“MARTA WANTS TO go visit her sister today,” Jeremy said to his two children at breakfast the next morning. “So please behave and don’t give her any trouble while I run an errand. I want her to leave for her sister’s without feeling like she’s been let out of a cage at the zoo.”
Cody laughed. “I get to be the tiger.”
“You get to be who you are,” Jeremy said, “only better.”
“Aren’t you going to be here?” Alicia asked. “It’s Saturday. You’re always with us on Saturday.”
“I’ll be here most of the day,” he said. “But I have someplace to go this morning before Marta leaves. And I’ll be here after you guys get back from the birthday party.” One thing Jeremy had learned quickly about Hidden Oaks was that parties were on the docket almost every weekend. If it wasn’t some kid’s birthday, then parents were celebrating kindergarten graduation or the adoption of a new pet. “I’ll drop you off at the party when I get back.”
“Where are you going?” Alicia asked.
“I’m picking up a friend. She’s helping me get used to my new job at the television station. Since I need all the help I can get, I figured we’d have a working lunch out by the pool.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes. “Is it the lady you talked about the other day? The one named Brooke.”
Jeremy had mentioned a lady at the station who’d hurt her ankle. No big deal, he’d thought. Besides, Alicia couldn’t remember to carry her backpack up to her room, so why did she all of a sudden remember Brooke’s name?
“Yes, it is,” Jeremy said.
“But it’s not a date?”
“No, Alicia. Remember when we talked the other day? I don’t date. I haven’t dated in years.” He frowned at the truth of that statement. “I wouldn’t even know how to date anymore.”
Alicia maintained the same serious expression. “Okay. Go get her. What should we do while you’re gone?”
Jeremy shook his head. Both kids had a roomful of toys and projects collecting dust in the garage. Surely they could find something to do. But both pairs of eyes stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“You can wrap the presents for Luke. They’re on my dresser. The remote dinosaur is from Cody. The swim mask is from you, Alicia. Wrapping paper is in the linen closet, and only use safety scissors to cut the paper.”
Those were words he didn’t think he’d ever use. But parents had to think of stuff like that and not just assume. He grabbed his wallet off the counter and his keys from the hook by the back door. “Marta, I’m leaving.”
“Okay, Mr. C,” she called from the laundry room. “See you later.”
He got in his huge SUV, the one he’d purchased to give his children breathing room and himself every option available to an auto buyer. Once he left his driveway, he switched on Sirius radio, but didn’t tune in to news for this trip. Instead he picked an oldies channel and hummed along to the Beach Boys. He instantly relaxed. A day at the pool, a pretty woman and the Beach Boys. It might very well be a great day.
Brooke was ready when he got to her condo at ten thirty. She had on white shorts and a checkered top that ended at her waist, where she’d tied the material into a knot. She looked comfortable and laid-back, so different from the serious woman who ran the newsroom at WJQC. He liked this Brooke, who seemed ready for a walk in the park or a picnic.
And then, after greeting him, she picked up a folder and said, “I typed up some examples of breaking news from the last few years. You should know what kinds of stories will interrupt the regular broadcast.”
He tried to inject enthusiasm into his voice. “Good idea.”
“It’s interesting to learn what is considered important enough to disturb our pattern,” she said. “Of course there’s always an important death, or an unexpected act of nature. But—”
“Can we discuss all this later?” he said. “I’ve got to get back before my housekeeper leaves for the afternoon.”
“Your kids still have a party to go to, right?” she asked. “I don’t think your children will be too interested in breaking news.”
“Yep. Believe me, the kids won’t want to hang around with us.”
Jeremy loved the drive to Hidden Oaks. Once he left the city, the four-lane roads curved in a southwesterly direction into some of the most beautiful country he’d ever seen. Bridges crossed expanses of gently rippling rivers and streams. The Lowcountry of South Carolina was home to a multitude of fish, wildlife, crustaceans, insects and sweet Carolina breezes. As far as the eye could see, canals ran through lush, tall green grass, which lived in perfect harmony with the estuaries that sustained the life protected under their glistening surfaces.
Brooke had been quiet during most of the ride, but she had been carefully observing the passing landscape, as well. “It’s really naturally beautiful out here,” she said when they were nearing his home.
“I remember you said you’ve never been to this part of the Charleston area before. This housing development is almost four years old.”
“I suppose it’s odd that I haven’t been here, but as a news producer, my job was to keep everything running smoothly in the production room. I rarely went out on location, and when I did, I was usually still in the city.” She smiled at him. “I’ve been to many places—London, Paris—but I’m starting to think I’ve missed a lot right here close to Charleston.” He could picture her in some of the most romantic cities in the world. He could picture her almost anywhere.
“You must have traveled the coast, gone to vacation spots such as the Grand Strand,” he said.
“Sure. I’ve been up and down the coast. I guess I just never thought there was anything worth seeing in newly developed residential areas.” She smiled at him. “I was wrong. You’ve picked a nice place to live.”
He slowed as he approached the tall, wrought-iron gate. He aimed his resident key at a panel next to the sign that read Hidden Oaks. The gate slid to the side with a soft hiss. “Just a few turns and we’re there,” he said.
“Before we arrive,” Brooke said, “did you tell your children that I was coming today?”
“Yes, I told them about you.” At least I told them about your ankle. “They’re looking forward to meeting you.” He recalled his kids’ blank stares when he mentioned Brooke.
“I hope so.”
So did he.
As he neared the road that would take him to his three-acre property, Jeremy took a minute to observe Brooke’s profile. He wondered why she’d never been married. Surely she’d had serious relationships with men. Maybe someday he would ask her about her past, when things settled down at the station and they got to know each other on an even more personal level. All at once, it was vital to Jeremy that he know more about Brooke, and just as important that she would feel comfortable in his home.
The moment Jeremy had initially seen the property he ended up purchasing, he’d believed he’d come home. And he believed he’d chosen the perfect spot for his two children. The scenic reminders of the Lowcountry were just at the end of his lot. When he first walked into his backyard, he’d heard animals rustling in the grass, birds chirping and squirrels complaining at his interruption into their lives. He wanted Brooke to see the beauty of Hidden Oaks. He wanted her to like it here. He didn’t know if she would ever come back, but if he had anything to say about it, she would.
She turned toward him and he immediately readjusted his gaze to the road. He turned right into his driveway and drove under a canopy of magnolias and live oaks. Just ahead, his three-thousand-square-foot white Colonial home welcomed him. It wasn’t the size of the house that had impressed him. Others in the neighborhood were larger. It was the grace of it. The shiny black shutters and ornate pillars supporting the upper balcony off the bedrooms brought to mind tranquility and a gentle spirit. He smiled at Brooke.
“We’re here,” he said.
She nodded. “Goodness, how far do you have to go for a loaf of bread?”
Her comment was not what he’d expected, nor what he’d hoped for. But she was a city girl.
* * *
BROOKE LOVED BEING in the hustle and bustle of Charleston. She appreciated being able to walk a couple of blocks to the nearest neighborhood market, museum or theater. She looked forward to strolling on a cool evening down to the Battery and studying the tourists. Or hopping the city tram to the closest trendy restaurant, where, until her quest for Edward had taken over her life, she’d meet friends for drinks and local dishes. Here, in the Lowcountry boonies, houses were so far apart that she wondered how any of the residents got to know each other. Brooke knew all of her condo neighbors, spoke to them at the mailboxes or petted their dogs.
Jeremy gave her a piercing stare, making her wonder what she had said to cause such a sudden and confusing reaction. “We have the Fallway Quick Mart just three miles away,” he said. “Plus, there is a huge supermarket in the town of Fallway, a five-mile trip, and Marta goes once a week for supplies. I can always stop on my way home if we need anything special.”
That was a very specific answer. Brooke feared she had insulted him somehow, and she hadn’t meant to. His home and property were beyond elegant. He pulled into the circular drive in front of the house and cut the engine.
Brooke stared out the window at the large structure.
“I suppose you’re wondering how far away the nearest movie theater is,” Jeremy said.
“No, actually I was just enjoying the view. But what about the children’s school? How far away is it?”
“About two miles. They go to a private school, the Amberson Academy. A bus picks them up every morning.” He stepped out of the car, shut the door and came around to open the passenger door. “How’s the ankle today? Do you need any help?”
“No. The ankle is completely healed.” His front door was opened by a middle-aged woman in a skirt and blouse. Her graying hair was neatly styled in a modern bob. She appeared sturdy, efficient and qualified. Brooke concluded she must be Marta.
Jeremy greeted her warmly. “Marta, this is Brooke. She came today to help me with some WJQC matters.”
The two women greeted each other.
“Where are the kids?” Jeremy asked.
“I’m not sure at the moment. I’ve been in the laundry room folding clothes. Last I saw them, they were in the upstairs playroom.”
Jeremy led Brooke into the living room, where his children were seated in a pair of chairs that flanked a brick fireplace. They were quiet, almost studious, and except for their clothes could have been in a portrait of children from some long-ago time.
“Oh, good. You’re here,” Jeremy said. “I want you to meet Brooke.”
Brooke smiled. “Hello, Alicia, Cody. I’m very happy to meet you.”
Neither child spoke. They were dressed in jeans and T-shirts, not party clothes, but their garments were dusted with a white substance that looked like flour. The nine-year-old, Alicia, nodded once while her leg kept up a steady swing against the leg of the chair. The boy, six-year-old Cody, lifted his hand in a casual wave.
Jeremy stared at his kids but he didn’t seem to notice the flour. “Is that what you’re wearing to the party?” he asked them.
Before either child answered, a cry of alarm came from the back of the house, followed by loud footsteps coming closer.
“Marta, what’s wrong?” Jeremy asked.
The housekeeper burst into the room. “Come into the kitchen, Mr. C. I’ve never seen such a mess.”
Jeremy’s face registered shock and concern. Following Marta’s raised arm and pointed finger, he headed out of the living room. Thinking she might be needed, Brooke followed behind him to what was obviously a large gourmet kitchen with no identifiable details at the moment. Most of the wood floor and the tops of the table and counters were covered with assorted food—cereal, flour, sugar. It appeared that someone had just flung boxes of edible contents everywhere. And then poured a bottle of maple syrup over the entire mess.
Jeremy stood dumbfounded. “What happened here?”
“Whatever it was, it happened in the last fifteen minutes. I’ve only been in the laundry room that long.” Marta crossed her arms. “I suggest you ask your children.”
“Alicia! Cody!”
Brooke had never heard Jeremy raise his voice. Of course, what father wouldn’t be upset at a moment like this, a moment that reinforced Brooke’s opinion of children?
The children stood at the kitchen entrance. “What’s wrong, Daddy?” Alicia asked in a sweet, little-girl voice.
“Did you do this?” Jeremy demanded, first looking at his daughter and then his son. “Cody?”
“We were going to fix lunch for you and your friend, Daddy,” Alicia said. “But we ran out of time and had to get ready for the party. I’m sorry if we left things messy.”
“Messy? Alicia, this isn’t messy. This is a catastrophe, which will take forever to clean up. And I don’t believe for a minute that this is the result of you kids trying to fix a meal. Why would you do this?”
He waited for one of the children to answer, but all he got from both of them were shrugs.
His chest rose and fell. A vein worked in his temple. Then, as if he suddenly remembered Brooke’s presence, he spoke in a controlled voice. “Both of you go to your rooms. I will come get you when it’s time to clean this up.”
When the kids had gone, Jeremy turned to Marta. “Go on to your sister’s,” he said. “The kids and I will take care of this.”
“I can’t leave you with a mess like this,” Marta said.
“You absolutely can,” he said. “My children are not going to ruin your plans.” He carefully walked across the kitchen floor, avoiding the worst of the disaster, and opened a closet that held cleaning supplies.
Marta shrugged. “If you’re sure.”
“I’ll help,” Brooke said, shaking her head at the obvious proof of runaway misbehavior. Why would anyone, no matter what age, make such a mess?
“No, you won’t,” Jeremy said. “You go on out to the pool. I’ll bring you some lemonade. The three Crocketts will handle this. And if my kids have to go to a party covered in maple syrup, so be it. If I cancel their plans I’m only going to be hurting myself.”
Brooke thought about arguing with him. She was certainly capable of helping out. But his voice was so raw, and his decision so sure, she followed his direction. The patio was sunny and warm. She slipped off her shoes and chose a padded lounge chair. For the next hour she ignored a feeling of guilt that she told herself she really shouldn’t be experiencing and tried to block sounds of a frustrated dad and seriously unhappy children.
Poor Jeremy. She didn’t know what he expected of this day, but this definitely wasn’t it. Nor was it what she had expected. She reminded herself that both children were grieving. Plus, Jeremy had brought someone new into their household. Kids act out when they are disappointed or unsure. She and Camryn certainly had.
She shouldn’t have come to Hidden Oaks today. It was turning out to be an increasingly bad decision. She was obviously interrupting a delicate balance between a father and his troubled kids. If she’d had her own car she would have left, but that wasn’t an option. She opened her notes and tried to concentrate on what she would tell Jeremy if he still wanted to talk shop. She doubted he would.
Almost an hour later, Brooke was startled by a light tap on her shoulder. She turned abruptly, thinking her visitor was Jeremy. No. Cody stood behind her lounger. The rocket ships on his T-shirt contrasted with the sad look on his face, and Brooke felt an immediate and unfamiliar tug on her heartstrings.
“Hi, there,” she said. “How’s everything going in the kitchen? Do you guys need any help?”
“We’re almost done,” Cody said.
“Does your daddy know you came out here?”
“No. I said I was going to the bathroom.”
“Oh, dear. We’ll have to let him know where you are,” Brooke said.
“I didn’t lie,” Cody insisted. “I think I can make myself go to the bathroom.”
“Okay, but still…”
“I thought maybe I could sit with you a minute.”
Brooke pulled up her knees to give the boy room on the end of the lounge chair. “Sure. Have a seat.”
“What are you doing?”
Brooke had forgotten about the tablet open on her lap. “Just some work. Your daddy and I have some things to go over.” She smiled. “Boring stuff really.”
She surreptitiously sent Jeremy a text. Cody is on patio with me.
An answering text questioned Cody’s motive. Is he okay? Why did he come out there?
Don’t know, but he’s fine. No prob.
“I guess it was no fun cleaning up that sticky mess,” Brooke said. “Are you still going to the party?”
“Yeah. Dad said we could, but we’re going to be punished later.” He sighed.
“Is something else bothering you, Cody?” Brooke asked.
“I was just thinking that me and Alicia probably shouldn’t have made that mess today.”
“No, probably not. I’m sure you didn’t think about all the extra work it would mean for your dad.”
“I didn’t. I’m sorry about that.” He paused a moment, then said, “I want a dog. If we had a dog, he would have licked it all up.”
Brooke smiled. “Dogs are great,” she said. “Maybe someday you’ll have one.”
“Are you mad at me?” Cody asked.
“No, I’m not. But it might be a good idea if you told your father that you regret making the mess. You are sorry, aren’t you?”
He crossed his arms and leaned back against her calves. Unsure what to do, Brooke lightly patted his head.
He didn’t speak for a minute until his chest heaved and he peered up at her. “I should tell the truth,” he said.
“Always a good idea,” Brooke said.
“I’m not sorry.”
She looked down at his face, so serious. “You’re not?”
“Nope. Alicia and I have to stick together.”
She smiled again. “I see.”
“What I did was wrong, though, because I think I might like you even if Alicia doesn’t. She says we both shouldn’t like you.”
Brooke understood what had happened in the kitchen. And she understood what was going on in Cody’s head now. He didn’t want to betray his sister. “How about deciding for yourself if you like me or not? What do you think of that?”
His breathing returned to normal, the sweet, slow breaths of a child who’d gotten something off his chest. “Okay. Yeah, maybe I will like you.”
I’m not sorry. His truthful words, spoken in his soft, honest voice, kept repeating in her mind. She remembered times from her own life when she’d wanted to say those exact words. Sometimes being really, truly sorry took a little time.
Brooke gently rubbed his hair, wondering at the silky softness of it. So blond and curly and a bit sticky from his hands. Other than the residue of maple syrup, his hair reminded her of Esther’s, and the feeling she got from comforting him felt strangely natural.