slid up.

“Slowly, but surely. You need to give yourself time.”

“Is this about you getting some?” she asked, shooting him a disgusted look. “Are you afraid if Mindy’s around that you won’t get laid?”

“No. This isn’t about me. It’s about your biting off more than you can chew.”

“So, if DCFS will approve me, and we can pass a home inspection, you would be cool with that?”   

Admiring the way her eyes flashed in challenge, he bit back the words on his tongue. It would just make him the bad guy. “She could have your room. It’s finished. And we could work on the upstairs.”

“I would pay more rent and help with the other bills.”

Nodding, he got out of the Jeep and walked around to the back to start retrieving groceries. He could feel her uncertain gaze on him as she waited for him to hand things down so she didn’t have to climb up on the bumper.

“Would it change things with us?”

Letting go of the plastic bags, he turned around to sit on the bumper, putting them eye-to-eye.

“You think that I’m going to stop loving you because you want to take care of your little sister?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then I don’t understand the question.”

Blowing out a sigh, she released her fiery hair from the sloppy ponytail and reworked it into a knot on top of her head. He could see the wheels turning as she stalled.

“I don’t know. Maybe. I come with a lot of baggage as it is without adding in a kid,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

Hooking a finger in her belt loop, he tugged her to stand between his knees.

“It’s been well established that we both have pasts that come with issues and ghosts. That’s why we work.”

Cali looked up at him, searching his face for any bullshit. “You said strays have to stick together,” she said softly. “Can’t that include Mindy?”

“Sure. The minion can be part of the pack,” he said, pulling her even closer for a kiss.

“Really?”

“Really,” he said, not able to hold back a small smile at the hope in her voice. He was not going to be the one to crush that.

She leaned in for another kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you too, babe.”

“We better get the cold stuff inside,” she said, dragging her gaze away from his with obvious reluctance.

Dragging his thoughts from the gutter, he turned back to the task at hand. Tailgate or work bench, garage sex was in their future. Handing a few bags to her, he gathered the rest and followed her to the house.

“Go ahead and start your fruit salad so we can put it in the freezer. I’ll put the rest of this away.”

“Some woman is going to be really lucky to snag you, Jarek Kaminski. I hope it’s me,” she said, pinching his butt on the way past.

“You’re stuck with me now.”

“I’m not sure which one of us is stuck.”

“As long as we’re together, who cares?”

 

 

Cali jumped up from the couch when the doorbell rang. Turning off the TV, he dropped the remote on the ottoman tray and followed. Cali and Mindy were locked in a hug while his mom and Tia stood in the doorway watching with twin expressions of understanding. He waved the women in. Dropping a kiss on top of his mom’s head, he closed the door behind them.

“I’m glad that you could come, Tia. I want to pick your brain on some of the home inspection rules,” Cali said, finally stepping back from her little sister. 

His mom shot a quick glance his way. Jarek gave her the barest of head shakes. As much as he liked Tia, he was throwing her under the bus. Let her be the one to break Cali’s heart. He’d pick up the pieces. He wrapped an arm around his mom’s shoulders as Mia followed the sisters into the living room listening to Cali’s concerns about the house renovation. Mindy skipped backward in front of them.  

“Wouldn’t it have been easier coming from you?” his mom asked from the corner of her mouth.

He shook his head firmly. “If I say it, then I’m the asshole that doesn’t want to take on a kid or share Cali. I love her, Mom. I don’t want to screw this up.”

She reached up and squeezed the hand dangling over her shoulder. “I couldn’t be happier that you’ve found someone that makes you happy. But, a little warning for Tia might have been nice. I told her you knew.”

He winced. He might be the one going under the wheels anyway. As if hearing his thoughts, the DCFS manager looked over her shoulder at him. He tried for an apologetic and pathetic expression, praying she would take pity on him. Tia rolled her eyes.

“You and Jarek are making a beautiful home here,” she said, looking back down at Cali.

“Jarek had a lot of this done before I moved in. We finished the living and dining area together and the front entry. The upstairs has drywall up, it’s just a matter or mudding, sanding, and painting,” Cali said, waving her hand at the ceiling. “There’s a lot to do yet, but we’re both working and it will come. Or so my construction stud says.”

“If you can live with the construction then you’re doing it the smart way. I’ve seen a lot of people jump into renovation projects all in and run out of motivation or money and leave things a mess. Doing a little at a time as you can afford shows a lot of discipline and maturity.”

Cali flashed him a grin over her shoulder. He could hear her voice in his head. ‘You’ve got your shit together, Kaminski.’ He winked at her.

Stepping out onto the back deck, they both fussed getting their guests drinks. He couldn’t help wishing Tia would get it over with, but he didn’t have the guts to do it so he didn’t get to call the shots.

“My turn to talk!” Mindy said, bouncing on a lounge chair. “When I move to Florida I’m going to have my own room, and my own bathroom and a pool with a roof over it!”

Cali froze, staring blankly at the exuberant pre-teen.

“Can you imagine not sharing a room or a bathroom with anyone?” Mindy continued, flopping backward in the picture of bliss.

“Meg expressed a desire to foster Mindy,” Tia said softly. “I’ve been in contact with colleagues in Florida and have started the ball rolling. There are a lot of hoops to jump through with an out of state placement, but knowing Meg for as long as I have I’m confident that she is up to it.”

Jarek frowned at his mom, but she was looking at Cali.

“But I thought … I mean, Mindy wanted to stay with me,” Cali said, her voice strained. “Nothing against Mrs. Murphy, but I understand in a way she can’t.”

“No one is questioning the bond you two have or the fact that Mindy is going to need you, Cali. If you were older—”

“I’ll be nineteen in just a couple of weeks,” Cali interrupted.

“Twenty-one is the legal age to be a foster parent. I’m sorry, Cali.”

“You’re sending her all the way to Florida. You can’t make an exception for my age?”  

“I’m sorry.”

“What about Jarek? He’s twenty-three.”

“I’m sorry. That just wouldn’t work,” Tia said, somehow managing to be both decisive and gentle at the same time.

“Mindy said that you had told her that you were too young, that you were still figuring things out for yourself. I thought you knew. I didn’t do this to hurt you,” his mom said, reaching out to touch Cali’s arm.

Cali tensed but didn’t yank away. “Jackpot,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry?” Meg asked in confusion, but Cali directed her reply to Mindy.

“It sounds perfect, Minion. We’ll have to do something super cool so you can have your name on the wall in your new room.”

“That would be awesome! I missed my name last night at Sandy’s.”

“I know where there is a cool hobby store that has everything. I have wheels now. We’ll go there before you leave and pick stuff out together.”

Mindy threw her arms around Cali’s neck. “You’re the best.”

“Nah. That’s your title,” Cali said, tugging on a braid. “I need to check on dessert. I’ll be right back.”

Watching her go Jarek’s heart broke, but he was proud of her poise and strength. Mindy started to follow and he touched her arm.

“Mom doesn’t know about the name tradition. You should tell her about it. I’ve seen Cali’s. It’s cool.”

The look Mindy gave him warned she wasn’t fooled, but she turned to Mrs. M anyways.

“I’ll be right back,” he muttered and slipped into the house.

Cali wasn’t in the kitchen. The whole first floor came up empty. Worried, he jogged up the stairs. He caught a glimpse of red as he passed an open door and backed up. Standing at the window in the empty room, her back was to him. Walking up behind her, he hesitated. He didn’t want to scare her.

“Cal?”

She nodded, hanging her head. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, baby.” He rested his hands on her slender shoulders. Tension buzzed through her.

“I should be … I am happy for her. We know that Mrs. Murphy, your mom, will take great care of her. It’s the foster care jackpot.”

“No one is saying that she will do a better job than you would’ve.”

“That’s exactly what they’re saying. They won’t even give me a chance.”

“No matter what it feels like, Cali, this isn’t personal. It’s about the average eighteen or nineteen-year-old. Most people that age aren’t thinking about anything other than themselves. They’re not ready to take responsibility for someone else.”

“But you think I could?”

Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he gathered his thoughts. He couldn’t screw this up.

“It sounds to me like you’ve been parenting your foster siblings for years out of need. I have no doubt that you could continue to do that, but when does Cali get her time?”

She leaned back against his chest and Jarek let his arms wrap around her. It felt right. Some of the tension eased out of her.  

“The last month and a half has been the best of my life,” she whispered.

“Because finally, happiness is a factor in your decisions, not just survival.”

“What if what makes me happy isn’t the right thing?”

“Then we deal with the consequences. But, at least the decision was yours.”

“If the mistakes are mine, why are the consequences ours?”

“Because we’re a couple. Part of that is accepting that what we do impacts the other.”

“So, if I blow my whole paycheck on really awesome shoes?”

“We might not buy any renovation materials that week. Or, if I blow too much on the reno, we might eat hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly for a week. It goes both ways.”

“Can it at least be the good hot dogs? You have me spoiled.”   

“If that’s all we’re buying we should at least be able to buy the good ones,” he chuckled.

“Good thing we already have the peanut butter and jelly.”

He smiled into her hair.

“They probably think I’m a selfish bitch,” she said, hugging his arms.

“I doubt that, and I don’t. You love Mindy. You want to protect her. That’s not selfish.”

“Your mom is better equipped to take care of her than I am.”

He nodded. “She’s at a different place in her life than you are. But, just because she has more resources and experience, doesn’t mean that she knows Mindy as well. They’re both going to need you.”

“Do you think after what I said Mrs. Murphy will forgive me?”

“I don’t think there is anything to forgive. I just said the same thing. You know Mindy, and what she has been through, better than she does. That’s not a slam on Mom. That’s a fact.”

She didn’t say anything. He could catch the faintest of reflections in the window and she looked a million miles away. Kissing the top of her head, he swayed their bodies slightly.

“How do you feel about sharing your mom?”

Her voice and the question startled him. Leave it to Cali to be thinking about someone else.  

“I think Mindy will be good for her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom is the type that has to be busy. Not long after they took me in, the diner where she had worked for years, closed. She turned all that energy to taking care of me and Mr. M. When I moved out and he passed away, she seemed at a loss. The move to Florida to be closer to her sister after Joanne had surgery seemed almost a kneejerk. Sometimes when she calls I think she is bored and misses Chicago. She left her friends and the church she’d gone to for her whole life.”

“And you,” Cali added.

He shrugged. “I think that Mom and Mindy could be good for each other.”

“Well, she’s getting a good one. For as screwed up as her life has been, Mindy is an amazing kid.”

“Then they’re both hitting the jackpot.”

She turned in his arms. “I think I did too.”

Ducking his head, he brushed his lips over hers, murmuring, “We should be playing the lottery with all the good luck around here.”

Her amusement vibrated against his lips as she deepened the kiss. It didn’t take long for it to become hums of pleasure. Her fingers laced behind his neck, holding him in place as lips and tongues clashed. Cupping her lower cheeks, he lifted her off the floor, urging her legs around his waist. She moaned as he pressed her against the wall, her hips doing a slow roll. The shudder that worked through his whole body made his knees weak. What was it about Cali that drove him wild? Not that he had a ton of experience with other women, but there was definitely something about this one that lit his fire.

The slam of the screen door downstairs made her stiffen in his arms. Pulling his lips from Cali’s, he trailed breathless kisses down the side of her neck while he listened to her try to pull herself together.

“Maybe this is why they don’t let nineteen-year-olds be foster parents,” she gasped.

He smothered his laughter in the side of her neck. Cali shook in his arms, her fingers combing through the back of his hair. When they could both be trusted, he leaned away from the wall and let her slide to her feet. Cupping her face, he kissed her gently.

“I love you.”

“Love you too. Thanks for putting up with my …” she shrugged and twirled a finger next to her ear.

“It’s not crazy to love.”

She looked up him, expression both humored and skeptical.

“Okay … maybe a little the way we do it, but I never want you to change.”

“You either,” she said, kissing his chest and leaving her forehead resting there. “We should get back down there.”

He rubbed the back of her neck. “Just remember that Mindy is going to still need you. You can call, text, Skype, whatever. And it’s one more reason to plan a trip to the Sunshine State when the weather gets nasty here.”

Cali tilted her head back to look up at him. “Do you really think that we could do that?”

“If we save our pennies,” he said, lifting a strand of long red hair that had fallen across her face. “My boss goes down a couple of times a year. He says that you can get some good deals if you watch for them and aren’t picky about flight times or the number of stops.”

“I’ve never been out of Illinois. Barely out of Chicago.”

“Before I moved in with the Murphys, I was the same. Mr. M took me up into Wisconsin fishing a couple of times. And then when Mom moved to Florida I loaded up all of her stuff and drove a rental truck down.”

“Wow. How long of a drive is it?”

“If I remember right, a little shy of twenty hours.”

Her eyes widened. “Of driving?”

“Yeah. Even if you drive straight through, you’re killing a day each way and you have to sleep sometime. That’s why I was thinking it would be worth it if we could get cheap enough flights.”

“I could try saving tips or work extra shifts and put the money aside,” she murmured, forehead creasing in thought.   

“Maybe it could be our Christmas present to each other,” he said, trailing his fingers up and down her spine. “If we stay at Mom’s, the airfare will be the biggest part of the expense. We’ll figure something out so you can see your minion.”

Cali leaned in to kiss him. “I don’t know why, but I believe you when you say that we’ll figure stuff out.”

“That’s because we will. The two of us make an unbeatable team.”

“You’re such a sap, Kaminski,” she said, but her smile didn’t make it sound like such a bad thing.

She hooked a finger in his belt loop and headed for the stairs. He’d take it.

 

Mindy was waiting for them in the kitchen when they came down. Jarek was struck with how serious her expression was for a twelve-year-old. The system had a way of aging kids.

“Are we okay?”

Releasing his belt loop, Cali gathered her little sister in a hug.

“We’re always okay.”

“Do you want me to make her not want me? I can do that,” she whispered, looking at him over Cali’s shoulder as if daring him to interfere. 

“No!” Cali said, pushing her back so they were face to face. “No. Don’t mess this up. Mrs. Murphy is a good person, and she has a big heart. If you give her a chance I think you could be happy.”

“Why are you sad then?”

“Frustrated, not sad. You know that feeling when you want to do something but people tell you that you can’t because you’re not old enough?”

Mindy smirked and nodded. “I seem to remember you being the one to tell me not to be in a hurry to grow up.”

“Yeah,” Cali said, sheepish smile widening. “I guess I need to take my own advice.”

“I don’t know. You seem to be doing okay,” she said, waving a hand at the house and he thought him.

Cali shot him a look over her shoulder. “He is pretty okay,” she agreed.

“You know if Mrs. M becomes my foster mom I would sort of be his sister too.”

“I guess you would,” Cali said with a laugh and looked at him again. “That’s not some kind of weird foster incest, is it?”

“We’re not siblings, so I think we’re safe.”

“Whew! That would’ve been just my luck. I meet a good guy and he’s taboo.”

“Funny girl,” he said, patting her butt on the way by. “I’m going to light the grill. Don’t forget about the fruit in the freezer.”

Exclamations of bliss followed him out the back door as Mindy retrieved the fruit salad. He smiled. Simple pleasures. Lighting the burners, he ran a wire brush over the grill grates to clean them. A touch at his elbow didn’t surprise him.

“Is Cali okay?”

“She’s fine, Mom. Frustrated that the law doesn’t consider her old enough to do something that she feels she’s been doing half her life, but she’s excited for Mindy.”

“It doesn’t sound like she had a chance to be a child or a teen and now she’s sailing right into adulthood.”

“I know. I told her she needs to take some Cali time,” he said, brushing the grill off. “I just hope that I can be a part of that.” 

“Do you think that my taking in Mindy is going to damage your relationship? Will she be bitter?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head adamantly. “Cal just wants the best for Mindy. We’re good.”

“Then what has you worried,” she asked, shifting beside him so she could see his face. “Don’t forget who you’re talking to. I know you.”

“That I’m pushing too fast,” he admitted. “We just work together in a way that I never hoped to find. I don’t want to screw that up.”

“You’ve known one another for what? A couple of months?”

“Not even two months,” he said, glancing toward the house. “It feels like longer. We talk and laugh like best friends. I know part of it is that she has been through a lot of the same stuff I have, but I’ve talked to other people that came through the system and never felt this kind of trust. I’ve shared things with her that I’ve never told anyone.”  

“Trust is a huge part of a relationship, especially after some of the things that you have been through. And, having someone that you can laugh and cry with makes life easier. What else do you feel for Cali?”

He frowned at his mom and almost laughed. “Are you asking if I’m sexually attracted to her?”

“In not so many words,” Mrs. M said, her smile sly.  

“She makes me feel like no one else I’ve ever met,” he said, not sure how else to express what he felt around Cali. “Cal is sexy as hell.”

“That’s what I want to hear,” she said, touching his cheek. “As proud as I am of you, there have been times I’ve seen your dogged practicality rob you of joy. Like when you chose the construction job over the baseball team in high school. I want you to choose a wife that you love, that you’re passionate about, not just one you work well with.”

“By work, I meant that we have a connection. Trust me. I’m wild about Cali. She’s funny, sexy, smart, and a redhead. What more could I ask for?” he said with a wink.

“Sweet talker.”  

He heard the notes of Cali’s laughter from inside and smiled.

“And I love that look.”

“What look?”

“Don’t play innocent. The moony one you just had when you heard your girlfriend laugh.”

“She just told me that I’m a sap.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not the way she said it.”

The screen door opened and Cali came out with a platter of burgers and hot dogs ready for the grill. Mindy was on her heels balancing the serving tray borrowed from the ottoman loaded with condiments, buns, and a pitcher of lemonade.

“Sorry. Got sidetracked showing Mindy the house,” she said, handing off the meat.  

“No problem. The grill is just coming up to temperature.”

He saw the bracing breath she took as she turned, taking the lemonade from Mindy, but her voice was even and friendly.

“May I get you a refill, ladies?”

“No reason to wait on us, honey. You’re not working today. Sit down and relax,” Mrs. M encouraged.

“Sorry. I guess it’s ingrained,” Cali said, pulling out a chair.

“Mindy was telling us about the tradition that you started at the Johnson’s with the kid’s names,” Tia said. “I think that is a great way to make them feel at home and like something is theirs. How did you come up with the idea?”

“It wasn’t anything genius. It started out as a school project. I put the letters of my name in shadow boxes and surrounded them with bits and pieces of memorabilia from my life and the city. After the project was over, I hung it at the head of my bed. Mindy loved it. So, I helped her make one and it snowballed from there to the other kids in the house. I didn’t have a lot of money so I had to get creative with cheap letters, bright fabric, paint, and glitter. I tried to do things that reflected them.” She shrugged. “It was just something little to make them happy.”

“It sounds like they love and take pride in them. Would you mind if I pass the idea on to new foster parents?”

Jarek pressed his lips together in sympathy at the perplexed look Cali gave Tia. It was obvious she thought the older woman was messing with her.

“Sure. I mean, no … I don’t mind.”

“What she’s trying to say, is that your experience is beneficial to more than just Mindy, babe,” he said, stepping up behind her chair and rubbing the pad of his thumb over her nape.

“He’s right,” Tia said, regarding her seriously. “I know you don’t trust the system and from what Mindy has told us, you have a good reason.”

The look Cali shot her little sister cried betrayal. Tia covered Cali’s hand to drag her attention back to her.

“I’m sorry if Kent made you feel that you wouldn’t get any help from DCFS. He failed you. Trust me, that will be addressed. But you’re strong and you’re making a life for yourself. If I could give you a piece of advice going forward, it would be to learn to fight for you.  You went further up the ladder, fought harder, to try and protect Mindy. You’re worth fighting for too.”

Cali jerked her hand away. “You don’t know what you would’ve done in my situation.”

“No. You’re right. I don’t. But I know what I see, and you’re more protective of Mindy than yourself. I just want you to know that you’re worth fighting for too.”

“Let him come around here and see how I fight,” Cali snarled. “The asshole will leave on a stretcher.”

“Hopefully you won’t have to go through that. With Mindy’s testimony, the DNA evidence, and the added charges for assault on a police officer, I don’t think Benny is getting out anytime soon.”

“What about their license?”

“Pulled. Even if we can’t prove Carol was complicit, the crimes happened under her roof.”

Reluctant to leave her side, Jarek stroked Cali’s hair, catching her eye before stepping back to the grill to check their dinner. The kaleidoscope of emotions flashing through her eyes tugged at his heart. Tia needed to make her point and move on.  

“The system failed you. As part of it, I have to own that. That doesn’t mean that I don’t hope and pray that you will heal and find happiness,” Tia said

“I’ve found happiness. That doesn’t mean I won’t dance a jig if I find out the asshole is dead.”

“His death won’t erase what happened,” Tia said and Jarek felt a sermon coming on.

“You’re right. It won’t erase any of it, but it would prevent him from driving by the house at all hours, blowing her kisses and making the memories all come back,” he interrupted grimly. “Tia, I know you mean well, but the nightmare is too fresh and the boogeyman too near. Give her time without him to heal before you ask for the miracle of charitable thoughts.” 

The older woman stared at him, her mouth slightly open. Apparently, he’d struck her silent.

“Well said, honey,” Mrs. M said, flashing him a thankful look before reaching over to touch Cali’s arm. “And I’ll pray they put him in prison and throw away the key. Charitable? No. But I’ve haven’t missed a Sunday at church since my mother brought me home from the hospital and forgiveness toward those that hurt women and children still isn't something this imperfect woman has figured out.”    

Cali snorted in amusement. “If you’re not perfect after that much church, what chance do the rest of us have?”

“God doesn’t ask us to be perfect, just to believe in him. Trust me, there are no perfect people and what you’re feeling toward this Benny monster is no different than what the rest of us would be feeling in your place if we’re honest.”

Cali glanced at Tia and to Jarek’s relief, the other woman nodded. She didn’t need to be judged right now.

“Hot dogs are ready if anyone wants to start with them. The burgers will be done in a few minutes.”

“I’ll grab the salads and chips,” Cali said, jumping up and bumping hips with him before disappearing inside.

He smiled after her. 

Holding a bun out for a dog, his mom leaned in to kiss his cheek. “You’re a good man.”

“If I am, I learned it from you and Mr. M.”

She smiled. “You two really do make a wonderful couple. Don’t let her get away.”

“I’m doing my best.”

“We’ve got chips. This pasta salad has tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions in it with a lite Italian dressing. And the fruit salad can be eaten plain or over this angel food cake, and there is whipped cream,” Cali said, coming out juggling bowls.

Mindy hurried to help her.

“Thanks, Minion.”

“That’s such a cute nickname. I’ve never seen the movies, but Mindy’s blanket is adorable.”

“It started out the more literal meaning because she was always right there helping me with the little kids. But Mindy … Minion … it just stuck. The movies are funny. The kids just love them. We had all three at the Johnson’s and watched them over and over on my laptop.”

“We had movie nights,” Mindy said excitedly. “Everyone would bring their blankets and pillows into our room. We’d make popcorn and Cali would put her laptop up on the dresser so we could all see. Sometimes the boys would fall asleep in there like a sleepover.”  

“They’re just little boys,” Cali said, shooting Tia an uncertain look.

“It sounds fun.”

“It was. Were the movies in your stuff, Minion?”

The little girl shook her head.

“Damn. We had twenty-some movies that I’d picked up at Goodwill or in bargain bins. I left them for the kids. I guess stopping by there after all this wouldn’t be good even if Benny is gone.”

“I wouldn’t suggest that you have any contact with the Johnsons, but I could stop by there and speak with Carol about them. I can’t force her to give them to me, but I can ask,” Tia offered.

“I would really appreciate that,” Cali said, giving Tia a genuine smile. “I don’t know if Meg has a DVD player, but I’d like the movies to go with Mindy if they can.”

“Although I’ve never used it, I think I do. Jarek, doesn’t the sound system thingy have a video player in it?”

He had to bite the inside of his cheek to hold back his amusement at her terminology but nodded. “Your surround sound system has a Blu-ray player in it that will play DVDs, Blu-ray or not.”

“There. See. If we don’t get your movies back, we will start a new collection,” Mrs. M reassured Mindy.

Jarek couldn’t hold a smile back as the girl started listing the movies she loved and asking Mrs. M if she’d seen them. It sounded as if his mom had a lot of catching up to do.

 

 

Crossing the back yard, Jarek plucked an escaped napkin from along the fence. Tia had left shortly after they’d ate, but his mom and Mindy had stayed to visit. He’d just dropped them off at Sandy’s. The back door wasn’t locked when he tried it.

“Cal?”

“Living room,” she called back.

The tension in his shoulders eased. When he stepped into the living room, she was sitting on the couch in the soft glow of the setting sun. Plopping down, he stretched out with his head in her lap so he could see her face.

“How are you doing?”

“Good, actually,” she said, fingers playing with his cowlick. When he didn’t say anything, she shrugged. “Mindy and your mom seem to get along good. I think you were right. They will be good for one another.”

“I like the sound of that.”

She tugged his hair. “Let me guess. You mean the part where you were right.”

“Every guy likes to hear it once in a while.”

Her fingers massaged his scalp, rubbing away the sting from her teasing rebuke.

“Did you buy towels?”

He frowned at the change of subject. It took a moment for him to pick up the thread of her thoughts. “No. Remember Mom said she picked some stuff up for us? There was a yellow and blue ceramic thing with a bowl in the middle for dip and four or five trays around it for veggies or chips. The design reminded me of your serving bowl, kind of a fiesta flair. And then she bought us eight sets of towels. Four blue and four she called platinum gray. They’re kind of silvery. About this color,” he said patting the back of the couch.   

“She has good taste. They’re nice.”

“Better than my Bears towels?”

“What could be better than Chicago Bears beach towels?” she said, giggling. “They’re high fashion, Kaminski.”

“I thought they added a little something to the place.”

“A hint of desperate bachelor maybe.”

“Thank God you’re here now to lend some taste to the décor. It’s probably the only thing getting me laid.”

Bursting into laughter at the remembered jest, Cali leaned down to kiss him. “You’re lucky. I wouldn’t sleep with you if you had a black leather couch and a smoked glass coffee table.”  

“Not even with the amazing water pressure?”

“Mmm …” she pondered.

“And steak,” he said, upping the ante.

“You do grill a mean steak. Teamed with this grin, that might do it,” she said, tracing his mouth with a finger.

He kissed her again before letting her straighten.

“Have you ever noticed that you always call me Kaminski when you want to bust my balls? Is that just an additional slam against my Polish heritage?”

“It might be.”

“Does that mean I don’t have a polack’s chance in hell of getting you to marry me and take my name?”

Cali’s eyes widened, grin slipping. He held his breath. The teasing dissipated and he fought the desire to sit up. The vulnerability wasn’t physical. The tip of her tongue peeked between her lips.

“There’s nothing wrong with your name,” she whispered, her gaze searching his face. “Cali Kaminski has a nice ring to it.”

Jarek let out his held breath. “I think it does too.”

“Did we just …”

“No. I’ll do it right when I do it, with a ring and down on my knees begging,” he said, lips twitching.

She giggled, the tension fleeing. “Good, because I fully expect begging, Kaminski.”