Temporary Father

Stiff silence fell. Beth fingered a spot of water off the counter.

“If you’re sure,” Van said. “Beth tells me you met the other night while she was running.”

“She didn’t tell you I was choking?”

“Were you?” She pretended to know nothing about his health.

“No, but you burst out of the shrubbery as if you were searching for someone to resuscitate.”

“I’ve recently updated my CPR certificate.” Beth tried to laugh off his embarrassment. She might not get men. She might not trust her own instincts where they were concerned, but she was determined to remain kind—even after Campbell. “I thought you might have been Lucy. Every so often she eats her fetch ball and we have to fish the pieces out of her mouth.”

“Oh.” For the third time in less than five minutes, a man slanted her a knowing glance. Then he turned to Van. “Maybe I will use the pool if you don’t mind.”

“Any time. Beth’s the only one who goes out there. Even Eli won’t use it without his friends, and I never seem to find the time.”

“Even though you should for your own good.” Beth stored the milk and butter in the fridge and wished she hadn’t mentioned health. Having seen the proof of his illness in the doctor’s office, she thought Aidan looked thin. His hollowed cheeks would only make him more beloved to the photographers, but here in the back of nowhere, they made a woman want to ply him with sandwiches.

“You must get some exercise at the—I believe you said you were rebuilding a fishing lodge?”

“Mmm-hmm. Wouldn’t you know it’d burn down when our busiest season is coming?”

“Did you find the magazines I left you?” Van interrupted.

Aidan nodded, but he searched the faces of both Van and Beth. Undercurrents would be one of his specialties.

“Good. And the television controls?”

“Van, I had a minor heart attack. I won’t be needing a home defibrillator or a babysitter.”

“Good news.” Van maneuvered him toward the kitchen door. “Let me show you the walking trails we’ve put in.”

“I found them.”

“Why don’t I bring down a couple of steaks for dinner one night?” Van “helped” him through the door, making pathetically sure not to include Beth. As if she’d pitch Aidan over dinner after she’d promised not to. “I’m traveling for the next week, but maybe the week after. Can you eat steak?” Van added.

“Sure.”

His short tone made Beth shake her head. She was still shaking it when Van came back.

“He seemed a little annoyed,” Van said.

“Can you blame him? You’re his friend, but you sounded as if you’d be putting his dinner through a food processor.”

“Why are you so defensive on his behalf?”

“I just realized he really was sick and doesn’t want to be. No matter what plans Eli has for him, I’m staying out of his way.”

BETH CLEANED her room and then slipped into Eli’s to tidy the obvious messes—shoes on the dresser, discarded Xbox games scattered in front of the TV and a plate laden with apple pie crumbs.

Then she changed into warmer clothes, tucking a sweatshirt under her arm in case the weather turned chilly. She peered through the pale pink voile over her bedroom windows. Clouds had begun to gather above Van’s verdant trees.

She grabbed her sneakers and ran down the stairs. Sitting on the last step, she was tying the laces when the doorbell rang. She hobbled over, one shoe on, one foot crushing a heel, and opened the door to find Aidan cradling Lucy—who was horrifyingly still—and bloody.

Groaning, she tried to gather the dog that was like her second child. Lucy didn’t move, but blood from her head smeared Beth’s shirt.

“Don’t,” Aidan said. “That’s going to scare Eli.”

“Where is he? Please, God, tell me he’s not lying out in the woods.”

“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have told you I saw him come up here. Call him. He’ll want to go with us to the vet.”

“Eli.” She managed a whisper. She’d rather suffer anything than see her son hurt. Couldn’t she take Lucy to the vet and come home with reassuring news on her condition? “She is alive?”

“I think someone shot her with a pellet gun. Probably just a graze.” As if to back up his diagnosis, Lucy opened her eyes and scrambled for freedom with a whimper that made Beth reach for her again.

Aidan twisted away. “Get your son,” he said, his voice harsh with concern.

“Eli.” Beth turned toward the stairs. “Lucy’s hurt.” Great. The delicate approach. Way to destroy a boy. “I’ll find him.” She stopped halfway up the stairs. “I’m sorry to ask you this, but should you be carrying her?”

A mixture of annoyance and embarrassment chased across his face. “Will you hurry?” he asked, struggling to hold on to Lucy. “She wants down, and she doesn’t know me.”

On the way to Eli’s room, Beth grabbed a couple of beach towels out of the linen closet. She burst through his door, and he yanked out his earbuds.

“What?” he asked, as frightened as she must look.

“Lucy’s had an accident.” She held out her hands and willed herself to calm down. “Aidan found her. He thinks someone accidentally—hit—her with a pellet gun, but she’s going to be okay.”

He tore out of the room. She grabbed at his shirt. “Eli, she’s bleeding. Try not to be afraid.”

“Lucy.” He slid down a couple of steps. The dog whined from below. Beth scrambled past Eli on the stairs and this time he held her back. “She’s mine. I’ll help her.”

Beth had no intention of letting him take care of their poor, sweet girl on his own. She reached Aidan first.

“Let’s wrap her in these towels and you can sit with her on the back seat of my car, honey.” Using one of the towels, she wiped the dog’s forehead, revealing a gash that welled again. “Who the hell was shooting on your uncle’s property?” She pressed her cheek to Lucy’s ear. “Don’t worry, baby.”

The dog fought hard to reach Beth. Taking her out of Aidan’s arms, Beth let Eli help carry her, stumbling across loose gravel to the car.

He yanked the back door open. “Hurry, Mom.”

“Slide across the seat.” Together, they eased Lucy in. Beth arranged the towels on Eli’s lap, and Lucy laid her head on his thigh. He cuddled her the way Beth used to hold him when he was hurt.

She dug for her keys. Thank God she’d already tucked them into her pocket. She walked straight into Aidan’s chest, but he held her off, his hands big, unsettling on her shoulders. “You don’t have to come with us.” Slipping around him, she hurried to the driver’s seat.

“Are you kidding? I have to know if she’s all right.”

He jumped into the front passenger seat, and Beth hesitated only a moment. She didn’t want him to—but Lucy was hurt, and Eli’s empty stare in the mirror terrified Beth. She skidded backward through the gravel, but then straightened out to rocket down the driveway.

Aidan hooked his hand into the bar above his window.