Baby Kisses (11 page)

How shall we end our sweet torment?

She sighed and looked at the stars, so close and yet so far. She reread her poem, and then read it again. Inhaling sharply, she saw what her unconscious mind—no, her heart—had written in the second stanza. She picked out the words: miles, bright, man. Miles Brightman. Squeezing her eyes shut, she allowed herself to accept her feelings. She hated the fact that he and Monica had been together because…because…she cared deeply for him. She whispered to herself,
"Tooty, you're screwed."

* * *

Three weeks after arriving back in Colorado, Miles typed the last word and leaned back in his wheelchair. Other than proofreading and some editing, his book was finished. Two emotions attached themselves to him, elation and sadness—elation that it was finally done, sadness that his time in Colorado was almost over.
Face it, you've grown fond of Tooty and Harris and this ramshackle house.

Rolling to his bedroom window he watched Harris pushing a Tonka truck around a dirt road he'd carved out and Tooty hoeing weeds in her small garden. He smiled remembering the excitement on her face when she'd plucked her first ripe tomato.

A swirl of dust indicated the approach of a vehicle. A big monster truck made the curve and stopped at the back of the drive. Rarely did anyone come to the house and this certainly wasn't Tooty's mother or father, or Sage or Sarah Tanner, or Jacob or Julie Hackstetter. He watched Tooty's stance turn from one of welcome to one of out-and-out hostility. She rushed and bent over Harris, saying something and motioning him toward the house. He said something back and pointed to his toy truck. She admonished him and he walked toward the porch sulking. A tall guy wearing a cowboy hat got out of the truck.

Miles decided it was time to make an appearance. When he rolled into the living room, Harris was peeking out the window and asked, "Mister Brightperson, who is that man?"

"I don't know, Harris. Hey, you know those Legos we started making a castle with…"

"Yeah?"

"Have you finished?"

"No. Not yet."

"I'd love to work on it with you. Why don't you run to your room and see how much you can get done? After I check on your mom, I'll come back and help you finish it."

Already, Harris had his mind on the project. "Okay. I'll do it right now." He ran toward his room.

Miles rolled onto the front porch, down the access ramp, and onto packed earth toward the truck parked behind his van. He could see from Tooty's expression that she wasn't happy to see this guy.

"I just want to see the kid," the tall cowboy said, leaning against the fender of his truck.

"No way. I want you off my property."

Miles saw the cowboy's eyes shift to his approach and Tooty turned around. "Tooty, is everything okay?"

"Is this your boyfriend?" the cowboy smirked.

Before she could answer, the jerk said, "Howdy, I'm Lucky Larry, Harris' father. And you are…"

"A friend of Tooty's."

"Well, 'friend of Tooty's', like I was tellin' her. I'd like to get to know my son."

Tooty rounded on him, "To hell you would. You just want to check out my good fortune in inheriting my own place. Now that you've seen it isn't much. You can leave."

The insolent cowboy dismissed Miles' presence and turned back to Tooty. "You're right about it not bein' much, but looks like you've had some expensive repairs done. So you must've got some money in the inheritance, or…" he looked at Miles, "…lover boy has some money."

Miles reached for his cell phone and dialed 911. The operator immediately answered. "Please send an officer to 722 Wild Tulip Drive. We have an intruder."

Lucky Larry scowled at Miles and said to Tooty, "I think I need to see my attorney about visitation rights with my son, unless, of course, we can come to some kind of agreement. I've had a slow season on the circuit and just need a little something to tide me over." He jerked the door to his truck open, jumped inside, and looked from Miles to Tooty, and winked. "You were a real sweet ride, baby. Give me a call later." Jamming the truck into gear he peeled out in a cloud of dust.

Miles dialed 911 again and canceled the emergency. He looked at Tooty. Big tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Aw, honey." He didn't know what else to say.

She blinked rapidly and swiped at her eyes. "I-I'm really sorry you had to witness that."

"I'm glad I witnessed it so I could help."

"I just feel…so embarrassed."

Miles didn't know what to say, so he reached and grasped Tooty's hand. Gently tugging, he pulled her onto his lap and she turned her face into his neck, sobbing. "He makes me feel so dirty. I can't believe I fell for his line. What if he does what he threatens and tries to get parenting time with Harris? I don't have the money to hire an attorney." She sobbed, "I swear I'll flee to another part of the country before letting Harris become influenced by that shithead."

"Honey, it's not going to come to that." Miles smoothed his hand down her wavy hair and rubbed tears from her cheeks with his thumb. Pulling her tight, he continued caressing her hair and murmuring words of encouragement. Finally, she sat up and looked at him.

"I've soaked your shirt," she half-smiled.

Miles' heart somersaulted at the sweetness in her expression. If he'd had the use of his legs, he would have pulverized that bastard.

Her lower lip trembled. "I have to tell you something," she whispered.

He waited.

"Even though I hate the guy, I-I wouldn't change anything because…because he gave me Harris." Tears overflowed again.

Miles smiled. "I understand what you're saying. Harris was worth it all, sweetheart."

"Thank you for understanding," she whispered.

A voice from the porch yelled. "Can I come out now? Mister Brightperson is going to build a Lego castle with me."

Miles smiled at Tooty. "Are you ready to go in?"

"Yes." She swiped the last of her tears away and started to climb off his lap.

"No, stay." He pushed the forward lever and the wheelchair scooted over the hard earth to the ramp.

Harris started jumping up and down on the porch. "Can I go for a ride, too?" He ran to meet them.

Miles said, "You betcha; as soon as I get your mom on the porch." When Tooty climbed off his lap, Harris was on it in a flash. "You go rest, Tooty. I'll watch Harris."

She gave him a weak smile and mouthed the words, "Thank you."

Miles whizzed down the access ramp. Finding the most level spot, he turned the chair in circles, which made Harris shout, "We're flying!"

Miles laughed with him. "Yes, son, we're flying."

* * *

Tooty splashed water on her puffy eyes and blew her nose. Unable to meditate on the encounter with Harris' lowlife father or the ensuing comfort from Miles, she reached into her nightstand and withdrew the diary.

Thursday, April 20, 1865

I woke up so excited. Today Pa and me picked up the rolling chair. I would give everything I own and work for however long needed to pay for this gift for Eli. I told Pa a week ago what I was doing and he got tears in his eyes. He said I should keep the extra money I'd worked so hard for because he wanted to make up the difference. My sisters put money in, too, so Pa wouldn't have to pay so much. He needs his money to keep our little ranch going.

When we got to the blacksmith's, Jed told me to sit in the chair so he could show me how it works. After we got home, Eli was reading a dime novel I'd bought for him. I was hoping it would help him come out of his depression.

 Pa's also been teaching him how to whittle and sometimes he carries him to a chair on the porch. Yesterday, Eli spent two hours whittling. His attempts don't look like much, but he's sure trying.

 I was so excited about the rolling chair that I ran in the house while Pa unloaded it. Eli looked at me surprised when I rushed to his bed. My sisters knew we were picking up the chair today and rushed to his bedside, too. I spoke so fast my words didn't make much sense to him. He usually doesn't talk much, but he almost smiled and asked me to repeat myself.

Pa came in at that moment and told Eli he had a surprise. Then he rolled the chair in the house. I started babbling again about how he could now go places by himself. He got this stunned look when he saw the chair and his eyes got moist. I started crying and so did my sisters. Even Pa got choked up.

For the rest of my life I will cherish helping this man who is wounded in spirit and body find a twig of hope to cling to.

Miles said goodbye to his attorney and hung up his cell phone. After that he called the airlines and made a reservation for a flight to New York in one week. There was no use postponing the inevitable. The writing of
Anja
was complete and he had obligations he'd let slide for far too long. He loved Colorado, but he couldn't stay indefinitely. Now he needed to break the news to Tooty.

Sighing, he rubbed his forehead and then stretched the tightness in his neck. At least he'd done something worthwhile with his money. Trust funds for Tooty and Harris had been prepared and were ready for him to sign. The investigator he'd hired the day after Lucky Larry had threatened Tooty, had dug plenty of dirt on the dirt bag. His attorney had acted promptly and lowlife Lucky Larry had signed an agreement that he would never contact Tooty or Harris again in exchange for a large sum of money. If he did, he'd be unlucky enough to have some prior arrests brought to public attention, and also have to return the money with a penalty. Now Miles could relieve Tooty's mind about the scumbag.

* * *

Tooty stretched and reached for the diary. She just had to reread what she'd read last night. Harris had spent the night with her mom and dad and it felt decadent just doing nothing on a Sunday morning. She almost felt guilty.

Friday, April 28, 1865

Eli has mastered the chair and rolls all over the house and yard. We made the ground as level as we could and he helps Pa feed the chickens. He's been whittling out by the barn and I got a peek at his latest attempt. I could make out that it's a horse and I complimented him on it. He looked really proud. Being in the sun is doing him good. I watch him when he isn't looking. He is so handsome. And when he gives me one of his rare smiles my stomach flips and my heart pounds.

Tooty turned a few pages to another entry.

Saturday, May 13, 1865

Today, Eli had an accident. He was rushing across the yard to the barn and his wheels got stuck in a rut and flipped him over. It scared me real bad. I ran and knelt beside him, afraid he'd been injured. He pushed me away and angrily said he was okay. I must have looked hurt because he apologized and lay back in the dirt. I couldn't help but notice how strong his arms and shoulders are now that he's exercising and eating. He saw me looking him over and said a cuss word. The next thing I knew, he was pulling me down to his mouth and kissing me passionately. The only boy who ever kissed me was Jethro Jenkins when he stole a kiss when I was fourteen and it was creepy. Eli Riles has the sweetest mouth and I never wanted him to stop kissing me. Suddenly, he jerked his mouth from mine and pushed away from me. I righted his chair and held it while he pulled himself back into it. He didn't look at me. He just rolled toward the barn.