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She sighed. David assumed she was behind things because he didn’t know his daughter. “No, David, that wasn’t my idea. That was Carol expressing her point of view. Something she does regularly. She’s never been a particularly docile child, and I have a feeling that personality trait’s going to get worse as she gets older.”
David leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think she’s weird. I don’t remember what I said, but I know I didn’t say that. You need to know that.”
“I’m not the one who thought that. You’re going to need to convince Carol.”
David sighed, rubbing his eyes. “I’ve never met a kid like her before.”
“Well, you’ll have some time to get to know this one.” She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. “I need all the travel information—when you’re leaving and when her flight will get back. And I think a week is long enough for a first visit.”
She steeled herself for another argument, but he shrugged again. “A week works for me.”
“And childcare?”
But apparently, David had reached his limit on being reasonable. “Jessica’s great. She’ll be fine.” He folded his arms across his chest, apparently ready for a battle.
Ruth frowned—was it worth a fight? Maybe not. Or anyway, not until Carol came home and told her more about Jessica and her role in David’s household. “Okay.”
David nodded. “Right. I’ll go get my luggage at the hotel and then pick Carol up. Should be about a half hour or so.”
“Okay, I’ll try to make sure she’s ready.”
Carol was sitting on her bed, her closed suitcase on the floor beside her feet. “I need to see what you packed,” Ruth said.
Carol looked like she might object, but then she shrugged. Ruth opened the suitcase and checked through the clothes. “You’ll need more underwear than this. And you won’t need that sweater. It’s warm in L.A.”
“But the sweater’s pretty.”
Ruth nodded. “It’s very pretty, but it takes up too much space and you won’t wear it. Let’s find some other stuff that’s also pretty, but a little more practical.” She headed for the closet. If Carol wanted to go girly for this trip, she’d do her best to help out.
Fifteen minutes later, Carol was packed, her suitcase sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Ruth slipped into her own room, then came back again carrying a new cell phone. “I got you this yesterday at the mall.” She handed it to Carol.
Carol stared down. “It’s a phone.”
“Right. There’s an instruction book. I can get it if you want.”
Carol shook her head. “I don’t need it. Jeannie has one just like it. I even know how to charge it.” She pressed the on button. “This is so cool.”
“Glad you think so.” Ruth took the phone from her hand and pressed one of the on-screen icons. “There’s my number. I entered it in your contacts. I want you to call me every day. Tell me everything that’s happening.” And tell me you’re okay.
David’s car pulled to the curb in front. Her baby was going away, and she needed to hold it together, even though she really wanted to hang on to her for all she was worth.
She leaned down to give her daughter a tight hug. “You be you, sweetheart. But please try to make it the best version of you that you can.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Carol whispered. “I’ll do that.” And she opened the door for her father.
…
Liam waited until late afternoon before he headed for Ruth’s house. He thought he’d look around on the street for Mobley’s sports car, and if he didn’t see it, he’d assume the all-clear had been posted. Mobley didn’t strike him as the type to walk anywhere he could drive.
He might have brought a pizza, but he had something else he wanted to show her, and a pizza might only complicate matters.
No sports car was parked anywhere around the house. He climbed the steps to the front porch and raised his hand to knock.
The front door swung open before he had a chance. “Hi,” said Ruth.
“Hi.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say, any more than he could think of anything he wanted to do more than stare at her. Her short, dark hair was slightly mussed, as usual, and her velvet eyes were brilliant in the late afternoon sunlight. It occurred to him that he could be happy staring at her for the rest of the night. Only she might not be equally happy with being stared at. “Can I come in? I’ve got something for you.”
