| |
Tiny Tim Studio of Dance
Three hours after their trip the outlet mall, Nathan held Feather’s hand over her head and let her spin like a “fancy lady dancer,” a term she used to describe waltzes she’d seen in old movies. She’d refused to remove her puffy red jacket that looked a lot like Kayley’s. Feather was glowing from exertion a few minutes after Nathan asked her to dance. She loved seeing herself in the wall of mirrors and preened and pirouetted like a pro.
Rainbow had been quietly observant through the shopping trip and their lunch at a chain restaurant at the mall. Feather had loved the milkshake with cookie crumbs in it. Three adults indulging her was a new experience and she’d lapped it up like a cat with cream.
Kayley had stuck with Rainbow, chatting, and engaging in light chat. He couldn’t be sure, but it seemed Rainbow had relaxed with her.
“Feather, after this next spin, we need to go home,” her mother said. “Remember I booked us a sleigh ride around the square?”
“Okay!”
Feather laughed more freely than she had this morning when he’d first met her. Overall, it seemed as if they’d had some kind of breakthrough. Rainbow seemed more relaxed, less watchful after seeing him with Feather.
Even Coop might agree that this day had been a success. He’d voiced reservations about the plan but given the state of the girl’s shoes and jacket, he caved quickly. He’d slipped Feather a few bucks to spend however she wanted. She’d hugged him so hard he laughed.
Out loud.
In public.
Nathan hadn’t heard that full-bodied roar of laughter from his friend in too long. It was like an early Christmas miracle.
He gave his partner one more spin and when he released her, she unzipped her jacket. Flapping the open sides she announced, “I’m hot.”
Rainbow opened her mouth, then shut it again. She murmured something to Kayley and slipped into her ratty old sweater that she’d hung on a peg by the door. She’d been adamant about refusing outerwear for herself, despite Nathan urging her to pick out a jacket.
After mother and daughter left, Kayley stepped into his arms and held him close. “This was an excellent way to spend the day. For me, it was a peek into a different life. Maybe it was the same for Rainbow.”
She smelled of shampoo and the woman he’d fallen in love with. Having her in his arms was heaven and he hoped this spontaneity held a promise.
“I got the feeling you two connected.” He snugged her close and set his face close enough to kiss. But he waited instead of pushing. Each freckle on her cheeks stood out, her eyes filled with affection and his heart warmed while the rest of him heated.
“I guess. It wasn’t easy to let go of my feelings against her. But I can’t fault her mothering. She loves that girl and Feather loves her back.”
He nodded. “Feather is open and comfortable with strangers. I’m not sure she’d be that girl if Rainbow was cruel.”
“We couldn’t have had more different childhoods. She was in foster care and on her own at eighteen. But I believe her when she says she’s sorry for showing up here to cause trouble for you. She cashed your check, and it went to her head, made her hope for a different future for Feather. One where she got the right education and care from experts. She came here, ultimately, to try for a better life for her daughter.”
“I’d like the same thing,” Nathan admitted. An idea had been percolating through the day, but he wanted to hear back from Coop before he spoke up. “Too bad I couldn’t convince Rainbow to stay over the holidays.”
“I may be able to help with that. She spoke earlier about picking up some shifts in a local diner and I can check with my Aunt Lol.”
“Lol?”
“Our family nickname for Laurel,” she explained before going on. “If we entertain Feather while Rainbow’s at work, she might agree to stay in town. We’d all benefit by getting to know each other better. Today was a good start, but I’d hate to see Rainbow leave Dickens only to return to a hopeless future.”
Nathan blew out a breath. “I need to see Coop before this goes anywhere, Kayley.”
“Your lawyer’s the one who dictates how you deal with this?” She stepped back, out of his arms.
“In some respects, yes. We work closely together.”
“I see.” Her brows drew close as her eyes grew stony. He needed to explain.
“Coop feels guilty for not keeping an eye on me that night in Las Vegas,” he clarified. “I wasn’t used to drinking a lot of booze. Before that night Coop used to tease me about being naïve and too trusting. For that one night, the partying got the better of both of us.” He sighed at more broken memories he couldn’t track. “Coop’s goal now is to protect me from my tendency to fix things for women. It’s tough because I want to rush in before I have the facts.”
Her gaze softened and her lips lifted into a smile at his explanation. “I see. There’s so much guilt going around. Rainbow is remorseful for her outburst in front of me the other morning. She apologized and I accepted.” She patted his shoulder and he wanted to tug her in close for another kiss.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out. “Of course it’s Coop.” He gave her a light kiss on the lips. “I need to take this.” He apologized with a look.
Kayley released his attention with a wave, but he’d have to explain more later. Right now he needed to focus on the call. “Coop, what have you got?”
“Rainbow Dillinger is living the life she told you about. Feather goes to work with her and sits in the diner with her picture books or coloring books. The locals are protective and watch over the girl. Rainbow is known as a caring mother and good woman.” He sighed. “This is direct from my investigator. It appears she’s being straight with you. Her lifestyle changed after she left Las Vegas, right after you married her.”
He nodded and gave Kayley a thumbs up. “We’d like to convince her to stay in Dickens until the new year. With this information, I can make that happen.” He hoped.
“You’re sure? The idea we discussed is a bit off the wall, even for you.”
“Is it, though?” He’d never been as sure of an idea as he was of this one. His heart lightened at the good he could do. Uncle Dan would agree.
* * *
KAYLEY WAS DYING TO learn the latest information Coop had discovered. It was generous of Nathan to allow her to hear his side of the conversation with his lawyer. He didn’t walk away for privacy or turn his back; didn’t hide the identity of the caller.
Nathan was different from the last two men she’d dated. He was open and honest and caring with her, and even with Rainbow, a woman most people would spurn for her actions.
When she heard that Nathan still wanted Rainbow to stay in Dickens for the rest of the year, she pulled out her phone. Her call was answered on the first ring. “Aunt Lol, hi! How are you?”
“Kayley, what’s going on? What’s happened?”
She walked a couple of steps away from Nathan and turned her back to him. The irony wasn’t lost on her, but she didn’t want to be background noise to his conversation. “No emergency. I need a favor though.”
“It isn’t often that you call me. If you want to talk you usually come to Dorrit’s for lunch.”
That was true. Everyone swung in to see Lol for a chat. But those chats weren’t personal or about asking for a quiet favor. “Speaking of the diner. How busy is it?”
Lol chuckled. “We’re run ragged. Christmas brings a huge influx of tourists. But you know that already. You’ve got me more than curious, sweetie. Spill it.”
“Does Amy need a part-time server for the lunch rush?”
“Experienced?”
“Yes. In a diner that’s not as busy, but since she’d be working with you, I’m confident she’d do fine.”
“Send her over. We’ll talk. You know the best time. I’ll tell Amy to expect her.”
“She’ll be there before eleven tomorrow.” Kayley hoped to convince her, but it could go either way. “Her name’s Rainbow.”
Lol repeated the name. “Okay. I’ll expect her and tell Amy she’s coming in.” There was a pause. “Gotta go. There’s a knock at the door.”
When the call ended, she found Nathan looking at her. “You got busy,” he said.
“You told Coop you wanted Rainbow to stay in town, so I called my aunt about the diner. Rainbow mentioned picking up some shifts there.”
“What about Feather while her mom’s at work?” Nathan drew Kayley in for a light kiss on the lips. “Coop confirmed that Feather goes to work with her mom back home, but Dickens is a busier town.”
She wasn’t surprised. The town where they lived in Nevada was no bigger than a blip. The locals would know everyone and take care of their own.
“I’ll offer to keep Feather with me during Rainbow’s shifts. She can hang out with me for the lunch rush.” Kayley felt confident they’d settle into a routine and have fun at the same time. Her big project for Todd had passed inspection and she could easily work around Feather’s visits.
“I can get my work done in the early morning and spend mid-day with Feather. I’m sure she’d like to see Gridley Meadows Farm and go to lunch at Morty’s. Tobogganing at Holly Hill would be a blast. A girl from the desert hasn’t done that before.”
“Now you’re making me want to join you.”