The Opposite of Wild (31 page)

“No, I turned in my badge the next day. I’ve been working as a private investigator ever since, but I’m done with that. You got any leads for me coming back as an officer locally?”

“They’re looking for a full-timer in Fieldridge. I know the chief. I could make a call.”

“Jack’s in Fieldridge.”

Chief gave him a level look. “I heard he cleaned up. Is that gonna be a problem?”

“No.”
As long as Jack stays on the right side of the law
.

“Your shoulder giving you any trouble?”

“No, Chief.”

“Call me Glenn.” He steepled his fingers together. “Ryan, I’m looking to retire soon. There’s no one I’d trust more to look over the people of Clover Park than you. Put in a year in Fieldridge, and I’ll make you chief here when I retire.”

Ryan stared at him, speechless. He shut his mouth with a snap. “Chief, I never expected—”

“Glenn.”

“Glenn, this is…wow…a great opportunity…it would be an honor to follow in your footsteps.”

Glenn held up a finger. “On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“My mandated post-trauma therapy for you—join the police athletic league in Eastman. I’ve been on the board ever since Trav came through here. We help at-risk kids get on the right track. We’ve got soccer, basketball, and baseball leagues. You’d serve as coach, mentor, role model. I can’t think of anyone more qualified than you for sports and for turning kids around. Whadda ya say?”

He’d never thought of it before, working with kids. He’d helped his brothers, but that was different, they were family. Still, it was more than a fair deal. He knew sports. The kids he wasn’t so sure about, but he’d handle it. “Sign me up.”

Glenn smiled and nodded. “This’ll help you too. You work closely with these kids, you won’t freeze up if something comes up again. You’ll know how to reach them. You’ll understand.”

“Okay, Chief, er, Glenn.”

Glenn stood and extended his hand.

Ryan shook his hand warmly. “Thank you.”

“All right. I’ll make a call. Expect to hear from Chief Pax soon.”

Ryan nodded and turned to head out the door.

“Soccer practice is at nine a.m. on Saturday,” Glenn said. “You just got the middle school boys team.”

Middle school boys were still pretty young, Ryan figured, not into hard drugs or dangerous criminal activity. Shouldn’t be a problem.

He called over his shoulder, “I’ll be there.” He stopped. “Wait, Gran’s wedding is this Saturday. I’ll be there starting the next Saturday.”

Glenn gave him a thumbs-up. “That’ll work. I’ll fill in for you.”

He walked out of Glenn’s office, standing tall, feeling like he was back on track. This felt right. He should’ve come to Chief Bailey years ago. “Bye, Linda.”

She wiggled her fingers. “Don’t be a stranger around here.”

He turned and grinned. “I won’t.”

No surprise Liz didn’t want to be with a guy who snooped on affairs. But this—this was good, honest work. Now he was worthy of Liz. He just had to convince her.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Her apartment was quiet for once. Daisy had taken Bryce out for a car ride to get him to nap. Liz had the day off for the Jewish high holidays, so she decided to make a schedule for Bryce’s care. Now that Daisy had decided to include Trav, they had more help. Liz knew she couldn’t function at work as things were. That first week back had been brutal.

She called her mother to find out her fall schedule, then inserted her name in the blocks of time she was available. Next she called Trav on his cell. He emailed his work schedule a few minutes later, and she filled in his blocks. By the time Daisy returned with a sleeping Bryce in his carrier, the schedule was all set.

“Hey, it worked,” Liz whispered when they came in.

“Sure did,” Daisy said. “I think I’m going to lie down a bit while he naps.” She headed for the bedroom with the carrier.

“Wait, I want to show you something.” She spoke at a normal volume, and the baby didn’t stir. Maggie would be proud.

Daisy held up a finger. “Hold that thought.”

She went into the bedroom and returned a few minutes later without Bryce. Grabbing a glass of water from the kitchen, she joined Liz on the sofa. “What’s up?”

“I worked out a childcare schedule for Bryce.” She turned the laptop to show Daisy.

Daisy’s eyes widened as she took in all the color-coded detail Liz had put in, accounting for every hour of the day for round-the-clock baby care.

“Liz, you didn’t have to do all that.”

“I just thought it’d be easier if we all had the schedule. If it’s okay with you, I’ll email it to everyone and print a copy to post here.”

“No, really. You didn’t have to do this. I hired a mother’s helper.”

Liz stared at her sister in shock. Daisy never planned ahead, always living on impulse, on the fly. Skidding in and out of messes, knowing Liz would help pick up the pieces. But she’d done this. All on her own.

One corner of Daisy’s mouth turned up in a wry smile. “I know I was a wreck when I first got here, but I’m doing better now. I’ve got family, Trav’s on board, and the best part is I’m getting regular showers.”

Liz smiled. Showers were important. “Who did you hire? Did you get references?”

“It’s Dr. Cohen’s mother, Miriam. She’s a grandmother and loves to hold babies. Miriam says she’s happy to rock him to sleep and not to worry.” She grinned. “Dr. Cohen says she’s like the baby whisperer and she’s helped all of their family. But they haven’t had any babies in a while.”

“You never said anything.”

“It just happened today. I ran into Dr. Cohen at Garner’s when I went to pick up lunch and get in some grandma time. She asked how I was doing with Bryce, and I told her I was looking for a mother’s helper.”

“Since when?”

“Since you broke up with Ryan. You’re exhausted, and I know you’re not happy. I don’t want Bryce to be a burden—”

“He’s not.”

Daisy squeezed her arm. “He’s not an easy baby. You’ll still be able to help, but you won’t have to help all the time.”

“When does she start?”

“Next week.”

“Wow.” She shook her head. “I’m still so impressed that you planned ahead.”

“If Bryce has taught me anything, it’s to be prepared.”

Liz hugged her. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, sis.” Daisy stood. “I’d better get that nap in. And don’t worry about the money. Trav is helping out.”

“Good,” Liz said. The circumstances hadn’t been ideal, but she couldn’t have asked for a better dad for her nephew.

~ ~ ~

Ryan had run the same route, at the same late afternoon time as when he’d last seen Liz out running, three days in a row. Still no Liz. He didn’t know what else to do. She wouldn’t take his calls. He’d stopped after the third one. He didn’t want to harass her. He just wanted to tell her stuff. Like he was no longer that guy who spied on cheaters. He’d start his new job as a full-time officer in Fieldridge in two weeks. Or that he knew what they had was special, that you didn’t get that with just anyone.

Hell, he sucked with words anyway.

He turned and jogged toward Shane’s Scoops. Jorge’s stupid idea for a grand romantic gesture hadn’t worked. She’d barely blinked when he’d told her he was looking for a new job. Shane was Mr. Sensitive. He’d had two long relationships, so he had to know
something
.

He headed into his brother’s shop and got in line for a vanilla milkshake.

A few minutes later, Shane took his order and handed it over personally. When Ryan tried to pay, Shane pushed his money back. “On the house.”

“You’re going to go out of business that way.” He shoved the money in his brother’s hand. Shane shoved it back.

Ryan exhaled sharply and tucked the bills into the tip jar. “When are you on break?”

“Gimme five.”

Ryan waited at a table. Business had slowed down now that summer was over, but Shane still had regulars coming in for their afternoon jolt of caffeine, sugar, or both.

Shane finished up, and they went out the back door to the private entrance of the upstairs apartment. His brother’s apartment was done up with vintage posters of wine and various foods. Always made Ryan hungry when he was up here.

They sat side by side at the kitchen island on stools that looked like the old-timey stools you’d find at a soda fountain, done in bright red and blue vinyl.

“What’s up?” Shane asked.

Ryan sipped his shake, unsure how to say what was on his mind.

Shane helped himself to a lemonade from his fridge and sat in companionable silence.

Ryan slurped too fast, got a brain freeze, and pressed his head.

Shane took pity on him. “Is it Liz?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s the problem?”

“You always know what to say to women.”

“I do?”

“Yeah, you’re good at all that relationship stuff. You must be; you had two long ones.”

“That’s true,” he said slowly. “Of course, I’m not with either of them now.”

Ryan waved that away. “It still counts.”

“Okay.”

He stared straight ahead. “So what should I say to Liz? She’s gonna be at Gran’s wedding on Saturday. I need a plan. She doesn’t want to be with me ever since Bryce moved into her place. I can’t exactly kick out the baby. But why do we have to be apart? I think we could see each other sometimes, right?” He met Shane’s eyes.

“Sure,” Shane said.

Ryan drank some shake and studied the large wooden spoon mounted above the kitchen sink. “Can you write her a poem for me?”

His brother was silent. He turned to see why. Shane’s mouth hung open in surprise.

Ryan jammed a hand in his hair, thoroughly embarrassed, but still needed an answer.

Shane recovered quickly. “You want me to—”

“Nothing too fancy or she’ll know it’s not me.” He stared down at the kitchen island, thinking hard. “Just something about…her eyes, you know? They’re this really blue color, almost like turquoise, but then when she gets riled up, they just light up. It’s like fire. And…and her hair is really soft. Something about that too.”

“Uh-huh.”

Ryan jerked his head up. Shane was smiling.

“Forget it.” Ryan realized he sounded like an idiot.

“No, I think it’s nice. My big brother finally fell in love.”

It hit him like a punch to the gut. He loved Liz.

He felt winded and took a few deep breaths. That realization was quickly followed with the stupidest thing he’d done to date—loving a woman who didn’t love him. She chose a baby over him. No room in her heart for both because she didn’t love him.

“Leave it to me to fall for someone who doesn’t love me back,” Ryan said bitterly.

Shane patted his back. “I wouldn’t say that. Just give her some time. The baby will grow up a bit, things will get easier, then maybe she’ll be more open to a relationship.”

He stared at his brother. “How long will that take?”

Shane shrugged.

Why did I think Shane would have the answers?

He stood. “You’re no help at all.”

Looked like it was back to Jorge’s idea. Action was the way to go if he wanted to win Liz’s heart. The alternative made him want to puke.

Love sucked.

~ ~ ~

“You’re a life saver,” Liz said as she helped Rachel unload the Chinese food she’d brought with her to Liz’s apartment. “We were so busy today I didn’t get a chance to think about dinner.”

Bryce was in his swing, positioned just outside of the kitchen, where he could watch them unload the bags. Daisy was on the phone in Liz’s bedroom.

“So, it’s been a week since the breakup,” Rachel said. “How ya doing?”

“Shitty,” Liz admitted. “And I have to see him again at the wedding.”

“I’ve got your back,” Rachel said.

“And I’ll take all the slow dances,” Daisy chimed in, back from her phone call.

Liz laughed.

They made it halfway through dinner before Bryce started crying. Liz and Daisy groaned. This always happened.

“It’s like he doesn’t want us to finish a meal,” Liz said. “It’s the baby diet.”

Daisy stood. “I’ve got this. You guys finish up. Milk is coming, baby!”

She scooped Bryce out of his swing and carried him to the living room. A few minutes later, he quieted. A half wall separated the kitchen from the living room, so Liz couldn’t see him nurse, but she could still hear a slurp now and then.

“You think Maggie will have a stripper at the bachelorette party tomorrow?” Rachel asked.

“I know she’s not, because I already ordered a psychic,” Liz said.

“Oy!” Rachel rolled her eyes. “You know they just say what they think you want to hear—you’ll be rich, have a handsome husband, live a long life.”

“It’s just for fun,” Liz said.

Rachel picked up some lo mein with the chopsticks. “I guess it’s all right if you don’t believe it.”

“I believe it,” Daisy called from the living room. “Once a psychic told me I’d be a mother at a young age, and here I am.”

Rachel and Liz exchanged a look. Thirty-three wasn’t exactly a young age.

“Cool,” Rachel finally said.

They grinned at each other.

“Weddings are good for meeting people,” Liz said. “Maybe you’ll meet Jorge’s hot nephew or second cousin.”

“He probably wouldn’t be Jewish,” Rachel said.

“Since when do you care about that?” Liz asked, taken aback.

“Maybe it’s time for me to stop screwing around and find someone to spend the future with. I think it’d be nice to be with someone who shared my faith. We could raise our kids Jewish.”

Liz stared at Rachel in shock.

“What?” Rachel asked.

“Nothing, it’s just I’ve never heard you talk this way.”

“Maybe seeing you guys with Bryce has made me rethink things a bit. You’re busy over here with your family, and I’m going home to an empty apartment. I signed up for JDate.”

Liz’s jaw dropped. “But I thought you said online dating was full of weirdos and creeps.”

Rachel shrugged. “I had a talk with my rabbi, and she said several people in our congregation used it with great success.”

“Wow.”

“Good for you!” Daisy piped up.

“I’m working on my profile, but I haven’t set it up yet. It’s hard to find a good description of me. Like, hobbies. I don’t have any hobbies. Books are my life.”