Читать книгу Temporary Nanny - Carrie Weaver - Страница 11

CHAPTER FOUR

ROYCE RESOLUTELY IGNORED the tapping on his ceiling. It had been over a week since he’d had dinner with Katy and Jake; he had no intention of becoming Jake’s substitute daddy.

Not that Katy had given any indication she would endorse such a plan. On the contrary, he’d gotten the impression she’d been nearly as uncomfortable as he. And whenever they met up in the elevator, conversation had been polite, nothing more.

More tapping.

R-O-Y-C-E.

Not gonna bite. The kid was wasting his time.

R-O-Y-C-E.

Surely Katy wasn’t encouraging Jake? Maybe she didn’t know. How could she not know? Unless she wasn’t home. What in the heck was the kid doing home at two o’clock on a school day?

There was a thud from upstairs.

Royce stood, grabbing the broom from beside the couch. He refused to think about why he still had it handy.

He tapped out a quick message.

U O-K?

Nothing. No footsteps, no thumps or bumps. And certainly no responding code.

He waited a few moments and tried again. When he didn’t get a response, he dropped the broom and headed out the door.

Jake opened the door to apartment 472 almost before Royce was done knocking. His smile was wide. “Took you long enough.”

“What the hell?”

Jake shrugged. “You wouldn’t answer and I’m not supposed to leave the apartment alone.”

That’s when Royce noticed the baseball glove and ball. “Uh-uh. No way, Jake. I already told you. Besides, aren’t you grounded?”

The boy stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him, using a key dangling from a lanyard to lock it. “Not anymore. Come on, let’s go.”

“You’re not listening. I’m not your baseball buddy. Now that I know you’re safe, I’m heading home.”

Jake stopped and eyed him. “I guess I’ll go by myself then. That’ll make my mom mad and I’ll probably get grounded again.” He sighed heavily. “But a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.”

Royce could remember many activities he’d missed because his dad was at work. “Look, I was a kid once, too. I can understand you wanting to get out and play while the weather’s great. But—”

“I bet you got to play baseball when you were a kid. And didn’t have to stay in the stinking apartment every day.”

“Most of the time, as long as I behaved myself. It’s different these days.”

“No stranger’s gonna steal me. I’ll kick him hard in the privates if he even tries. You don’t have to worry about me. See ya later.”

Oh, great, now he’d have the specter of Jake being kidnapped by a pedophile hanging over his head.

“Why don’t you wait till your mom gets home? She’ll be here soon, won’t she?”

Jake shrugged. “Yeah. Pretty soon. You know, she won’t mind if I’m with you, ’cause you got all that government spy clearance and stuff.”

“Not spy clearance. Just a background check.”

“See ya.”

The boy trudged toward the elevator.

Royce wondered why he was allowing a ten-year-old boy to best him. Sighing, he realized it didn’t matter. He couldn’t stand the thought of something happening because he didn’t want to get involved. What if it had been Michael?

He trotted to catch up with Jake. “Just today. That’s it. You left your mom a note, didn’t you?”

“Sure.”

KATY GLANCED at her watch as she answered her cell. She really didn’t need the interruption from her mother now. If she kept her nose to the grindstone, she just might finish work in time to pick up Jake from school.

“Hi, Mom, I’m right in the middle of something, can I call you back?”

“I’m so sorry, honey. Jake emptied his backpack at my house last week and apparently a notice slipped under the couch. I know they probably sent a second flyer home, but I just wanted to be sure you knew about his early release.”

The world around her seemed to come to a screeching halt.

“Today?”

“Yes, the teachers had some special workshop to attend.”

Katy swallowed hard. “What time does school get out?”

“It let out at one o’clock.”

“That was nearly two hours ago!”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I—I’m sure Jake took the bus home and is watching TV.”

“Mom, I’ve got to call home.”

“Okay.”

Katy hit the speed dial button. The phone rang and rang, then finally went into voice mail.

She left a message telling Jake she’d be right there, just in case he’d been in the bathroom or totally engrossed in a video game. Then she grabbed her purse and keys and headed for the door, explaining to her boss on the way.

When Katy entered the apartment, she sighed in relief at the sight of Jake’s backpack. He was home. She’d been frantic for nothing.

“Jake?” she called. No answer. And the TV was off. Not the norm when her son was home.

She glanced in his bedroom. It looked the same as when he’d left this morning—the bed slightly rumpled but basically tidy. The bathroom door stood open.

Panic threatened to return.

Where could he be?

What if someone had come to the door and Jake had let him in? He could be halfway to Mexico by now. Or worse.

“Calm down,” she murmured. There was probably some reasonable explanation. No need to jump to conclusions. Jake was probably at a friend’s house and had forgotten to call. It had happened once before. Fortunately, Brandon’s mother had called that time to let her know Jake was there.

Katy removed her PalmPilot from her purse and ran through her address book. She called Brandon’s house—no Jake. Now that she thought about it, Katy couldn’t recall her son playing with Brandon recently.

Where could Jake be?

Her gaze lit on the bottle of wine, two- thirds gone, leftover from the dinner with Royce.

She grabbed her purse and headed out the door, taking the stairs because they were quicker. She was nearly out of breath when she reached Royce’s door.

Katy pounded on the door a little harder than necessary. But he didn’t answer. Her hand shook as she knocked one last time.

Should she call the police? Have them issue an Amber Alert?

Katy blinked away tears of frustration.

Royce cursed under his breath as he chased the ball. “Sorry, kid, I don’t catch so well one-handed.”

“That’s okay, I don’t throw so good one- handed.”

Royce picked up the ball and laughed. The sun was warm on his back and he recalled just how good it felt to be outdoors and playing. “I don’t think of it that way. You’re getting better, though.”

“Yeah, so are you.” Mischief lurked in Jake’s eyes.

Royce tossed the ball to him and it bounced off the tip of his glove.

“Got to get under it.”

“It was too high.”

“Then move. Your feet aren’t stuck to the ground.” Royce demonstrated getting under the ball. Unfortunately, it bounced off his bare hand and he had to chase it again.

“It didn’t help you.”

“Yeah, well I’m the exception. Try it.” He tossed the ball high.

Jake scampered back a few feet. He smiled as the ball fell into the pocket of his glove. “Cool. You got a trick like that for throwing?”

“Just keep focused on where you want it to go and follow through. Like this.”

“Jake Allan Garner.” The frosty words came from behind Royce.

Jake’s eyes widened. He stammered, “Um, Mom, you weren’t supposed to be home yet.”

Royce turned to see Katy standing a few yards away, hands on hips, her eyes flashing.

“Why didn’t you tell me there was early release today? Do you know how worried I’ve been?”

Jake opened his mouth, but Katy kept going. “I’ve called your friends, stopped by the school. I was about to call the police and have them issue an Amber Alert.”

Royce stepped forward. “Didn’t you get Jake’s note?”

“There was no note.” She enunciated clearly.

He turned. “Jake, you said you left a note.”

The boy kicked a clod of dirt with his shoe. “I, um, forgot.”

“It seems to me you deliberately disobeyed me. And pretty much orchestrated this whole thing. You knew I’d have Sally come stay with you for early release, didn’t you?”

Jake studied his shoes. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do know. I’m beginning to think the notice got shoved under Grandma’s couch on purpose. There’s usually a second notice. I’m assuming that one got lost, too?”

The boy’s face flushed. Royce had a pretty good idea Katy had hit the nail on the head.

“Hey, kid, it’s not good going behind your mother’s back.” Royce turned to Katy. “I’m sorry, I should have known better.”

She hesitated. “It’s not your fault. He lied to you and will be punished.” Crossing her arms, she turned to Jake. “You owe Royce an apology. Now.”

“Sorry, Royce. I just wanted so bad for you to teach me.” The longing in Jake’s voice wounded him.

And reminded him of his son’s pleas at about the same age. He’d always told himself Michael didn’t need him that much. Maybe he’d been wrong.

But Jake presumably had a father. And Royce wasn’t a good candidate to fill in even if the boy never saw his dad.

THE NEXT EVENING, Katy toyed with a hotel- issue pen while she phoned her mother. She’d landed in Chicago a few hours ago, but the ache of leaving Jake for several days was still fresh. Shaking her head, she was grateful her auction house only staged about ten out-of-town auctions each year. If she’d been with one of the larger houses, it might have been more.

Katy was about to hang up when her mother finally answered.

“Hi, Mom, how’s it going?”

“Fine, dear. How was your flight?”

“Fine.” No, it wasn’t fine. But she wasn’t about to admit it.

Come to think of it, her mother seemed a bit hesitant.

“Mom, are you sure everything’s okay?”

“We can talk about it when you get home. It’s about your arrangements with Sally. Nothing serious.”

“Your tone says it is serious. Please tell me.”

“I don’t like to distract you from your work.”

“Anything to do with Jake comes first. Tell me.”

Her mother sighed. “Sally wasn’t there today.”

“When you picked up Jake? I know. She told me she was going to leave a little early.”

“Sally never showed up.”

Katy rubbed her temples. “Not at all?”

“No, but a strange man was there. Your neighbor, Royce?”

“Why was he there?”

“Apparently he and Jake have some sort of code….”

“Yes. Royce lives below us. They exchange Morse code messages through the floorboards.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, dear? I have to admit I’m a little surprised. You’ve always been very cautious where Jake is concerned.”

“It’s not like I planned it, Mom. And Royce seems to be a good man. Jake likes him.”

“He’s…a little rough around the edges.”

“Why? Because he’s missing a hand?”

Her mother made a noise of censure. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Look, Mom, Royce has government clearance, which includes an extensive background check. And I trust him.” She was surprised to realize it was true.

“Well, I won’t tell you how to raise your own child.”

Since when?

Katy pushed away the disloyal thought. “I know you only want what’s best for Jake.”

“I just wish I’d been able to keep the house after your father died. There would have been plenty of room for you and Jake to move in.”

Katy smiled at her mother’s familiar refrain. “It probably wouldn’t have been good in the long run. Besides, your condo is perfect for you.”

“But I don’t like Jake being alone like that. Who knows what might have happened before I got there.”

The muscles on Katy’s neck tightened. She could feel a headache starting along with the realization that some changes needed to be made. “There’s not much I can do a thousand miles away. I’ll handle it when I get home. Sally’s all set to watch him after school tomorrow, isn’t she?”

“That’s just it. Her mother has a doctor’s appointment. Jake will be all by himself unless I take time off work to pick him up. I’m almost out of vacation time at the boutique.”

Katy had rarely felt so helpless. It made her wonder, not for the first time, if she was being the kind of mother Jake deserved. But she simply couldn’t see herself anywhere but in the world of car auctions.

“I don’t want you to do that. You’ve already done so much for us.” Katy hated owing anyone a favor, but the decision to spread the debt outside the family was especially difficult. “Maybe I can make other arrangements for the afternoon. Let me make a few phone calls and call you back.”

“Other arrangements? I can take the time off without pay. No need to—”

“Yes, there is a need.” She tried to infuse her voice with certainty. “I’ll call you back. Bye, Mom.”

ROYCE GROANED when the phone rang. He hoped it wasn’t Becca doing her long- distance mother hen thing again.

“Hello.” It came out sounding more irritable than he anticipated.

There was a hesitation, then, “It’s Katy, your upstairs neighbor. If this is a bad time, I can call later.”

“No, it’s fine. What can I do for you?”

“I’m in Chicago. Thank you for hanging out with Jake today. Apparently there was another babysitter miscommunication.”

“No problem. The kid said he was hearing weird noises, so I went upstairs to check it out.”

“We were lucky you were there. I owe you…about a year’s supply of dinners.”

Royce didn’t like the anxiety in her voice. And he didn’t like the fact that she seemed to think she owed him for such a little thing.

She hesitated. “I need to ask a favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Would you mind, um, hanging out with Jake tomorrow after school? It’s only for a couple hours and I’d be happy to pay you….”

Royce started pacing.

“Royce?”

“I’m here. Just checking my calendar.”

More like stalling for time.

In the past, he would have avoided getting tangled up in Katy’s problems. But that was before he woke up in a hospital room unable to recognize his own son because the kid had grown into a man when Royce wasn’t looking. Though he’d failed Michael, maybe he could help Jake. It was only one day, after all.

“Um, yeah, I guess I can do it.”

“You don’t sound too sure. I really shouldn’t have asked. It’s no big deal, my mom can probably take time off work.”

Clearing his throat, he said. “I’m sure. No big deal.”

But it was a big deal. Anyone who knew him well would have been downright amazed.