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“She did what?” Miranda Franklin swallowed while she tried to ignore the dread blooming in her stomach in response to her fiancé’s words.
Eli’s sigh echoed over the connection. “Celeste left Astor with me for an overnight visit yesterday. When I didn’t hear from her, I went by her apartment. It’s empty, Randy. Nothing left except for a box of Astor’s clothes and toys and a note telling me to care for the baby. Can you come?”
Randy closed her eyes. She could hear the barely controlled fury in Eli’s voice. A fury laced with confusion and overlaid with the crying of a baby in the background. Randy looked at the ring on the third finger of her left hand. She and Eli were getting married in six weeks, followed by a two-week honeymoon. What could Eli’s daughter have been thinking? “I—”
“Hang on a second.”
She heard the phone clatter onto a solid surface, followed by Eli’s muffled voice. “Come here, baby girl. Tell Poppy what’s wrong.” She closed her eyes. At least the crying stopped. Randy’s fingers drummed on the table at her side. What sort of mother dropped her child off and spilt? She pushed her fingers through her curly red hair. But then, what sort of mother treated her child like a worthless waste of time? Two good questions without an answer.
“I’m back,” Eli said. “Look, sweetheart, I know it’s Saturday night and we had plans, but I need to take care of this.”
She straightened and forced back the foreboding. Surely it was premature to allow her mind to wander down a dead-end path of what-ifs. Eli needed her. That took precedence.
“Randy?”
“I’m here.”
“I know you’re upset.”
Randy cleared disappointment from her throat. “No, no. Astor comes first. What do you need?”
Eli’s relieved sigh echoed through the phone. “She feels warm to me, and I don’t want to take her out again if she’s running a fever. I need some things from the store. We’re down to two diapers, and I’m out of milk and baby food. I need a thermometer too, one of those forehead or ear types. If you could run to the store for me, that would be awesome, or come here and stay with Astor while I go.”
Randy swallowed. Helping Eli with Astor was one thing, being responsible for her was another. She was thirty-eight years old, and she’d never been alone with a child under the age of five. That was not a badge of honor she intended to surrender today. “I’m closer to the store. Text me a list of what you need.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” His voice dropped a few notches and settled into the husky tone that normally sent shivers of desire down her spine. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Randy muttered a good bye, swiped the connection closed, and looked down at her clothes. The soft sweater dress she’d put on earlier had a turtleneck collar and was just the right shade of green to draw out the color of her eyes and compliment her red hair. She’d chosen a dress for their evening out despite the March chill. Eli loved her long, trim legs, and she was vain enough to want to show them off in front of him.
“Too dressy for shopping and babysitting.” She opened her closet and pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a matching hoodie. Not her usual attire for Saturday nights with Eli. If she was going to the store, she might as well be comfortable...and warm. Randy slipped out of the dress, draped it on the hanger, and smoothed her hand down the soft fabric.
Frustration over the abrupt change in plans spiked, and her conscience poked at her. Get over yourself. Randy took a deep breath. The little voice inside was right. She turned to the mirror over her dresser and frowned at her reflection. The change of clothes had her curly red hair disheveled. The little voice in her head continued to scold her as she straightened it. You’re missing a dinner. How, exactly, does that compare to Astor being abandoned and Eli having a child dumped in his lap? Neither one of them asked for this. It isn’t a conspiracy to ruin your evening, much less your life.
The thought straightened her spine. Her childhood had bred a fair share of insecurities, but pettiness wasn’t an emotion she’d normally ascribe to herself.
Thirty minutes later, Randy pushed a shopping cart down the baby aisle of the local grocery store. Eli’s text glowed on her screen as she selected the size diapers he’d specified. The next item on Eli’s list simply said baby food. Her palms began to sweat as she looked at the shelves, stocked from the floor to the top of her head with choices. Why did men assume that women just automatically knew stuff like this? I don’t have a clue!
“Hey, Randy. Are you lost?”
The greeting drew her attention away from the source of her panic. Terri Evans stood in the aisle, her cart loaded. Her eldest son walked next to her while the two younger children sat side-by-side in the child seat of the basket.
“Hi.” Randy turned back to the shelf. “Not lost, just puzzled. Eli needs some things for his granddaughter. She’s at his house for...an extended visit.” Just a visit. “His text just says baby food.” She motioned to the shelf. “How am I supposed to know what to get?”
“Two questions,” Terri said. “How old is she and does she have teeth?”
Randy took a deep breath. These she could answer. “Just a little over a year, and she has four teeth, two on top and two on bottom.”
“OK.” The other woman stared at the offerings on the shelves, one hand on her hip, the other holding the arm of the youngest child in the cart. “She needs toddler things then. Teething cookies, crunchy snacks, and chunkier meals. How long is he planning to watch her?”
She swallowed. “A week?” the words formed a hopeful question.
The other woman’s lips ticked up in a grin, and she pointed. “At this stage she’s probably eating mostly table food, but six of these, a box of these crackers, four—”
Both women jumped as glass crashed to the floor behind them. Randy turned to see Terri’s oldest child holding a jar and staring at the mess of a dozen broken containers at his feet.
Memories knocked Randy back a step.
“What are you doing?”
“I was helping, Mama.”
Randy’s mother waved at the puddle of goo spreading around her feet. “Helping? You call this helping? How many times have I told you to keep your clumsy hands to yourself? I swear you’re more trouble than you’re worth.” She wrapped Randy’s ponytail around her fingers and jerked Randy’s head up so that their eyes met. “Now get over there and stand still while I get someone to clean up this mess. If I have to pay for this, I’ll take it out of your worthless hide when we get home.”
The memory shuddered away, and Randy watched the scene from under lowered eyelids. She didn’t know Terri well, but...
“Seth!”
“Sorry, Mama.” His blue eyes filled with tears. “You were helping your friend, and I wanted to help too.”
Terri stared at him.
The muscles in Randy’s shoulders bunched. Here it comes...
Terri reached for the boy.
Randy’s eyes clenched shut. If only she were someplace, anyplace, else.
“Step back out of that mess.”
Randy peeked. Once the child was clear of the broken glass, Terri studied him over crossed arms. “I know you thought you were helping, but how many times have I told you not to touch things when we shop?”
The boy lowered his gaze. “A lot.”
Terri nodded, looking from her son to the shelf. “These are eighty cents each, and I count ten broken. How much of your allowance do you have in your pocket?”
Seth reached into his jeans, pulled out crumpled bills, and counted under his breath. “Ten.”
“OK. Let’s go up to the manager’s office and get someone back here to clean this up, then you can pay for the damage.”
“But—”
“Seth...”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Terri turned her attention back to Randy. “Sorry about that. Do you need anything else?”
Randy shook her head. “He really was trying to help.”
“I know, but he has to learn that disobedience, even when it’s well intended, has consequences. It’s a fine line, one we’ll discuss with his father tonight.” She turned from Randy, put her arm around her son, and squeezed his shoulders. “I love you. Now, let’s go make this right.”
Randy watched them leave. That woman had skills, skills Randy would never possess. How could she give what she’d never been given?
* * *
ASTOR CRIED AND ELI could feel his hair getting grayer with each minute. He walked the floor, alternately holding his granddaughter close and bouncing her in an attempt to hit on the combination that would comfort her for a few minutes.
“Mama...”
The single word cut Eli’s heart in half. Celeste wasn’t the mother he’d hoped she’d be, but she was all Astor knew. He supposed to his granddaughter’s twelve-month-old mind, a known bad was better than an unknown good.
The baby continued to wail, driving Eli to prayer. Father, please do something. Make... He paused. How could he ask God for something when he no longer knew what was right? The baby in his arms and the note in his pocket were proof that what he’d thought best hadn’t worked out so well.
Astor finally gave up the fight, growing quiet and heavy on his shoulder. Eli couldn’t see her face, but she’d ceased to struggle against his arms. He hoped she’d fallen asleep. Afraid to disturb the newfound calm, he continued to pace. Astor was so different than Celeste at this age.
Where Celeste had been serene and relatively patient as a child, Astor tended to be demanding and restless. Eli paused at the thought. Celeste had grown up to be a troubled young woman and... He searched for a word. Discarding abusive and negligent, he settled on indifferent. She’d become an indifferent mother. His arms tightened around Astor. Maybe the opposite would be true here, and the restless baby would become the peaceful adult. His chest rose in a hopeful sigh, and he tilted his head to whisper in his granddaughter’s ear.
“I’ll be here for you baby. Poppy will always be here.” Astor stirred. He rubbed her back until she became limp once again. Poor baby, she’s worn out.
Eli considered the promise he’d just made. How would that affect his relationship with Randy? He hoped it wouldn’t, but how could it not?
We’ve got a mess here, Father. I don’t know what Your will is, but I know You have a plan. I sought Your direction before I put an engagement ring on Randy’s finger. Since You didn’t stop me, and since I know that today hasn’t taken You by surprise, I’m asking You to work this out for everyone’s benefit. I’m—
The doorbell interrupted his prayers and jerked Astor from her nap. Her head snapped up. Startled blue eyes stared at him for a second before the tiny face wrinkled in renewed outrage. Eli closed his eyes as the wailing returned.
* * *
RANDY MADE THREE TRIPS to the car. She piled bags and two boxes of diapers on the porch. On the final trip, she paused to listen. At least she’d missed the crying. She pressed the doorbell. They’d exchanged keys months ago. She liked to surprise Eli with an occasional meal, and Eli kept her lawn mowed, but they never just walked in on the other. Just six more weeks till I can come and go as I please. Her excited anticipation vanished five seconds later as crying filtered through the door.
Eli pulled it open. He looked so defeated, Randy’s heart ached for him. He hadn’t asked for this. She reached out to brush salt and pepper hair away from his forehead. “What can I do?”
The resulting smile crinkled the corners of his glacier blue eyes. Eli took a step forward, brushed Randy’s cheek with his lips, and plopped Astor into her arms, fit, tears, and all. “You’re already doing it. You’re here.” He picked up the diapers and tossed them onto the couch then scooped up the groceries. Randy trailed him to the kitchen, holding Astor stiffly, almost at arm’s length. One look at the baby’s tear-stained face told Randy that Astor wasn’t any happier than she was with the arrangement.
“You’re just in time.” Eli dumped the bags on the counter. “She took a little nap and now that she’s awake, she’s probably wet, and she’s wearing the last diaper I had. If you’ll change her, it should calm her down a bit. While you do that, I’ll get this stuff put away and fix her a bottle.” He settled the groceries and faced her. His smile went to a frown. “You OK?”
She realized what she was doing and drew the child closer, forcing herself to relax. “Um...sure. A dry diaper. I’m on it.” Randy carried Astor back to the living room. What’s wrong with me? She wasn’t a baby person, never wanted to be. But she’d known when she said yes to Eli’s proposal that he had a daughter and a granddaughter. She’d met them. She wasn’t all that fond of Celeste—the girl struck her as flighty and opportunistic—but she liked Astor well enough. Her occasional visits were a novelty.
Randy laid the baby on the sofa and wrestled her into a dry diaper. Once the tabs were in place, Astor quieted and actually sent Randy a smile. Randy patted the chubby tummy and smiled back. She didn’t hate kids, she’d just never wanted one, never felt like she was equipped to nurture the way other women were. A picture of Terri and her son flashed through her mind, and she sighed. That will never be me. A wise woman admitted her limitations and worked within them.
Eli came into the room with a bottle and a pair of pajamas. He ran his hand through Randy’s curls before taking a seat on the other side of the couch and holding his hands out for the child. “Come here, baby girl.”
Randy watched the man and the baby, unable to resist the smile that tugged at her lips. Just because she’d never had a loving adult in her life didn’t mean she couldn’t recognize one. Eli and Astor spent a few minutes playing before he zipped Astor into the footed PJs and offered her the bottle.
“Shouldn’t she eat?”
“She had a grilled cheese and juice right before I called you,” Eli said, handing the drowsy one-year-old the bottle.
“Mik!” Astor grabbed the bottle and popped it into her mouth.
“Her ‘mik’ is the last piece of her bedtime routine. Now that she has that, she should be good.”
“Where is she sleeping?” Randy asked.
“I have a playpen in my bedroom. That’ll have to do for now. I’ll need to shop for a crib.”
“You think so? Celeste will be back.”
Eli’s jaw tightened. “We’ll see.”
Randy swallowed and tried to ignore the uncertainty in Eli’s voice. Celeste would come back and things would go back to normal. I have to believe that. She stood. “Looks like you have your hands full. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Please stay. I’ve ordered us a pizza.” Eli’s gaze shifted from Astor to Randy. “I know that wasn’t what you had in mind for tonight, but we can watch a movie or something. Spend some time together.”
The love she saw in his eyes melted her disappointment. “Put her to bed. I’ll fix us sodas and pick out a movie.”
He stood with the baby balanced in one arm and pulled Randy close with the other. When she looked up at him, he brushed her lips with his. “I love you.” He gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her.
“Tell Grammy night-night,” he told the baby.
Randy kissed the baby’s forehead and shooed them from the room. Grammy...would she ever get used to that? She bit her lip. It beat mommy. Not going there. She busied herself by pouring drinks and selecting a movie. The doorbell rang, and she heard Eli’s muffled voice.
“I left money on the kitchen table.”
Randy paid for the pizza, set it on the coffee table, and laid out plates and napkins. She flicked the TV on just as Eli joined her on the couch.
He rested his arm on the cushions behind her. His fingers traced lazy circles around her shoulder. She smiled when his grip tightened and he turned her to face him.
“Ah, babe, the next six weeks can’t run their course fast enough.” He tilted her chin up and met her eyes with a simmering desire that pooled heat in the pit of Randy’s stomach. “I can’t wait until I have you all to myself.” His mouth lowered to hers. Astor started to scream before their lips ever connected. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
When he came back, he carried Astor with him. He sat beside Randy and situated the baby in his lap. Eli held her bottle and murmured soothing words to his fretful granddaughter. Randy settled for a piece of pizza and put an extra inch of space between her and Eli. She chewed as the screen flickered and wondered why the tiny bit of space between them felt more like a mile.