Family Ties (26 page)

Despite her concern, she had to remember Bonnie was almost eighteen, her school grades were excellent and her boss raved about her work when Andie had taken the kids to the mall for some summer clothes.

Sitting on the old sleeping bags, she poured coffee from a thermos for her and Gray while waiting for the light show to begin. Watching him settle Chloe beside him, her heart filled and overflowed with joy. She rubbed her chest. He was patient with them. And so loving. Just what they needed.

She hadn’t been thinking about a partner when she bought the house at one sixteen, but she’d gotten lucky.

Tonight, if her luck held, there’d be some private explosions when they got home.

A few days later, Andie put the finishing touches on the cake while listening to Chloe and Jamie squabble in the front room. She’d never thought the sound of childish disagreements would sound so heavenly.

Jamie talked a mile a minute, as if trying to make up for lost time or maybe missed words. Months ago, she’d started him with a therapist to help him deal with his grief. It was still tough slugging, but he was doing well – almost like a different boy.

“He’s home.” Thundering footsteps came running into the kitchen. “Gray pulled up.”

“Great. Thanks a bunch.” She leaned over and planted a kiss on the top of each of their heads, then grabbed a towel on her way out the back door.

Wiping her hands, she waited for him to come around the back of his house. “Hey stranger. How was your day?”

He turned, flashing her a smile as he took off his hat and smoothed his hair. “Better now.”

His shoulders seemed bent with the weight of the world, which she’d almost expected, given how much rest he’d been getting.

“Can I interest you in dinner?”

“You can interest me in almost anything.”

“Sweet talking devil. Go ahead and clean up. Dinner will be ready in a half an hour, so there’s no rush.”

“I’ll be there.”

They’d spent every evening together since Gray spoke to his dad. He worked on the same renovating project during the day and on finishing the pool fence at night.

She watched him walk away; saw the fatigue he carried in every step.”

He played catch with the boys, teased Bonnie and let the little ones help him at his place. His behavior hadn’t changed, but she sensed a new vulnerability about him – a fragility of spirit that was incongruous with his build or personality. Given his recent discoveries about his early childhood, it was reasonable. Professional knowledge explained his behavior although it didn’t made it less difficult for Andie to observe.

Inside, she put the final garnish on the potato salad and set it on a tray. His mother still refused his phone calls. Since he couldn’t or wouldn’t guarantee what he said to her, she’d relayed messages through his dad.

Andie didn’t understand all of his reactions, but how could she? He’d had his life ripped away from him. Twice. She’d had loving parents and a big sister who were always there – even when their parents were out touring the country, like now.

“He’s coming.” Chloe’s stage whisper warned Andie that Gray was leaving his place. She smoothed her navy blue linen shorts and checked the collar on her white blouse. As she checked the red scarf she used to tie back her hair, she heard his tread on the stairs.

“I think I’m going to put a gate between our two houses. It’ll save wear and tear on my shoes.” He smiled at her through the kitchen window.

He disappeared from sight for a minute, and she suspected he was handing out mints to the two younger children. Then he asked Jamie, “How’s my little car wash attendant tonight?”

He giggled. “Is your truck still clean?”

“Pretty much. I didn’t go anywhere too dirty today.”

“Oh.”

Even from inside the house Andie could hear the disappointment in Jamie’s voice. He loved helping Gray wash the big truck, particularly when Gray stood him in the box and gave him the hose to wash the roof of the cab. He’d soaked everyone, every time. They expected it but laughed anyway, because the imp was so delighted.

“Where’s Andie?” he asked.

“I’m right here.” She hipped the screen door open and carried out a selection of glasses and a jug of iced tea. “Sit. Help yourself.” She pointed to the tea. “I’ll bring the food out.”

“I’ll give you a hand.”

She shook her head, waving him to a chair. “I’ve got it all ready.”

An hour later only a plate of chicken bones remained in the middle of the table.

Gray dropped his paper napkin to the table and leaned back. “That was some dinner. Fried chicken and potato salad. Who could ask for more?”

“What about desert?”

“You made desert?” He looked as delighted as a little kid. “You don’t have to ask twice. We bachelors don’t get homemade desert unless some kind lady takes pity on us.”

“Sit tight.”

Although the kids were buzzing with excitement, they’d done better than she expected at keeping her secret. Andie opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the cake they’d decorated earlier today. She hoped he’d be pleased. A twitch of nervousness pulled, as she stuck the sparklers deep in the cake.

“Ready?”

When the kids shouted “Yes,” she lit the sparklers and pushed open the door. When the kids saw her, they started to sing:

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Confused, it took Gray a moment to add his voice to the American Anthem. Even though they had a hard time carrying the tune and none of them knew more than the first verse and the chorus, she was so proud of the kids’ performance on such short notice.

“I had no idea anybody north of the forty-ninth celebrated Independence Day.”

“We don’t usually but this year is special.”

“Why?”

“Because we love someone who’s an American.”

He sat there. Silent.

Andie began to wonder if she’d gone overboard and hurt him in the process. She’d wanted to help him connect with some of his past. Uncertainty weighed heavily as she watched a range of emotions cross his face.

Gray rose and turned to the back yard, eventually leaning on the railing with his hips and gripping it so tightly, his knuckles were white.

Although the kids looked at each other, confused, he was her main concern. She couldn’t leave him alone in this pain.

“Gray? Did I do something wrong? Go too far?” She crossed the deck and rested her hand between his shoulder blades. Her hand vibrated with his tension.

“You didn’t do anything wrong – just the opposite.” He turned to her and pulled her close, resting his chin on her head. “For years, I’ve been amazed at how much importance the Americans attach to the Fourth of July. I felt as if I was missing something – as if I was on the outside of a big holiday – but I brushed it off.”

“Oh Gray, I’m so sorry.” She assumed he was realizing the depth of his mother’s actions. Not only had she taken away his family, she’d also taken him from his roots and his nationality.

“Ironic isn’t it?”

She wrapped her arms more tightly around him. Held him.

He still refused to go to Seattle until she and the kids were safe. He adamantly refused to even consider calling the police. They’d discussed hiring a private detective, but first he wanted to check for himself. To see things for himself. As a result, they were at a standstill, although she didn’t know how long this could last. He was nearing the breaking point.

“I wonder if my real family celebrated the Fourth?”

“I’m sure they did. It was probably a family tradition for you, like so many other American families.”

He kissed the spot his chin had rested on. “Thank you for my first American Fourth of July picnic.” He leaned back. “What made you think of it?”

“You were so fascinated with the fireworks the other night. Just like the kids. One thought led to another and I realized today’s date. I can’t give you a big fireworks show, but I could give you a picnic and sparklers.”

“Which have now fizzled out.” He stepped back and took her hand. “Sorry guys,” he spoke to the kids, leading Andie back to the table, “I was speechless for a minute. Thank you for the great surprise.”

“Didn’t we sing good?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Star Spangled Banner sound better Chloe.”

“Can we have cake now?” Jamie eyed the confection. “I want a corner piece.”

“You can have any piece you want, kiddo.” Gray ruffled his hair then picked up a knife and began to cut the slab cake into pieces.

***

“I’m sorry to tell you that the man we have in custody has nothing to do with the vandalism around here, Ms. Bowen.” The police officer stood stoically in her front room.

“The man is one of Chloris’ many boyfriends.” He shrugged. “Could be the girl’s dad but we won’t know without a DNA test.” He looked at his notes. “He admits talking to Chloe. He claims she’s his daughter and he only wanted to connect.

He snapped his notebook closed. “He’s got an airtight alibi for the night of the fire. He was downtown drinking until we nabbed him for drunk driving.”

“It’s good to have this much, anyway, officer. Thanks for checking him out so quickly.”

“We were hoping it would fall into place and we’d be able to take him into custody, but life is seldom as neat as television cop shows.”

“I’m sure it’s not. So if it’s not him, we need to keep our eyes open.” Gray’s steely voice issued an order to the grizzled cop.

“Yes, I think so.” He looked around, avoiding eye contact with them. “We...uhm…can’t keep the extra patrols on for much longer. I’m sure you understand. Without anything happening, it’s not feasible.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t,” Gray exploded. “There’s a woman and four children living here. Don’t they matter?”

“They do. However, you can understand other situations are more dangerous and need those resources. Your guy hasn’t hit for quite a while now. For all we know these kids have gone on holidays or found another target.”

Gray bit down hard. There were many things he wanted to say to the cop, none of which would help with this situation. “How long can you keep them up?”

“Uhm, actually, my lieutenant told me to stop them as I was filling him in this morning.”

“Just like that,” Gray snapped his fingers, “Ms. Bowen and four children are left alone to fend for themselves. Their situation is deemed stale enough it no longer deserves police attention.

He knew he was reacting to the pressure of the past few weeks, so he reined in his temper. He didn’t need to take it out on the cop.

“That’s about it.” He nodded, his lips pressed tight. “Look, I didn’t say I liked it, but we’re no different than most departments in the city - we have budgets to deal with and public officials who don’t agree on the needs of a growing city like Calgary. Policing is just one of many demands on the tax dollar.”

“I’m awfully sorry, folks.” He handed Andie his card. “Here’s my card, just in case. Keep it handy and call if anything comes up.” He hurried across the lawn and quickly pulled the blue and white away from the curb.

“Gray, there’s nothing more they can do. Maybe the guy has left and all is well.”

“You don’t believe that anymore than I do.”

“I don’t know what to believe except we’ve been left alone for awhile now. Let’s not invite trouble. The police know what they’re doing, and if they think he’s gone, maybe he is.

“Or maybe he hasn’t and we’re all at risk.” He turned on his heel and paced across the living room and back. “I can’t stand not knowing you and the kids are safe.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I think about you at work and I wonder. I wake up at night and check the yard then have trouble falling back to sleep because I don’t know how I’d live with myself if something happened to you. We have to find this guy.”

“Gray.” She took hold of his upper arms and he stilled. “We might never catch him. There’s no way of knowing what he’s planning, or even if he’s still around, so please, you have to relax. You’ll give yourself an ulcer, otherwise.”

“I’d feel better if I knew you were safe.”

“I’ve been considering an idea which might solve a number of your concerns.”

She seemed hesitant, but he’d passed the point of worrying about the niceties. This woman and these children were his family and he was afraid he wouldn’t be up to the task of keeping them well.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “Okay here goes. I think you need to go to Seattle and check out the information about your family.”

He wanted to punch something. “I am not – repeat NOT – taking off to Seattle and leaving you alone here with four kids.”

“I think we should all go.”

“What?” He felt as if all the air had been sucked from the room. As he considered her idea, he was sure his blood pressure dropped a bit.

“I always take the kids on holidays. Nowhere fancy – usually camping or something but they need to get away too. Why don’t we load them into the van and drive to Seattle? You could look for your family and we could do the tourist thing. You’d know we’re safe and I’d know you’re taking some of the pressure off yourself.”