An Unexpected Match (3 page)

“Of course, I am.”

“But this is Haley Scott we're talking about.” Haley, whose résumé was too long to fit on one page, and not in a good way. Haley, who switched college majors and jobs as often as other people changed clothes. But he said only, “I don't think that's a good idea. And besides, I still have a few candidates left to interview.”

Amy shrugged as she rinsed dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher. “Up to you.”

“Yes, it is.”

His mother clearly disagreed with him, but as Elizabeth's father, it was up to him to decide who should provide care for her. What kind of father would he be to trust his child to someone as flighty as Haley? He couldn't even understand why his mother had suggested it, except that Haley was her best friend's daughter.

His obligation was to his own daughter, whose needs he would always put ahead of his own or anyone else's. Elizabeth deserved better than a child-care provider who might desert her without looking back. Might do exactly what his ex-wife had done.

“She isn't Stacey, you know,” his mother said.

Matthew blinked. His mother was bringing out the big guns if she was mentioning his ex. He'd declared that name off-limits, and usually his family abided by that rule. Before he could call out his mother for breaking the rule, though, Jenna pushed through the door, carrying an armful of dishes. Haley followed right behind her, but she only had dishes in one hand because his daughter was holding the other.

Matthew glanced surreptitiously at his mother, who caught his attention and grinned. He started shoving dishes
into the dishwasher, hoping the others hadn't overheard their earlier conversation.

“I was just telling Haley that when I get back from the florist tomorrow, we can go shopping for some new outfits,” Jenna said. “There are so many cute styles for spring.”

“Jenna, I don't think—”

“Aw, come on. It'll be fun.”

Their mother and Caroline entered the kitchen, stopping just inside the door.

“You know…shopping therapy,” Jenna continued. “Haley will want to look her best when she gets back out there.”

“Back out there?”

The dread in Haley's voice couldn't be missed. She didn't sound anywhere near ready to be
out there
again. Matthew knew what that was like, and he could also relate to times when relatives' well-meaning
help
felt too much like pressure.

“Shopping therapy might work for some, but are you sure that's what your sister wants to do?” Matthew turned to Haley. “Haley, what
do
you want to do?”

“That is the question of the day.” Haley shook her head, appearing overwhelmed with the thought. “Haley Scott, what do you plan to do with the rest of your life?” For the last, she took on a game show announcer's voice.

“I'm not talking about the rest of your life. Just tomorrow.” Matthew had been searching for a way to help, and now it seemed obvious: He could give her something to do to take her mind off her problems. She probably needed a temporary distraction even if he doubted she would accept that distraction from him. They hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms the last time they'd seen each other.

“Oh, tomorrow. I hadn't really thought about it.”

“Well, I have an idea if you need one. Something fun.”

“Like what?”

Her answer surprised him since he expected an automatic “no.” He cleared his throat before giving his pitch. “I'm chaperoning a youth group road rally at church, and I thought you might like to tag along.”

“Sounds to me as if they're short on volunteers.”

“No. That's not it,” he began, but he stopped when the side of her mouth lifted. “I just thought—Anyway, it's a photo scavenger hunt, and I'm one of the drivers.”

Matthew placed a few more glasses in the top rack of the dishwasher, giving her a chance to answer. When she didn't, he hurried on. “The youth group kids are great. I've chaperoned several of their trips, and they've been a lot of fun.”

He didn't know why he was selling the plan so hard. Chaperoning a youth group trip wasn't one of his favorite things, but the youth director was always begging for volunteers, and Matthew helped whenever he was available.

“I don't know,” she said, finally.

“It'll be an adventure.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Don't you think the whole dumped-at-the-altar thing is enough of an adventure for one weekend?”

“She's right, Matthew,” her mother said as she scooped leftovers into plastic containers. “She has too much on her plate right now to be chasing off in a car with teenagers. Caroline might like to go though.”

“Me working with teenagers?” Caroline shook her head. “That's not going to happen.”

Matthew turned back to Haley. “I just thought you would like to forget about the wedding business for a few hours.”

Haley had already opened her mouth, probably to
decline, but she closed it again, appearing to reconsider. “You know, maybe I will go with you. I could use a break from my life.”

Trina Scott turned and rested her hip against the counter. “Now Haley, are you sure you want to do that?”

“It will be better than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. Besides, it will give Elizabeth and me the chance to get to know each other better.” She patted the child's head, and Elizabeth grinned up at her.

“She won't be there.” Matthew had spoken too quickly, and from the women's expressions, he could tell he wasn't the only one who'd noticed. Just because he didn't want his daughter to spend too much time with Haley didn't mean he needed to be unkind. “I mean…younger kids aren't included in this event. Elizabeth will be spending the night here.”

“Oh. It'll be fun anyway, I guess.”

Haley appeared disappointed, and Matthew didn't know what to think about that.

“Daddy, I want to go, too,” Elizabeth whined. “Why can't I go with Miss Haley? It's not fair.”

Matthew sighed inside, preparing himself for his daughter's meltdown. This was a new stage for her, one he was determined to put to an end quickly. But just as he started toward Elizabeth, Haley lifted her up on her hip.

“You get to spend the whole night here with Grammy? You're going to have so much fun.”

“That's right. You'll have a blast,” he agreed.

Matthew didn't have to look to know his mother was watching him again, sending him another one of those knowing looks. Just because Haley had averted one tantrum didn't mean she was qualified to care for his child. She was still Haley Scott—and all that implied—and he was still Elizabeth's father.

Those truths didn't stop him from feeling badly for Haley though. She'd been through a lot today, and the coming weeks were sure to be difficult. Maybe it was a bad idea for him to invite her to join him in chaperoning, but he would never be so cruel as to withdraw the invitation.

That didn't keep him from wanting the whole event to just be over with. Then he would have completed his good deed for the day by helping out a woman he'd known since childhood get through a couple of rough days. After that, he could wish her well, and he and Elizabeth could get on with their lives.

H
aley stepped back from the front door, gesturing for Matthew to come inside. She felt strange inviting him in like a guest when he'd visited her mother's new house more times than she had. In fact, everything felt peculiar about her going on this outing with Matthew now, though it had sounded like a good idea last night.

Already she'd spent the morning hanging her incredible wedding gown on the consignment rack at the bridal store and arranging storage for her possessions back in Michigan. Next, she'd “enjoyed” an afternoon of writing thank-you notes for gifts she had to return. Now the idea of accepting an invitation—probably given out of pity—felt like one dose of mortification too many.

Oblivious to her humiliation and appearing fidgety himself, Matthew scanned the room, now stacked with wrapped gifts on one wall and about a dozen packages addressed for return on the opposite wall.

He cleared his throat and turned back to her. “Wow, look at this place. You've been busy.”

“Probably too busy. Maybe Mom was right. I am tired. Maybe I should just—”

“Not so fast, Haley Scott.”

Haley had been staring at the gifts again, feeling the weight of the work ahead, but she turned to look at him. “Excuse me?”

“You don't know how hard it is to get volunteers for youth group events. Now that you're on the hook, there's no way I'm letting you off.”

She snapped her fingers, grimacing. “I knew it. I knew you were only asking me because I was vulnerable and you were short of volunteers.”

“Smart gal. Now get your coat. A rowdy bunch of teens are waiting for us.”

Forgetting her flimsy argument, Haley did as she was told. Matthew seemed too determined to treat her as his charity case for her to change his mind anyway. For a few seconds last night, she'd wondered if her mother had discouraged her from accepting Matthew's invitation just to trick her into going, but one look at that disapproving frown had ruled out any suspicion of matchmaking motives.

Even the two matchmakers probably recognized the unfortunate timing, and besides, they'd always intended Caroline for Matthew in their silly plan. Not her.

After she retrieved her purse from the bedroom, Haley found Matthew bent in front of the pile of small appliances and stoneware place settings stacked along the wall.

“You've got quite a stash here,” he said.

“Two toasters, three waffle irons, a blender and a smoothie maker, and that's without unwrapping any of the ones I hadn't already opened.”

“Caroline was right. You should get to keep the loot.”

“I don't think so.” She shook her head to reinforce her words. “I do wish I could use a form letter for my thank-you notes though. My hand is killing me.”

As she flexed and unflexed her left hand, her gaze stopped on her third finger. Her hand looked so bare now without her engagement ring. That piece of jewelry was safe in a drawer upstairs for when she would return it to Tom. The sound of Matthew clearing his throat brought her attention up from her hand.

“Then you need a break…for the sake of those sore fingers. So shall we?” With a tilt of his head, he indicated the front door.

Haley couldn't help smiling as they went outside and descended the steps toward Matthew's hybrid SUV parked at the curb. He was so kind to distract her from her problems. He opened her door before jogging around to the driver's side.

Once inside, he gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Each day will get a little easier, you know.”

“How do you—” Haley began, and then she remembered that he did know from experience what it was like to be the one left behind. Though she'd worried briefly about her mother's motives, she found relief in knowing she didn't have to worry about Matthew's. He was reaching out to her in friendship, just as he'd done all those years ago.

Back then his offer had felt like a nightmare, a pat on the head when she'd hoped to be held in his arms. The same offer now seemed perfect. She didn't want or need anything else from a man right now, but she could really use a friend.

 

The glare from the fluorescent lights caught Haley's attention, and a newborn's distinctive cry filtered down the
aisle, as Haley raced through a discount department store, searching for the backdrop for their final photo. Matthew jogged after her, the two girls and two boys they'd shared a ride with in Matthew's SUV earlier taking up the rear.

“Slow down, will you?” the boy named Preston called after her as he stopped and tried to catch his breath.

“You don't want ours to be the last team to get back to the church, do you?” Haley slowed long enough to ask over her shoulder.

“No, but he doesn't want to collapse and croak next to the health and beauty department, either,” an athletic girl named Katie answered for him.

“Good thing for him Haley's headed for the toy department,” Matthew said.

Haley grinned as she hurried to the rear of the store. How Matthew knew where she was going, she wasn't sure, but they must have been thinking on the same frequency because they both stopped right in front of a cage-like container of large plastic balls. Great minds did think alike.

“Here. This is perfect.” She indicated the cage with an expansive wave.

“You want us to get in there? It's almost smaller than Matt's car.” That came from Jimmy, the group's resident comedian.

Haley shook her head. “I just thought we could balance some balls while we build the pyramid.”

“Are we going to balance
on
the balls?” Jimmy tried again.

“I don't think so,” Matthew said. “We'll really come in last if we have to make a side trip to the E.R. at Markston General.”

His deadpan had Haley chuckling. He'd been serious
most of the night, through their assignment of squeezing themselves on the store's minicarousel and her mid-pushup collapse as they did calisthenics on the courthouse steps.

He'd been as serious tonight as he'd been when Haley had seen him with Elizabeth. For someone so blessed with a great career in law and with the opportunity to parent a sweet little girl, Matthew didn't seem to have much fun in his life.

“I wish we could have brought Elizabeth tonight,” Haley told him as they waited for Preston to catch up with the group. “She would have loved this.”

“It was just for the older kids. Besides, I wouldn't want her to stay up past her bedtime.”

Haley nodded, wondering about the strict schedule Matthew and his daughter must keep. Did the house collapse around them if the child went to bed at 8:05 p.m. instead of the top of the hour?

“What are we doing?” Preston asked when he reached them.

“We're deciding how we're going to build the pyramid,” Jimmy told him. “We're making you the flier.”

Preston shook his head. “Not going to happen.”

Matthew raised both hands to garner their attention. “Are we going to build this thing or just talk about it?” When no one answered, he started barking orders. “Three across the bottom. The guys and me. Haley goes with Katie next. Then one on top. Chelsea, that's you.”

Each of them grabbed a ball from the bin and settled it between his hands, a chore that became more difficult at each level. After the pyramid was complete, and a little shaky, they looked up to pose for the camera, finding the Polaroid resting forgotten on the floor.

“Wait. Who's going to take the picture?” Jimmy asked.

“Yes. Who's going to take it?”

Haley swallowed as she turned her head in the direction of that unfamiliar voice. A middle-aged woman with a badge that read “Toy Department Manager” stood before them, and she looked anything but pleased.

It took some fast-talking and a promise to leave the store immediately, but they had the picture in their collection when they returned to the vehicle.

As Matthew drove them back to the church, Haley listened to the teens' happy chatter from the second and third rows of seats in the SUV. She might not have been able to agree with their opinions that their photos competed with the work of Ansel Adams, but she had to admit that the outing had been fun.

Maybe Matthew was right. Maybe each day would get a little easier. She just needed to take control of her life and figure out what she would do next. Tonight had only been a night of distraction, but it was a beginning. She would find a way to get on with her life. All she had to do was get through tomorrow—the day she had planned to walk down the aisle.

 

Matthew held Elizabeth's hand as he walked her from her Sunday school class to the sanctuary where she would sit with his mother while he led the morning music. They'd barely made it into the vestibule, though, before she broke free from him, her black-patent Mary Janes clicking across the tile as she then disappeared into the jungle of adults.

“Elizabeth Ann Warren. Come back here this instant.”

He used a louder-than-normal voice, but he shouldn't have bothered. He would never be heard above the din of the Sunday chatter. Checking his watch to make sure he
still had a few minutes before the organist would begin the processional, he hurried in the direction she'd taken.

Emerging on the other side of the crowd, he found the group his daughter must have seen first from her waist-high point of view. His mother was talking to Trina Scott, who must have said something clever because all three Scott sisters were laughing. He didn't see a lot to laugh about because his disobedient child was giggling along with them to a punch line she probably didn't understand, and she was doing it from her perch on Haley Scott's hip.

Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache threatening. Of all those people standing there together, his daughter had to choose Haley to cling to, as if it had been years since she'd seen her instead of days.

“Looking for something?” Haley asked when he strode toward them. She gave the miniature misbehaver in her arms a squeeze, causing the crinolines in the child's dress to crunch. Elizabeth pressed her cheek against Haley's.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Matthew addressed only his daughter. “Young lady, you know better than to run in church. And it's dangerous to run off like that.”

“I'm sorry.” Elizabeth bent her head and looked up at him from under her eyelashes. “But Miss Haley was here.”

As if that explained everything. “Well, I don't want you to do that again, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.”

“Elizabeth was just telling me about her Sunday school lesson.” Haley lowered Elizabeth to the floor before straightening the pink-striped blouse she wore with a black skirt. “I love the Noah's ark story, too.”

“Animals go two by two,” Elizabeth said in a sing-songy voice.

His mother touched his shoulder. “Shouldn't you be getting inside?”

Matthew glanced toward the open doors of the sanctuary and then at his watch. The first strains of the organ processional music filtered out the door. He was late. He hated having to go in after the music had already started.

Peeking at his watch once more, he turned back to Elizabeth. “Now I want you to behave for Grammy in church.”

The little girl frowned. “I want to sit with Miss Haley.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but his mother waved a hand to stop him. “We're all planning to sit together.”

“Oh. Good.”

Matthew hesitated only a second before waving and making his way to the front of the church. Why was he acting like a protective papa bear this morning, anyway? Everything was under control, just the way he liked it. He'd even hired a perfect, new caregiver for Elizabeth. A pre-med student, who planned to specialize in pediatrics, Renee even came with references.

From his observation point stage left of the pulpit, he watched the two families file in the sanctuary, filling most of the fourth pew. Sure enough, Elizabeth managed to sit next to Haley, but his mother sat on her other side. No big deal. What harm was it for Elizabeth to befriend Haley anyway? Haley needed friends, apparently better ones than he was being.

He glanced over to his daughter in time to see her pull out a hymnal and hand it to Haley. In the Bible, God had instructed fathers to teach their children in the ways of faith and yet at only four years old, Elizabeth was a better example than Matthew was of how to reach out to others.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the organist mo
tioning for him to take his place behind the lectern to lead the opening hymn. Obviously, he needed to listen better to the lessons in church instead of just leading the music.

He did his best to pay close attention to all the morning's hymns and then through Reverend Boggs's sermon on the “Parable of the Lost Sheep.” Church sometimes felt like just another obligation, but this time he vowed to search for deeper meanings that he could apply to his life.

Only a few times did he give in to the temptation to glance down at his family, but that was just to make sure his daughter behaved during services. Once he caught Haley holding her index finger to her lips to hush her, but other than that, Elizabeth was a model citizen.