“What got into him?” Josie asked as the door closed behind Clay.
“I’m not sure.” Nicki turned away to gather her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. Clay rushing out on her shouldn’t come as a shock. He was just being true to form.
“I hope it wasn’t something I said.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Nicki sought to reassure her friend. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
After leaving the school, Nicki stopped to pick up a few things at the store before heading home. When she pulled into the driveway beside her apartment, she saw her mom’s car parked in the street.
Casting her gaze skyward, Nicki muttered, “Please, God, I’m not up to a round of drama with my mother.”
Bracing herself, Nicki extracted Kasey from her car seat and carried her toward the front door. It opened as she reached it. Nicki had given her mother a spare key shortly after moving into the apartment. Glenis took advantage of the fact to come and go as she pleased.
“Hi, Mom. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Glenis replied with a tight smile. “I thought I’d drop by and see if you wanted to go shopping with me this afternoon. I didn’t realize I’d beat you home from school. I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in.”
“Of course not.” Nicki did mind, but knew it wasn’t a point worth arguing about. Ever since her husband’s death, Glenis had become overly involved in her daughter’s life.
Kasey stuck out her hands and chirped. “Nana.”
Glenis took Kasey who went to her happily. Nicki followed the pair into the living room. “I’d love to go shopping, but I can’t.”
Sitting on the sofa, Glenis released Kasey who scrambled down and headed for her toy box.
Nicki sank down beside her mother and sighed. “I’ve got the next unit’s lesson plans to finalize and a ton of housework that needs to be done.”
Glenis ran her finger along the top of end table. “Things do seem a little dusty.”
Nicki rolled her eyes. “I’ve been busy.”
“Spending time with Clay Logan?”
So that was what this impromptu visit was really about. “Clay and I both worked at the Old Town Hall the other night, but I’d hardly call that spending time with him.”
“Yet he was in your classroom all morning.”
Nicki shouldn’t be surprised her mother was so well informed. Besides being on the rebuilding committee for the Old Town Hall, her mother was also the hub of a tight-knit group of gossips.
“Clay spent the morning with my class in order to get to know his niece better.”
“Nicki, you need to watch out for that man.”
“You act like he’s an ax murderer.”
“He’s a drifter with no means of support. You father would never have approved of him.”
“Daddy would have liked that Clay has come back to help rebuild the town.”
“I wish I believed that was his only motive for returning. I saw the way he looked at you the other day.”
“Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill, Mom. I’m not an impressionable teenager, anymore.”
“But you can be rash and impulsive.”
If her mother thought she was reckless, what would she make of Nicki’s decision to adopt Kasey? Perhaps it was time to find out.
Drawing a deep breath, Nicki said, “I certainly don’t think of myself as impulsive. I’ve put a lot of thought and prayer into what I want to do next with my life.”
Eyes narrowed, Glenis demanded, “What does that mean?”
“It means that I’ve begun the petition to adopt Kasey.”
Glenis sat back with a look of shock on her face. “You can’t be serious.”
“I thought you’d be happy. I thought you adored Kasey.”
“Of course I adore her. She’s a darling child. But fostering is one thing, tying yourself down for life with a child is something all together different. Being a single parent is no easy task.”
“I think I’m getting the hang of it. Kasey’s been with me for months now.”
“You’ve become attached to her, that’s obvious, but are you being fair to her, Nicki? Doesn’t she deserve a family with two parents to love her?”
“She deserves to be happy and loved in a stable home. I can give her that.”
“I assume you’ve made up your mind?”
“I have. I love her like my own child. We belong together.”
“And what if her family is found after you go through with this? What then? I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Nicki embraced her mother. “I know you don’t, but please say that you’ll support me in this.”
Glenis returned her hug. “I’ve always wanted what’s best for you. I’m just not sure this is it.”
Nicki sat back and struggled to hide her disappointment. Kasey toddled over to hand her the toys she held. “Bocks. Me bocks.”
Smiling at her, Nicki nodded. “Yes, honey, those are your blocks. Show me the red block.”
Kasey grabbed the correct color and held it up, a wide grin on her face. Sweeping back her foster daughter’s fine, blond hair, Nicki said, “That’s right.”
Glenis rose. “Promise me you won’t rush into this thing.”
Looking up, Nicki saw the genuine concern in her mother’s eyes. “I promise, but that doesn’t mean I’ll change my mind.”
When the turnoff to the Circle-L Ranch came into view, Clay tightened his grip on the steering wheel to keep his hands from shaking. He was home. A place he thought he’d never see again.
The last time he’d passed under the archway he vowed he’d never come back.
Memories rushed at him so fast he could barely breathe. He saw himself sitting silent and filled with remorse in the front seat of Jesse’s truck. His furious and just as silent brother was driving him home from the High Plains police station as dawn was breaking.
The heated words had come later. Clay struggled to block them from his mind.
Turning onto the gravel road, he tried to prepare what he’d say this time when he faced Jesse. Everything that came to mind seemed inadequate in the face of all that had happened.
Clay wasn’t used to trusting God, but he prayed that He would deliver the right words when the moment arrived.
The butterflies in his stomach churned madly as he drove up and parked in front of the house. Stepping out of his truck, he let his gaze sweep over the place. The two-story stone-and-wood home built by his ancestors hadn’t changed much. The broad porch that wrapped around the house still welcomed visitors and offered the perfect spot to sit and look out over the sweeping Flint Hills.
He could see the new repairs to the roof and kitchen wall. The path of the twister leading away from the ranch and out into the hills was still evident in the torn-up earth and stripped trees. It would take years before those signs were erased by nature.
The rest of the place, the barn, corrals and outbuildings looked in great shape. Jesse was a good steward.
Sucking up his courage, Clay climbed the porch steps and knocked on the door.
When a harried-looking young woman with long dark hair and a crying baby in her arms answered, it took him completely by surprise. Through the open entryway he could hear more crying.
“Yes? Can I help you?” She bounced the baby faster but the crying only escalated.
“Is Jesse Logan here?”
She blew out an annoyed breath. “I wish he were. He’s at a cattle sale somewhere and he’s late.”
After all Clay’s nervous anticipation Jesse wasn’t even home. The tension drained out of Clay leaving him disappointed. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“Not soon enough. Look, I’m busy. What do you want?” Her brusque tone shocked him.
“I’m Jesse’s brother. I was hoping to have a word with him.”
“Okay. Maya called this morning and told me to expect you, but that was hours ago.”
Regaining his composure, Clay put on his most disarming smile and held out his hand. “I’m sorry for any inconvenience. I didn’t know anyone was expecting me. I’m Clay.”
“Mitzy. I’m the nanny.”
“From the sounds of things I’m guessing it’s a tough job.”
Giving an abrupt exasperated sigh, she said, “You have no idea. I had no idea!”
“I’ve come a long way to see Jesse. When do you think he’ll be home?”
“He called and said he was running late and that he’d be back about two. He’s making me late. I was supposed to leave by now.”
Clay glanced at his watch. It was a few minutes before one. He managed a wry smile. “Guess I’ll wait for him if you don’t mind. Is this one of the triplets?”
“This is Madison—I think. Today’s my first day. The other one you hear is Brooke, and I’m sure Sasha won’t be asleep for long. None of them have slept much today.”
He leaned closer to see the child’s face. “Hey, Madison, I’m your uncle Clay.”
His niece didn’t seem impressed. “Maya said they were cuter than a bug’s ears.”
Mitzy rolled her eyes. “My grandmother lives across the street from Maya. Granny’s the one who convinced me to apply for this job.”
He laughed. “I’m not sure she did you a favor.”
She didn’t smile. “That’s the truth. I’m never having kids of my own.”
Mitzy turned away and left the doorway. “Look, if you want to wait that’ll be fine but I’ve got to feed this one. She’s hungry—like her sister. This is definitely harder than what I signed up for.”
Clay followed her inside. Although the place hadn’t changed much on the outside, it was clear Jesse’s wife had updated the interior to suit her own tastes. The stone fireplace still dominated the living room, but the furniture was more stylish than the well-used sofa and chairs he remembered from his childhood. At one end of the room, three white basinets were lined up. Hand-lettered cards taped to the end of the beds bore each girl’s name.
Mitzy disappeared into the kitchen and came out with two bottles in her free hand.
“Here.” She pushed the blanket-swaddled baby into his arms and handed him one bottle
He clutched them both. “Wait a minute.”
With pure teenaged disdain, she said, “I need to take care of the one that’s crying. Just feed her. Madison is a good eater.”
Looking from the bottle to the baby, he realized he didn’t have a clue where to start. His niece scrunched up her tiny face and started wailing again.
He followed Mitzy and tried to keep the panic out of his voice. “I don’t know anything about feeding babies.”
Mitzy barely glanced at him. She was busy changing the next triplet’s diaper. “It’s simple. You put the nipple in her mouth. Just be sure to keep it tipped so that she doesn’t suck in air.”
Gingerly repositioning the baby to get a straight shot at her mouth, he placed the nipple on her lips. For one second, she rooted wildly then latched on and began sucking eagerly. The noise volume dropped by half.
Clay grinned brightly at Mitzy. “She’s taking it.”
“That’s what babies do.” Picking up the lone squalling infant, Mitzy walked to the sofa, plunked herself down and started feeding the child she held.
Carefully lowering himself to a seated position on the other end of the couch, Clay kept his gaze glued to Madison. Suddenly, she sputtered and began coughing.
Yanking the bottle out of her mouth, he looked to Mitzy. “What do I do?”
“Sit her upright.”
He tried, but the baby curled into a ball, and he nearly dropped her. He did drop the bottle. It rolled under the coffee table.
“Good grief.” Mitzy laid her charge at the back of the sofa and took Madison from him. Lifting the baby to her shoulder, she gently patted her back. His niece’s belch became a wet gurgle as she upchucked on Mitzy’s shoulder.
“Ugh!” Mitzy held the baby away as formula ran down her blouse.
Clay froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. “I told you I didn’t know how to feed a baby.”
Tipping her head back, Mitzy closed her eyes. “This is totally gross.”
Taking Madison to the basinet, Mitzy exchanged the baby’s wet blanket for a clean one and then wiped at the smelly stain on her shirt.
When she was finished, she grimaced at Clay. “I’m really glad you’re here because I have a date in half an hour and now I have to go home and change first. Tell Jesse I’ll see him in the morning.”
Snatching her purse from the end of the coffee table, she marched across the room.
Clay shot to his feet. “What? No! You can’t leave them with me!”
He started to follow her, but stopped when he realized one baby was still on the sofa. It didn’t seem safe to just leave her lying there.
Mitzy waved one hand as she disappeared into the entryway. “You’re their uncle. You’ll take good care of them. The formula for Sasha is in the fridge. Warm it in a bowl of hot water before you give it to her.”
“Mitzy, please.” He heard the front door slam. She really was leaving.
Unable to believe it, he scooped up the child on the sofa and deposited her in the empty basinet, then rushed to the door. Wrenching it open, he bolted down the steps, but he wasn’t fast enough. She was already in her car.
He caught up with her and rapped on the window. “Mitzy, don’t do this. I don’t know anything about kids.”
She rolled her eyes, then lowered the window. “Feed them and they’ll sleep. I have to go. I told your brother there would be days when I couldn’t stay late.”
Raising the window, she put the car in gear and took off. Stunned, Clay stood in the drive watching until the dust settled. Gradually, the sound of crying reached him. His gaze settled on the open front door. What was he supposed to do now?
Raking a hand through his hair, he glanced skyward. “Lord, please don’t do this to me. A little help would be a good thing right now. Send Mitzy a change of heart before she hits the highway, please.”
Clay waited, but no Heavenly help appeared in the form of a remorseful nanny or anyone else. “Jesse is gonna kill me.”
The crying from inside the house had risen in volume. With leaden feet, Clay climbed the steps. In the living room, he stared at the cribs where all three babies were now voicing their unhappiness.
He desperately needed help. He had no idea how to reach Jesse. Clay remembered that Maya wasn’t at home so there was no use calling her. Turning around, he strode into the kitchen, located a phone book and breathed a sigh of relief when he found the number he was looking for.
Dialing it, he held his breath as he waited for Nicki to pick up. Would she come?