Hidden Shadows (The Shadow Series Book 1) (2 page)

“My three-year-old son has a pair almost identical.” She gestured down to his brown leather loafers—another odd choice, especially with the cowboy hat.

With a grunt, a gargle of his throat, and forced swallow of steak, he stared at her, red-faced.

“A little boy, huh?”

She nodded with pride. “Turned three this summer.”

He swallowed again, stained the cloth napkin by wiping his mouth, and spoke as briskly as his drawl would allow. “Well, Jenna, don’t think I was aware of that. I knew about your girl, but she’s growin’ up. I can handle a do-it-yourself kid, but one that needs bathin’, clothin’, and a nightly changin' of sheets ‘cause they don’t know how to hold their own bladder—that makes for a whole new ballgame."

Appalled, she arched her brows. “A ballgame you’re not interested in playing.”

“Pretty much.” He shrugged, resigned to the fact.

And that was that.

“Well, pretty much, this date is over.” She smiled dryly, rose—and forgetting her earlier manners, said a few more choice words that also turned a few heads—grabbed her purse, and marched out the door.

The cool night air did nothing to cool her temper. Under the valet’s curious stare, Jenna waved him off as politely as she could and made her way to the miraculous parking spot she’d found down Fifth Avenue.

Shimmying her skirt up her thighs to slide into the car, she glanced at the Bridgestone Arena across the street, wishing she had taken Robin up on her offer to see Faith and Tim there tonight. Definitely would’ve been a more productive, and much more fun evening.

“What was I thinking?” she mumbled as she turned the ignition of her midnight blue Sentra.

The car grumbled to a start and she eased out of her parking spot, rolled down the window to feel the first hints of fall.

At least she could count on the weather.

One of her favorite things about living below the Mason-Dixon Line was the changing seasons. While some argued that global warming had caused winter to practically disappear, any Tennessean would tell you that after the humid, sticky days of summer, fall came in all its glory. She could give or take winter—but not her prized autumn.

The fresh smell to the air made her want to breathe in life, the crisp leaves changed to magnificent colors and floated from their trees, and the chill nipped just enough to need a light jacket. It was hands down her favorite time of year—so the sunroof came open too.

“Fall, work your magic on me,” Jenna pled. “I need all I can get.”

Her appeal must not have been strong enough. To top off the fabulous evening, her near decade old car that desperately needed a new transmission was missing just enough to have her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment as she drove away from the swanky restaurant.

Needing comfort and a good venting, she grabbed her cell phone, punched a button and said, “Call Robin.”

In all likelihood she’d get voicemail—Robin wouldn’t miss “It’s Your Love” to take a call—but who said she couldn’t pass the twenty-minute drive home with a message?

“Hello?”

Shocked to hear her best friend’s voice, Jenna blurted, “I am no longer dating. Ever. At thirty-two, I’m vowing celibacy."

“Yeah? Pretty young for such a big commitment.” Robin’s voice was a mix of amusement and sympathy.

“You would understand if you’d been on my date. I just made an early exit from The Palm if that tells you anything.”

“Ah, must’ve been pretty bad for you to leave their luscious bread behind.”

Leave it to Robin to make Jenna crack her first real smile since meeting tonight’s blind date. “Fortunately, I did get one whopping piece of those delicious carbs. But it was quite possibly the worst date I’ve ever had. I only agreed to go tonight after Molly swore he was different.”

She’d heard that before and wasn’t sure why she believed it this time.

Robin voiced the same. “And you believed it? That’s not like the cynical best friend I know and love.”

“Touché. I guess she had me convinced. Or at least hopeful I was convinced. She said he was handsome, gracious.”

“And?”

“Handsome, maybe. Without the gray cowboy hat, collared shirt, tight jeans, and brown loafers. But gracious? No way. He practically choked on his steak when I mentioned Dawson. I made some comment about their shoes matching and that turned him blue—the shock of a three-year-old choked the guy.”

“He didn’t know?” Robin sounded as surprised as Jenna had felt.

“Apparently not. Guess Molly forgot to clue him in that I’m not a twenty-year-old, unattached, no-baggage kind of woman.”

Jenna felt the first drops of a cool rain plop on her arm, then her head. She turned the wipers on to slow intervals to wash away the fresh mist glazing the windshield, and shifted awkwardly to close the sunroof, straining to hear Robin over the swishing wipers and the churning motor.

“I’m so sorry he turned out that way, Jen. Gotta kiss the frogs, right?”

Jenna finally laughed. “Thankfully, it didn’t get that far. Oh well, I’ll have more fun at home with my
two
dates anyway.”

“I hear ya. Go enjoy those kiddos. And give ‘em kisses from me too.”

“I will. Call ya later.”

“Of course.”

“Oh, hey!” Jenna rushed to catch Robin before she disconnected. “The concert?”

“Concert?”

“Faith and Tim. I looked longingly at the arena, thought you’d be there.”

“Nah. You couldn’t go, Erik didn’t want to. I gave them up to two youngins at work who’d never experienced the phenomenon.”

“So basically you gave them the best night of their lives.”

Robin laughed. “Something like that. Hope they enjoy it.”

“Crazy not to. All right, almost home. Talk later.”

Plopping the phone on the seat beside her, Jenna’s contentment was confirmed with the remainder of her night as she pulled in the narrow gray-pebbled driveway and saw the top of one her date’s heads bobbing up and down through the upstairs window. If she was a betting woman, she’d go all in that the bobs synced with one of the songs on the
Annie
soundtrack.

Her little Jacy had a dancing streak. Music made that girl move and was the highlight of the seven-year-olds life. Enrolling her in dance classes several months ago had been one of Jenna’s better parenting choices, if she did say so herself.

She was in awe of Jacy’s skill, proud of her passion and eagerness to learn, and silently enjoyed the jumbled pronouncing of the pliés and arabesques Jacy’d been learning to perfect.

In fact, the big fall festival recital was coming soon. Jenna made a mental note to make sure her last appointment for that day was earlier than three o’clock so she could scramble home and help Jace get ready. There’d be a bun to secure, a light coat of gloss on petite lips, and of course, the tights, slippers, and tutu.

What a picture her girl made in the pink and white costume. She looked so elegant, even at seven. Her long, lean legs and slender body made the child a vision of grace. Factor in her sweet spirit, and Jenna felt she had a prize on her hands.

Gathering her things from the car, she opted to forgo the garage entrance, and walked the curved path to the front door to enjoy the night just a moment longer.

She stopped before reaching the front stoop, and knelt, frowning as she tried fruitlessly to help the withering petunias she and Jacy had planted mid-summer. They were the only living things in her yard—aside from the grass—and she had hoped to at least keep them alive a few more weeks.

When the wind brought a cold chill, she gave up on the hopeless petals and boosted herself from the ground.

She wrapped her arms around her waist briskly and smiled down at the sparse land, recalling the memory of Jacy as a toddler, dancing around the once fabulous garden.

The gusty wind slapped strands of hair in her face and she teared up when the little slivers pricked her eyes . . . Of course that was why the tears came. It had nothing to do with the odd and unnecessary tug to carry another little life every time she envisioned Jacy (or Dawson for that matter) as a baby. Though she loved her own two more than life itself, she’d already made a decision——no more kids.

Of course, she had to admit, that was due in large part to the fact that there was no one to make them with.

She’d had a sinking feeling even while she was pregnant with Dawson there’d be no more, but lying in that hospital bed, years ago, with a brand new life cradled in her arms, her sinking feeling was confirmed——her life and ideal family of four was slipping away.

But now life was just fine with the family she, Jacy, and Dawson had made out of three.

Walking into her warmly lit home, she placed the silly, painful heels she thought would impress Mr. Bad Date by the door, and thought,
mother’s instinct
, with a light chuckle as Annie’s voice floated through the air.

Jenna also guessed there was a little girl in the upstairs bedroom dancing her fanny off while the redheaded orphan’s voice blared out of a miniature pink stereo she’d bought just two months ago for Jacy’s birthday. What a joy that had been to watch her daughter’s face as she carefully ripped open the wrapped present.

Even though her baby girl had only recently turned the corner from first to second grade, she was a perceptive one. Jacy had more care with other’s feelings and emotions than most children, or adults for that matter, Jenna had seen.

Could it be because her father cared so little? Was Jacy trying to make up for something, be something to others she wasn’t finding or receiving in her own life?

Because the thoughts made Jenna’s stomach hurt, she put aside her analytical physician’s mind, hung her keys on the hook beside the door.

Glancing around the softly lit entryway with its calm green walls, she inhaled, leaving thoughts of betraying husband’s and bad dates behind and slowly padded up the stairs.

The carpet felt nice on her achy feet. Why did she wear those awful shoes to begin with? She’d wanted to pair her pretty floral skirt with flat slip-ons, but thought better of it after looking in the mirror and realizing flats didn’t elongate her legs like every fashion 'expert’ told her shoes should.

So, out of guilt or vanity, instead of the flats, she’d brought the camel-colored stilettos out of the back of the closet where they’d rested since her last date.

She had to admit, her legs did look longer and leaner with heels. But so much for that, right?

Long, lean legs did not a good date make.

She stepped into Jacy’s room, just as her girl belted, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow!” and was reminded that two loves were quite enough to fill one heart.

She waved at the babysitter, waited for Jacy’s big finish before interrupting the performance.

When the last note was hit, the next song cycled on without Jacy missing a beat. She was right on cue, throwing her arms out to emphasize the awfulness of the hard-knock life. Jenna shook her head, laughed. “Hi, Jacy.”

Jacy whipped around, imaginary microphone in hand. “Hi, Mommy! You’re home!”

“I’m home.”

“I’m in the middle of a concert. I’m Annie.”

“I see that. Have you been good for Katelyn?”

Jacy nodded eagerly as she chorused, “It’s the hard-knock life for us!”

Jenna looked to Katelyn. “How was it?”

“Great. How was your night?” Katelyn wiggled her expertly shaped chocolate eyebrows.

“Not what I hoped, but things are fine now.” Jenna walked over, picked up Jacy and halted her current dance move of swiveling her tiny hips. She spoke over the music, “What’d you ladies do this evening—besides dance the night away?”

“Just fun girl stuff, Momma,” Jacy sang.

“Well, you’ll have to tell me all about it in the morning. It’s bedtime for you, my little star." With Jacy in her arms, Jenna walked over to the stereo and punched the hot pink stop button.

“No, Momma. No! Just one more song.”

“No, Jacy. No whining now. Show Katelyn what a big girl you are—how you can brush your teeth and put on your PJ’s all by yourself without Mom's help.”

“Oh-kay.” Jacy slid out of Jenna’s hold and scurried out the door.

Jenna smiled at Katelyn. “Thanks so much for taking time out of your weekend, Katelyn. I know keeping two little ones entertained is not the Friday night most teenagers look forward to.”

“Oh, it’s no problem. You know I love them. I’m always happy to do it.” Katelyn paused and looked hesitantly at Jenna. “So the date was bad?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Well, it’s only nine o’clock. A single woman that looks like you shouldn’t be home this early.” Katelyn smiled broadly and blushed a bit as she shrugged.

Jenna laughed. “Let’s just say I don’t think the blind date loved my offspring as much as you do."

“What? Why would he say something about the kids—he doesn’t even know them?”

“Apparently, he doesn’t have too. And I think that was the problem. My match maker conveniently forgot to tell him about the little boy sleeping in the next room.”