Anjelica walked over to his saxophones. “You did it. Day one in the bag, including dinner, bath and story time.”
“Not me, we. Couldn’t have done it without you.” He wanted to do something for her. Crossing the living space, he went to the freezer. “They stocked my kitchen, including ice cream. I think we deserve a treat.”
She joined him in the tiny area. “Sounds like a perfect ending to this day. What can I do to help?”
“Make yourself comfortable on the new sofa. Let me feed you for once. Of course, I’m not actually cooking anything, but it’s just as good...almost.” He set a bowl on the coffee table in front of her. Neither spoke as they concentrated on eating. Finishing his dessert, he leaned back on a stuffed pillow and savored the silence. The tension he had been holding all day slipped away.
She gathered the bowls and took them to the sink.
“Hey, I’m supposed to do that.”
She laughed. “I beat you to it.” After washing the simple dishes, she turned to face him. “So what else do you need done? I can stay and talk through anything you’re not sure about.”
With a grin, he laid his arm across the back of his new sofa. “That would take more hours than we have available. Anyway, you and your Ortega army moved fast. I think your family did everything that needed to be done.” He still wasn’t sure about all the changes. Was it normal to feel so detached from your own life?
“After seeing those pictures, I had to do something. Your world turned upside down on you. At the same time, duty called, and you had to go out helping others across the county after the storm. The least I could do was make some phone calls. I’m sorry if I overstepped, but we didn’t have much time.”
“It’s as if everything fell into place while I wasn’t looking. Thank you.” He nodded, not sure what else to say.
“Is there anything else you need?”
He had to snort. That was a loaded question. He didn’t know much about kids; there would be things he didn’t even know existed. “Not that I can think of for now. I’m a little too wired to go to sleep. I’ll play the sax for a while. You can stay if you want.”
“That sounds lovely.”
With his favorite sax in hand, he went to the balcony. It would soften the noise, and the weather was nice. As his fingers moved over the keys, the music consumed him, releasing the anxiety of the day. God, thank You for this gift. He didn’t know how to pray. But he could have a conversation with God through notes of his song.
Without it, he was sure he would have lost control of his mental status long ago. As it was, he felt as if a thin string held everything together.
Over an hour had slipped by when he noticed Anjelica standing.
“It’s getting late and your little ones will probably be up early. Feel free to call at any time.”
He put the sax in its case and followed her to the door. “Thank you. I can’t imagine how I would have handled it or gotten any of it done without you.”
“God provides before we even know to ask. I’m grateful to help.” She reached over and patted his arm.
Her family did that a lot, touched and hugged. For the last three months, he had been trying to avoid her because she would be a complication to his plans. But she ended up being the one to pull everything together and had gotten him through an overwhelming situation. He stepped back before he gave in to the urge to pull her close.
This was not a date. She worked for him. Thoughts of kissing had no business being in his head and needed to be locked down.
She looked so fragile. It just didn’t mesh with the warrior she became for his children. A woman who had lost her own child and husband. He had no right to ask more of her.
She smiled one last time, then left, closing the door behind her.
Restless, he put the clean dishes away and went to stand on the balcony. It felt like a lifetime ago that he stood in this exact spot and saw her running through the storm.
Now he needed rescuing. Before heading to the shower, he secured all the doors and windows. Checking on the children, he just stood in the doorway and watched them. They’d probably be up early and he needed to be alert, but sleep seemed dangerous. He hated letting down his guard for any amount of time.
After one of the shortest showers in his life, he checked on the kids one more time. He couldn’t shake the unease that kept his skin tight when the children were out of his sight.
He was going to learn to cope, or he’d never get any sleep and drive them all crazy.
Selena had moved from Rio’s bed to the rug in front of the crib. She raised her head and watched as Garrett made his way to see Pilar.
Arms out wide, she was still sound asleep. He petted Selena and turned to check on Rio. The small race-car bed was empty.
His heart jumped to his throat. He couldn’t be in the restroom. Had he run away? No, he wouldn’t leave Pilar.
Rushing into the living area, he found a chair in front of the pantry and crackers missing. Doing a quick sweep of the apartment, he found all the windows and doors still locked, so Rio had to be in the apartment somewhere. “Rio.” He kept his voice low and calm.
Scanning under the beds, he saw just boxes. The first night and he’d lost his son already?
Breathe, Garrett. He’s here somewhere. What if he’d hurt himself and couldn’t call out? All the horrific scenarios that could happen to a five-year-old flashed through his mind. He shouldn’t have left him alone.
He grabbed his phone and hit Anjelica’s number. She picked up in one ring. “Garrett, what’s wrong?”
“Rio’s not in his bed. He took crackers out of the pantry and is hiding somewhere. I can’t find him.”
“I’m coming up.”
He searched the apartment until he heard her at the door. “Thanks.” He was saying that a lot lately.
“Not a problem. My guess is that he’s close to Pilar.”
“That’s what I thought, too, but I can’t find him.”
She got down on the floor. “Rio, come here, por favor.” Twisting around, she faced Garrett and pointed under Pilar’s crib.
Going to his hands and knees, he scanned the area again, this time slower. That was when he noticed the boxes of diapers had been moved away from the wall.
“What do I do?” Going in and pulling Rio out by his legs didn’t seem like the best thing to do to a kid who already had issues.
Selena crawled closer to the edge of the crib next to Anjelica. Her tail thumped against the floor. “Rio, you have a really cool hiding place, but you scared your dad.”
Silence. Anjelica reached in and slid a box to the side. There sat Rio, curled up with his superhero blanket.
Garrett got a pillow and comforter from the bed. He joined Anjelica and Selena on the floor. “Hey, little man. If you’re going to be sleeping under your sister’s crib, you need to make a bed. We also have a food rule I didn’t tell you about. If you’re hungry, it’s okay to get it from the pantry, but you have to eat at the table. No food in the bedroom.”
The box of crackers slid out to him. “Okay, thanks. Anjelica is going back to her house for the night. I’ll be in the bedroom next door if you need anything.”
He looked over at the first woman he had spent any time with since his marriage. “I think he’s sleeping there. I used to sleep in my closet. Small spaces can feel safer.”
She nodded. “Good night, Rio. Remember, we care about you and need to know where you are when we call your name.”
Garrett walked her to the door. “Thank you is getting old, but I don’t know what else to say.”
She laughed. “It works, and it never gets old. I’ll have breakfast ready in the morning, including bacon. See you then.”
Once again he closed and locked the door behind her. Standing at the window, he watched until she made it into her house and waited until the lights went out before going to his own bed, where he would toss all night.
* * *
Anjelica stood at the kitchen door, cup of coffee in her hand as the sun’s early-morning light caressed the landscape. She had fed all her fur babies, gathered the eggs and turned the chickens out. Now a debate battled in her head, pinging back and forth.
Should she go upstairs and help Garrett or wait here? The little ones were Garrett’s responsibility, but he had hired her to help. The question was, how much? She knew her family could be a bit forceful in their attempts to help, and she carried the same gene.
During her grief counseling, they’d explored all her weaknesses and strengths, which ironically were the same. Portion control was the key to a happy heart.
What if Garrett was overwhelmed but afraid to ask for help? Taking a sip of coffee, she batted down the urge to run upstairs. It was still early.
The side door of the garage opened and Rio was the first out. He had his hand on Selena’s collar. Behind them, Garrett had Pilar wrapped in a blanket. Her heart did a funny flip-flop at the sight of the Texas trooper and his family.
No, no, no. It was a job.
Seeing her at the door, Rio leaped across the sidewalk and ran to her. Garrett looked like he’d gotten even less sleep than she had. And she didn’t recall ever seeing him with scruff along his jawline. If she refused to acknowledge his masculine beauty, would it stop enticing the dangerous thoughts that stirred in her brain?
Last swallow of coffee for fortification—then she leaned down to greet Rio.
Garrett gave her a sheepish grin. “We’re here. Who knew getting two such small people up and ready would be so complicated.”
Hugging Rio, she lifted him as she stood. “I can help in the mornings if you want. That is why I’m here. Once you go back to work, we can set a schedule. With these guys, we need to be ready for a full-court press.”
He strapped Pilar into her high chair and headed straight to the coffeepot.
“Not sure I have the energy for a full-court press. I’ve never needed coffee the way I need it this morning.” He actually moaned as the hot liquid slid down his throat.
“I have fresh eggs, bacon and sliced tomatoes. Here, sit down and eat. Do you want orange juice or skim milk?” She offered Rio a small cup of each. He held the mug of milk with both hands like Garrett and took a deep drink, then gave his own little moan. Twinges warmed her heart.
She glanced at Garrett to see his reaction, but he had his head buried in his hands. The timer went off. “How about cinnamon rolls? They were made yesterday.”
“I could hang out in your kitchen just for the aromas.” He fed Pilar a couple bites of egg before eating the tomato on his plate.
“You know, you hired me to run interference whenever you need it.” She gave each of the guys a two-inch-tall cinnamon roll. Licking the gooey goodness off her fingers, she sat down at the table.
“My brain is rubbish this morning, but have you made two sport references in the last two minutes?”
She shrugged and winked at him. “In Clear Water, everyone is a Friday-night-lights fan. Plus I was a total tomboy. I actually had a basketball scholarship but got married instead.” Sitting across from him, she grabbed a pear out of the fruit bowl. “Don’t let the girlie clothes fool you. On the court, I’m a fierce Mayan warrior. It’s the Ortega blood.”
Shaking his head, he grinned. “I assumed you were the artsy type that protested violence of any kind.”
Changing the subject would be good. “Do you want more bacon?”
“You don’t have to feed me. I’ve managed several years on my own.”
“You’re not on your own anymore.” She nodded and took a bite from the pear.
He cleared his throat. “For some reason, that scares me even more.”
Reaching across the table, she touched the back of his hand. “We’ve got this. You’ve been given a tremendous gift and it can be consuming, but we’ll do this.” She glanced at the kids. Pilar played with her eggs and Rio stared at them. It looked as if more of the sugar glaze had gotten on his face and shirt than in his stomach. “We’ll set a daily routine and everyone will know what to expect.”
* * *
Garrett shot straight up in his bed. Breathing as if he had just sprinted two hundred yards. Cries echoed in his head. Swinging his body to the edge of the bed, he planted his feet on the cool surface of the wood floors. Slowing his breathing, he closed his eyes and focused on the present in Clear Water, but the cry came again.
Pilar.
In the next room, Pilar cried. He checked his phone. Three in the morning. In the last two weeks, she had settled into a routine. She was off schedule.
Concerned, he went into the room and found her standing against the railing of the crib, her face red and damp from the tears. Rio was holding a bottle to her, but she slapped it away. The little boy turned and glared at him.
“It’s okay, Rio.” He crossed the room. She stretched her arms up to him, wanting him to pick her up. Without hesitation, he complied.
Lowering his voice, he started singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” With one hand on her bottom, he realized it was a little damp, so he took her to the changing table. “Hey, pretty girl, what’s the problem? We’re going to get you a fresh diaper, all right?”
Another cry ripped the room as her back arched. This wasn’t usual for her. She liked talking and cooing while he changed her.
Rio had pulled up a box and stood at the end of the changing table. He touched her face. It didn’t soothe her.
Once she was clean, Garrett lifted her and held her against his shoulder. The soft curls brushed against his stubble as he sang softly against her ear. He’d seen Anjelica do that as she rocked the baby to sleep. Her crying went to a few sniffles and hard hiccups.
Taking a deep breath, Garrett relaxed. He could do this. With another pat on her back, he leaned over the crib to put her back to bed. As soon as he moved her away from him, she started crying again.
Bringing her back to his chest, he started singing. This time it seemed to irritate her. The tiny body stiffened. Rio crossed his arms and glared at him. Even the dog glared.
“It’d help if you could tell me what’s wrong. If at least one of you would talk. I can’t fix the problem if I don’t know what it is.” He cradled her in his arms and started swaying. He offered her the bottle again. That didn’t help. It seemed to make it worse.
He lifted her back to his shoulder. “You know, when you think of being a father, it’s all about playing ball, Christmas mornings and the first bike rides.” He massaged her back. His voice low and soft, he walked. “You don’t imagine the odd hours or how obsessed you become with the bodily functions of another person.”
Pacing back and forth, he tried another song. Maybe he’d done something wrong when he changed her diaper. He laid her down, then took off the onesie and the clean diaper. “Baby girl, I’m trying to fix it.” Her skin was smooth, not a mark or blemish.
After what seemed like an hour of Pilar fussing, nodding off, then crying again while Rio and the dog glared at him, he wanted to cry himself. Rio turned his back and marched out the door, Selena on his heels.
“Rio!” A sigh didn’t even begin to express his level of frustration as he followed his son.
At the front door, Rio reached up and unlocked it. Okay, he needed to place the lock higher. “It’s four in the morning. We are not going outside.” The duo headed down the stairs. Anjelica. He was going to Anjelica for help.
Okay, so my son is smarter than me. Or maybe the little guy just had better parenting skills.
Whispering soft nonsense words to Pilar, he passed Rio and walked across the driveway to the kitchen door. Pilar’s cries had turned to sniffles. “Hang on, baby girl. We’re getting help.”
Standing in front of the old wood door, he noticed areas had peeled off, showing years of different paint colors. Pilar nuzzled her nose against his neck. Maybe she had gone back to sleep. He took a step back, about to turn and head back to his living quarters.
Pilar opened her mouth and let out a yell as if he had pinched her. The door opened and Anjelica stood there in an oversize T-shirt and sweats. She glanced down at Rio and Selena, then brought her gaze back to him and Pilar.
“What’s up with the family field trip?” She laid a hand on the baby’s back.
“I can’t settle her down. I’ve changed her twice, tried to feed her and walked or rocked until... I just don’t know what else to do. Rio thought you might be able to help.” Okay, so why had he just ratted out his son? “I agreed. So here we are.”
She took Pilar. “You and Rio had a conversation about this?”
“Well, no. He walked down the stairs and I followed. Sorry—I know you’re not officially on duty, and I hate bothering you, but I don’t know what to do to make her all right.”
“Have you taken her temp? She feels slightly warm.”
He hadn’t even thought about her being sick. “No. How do I take her temperature?” He dug his fingers into his hair.
“My aunt left a kit for you that includes an ear thermometer.”
“I have to poke something in her ear? That doesn’t sound safe.”
Pilar reached for him, her lashes wet from tears. “I think she wants you.”
“Why? I haven’t been able to help her at all.” Garrett’s hands engulfed her little chubby body. “Should we give her something for the fever?” As he cradled her, she grabbed his thumb and started gnawing on it. Eyes closed, she slobbered all over his hand as her gums went back and forth. “She’s trying to eat me.”
Anjelica laughed. “I think we might have our answer to what’s wrong.” Moving around him, she took Rio’s hand and headed up the stairs to the apartment. “If she is cutting teeth, it can be painful. Can you feel anything on her gums?”
“But she already has teeth.”
“Yes, and she will get more, a whole mouthful.”
Pausing, Garrett watch the look of bliss transform the little face as he rubbed a calloused thumb over the swollen gum. “I think I feel something right under the surface.” Eyebrows pulled, he looked at her. “How do I fix it so it stops hurting her?”
“Let’s take her temp, then go from there, okay?” Anjelica made her way to the nursery and opened the top drawer of the light green dresser. With a weird-looking gun-shaped instrument, she moved to stand in front of him.
Instinctively, he pulled Pilar closer to him. “What are you going to do with that? It looks like it might hurt.”
A tiny fist hit Anjelica’s thigh. A scowl that mirrored Garrett’s was planted on his small face.
“Rio!” Garrett’s voice came a little sharper than he intended, causing everyone to jump. Pilar started fussing again. “Shh...baby girl, I’m sorry. It’s okay.” He turned to his son and took a knee. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but you can’t hit. You have to use your words.”
The small boy reached over and touched his sister’s face.
“I want her to be better, too. But I can’t allow you to hit people. In this house, we talk. I promise not to hit Pilar, Anjelica or you. I might yell, but I’ll never hit you, and I expect the same from you. We’ll fix problems by talking, using our words. Do you understand?”
Rio nodded, then looked up at Anjelica. He licked his lips.
Anjelica dropped to Rio’s level also, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Your father asked if this will hurt her. Are you worried about that, too?”
Arms crossed over his middle, he glanced at Garrett.
“Go ahead—use your words.”
Thick eyelashes blinked a few times and the only sound in the room was the slurping of Pilar chewing on Garrett’s thumb. She fell back to being content in the midst of tension.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He spoke! He shot his gaze to Anjelica. Oh no. For a moment, Garrett thought Anjelica would start crying. What if that made Rio think he had done something wrong?
He smiled at the boy and patted him on the shoulder. “Good job, Rio.”
Anjelica pushed some loose strands of hair back and cleared her throat. “Yes, nice job. I love hearing your voice. Now, about the ear thermometer. What if I show you how it is done? I can use it on your dad first.”
Rio shook his head. “Me. Try on me.”
“Okay. Ready?” She leaned in closer and showed him the gun, pointing out the details. “I’m going to put it in your ear and push the button. You won’t feel a thing.” A moment later she showed the screen to Rio. “It says you have a temp of ninety-eight. That’s perfect. Now that you know it won’t hurt her, let’s get Pilar’s temp.”
Garrett stayed on his knee, with Rio holding Pilar’s hand as Anjelica did her thing. “She has a slight fever. I would hate giving her anything at this point. Let the fever do its job.” She looked at Garrett and grinned. “Chewing on you seems to help. I do believe you’re the biggest chew toy I’ve ever seen.”
“But how do I get any sleep?” He glanced at the clock. “I have to be at work in four hours.”
“We can try some numbing cream for her gums and—” she moved to the basket of toys “—let’s see if there’s a toy to replace your thumb.”
“They make cream for cutting teeth and we have some?”
“Yes, thanks to my family. I’m sure it was Aunt Maggie. She thinks of everything. Since it’s so late, or early, depending on how you look at it, let’s go ahead and settle them into bed. I’ll stay with the kids and you can get a little sleep before going to work, and you won’t have to wake them up to bring them to me.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s best for everyone.”
How would he have survived without her? How had his mother done it all without help? He’d never realized how tired she must have been all the time.
She knew how hard it was to raise two kids alone. One message was the only contact he had had with her in the last two weeks. She was loud and clear about her thoughts of Viviana and told him to let the state take care of them until he knew for sure Rio was his. His mother had never been a fan of his ex-wife.
He stood at the door and watched as Anjelica helped Rio organize the bed he had created under the crib. When she turned and found him staring, she raised her eyebrows.
“Go on with you. We’ve got this covered, and you need to get your sleep so I don’t have to worry about you tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He needed to leave before he started thinking about her being here permanently and how it felt to be worried over. “Thank you.” The words sounded low and rough.
In order to break the invisible chain that held him to the spot, Garrett closed his eyes and spun away from Anjelica and the children.
Creating a fantasy life around a woman had never worked out and now he had a son paying the price. He had one mission and that was to stay focused on Rio and Pilar.