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A lump formed in his throat as he watched her hurry away. He was truly going to miss the sweet old lady. Morning coffee and guessing at the answers onJeopardyevery evening was a routine he enjoyed and one that would be hard to replace. He had no real permanent home or family to return to. After he finished packing, he slowly made his way down the stairs to say goodbye.
“Here’s the rent I owe you.”
Scrunching her gray brows, Ina eyed the thick package he’d pressed into her hand. “Do I need to count it?”
He winked and flashed his movie star gleam. “It’s all there. Of course my addition may be a bit off.”
“Now, young man, I told you when I met you, I wasn’t a charity case.”
“Ina,” he began softly, “I just want to make sure you’re taken care of, not because you need charity, but because I love you.”
She grabbed for a tissue stuffed up her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. “You’re going to have to bend down so I can kiss that handsome face of yours. I can’t very well reach it way up there.”
He bent over and gave her a tight hug. “I’ll be back soon.”
Grabbing his bag and his lunch he walked out the door. Through the car’s window he saw her on her front porch, waving the tissue. He leaned out and waved back until the limousine turned onto the road and the cloud of dust it kicked up settled.
****
Jenna’s glance wavered back to the hall clock. Eric was coming by on his way to the airport to say goodbye to Janie. He’d spent the last two weeks trying to cram as much quality time with his daughter as he could. The time was up, and he needed to return to Los Angeles. He promised Janie he would be back in Cromline as soon as possible, and Jenna didn’t doubt his vow. He didn’t break promises.
Janie seemed subdued, and it worried Jenna. In a very small amount of time, her daughter had gotten very attached to him. Jenna understood more than anyone how easy it was to love Eric Laine.
He and Janie shared dinners and saw every age-appropriate movie in theaters or on home video. He even made his first judgment call as a parent and took her to the ice cream parlor. It was an apprehensive moment for both father and child, he confessed. He described to Jenna how he felt Janie’s small hand tighten in his own as they walked through the parking lot. It was a hurdle they jumped together and the first time, not counting the kidnapping, he helped their daughter through a traumatic event.
He had missed all the skinned knees and sniffles. He’d never dried any of her tears or shared any of her triumphs. Jenna had stolen it all from him.
She wished now, as she had then, that he’d been at her side when Janie won the second grade spelling bee, or first place on the balance beam. Jenna wished she could turn back the clock and give him all the happy smiles he’d missed. Two short weeks wasn’t nearly enough time to make up for everything. Now he was leaving—too soon for Janie, too soon for all of them.
A car with Nick behind the wheel pulled into the driveway. The Town Car was a sight Jenna’s neighbors had grown accustomed to. He’d stuck around to protect her and Janie. By now everyone in Cromline knew the true story of the elusive single mom. Thankfully her neighbors respected her privacy. Then again, the media had reported enough to satisfy their curiosity.
****
Eric rapped his knuckles against the door, and Janie answered. Her mouth was drawn into a pout and her eyes downcast. “Hey, what’s this? Where’s my smile?”
She shuffled her feet against the mat at the entryway. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
“Aw, kid, I wish I didn’t have to either, but—” He pushed back the sleeve of his jacket and glanced at his wristwatch. “I have an appointment at court…oh…in just about eighteen hours. But I’ll be back here as soon as I can.”
“How long?”
“I can’t honestly say, but tell you what, I’ll call every day. You can count on it.”
The child seemed to struggle to find a smile. She fell short of her mark by yards. Grabbing her, Eric threw one arm around her shoulder and swayed playfully. He rubbed the top of her head with his knuckles and earned a genuine smile. “I promise to bring you something back from California, something great. How’d you like a T-shirt?”
She scrunched her nose and shook her head.
“Oranges?”
“Uh, uh.”
“Water from the Pacific Ocean?”
“Nope.”
“Well then, what should I bring?”
Janie looked up, her eyes wide and earnest. “I just wantyouto come back.”
