Читать книгу Ready, Set, I Do! - Cindy Kirk - Страница 11

Chapter Three

Fried chicken on the stove and garlic-cheese biscuits rising in the oven filled the large country kitchen with delicious aromas. For as long as Hailey could remember, cooking had been one of her mother’s passions. And the woman was a master.

Kathy Randall motioned for her daughter to add more milk to the potatoes she was whipping. In her late fifties with dark blond hair cut in a stylish bob, blue eyes and a perpetual twinkle in her eyes, Hailey’s mother loved life and it showed. “Are you telling me Winn Ferris has a son?”

“So he said.” Hailey frowned and resumed chopping broccoli for the salad. Though there was no reason Winn had to tell all, she fought back a twinge of irritation. “It’s kind of a big secret to keep.”

“Does he have a wife to go with the son?” There was a hint of disapproval in Kathy’s voice. No doubt she was recalling the various single women the business executive had dated since arriving in Jackson Hole.

“The boy’s mother, the woman who died in the boating accident, was Winn’s former girlfriend. The guy who died with her was her fiancé. Apparently they were planning to be married next month.”

“How sad.” Kathy gave a sigh of empathy. “Was the child with them when the boat exploded?”

“No. He was playing at a neighbor’s.”

“Lucky for the boy. If you can call any child who loses his mother lucky.” Kathy shifted her gaze to Hailey. “Dying before you and Tripp were grown was my worst fear. I knew your father would do his best, but I believed you needed me.”

“I did need you.” Hailey gave her mom a quick hug. “I still do. Who else will teach me how to cook?”

Her mother laughed. “I think of all those years I tried. You simply weren’t interested.”

“It’s moved into the priority range now,” Hailey told her mom, completely serious. “Unless I want to survive on takeout or soup and sandwiches every night, I have to learn.”

“Well, I’m happy to further your educa—”

The backdoor slid open and her father stepped inside, the border collie at his side. “Is it time to eat?”

Frank Randall was a tall man with a rangy body and thick salt-and-pepper hair. Naturally thin, he’d regained the weight he’d lost last year during his successful battle with melanoma.

“Just about,” his wife said. “Hailey was telling me that Winn Ferris—”

Hailey’s phone rang as her mother was explaining the situation to her father. She glanced down. “It’s Winn.”

Her father inclined his head. “Why is he calling you?”

“I’m about to find out.” Hailey walked from the kitchen into the great room, where the warm earth-toned walls complemented the soaring beamed ceilings in muted white. “Hi, Winn. How are you?”

“Fine.” His voice was low and tightly controlled. “We’re in Denver now and should land in Jackson at about eight. Cam refuses to eat, but I need to get something into him. Do you remember the chicken noodle soup you made last week?”

“Of course.” The soup had been her first foray into making homemade noodles. In a neighborly gesture, she’d taken some to Winn as well as Mrs. Samuelson, who lived on the other side of her.

“Do you have any left?”

Winn’s question broke through Hailey’s thoughts. While she’d eaten or given away the last of it, she knew her mother had some in her freezer. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Thanks, Hailey.”

The hint of weariness in Winn’s voice tugged at her. Though she didn’t know all the particulars, she figured his stress level was sky-high.

“It’ll be okay, Winn,” she said in a low soothing tone. “It will all be okay.”

* * *

After enjoying a meal with her family, Hailey returned home with a half gallon of her mother’s chicken noodle soup and a loaf of homemade oatmeal bread. Winn would never know that this was her mother’s soup instead of her own. Although he might think it was even better the second time around.

While the airport wasn’t far from their condos, if his plane landed at eight, it would be a while before Winn got home. Hailey used the time to take Bandit for a walk, then began brushing him, while keeping her ear cocked for the sound of Winn’s car.

It was almost nine when she heard his garage door slide up. Rather than jumping to her feet and rushing to the door, Hailey waited, knowing Winn would call once he and the boy were settled.

He’d told her Cameron was eight. A lot of her brother’s friends—her friends as well, she reminded herself—had children close to that age. When Hailey had practiced full-time as a speech pathologist in Denver, she’d worked with many children. She liked kids, got along with them, hoped to have a couple of them herself one day.

Idly, she wondered what Winn was like as a father. He’d always been so focused on his business interests that it was hard to imagine him devoting time to anyone or anything else.

Of course, Winn had dropped what he was doing to get his son and bring him to Jackson Hole. Her hand stroked the top of Bandit’s head and the dog emitted what sounded like a moan of pleasure.

Taking care of a pet had been more work than she’d imagined. If she was Winn and facing the total care of a little boy, she’d be freaking. Other than asking for her help with dinner, Winn had sounded composed and as self-assured as ever on the phone. Yet, something told her he’d sound that way even if he was on the deck of the Titanic as it was sinking. From what she’d observed, Winn kept his feelings close.

Tired of sitting, she put the brush aside and rose. Moving to the refrigerator, she peered inside for something to eat. She’d finally decided on a carton of yogurt when her phone buzzed. Hailey smiled as Winn’s name flashed on the screen. “You two ready to chow?”

“We are. Or at least I am.” Winn hesitated. “Hailey, about Cam—”

Though he couldn’t see her, she found herself cocking her head. “What about him?”

“He...” Winn paused. “Nothing. We’ll be here whenever it works for you to come over.”

The call ended and Hailey stood staring at the phone, her brows knitted. Something was definitely up. She shoved the yogurt back into the refrigerator and hurriedly grabbed the container of soup and the loaf of bread instead. With curiosity fueling her steps, Hailey headed next door.

* * *

Winn tried not to stare at the little boy sitting silently on the sofa, hands folded in his lap. Cam still had the same shock of brown hair and hazel eyes that tended toward green, the same skinny frame and big feet. But that was where the resemblance to the son he’d known and loved ended.

This child was pale, with freckles that stood out like shiny pennies across the bridge of his nose. There was no laughter in his eyes, no mischievous glint, just...emptiness and sorrow.

The boy had just lost someone dear to him, Winn reminded himself. Regardless of her actions toward him, Vanessa had been a kind and loving mother. When she’d cast Winn from her life, his one consolation was that Cam would never lack for love. He hadn’t known Brandon, other than to despise the man’s deliberate attempts to keep him away from Cam.

The boy might have been Brandon’s child by blood, but Winn had raised him for the first six years of his life. Now, Brandon and Vanessa were dead. And Winn was Cam’s legal guardian.

It was only natural the boy would seem different. Of course, he’d be standoffish and silent. Not only had he lost his parents, he’d been snatched by a man he thought had deserted him and relocated far from the only home he’d known.

“My neighbor, Hailey, is bringing over soup.” Winn tried for cheery but couldn’t quite pull it off. “It’s good stuff. You’ve got to be hungry. You barely ate today.”

On their way to the airport, Winn had stopped at a place that specialized in chicken fingers. He remembered the popular chain as being one of Cam’s favorites. The boy had taken only a few bites, then stared out the window.

Although Winn had talked so much that he was sick of the sound of his own voice, Cam had barely uttered five words. All single responses in a barely audible tone.

What had Vanessa done to him? What had that jerk Brandon done to him? Winn tried to contain his rising anger at whatever had brought this change in the boy. While he realized some of what Cam was showing was grief, there was more going on here. He would get to the bottom of it, eventually.

Relief flooded him at the knock on the door.

“That’ll be my neighbor.” He opened the door and realized she hadn’t come alone. The border collie stood beside her, brown eyes staring at him, as if daring Winn to keep him out.

“Bandit wanted to meet Cam.” Hailey handed Winn the soup container and breezed past him into the large living room. She wore jeans and a Western-cut shirt in shocking blue. “I hope you don’t mind.”

The words of protest that had formed on Winn’s lips died at the look of surprised pleasure in Cameron’s eyes. “Ah, not at all.”

“Hi, Cameron.” Hailey crossed the room to sit beside the boy on the sofa. She extended her hand. “I’m Hailey Randall. I live next door. Welcome to Jackson Hole.”

For a long moment the hand hovered there. Until the boy took it.

“Can you tell Miss Hailey you’re pleased to meet her?” Winn gently urged.

“P-p-p-pleased to m-m-meet you,” Cam stuttered.

Hailey’s smile never wavered. “I brought you homemade chicken noodle soup. I realize it’s late for dinner, but I wasn’t in the mood to eat earlier. I’m sure hungry now.”

Cam glanced down at his bright neon-green-and-purple sneakers.

“If your dad has a large bowl,” Hailey continued without missing a beat, “we could heat the soup in the microwave. I’d love for you to try it and tell me if it’s any good.”

The boy didn’t comment but gestured with his head toward Bandit, who sat at Hailey’s feet. “Who—who is she?”

If Hailey noticed the boy’s stuttering—and it would have been impossible not to—it didn’t show.

“Bandit. He’s a boy,” Hailey confided with an easy smile. “Which means I’m outnumbered three to one.”

To illustrate her point, she gestured with one hand toward Winn, then Cam and finally on Bandit.

The boy’s quick flash of a smile loosened the tightness that had held Winn’s chest in a stranglehold since he’d received the call from the attorney.

“Perhaps after we eat,” Hailey moved to the cupboards, “we can take Bandit for a short walk. Unless you’re too tired.”

Cam gestured toward the dog. “C-can we g-go now?”

“I’d really like to eat first,” Hailey said, her hands busy. “But you can hold Bandit’s leash when we do go, if you’d like.”

The boy gave a jerky nod of agreement.

Winn moved to the cupboards and took out bowls and glasses. Hailey put the soup in the microwave while Winn sliced the bread and Cam placed silverware on the table.

At the table, Cameron said nothing. He shoveled in food and kept his eyes on Bandit. Winn wasn’t sure if the boy ate because he was hungry or because he wanted to take the dog for a walk.

Once they finished and cleared the dishes, Hailey clipped a leash on Bandit’s collar then handed it to Cam. “How about you walk him around inside first? That way you can get a feel for it.”

Cam’s eyes were wide and serious.

Hailey smiled. “Perhaps you could start by showing him your room.”

The boy nodded and the two disappeared down the hallway.

“Thank you.” Winn kept his voice low.

Hailey cocked her head. “A few minutes in the microwave is no big deal.”

“Thank you for the soup and bread.” He gestured toward the hall. “And for being nice to him.”

“Normally, I like to be mean to children and small animals, but I thought I’d make an exception tonight.”

Winn couldn’t help chuckling. But he quickly sobered. “He’s not the same boy I left behind in Atlanta two years ago.”

“Surely that’s not the last time you saw him.”

A muscle in Winn’s jaw jumped. “Actually it is. He never stuttered before. Do you think—”

He cut off when he heard the sound of the boy and dog coming down the hall. “I’d like to speak to you about something,” he told Hailey. “After Cam’s asleep.”

Hailey wasn’t sure what Winn wanted to discuss. But she had the feeling his struggles to get his project approved were going to seem like a walk in the park compared to the challenges of being a full-time father of a grieving boy.

* * *

Two hours later, Hailey relaxed against Winn’s leather sofa, a glass of wine in one hand and the dog snoozing at her feet. The short walk had taken nearly an hour, with the three walking mostly in silence.

Winn had tried to draw the boy out but had quit attempting to make conversation when his efforts only seemed to agitate Cam.

They’d made it all the way to a downtown park that was lit up brighter than Times Square because of the ball game in progress. Cam hadn’t wanted to watch the game or play on any of the equipment. But when Bandit picked up a stick and dropped it at Cam’s feet, the boy had smiled and thrown it. Not once but several times.

Hailey had watched Cam smile each time the dog raced back to him, and her heart had filled with emotion.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Hailey.” Winn’s expression was grave. “I have to work, but I can’t just dump him somewhere with people I don’t know or trust.”

“What about your father?”

“Not an option.”

His tone was so firm, Hailey let that possibility drop.

“You could take some time off,” she suggested.

“This isn’t a good time for me to do that.” Winn dismissed the suggestion. “Besides, Cam will need to make friends.”

“There are summer camps. Enrichment programs.” Hailey chewed on her lip. “But the child just lost his mother. And this is a new place. I can’t imagine tossing him into a group setting right away.”

Winn twirled the stem of his wineglass between his fingers. “You mentioned the other day you were in the market for a job.”

Hailey almost got whiplash from the change in topic. “You know someone who’s looking for a speech therapist?”

“Me. You could also watch Cam for me. Just until he gets his footing and feels comfortable here.”

“I help my dad with the ranch books,” she told him. “I sometimes get called to the hospital if one of their regular speech therapists is ill. And I recently agreed to help Cassidy with weddings and special events. Workwise, I’m heating up.”

“You could take him with you to your dad’s. Cam would probably see it as a kind of adventure. I don’t think he’s ever spent time on a ranch.” Winn’s voice turned persuasive. “If you got called in to work at the hospital, I’d take that day off. Caring for him wouldn’t be a long-term thing, only until Cam gets comfortable and I can make other arrangements.”

“I appreciate your confidence, Winn. But—” She shook her head. It sounded like babysitting to Hailey and she’d had her fill of that when she’d been in high school.

“I’d make it worth your while.” Winn paused, considered. “I’d pay you—”

The amount he named had her jaw dropping. “Are you kidding me?”

“So you’ll do it?”

She was tempted to say yes, but each time she acted in haste, it had never turned out well. “What hours would I work?”

“Negotiable,” he said. “Monday through Friday during the day. Perhaps some nights and weekend hours if I had business functions to attend.”

She could certainly use the money. Still, Hailey hesitated.

Winn surprised her by reaching out and taking her hand. The simple touch sent tingles up her arm.

“I have no intention of taking advantage, Hailey.” His direct gaze fixed on hers. “Cameron is my son. I take my responsibilities seriously. I won’t dump him on you. If it doesn’t work, you can walk away any time. I’ll be no worse off than I am now.”

She had questions, lots of questions. Like why he’d been out of the boy’s life for the past two years. But now wasn’t the time, and it was difficult to think since his thumb had begun to stroke her palm. Almost impossible to form a logical thought—or question—when she was inhaling the intoxicating scent of his cologne.

This was her neighbor, she reminded herself. This was Winn, the man who’d dated many of her friends. Heck, he’d even taken out her sister-in-law before Anna and her brother had gotten involved.

“I’ll toss in two free round-trip airline tickets to a destination of your choice,” he told her, as if sensing her wavering.

It wasn’t the money or airline tickets that tempted Hailey to say yes. It was the sound of muffled crying from down the hall, from a little boy in Avenger pj’s who’d just lost his mother.

“I’ll think about it,” she promised Winn, “and give you my answer tomorrow.”