“YOU’RE AWFULLY QUIET. It’s not like you.”
Zoe glanced over at Nealy, lounging on her right, not able to read her friend’s expression under the thick moisturizer slathered on her face and the cucumber slices hiding her eyes. They’d met up to take advantage of the spa day Mitch had won in the silent action at the fundraiser.
On the other side, Jenna rose to lean on her elbow, lifting one cucumber slice to view Zoe while the other slipped to her lap. Lilli, on the far side, cocked her head, waiting for Zoe’s answer.
“This is supposed to be a fun girl’s day,” Jenna said. “What’s up?”
Zoe sighed. Did she want to rehash her last conversation with Mitch? He was right. Her actions didn’t exactly place her in an altruistic light. For the past couple days, she’d been searching her soul, wondering if indeed she was trying to boss Mitch. So far, she hadn’t come up with a sure answer. She liked to think she was more evolved than that, but the guilt niggling her made her question her motives. Maybe some girl talk would help straighten her out.
“I think I made a mistake with Mitch.”
Nealy, reclining comfortably on her back, snorted. Lilli emitted a loud sigh.
Jenna angled on the soft leather lounger to face Zoe, confusion crossing her features. “I thought things were good between you guys.”
“Good is a relative term.”
“Didn’t we talk about you cutting the guy some slack?” Nealy asked.
The sad thing was, she thought she had been.
After a bone-melting massage, including a hot-stone treatment, Zoe’s muscles were so relaxed she could hardly move. The girls had then been cleansed, exfoliated and soothed with an aromatic body scrub. Now, wrapped in fluffy robes and reclining in very comfortable lounge chairs, lulled by scented candles and rhythmic New Age music, they were waiting for the deep moisturizing facial mask to do its magic before finishing up the visit with a manicure.
Zoe snuggled into the robe, secretly glad her friends had called her out. Mitch had paid a pretty penny for this spa day, plus, he was watching Leo while she enjoyed being pampered, making her feel even more guilty over her actions.
“Mr. Haynes is retiring. I talked him into letting Mitch take over his studio.”
At this revelation, Nealy removed the green slice and peered at her with one judging eye. “Without asking him first, I assume?”
She cringed. “Yes.”
With a scoff, Nealy replaced the cucumber. “I’m thinking he didn’t take it well?”
“No. I guess I don’t blame him, but when I got the brain wave, it just made sense.”
“To you.”
Zoe sank into her chair a little farther.
While Lilli sat up, Jenna swung her bare feet over the foot of the lounger. “What was your thinking process?”
Grateful to be able to voice her motivation, she took a quick sip from the tall glass of herbal tea on the table beside her.
“There’s no way Mitch can travel right now, but he needs something to pour his energy into. I get that being stuck inside a building all day might not be his thing, but I felt he needed purpose. A steady job gives him that.”
“And keeps him in Cypress Pointe,” Lilli added.
“Well, yes.” Zoe paused. Might as well spill the rest. “So I made the arrangements and had Mitch meet me at the studio where I told him the good news.”
“Without Mr. Haynes there so Mitch couldn’t tell him no?” Nealy asked, questioning the brilliance in Zoe’s plan.
Zoe frowned. “When you put it that way…”
“There is no other way,” Nealy harrumphed, crossing her arms over her chest.
Jenna shot Nealy a stern look, the move lost by the vegetables covering Nealy’s eyes, then softened her features when she looked back at Zoe. “I understand your desire to help him, but the delivery…”
“Granted. Not my best moment.”
Nealy brushed off the cucumber slices and propped herself up. “Let’s cut to the chase. Now what?”
Good question. Mitch was obviously still miffed with her, if his chilly greeting this morning when he came to babysit Leo was any indication. She’d wanted to explain, but his body language made her take pause. Plus, she was running late. Leo had been up half the night, fussy over the eruption of a new tooth, tugging at his ear and causing her to fall seriously behind.
“I’m sort of between a rock and a hard place. I told Mr. Haynes that Mitch would take over right away and he’s made plans to go on a cruise. In the meantime, I have no idea if Mitch will honor my word. If he doesn’t show up at the studio, who will I find to fill in?”
“Then you should have—”
Zoe held up a hand to cut Nealy off midsentence. “The worst part is Mitch told me I need to decide what I want, and he’s right. Do I want my family intact even if Mitch is unhappy about my interference? Or does he travel again and I go ahead with the divorce? There’s no easy choice here.”
A spa attendant poked her head into the room to check on the women. After assuring the attendant they were fine, they all sat in silence for a few moments.
“Why do you need to rush things?” Lilli asked in her quiet, subdued tone. “Just be thankful Mitch is back, alive. It gives you both a chance to fix your marriage. If that’s what you want.” She paused. “That is what you want?”
Zoe’s eyes teared. “Mitch has really changed. He’s said things, done things that show me he realizes how bad our relationship had become. Acknowledges the issues between us. Why can’t I seem to find the grace to accept these changes and work with him?”
Nealy took her hand. “You don’t want to be disappointed again.”
Jenna took her other. “You don’t want to lose him again.”
Her gaze went back and forth between her friends. “Wow. I’m pretty pathetic, aren’t I?”
“No. Rightfully conflicted.” Nealy straightened the neckline of her robe. “Mitch’s return was as much of a shock as was the word of his dying. You’ve been on an emotional merry-go-round for a long time now.” Her lips curved into a rueful frown. “I can’t imagine the confusion muddling that busy head of yours.”
“I have to agree with Nealy,” Jenna added. “You’re borrowing trouble by forcing events and some kind of normalcy in your lives. Yes, it goes against the nature of Zoe, but you can’t control this, my friend. Let time work out the answers.”
Could it be that way? Did she have the patience to wait out what would become of their marriage? Their family? Did she have a choice?
The attendant returned to inform them that it was time to remove the masks and move on to the next pampering phase. Before they left the room, Zoe stopped her friends.
“I appreciate your honesty. All of you. And I will let time take its course. I promise to work on that area of my life.”
Her friends beamed at her.
“Starting tomorrow.”
Nealy’s smiled faded. “What did you do?”
“I might have asked your significant others to stop by and check on Mitch and Leo while we were out. My mom has an art show and I didn’t think the boys should be home alone.”
Nealy let out a low whistle.
“Why didn’t we know?” Jenna asked.
“Because I swore them to secrecy. Asked them to make it look like a spur of the moment idea to stop by the house.”
Lilli closed her eyes and shook her head. “Mitch is not going to like this.”
“And I’m betting he’ll figure out it was my doing.”
“Good grief,” Jenna puffed. “You don’t know when you have a good thing.”
“What do you say after the manicure we go have lunch?” Zoe suggested in a bright tone.
“And let you off the hook?” Nealy’s eyes narrowed. “No way.”
“Nealy’s right on the money today,” Lilli said. “However unpleasant, you need to go home and face the music.”
“I was afraid one of you would say that.”
“And so do our guys.” Lilli shook her head. “What were they thinking?”
“They all kinda owe me.”
All three women stared blankly at her.
“Dane needed a building permit expedited and I spoke to the right people. Max needed information for a certain case he’s working on and I steered him in the right direction.”
“And Wyatt?” Jenna piped up.
“He owes me for keeping Mitch’s return a secret. I’m still not over the fact that the two of them didn’t include me in the news.”
Lilli tilted her head and considered Zoe. “You’re downright scary.”
“Maybe, but I get the job done.”
The attendant entered the room again, her voice urgent. “Ladies, we need to get the masks off your skin now.”
Lilli and Jenna followed the woman dressed in white. Before Zoe could join them, Nealy took hold of her arm and pulled her aside.
“You do understand the message you sent Mitch, right?”
“I do.”
“You won’t be able to talk or steamroll your way out of this one.”
“I know that, too.”
“What were you thinking?”
“That I’m a mother who has to watch out for her son.”
“From his own father?”
“From a father who is not one hundred percent healthy.”
Nealy dropped her hand. “You crossed the line this time.”
Zoe knew it. Knew she’d have to face up to her actions. Hoped Mitch was a bigger person than she apparently was turning out to be.
* * *
THE FOUR MEN were poised in various locations around the living room. All eyes were on the little guy sitting in the middle of the floor, staring back at them, his cheeks flaming red and wet, a thumb stuck defiantly in his mouth. Leo had been fussy and fretful since Mitch had arrived earlier that morning. Having the other guys show up had done nothing to ease Leo’s mood.
He’d already had one tantrum and cried until he couldn’t breathe, freaking Mitch out in the process. The guys had tried to distract him with toys and games, but nothing had worked. Leo had now decided to sit silently, daring them all to continue the staring contest.
“Now what do we do?” Dane asked in a low tone.
Max shrugged. “You got me.”
“He’s only one little kid,” Dane continued. “How is he getting the best of us?”
Wyatt pushed off from the couch to lift Leo. “You guys are clueless.”
“Clearly. You’re the only one with experience,” Dane volleyed back.
At the head of the clueless pack sat Mitch. He rubbed his aching temple. Took into his arms the drooling baby held out before him by his buddy. “It’s okay,” Mitch cooed into his son’s ear once he got Leo settled on his lap. “Daddy’s got you.”
“Looks to me like you’re getting the hang of this thing,” Max commented.
Mitch raised an eyebrow, his voice filled with amusement. “Right, because you guys just happened to stop by to see my parenting skills in action.”
The guys exchanged guilty glances.
“Fess up. Zoe sent you.”
Dane caved first. “It wasn’t like we had much choice,” he groused. Then realized what he’d said. “Not that we minded coming by,” he amended.
Wyatt chuckled. “Just stop.”
“Really,” Max interposed. “For a guy coming back from the dead to the shock of finding out he’s a father, you’ve taken it in stride.”
Mitch glanced down at Leo and was rewarded with a drooly grin. “The more time I spend with this little guy, I can’t tell if I’m gaining ground or totally inept.”
“You aren’t the first parent to question their abilities,” Wyatt said, the only man in the group with any kind of daily interaction with children.
“I’ll admit, Zoe sending in backup rankles, like she still doesn’t trust me.” Leo sagged against him, close to sleep, Mitch guessed. Hoped.
The guys moved the conversation to sports, which suited Mitch just fine. He’d suspected Zoe of dispatching his friends to the house from the off. At first, he’d been annoyed. She really had to get a grip on this whole control thing. But when Leo started fussing, it was a help to have three other men trying to soothe the baby. Humorous, almost. But a good feeling. One of belonging. Something he’d given up when he’d gone on the road. Zoe had always understood this village mentality, which brought him back to being annoyed again.
Did she still not trust that he had Leo’s best interests at heart? Every time he started to get comfortable, she pulled something like the guys showing up today. Was she thinking he’d mess up? Prove he didn’t have what it takes for the long haul?
Before he could answer his own questions, a knock pounded on the door and the police chief let himself in. Leo jumped at the commotion, then held out his arms when the burly man stepped into the living room. The chief said a general hello to the room then stopped to ruffle Leo’s hair.
“Samantha forgot one of her paint boxes. I’ll be in and out in a jiff.”
The baby kicked against Mitch, reaching out to the chief. Mitch rose and followed the older man to the art studio.
“Sure Samantha didn’t send you to check up on me?” Mitch asked as Leo bounced in his arms.
“Nah. She did forget something.” Bob searched the room littered with all types of art paraphernalia, finding the sought-after box in the corner. “Usually Samantha needs a second pair of eyes before she leaves for a show, but I met her there.” He retrieved the box and held it up. “See?”
“Sorry. Zoe asked the guys over to make sure everything was okay here, so I’m a little peeved. It’s like she still doesn’t trust me with our son.”
“It’s gonna take time. She’s been the lone parent for a good long time now.”
“I get that, I just…” Mitch shook his head.
Leo nearly bounced out of his arms. Mitch handed him over to the chief.
“Actually, I’m glad you stopped by.” Mitch rubbed his temple. “I was going to call you this week.”
“What’s up?” Bob asked as he chucked Leo’s chin.
“After we spoke the other day, I had a flashback that gave me more concrete details about the accident. I remember the name of one of the guys with me that day. I’m trying to find his whereabouts, but I wondered if you had any advice.”
Bob’s serious gaze met his. “How about be careful?”
“I think that’s a given.”
“Really, Mitch. There’s no tellin’ what might happen if you contact this man. You might be stirrin’ up trouble”
“Or getting answers. If I don’t find him, I keep on second-guessing.”
“That is true.” Bob pulled his finger away from Leo, who had grabbed on and was trying to stuff it in his tiny mouth.
“I think what I really want to ask is, can I call you if I feel like I’m getting in too deep?”
Bob’s gaze pierced his, straight on. “You know you can. We’re practically family.”
Mitch grinned. “Things are progressing with Samantha?”
“Now that you’re back, she worries less about Zoe. Which means she pays more attention to me, so yeah, things are moving to the next level.”
“You’d better tell Zoe soon.”
“When Samantha is ready. Speaking of which—” he handed Leo back to Mitch and the baby let out a disappointed whimper “—I’d better get going before she wonders where I ran off to.”
“Thanks, Chief.”
“You bet.” He stopped. Placed a beefy hand on Mitch’s shoulder. “You got a room full of friends out there that’ll help same as me. And Max has contacts. You might want to include him in this search of yours.”
Mitch had thought about it, but once you told two or more people, you lost control of how and where the information went. He didn’t know enough yet to get Max involved. He especially didn’t know enough to risk Zoe finding out.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” Bob lightly slapped his arm. “Now I’m off.”
Mitch went back to the living room. One by one, the guys took off, busy with Saturday morning errands. Soon a quiet calm settled over the house and Mitch sank onto the sofa, a drowsy Leo snuggled up against him. Before he knew it, the two of them had dozed off. The next thing he knew, Zoe stood over them, a soft smile lighting her face.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey back.” She lightly touched Leo’s head. “Things okay here?”
“You mean since your accomplices are gone?”
Her face colored. “About that…”
Leo shifted, sensing his mother nearby. He opened droopy eyes and mumbled.
“Let me get him to bed,” Zoe said as she lifted him from Mitch’s lap. “Then we’ll talk.”
While Zoe put him down, Mitch went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Midafternoon. Where had the day gone?
Shaking off the cobwebs, he watched the dark brew fill the pot. The bracing aroma started to perk him up as he gathered his thoughts. He and Zoe needed to get on the same parenting page. Today.
“Leo went right back to sleep,” Zoe said as she came into the kitchen. “With that tooth he’s cutting, none of us got much sleep last night.”
Mitch took two mugs from the cabinet and poured. Handed her a steaming cup then leaned back against the counter while Zoe took a seat at the table.
“I owe you an apology,” she started.
“How about an explanation?”
She blew on the hot drink, obviously biding her time.
“You’ve got to let your guard down, Zoe. I won’t hurt Leo.”
“You’re just now getting back to normal.”
He was a long way from normal. His leg was stable enough that he used the cane less, his arm strong after therapy, but the headaches and dizzy spells continued to hit him without warning. He was well aware of how far from normal he still was. But he would never intentionally compromise his son. If he felt a headache coming on, he’d made arrangements to keep his mom on speed dial.
“Take the health factor out of the equation. Do you really think I would put Leo in danger?”
He watched her swallow. Ran a hand through his hair. He had been holding out on her, hadn’t he? Not admitting that as he uncovered more about the accident, the gravity of the situation was as debilitating as the headaches that plagued him late at night?
“Zoe, life happens. We won’t always be able to control every little aspect of Leo’s life. Especially when he gets older.”
She rubbed the scar on her arm. Always the reminder of what happened when things spun terribly out of control.
He closed the space between them and took a seat beside her. Took a chance and reached to grasp her hand and held back his relief when she didn’t pull away. “Right now you, we, are Leo’s whole world. But that won’t last. Are you going to limit him by playing it safe his entire life?”
“And what do you suggest? That I let you take him to parts unknown?”
“I’m not saying that. I merely want a chance. Between not wanting to leave Leo alone with me or finding me a job you deem as suitable, something’s bound to go wrong.”
“That’s your opinion.”
He let out a long sigh. “Which leads me to believe this is another fruitless conversation.”
She met his gaze. He read the turmoil there but also the gentleness. “I was wrong to send reinforcements today. You are doing great with Leo.”
“But…?”
“No buts. I mean it.”
“Every time you orchestrate our surroundings, you undermine my confidence.”
Her eyes went wide.
“You’ve had time to get used to having a child. Had time to figure out the ins and outs of parenting. You’re ahead of the curve while I’m desperately striving to catch up.”
Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. “I’ll work harder at letting go of some control.”
“It has to stop, Zoe. We’re in this together, whether we stay married or not. Agreed?”
She puffed out her cheeks. “Agreed.”
“And I’ll keep making strides in the parenting role. Together we should be able to make positive progress.”
A lone tear slipped down her cheek. Without thought, he reached over to thumb it away. When he touched her satiny soft skin, they both froze. At that moment, nothing could have forced Mitch to move away. He leaned forward, his intent to kiss her clear as he cupped her face. She moved in, until their lips brushed. Tenderness tugged at his chest. This is what he’d been hoping for, a chance to renew their relationship, not second-guess each other.
Zoe angled her head and the kiss became deeper. She held on to his arms while they reconnected, remembered the vows they had shared so many years ago.
He broke the kiss, staring into her eyes. “We can make this work, Zoe. I want to try.”
Just as she opened her mouth to reply, her phone pinged. She blinked before slowly moving away to pick it up. She read the message, placed the phone on the table and averted her eyes.
“Problem?”
“No. It’s, um, Tim. He wanted to know if I’m free for coffee.”
Why did it seem as if they were moving forward, only to have another setback thrown into the mix?
It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to express his frustration. He took Zoe’s mug back. “I’d say you are.”
“Mitch—”
“I can stay here with Leo.”
She slowly rose, pushing in the chair. “I at least owe Tim the courtesy of telling him where we stand.”
“Which is?”
“That you and I are working on co-parenting. Which won’t leave time for dating.”
The pent-up air in him escaped like a pinprick piercing a balloon.
“And the other? Making our marriage work?”
“You’re right. I have to make a decision. The only way to do that is for us to spend time together. Fix the trouble or decide to go our separate ways.”
He nodded.
“You promise to thoroughly consider the future? You owe me that much.”
Relief swept through him. “I can do that.”
She sent him a small smile. “Then no more babysitters for the babysitter. Let’s move forward.” Grabbing her phone, Zoe swept out of the room. Mitch leaned against the table, a flicker of hope flaring inside him. Zoe was giving them a chance.
He went back to the counter to pick up his mug, a shadow looming over his joy. He hadn’t lied when he’d agreed to consider the future. In fact, the future was all he thought about. Problem was, it was all tied up with the past, and he could only hope that what he discovered about the accident didn’t ruin the positive truce he and Zoe had reached today.