Counting Stars (23 page)

Chapter Forty

Monday morning Pete walked into the office and went straight to Joan’s desk.

She smiled up at him. “Good morning, Mr. Bryant.”

“Morning,” he said, returning her smile. Leaning closer, he spoke in a quiet voice. “I was wondering if there might be a file on Jane Warner. I thought maybe Richard—”

“Right here.” Joan held a folder out to him. “Richard said you’d ask for it.”

“He did, did he?” Feeling chagrined, Pete took the folder.

Joan nodded. “Yes. And I’m also supposed to break the news that your office has been temporarily taken over by the interns. Richard suggested you use the library until they finish up next month.”

“No problem,” Pete said. “Thanks.” He waved the folder and headed in the opposite direction, reminding himself he was simply grateful to have a job after spending so many months away.

Once in the library, he resisted the urge to look through Jane’s file and instead got busy preparing for his Wednesday meeting. He still couldn’t quite believe Richard had given him a custody case. Pete grimaced as he opened his laptop. He didn’t particularly enjoy court, and this time it was likely to be downright unpleasant.

He’d been working for about half an hour when Richard strolled into the room.

“So, aside from getting arrested, how was your weekend?” He put a stack of folders on the table and sat in the opposite chair.

Pete leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “It was incredible. Absolutely incredible.”

“Really?” Richard seemed surprised. “Tell me about it. And sorry I missed your call on the cell Friday night. I’d promised Candice I’d turn my phone off during dinner.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Pete said. “Everything worked out fine. Jane gave me a ride home.”

“Wasn’t she the one who put you there in the first place?”

Pete nodded. “Yeah, but it was just a misunderstanding.”

“Some misunderstanding,” Richard said sarcastically. “What else
incredible
happened this weekend?”

Pete leaned over the table. “I have two adorable children. They’re a hoot—so fun to watch—so much work to care for,” he added. “Seeing them for the first time, the whole experience, everything was amazing—and very overwhelming.”

“Most people have a bit more time to adjust to the idea of parenthood.”

“I’ve had a couple of months,” Pete said. “But nothing could prepare me for this. I had no idea . . .”

“I told you,” Richard reminded him.

“Yes, you did,” Pete agreed. “But I’m not just talking about all they require. I didn’t realize how fast I’d become attached to them. I spent Friday morning with Mark and Madison and then a short while that night—until the police said I had to go.” He grinned, knowing Richard was curious to hear the whole story. “Then I was with them most of the weekend. I changed diapers and fed them. We rolled around on the floor. It was the most fun I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to see them again tonight.” Pete tapped his pencil on the desk and looked at Richard expectantly. “Is it always this way with babies? Or do you think it’s because I see a bit of Paul and Tamara in them?”

Richard shrugged. “Don’t try too hard to figure it out,” he advised. “Just enjoy it. They become teenagers fast enough.” He frowned as if thinking of the teens in his house. “Meanwhile, remind yourself how much those cute little babies cost. You’re going to use your paycheck like never before. So earn it. Here are a few more files for you to look at.”

“Not custody, I hope,” Pete said, reaching for the folders.

“No,” Richard said. “Just some probate that needs to be taken care of. It’s enough to keep you busy for a while. Sorry about your office, by the way.”

“This is all right.” Pete glanced around the library. “I’m just grateful to be employed.”

“You wouldn’t be if you weren’t such a good attorney.” Richard eyed Jane’s folder as he rose from the table. “Read about Miss Warner yet?”

“No. Thought I’d do that at lunch. Anything in there that’ll make me lose my appetite?” Pete asked, joking.

Richard gave him a curious look. “No. But more than likely, you may find something that will whet it.”

Chapter Forty-One

Jane parked the Jeep in front of her parents’ house. Getting out, she took Madison from the seat behind her, then walked around the car and got Mark from the other side. After the gagging incident last week, she’d switched their car seats, wanting to see Mark all the time in case he ever threw up like that again.

With a baby on each arm, Jane walked to her parents’ door. She felt a little guilty she hadn’t invited Peter to come to the monthly family dinner, but he’d only been home a short while—she’d only known him a
week—
and she was afraid her family might swarm him like a bunch of hungry vultures.

It was better, she reasoned, for her to come alone today so she could explain to everyone about the change in her circumstances. She’d simply tell them that she was trying to be a willing participant in this whole co-guardianship thing. If anyone in her family interfered or tried to make it something that it wasn’t, everything would be ruined.

Jane extended her thumb to hit the doorbell. She knew the door was probably unlocked and she could just walk right in, but now that she wasn’t always carrying the twins in their car seats, she couldn’t set them down for a moment to open the screen and the door. A high-chair tray was one thing, but she couldn’t do everything by herself while holding both babies. Sometimes a little help was nice.

She smiled, thinking about the previous day. Pete had stayed over for most of it, helping with mundane things like folding the twins’ laundry and changing their sheets. He’d played with Mark and Madison, worked on the swing set, and gotten Mark to eat solid food for all three meals. Jane was thrilled and felt he’d more than made up for their rough start the Friday before. She’d told Pete so and thanked him before he finally left at nine o’clock, after they’d put the twins to bed and shared a pizza.

Life was good, Jane realized. Really good. Instead of the nightmare she’d envisioned, she found herself genuinely happy to have some help. The past week had given her hope. Joint custody might just work after all.

Jane’s mother opened the door. “Hello, dear.” She gave Jane a kiss on the cheek. “Where’s Mr. Bryant?” She peered around Jane.

“I didn’t invite him, Mom. I didn’t want to overwhelm him with the mob.” Jane walked past her mother and into the living room.

“Shame on you,” her mother scolded. “We’re not a mob.” She closed the door and followed Jane.

Jane handed Madison to her. “You know what I mean. Everyone will think it’s a romantic thing—that he’s my boyfriend or something—when that’s not it at all. I’m on a bit of precarious ground here. Peter’s already admitted he’s thought about trying to win sole custody of the twins. If he felt pushed—”

“Nonsense, Jane. He’s not going to take these babies away from you. But never mind.” Marsha walked toward the family room. “I knew you wouldn’t invite him, so
I
did.”

“What?”

Her mother stepped aside just as they entered the family room. Pete sat on the couch between Caroline and Jessica.

Jane tried to hide her shock and horror at seeing him there.

“Hi.” Pete rose from the couch and took Madison from Jane’s mom.

“Hi.” Jane’s voice sounded hoarse. Behind Pete, Caroline flashed her a thumbs-up. Jane felt her face grow hot.

Jessica mouthed,
“Lucky.”

Jane turned away from the couch. “Uh . . . could we go in the living room to talk for a minute?” she asked Pete.

“Sure.”

“One sec.” Jane took Mark over to the couch and handed him to Caroline. “I’ll kill you if you’ve said
anything,
” she whispered fiercely.

“Me?” Caroline asked, feigning hurt. “How could you think—?”

“Later,” Jane said, cutting her off. She walked away, leading Pete into the relative privacy of the living room. Once there, she turned around to face him. “Please don’t think I’m rude for not inviting you,” she began. “But my family—”

Pete held his hand up. “I know. You’re the youngest of seven—the only one unmarried—and they all give you a terrible time about it.”

“Yes,” Jane exclaimed. “But how—?”

“Your sister—Caroline?”

Jane nodded.

“She warned me. Said not to take anything too personal and to know you had nothing to do with anything that was said. She told me that any male who accompanies you is fresh meat for digesting.”

Jane smiled. “Unfortunately, that’s a pretty apt description. Once I arrived at the same time as the carpet cleaner, and everyone got all excited.”

Pete chuckled. “Well, don’t worry about it today. A little teasing is no big deal, huh, Maddie?” He tickled her chin. “Besides, your mom invited me before I’d even met you. I was pretty taken with her—she reminds me a lot of my mom—and I promised her I would come. When you didn’t mention dinner, I couldn’t think of a way to tactfully bring it up. So I figured we’d just deal with it here, which we have.”

“Thanks,” Jane said, still feeling terrible about the whole thing.

“No problem,” Pete said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I was invited by your brother-in-law to watch a tape of Thursday night’s game.”

“That’d be Scott,” Jane said dismally.

“I’m going to teach Maddie the finer points of basketball,” Pete said.

Jane frowned. When had he started calling her Maddie? “Have fun,” she said without much enthusiasm.

“Nice picture,” he said, as he walked by a faded watercolor print of Jesus surrounded by children.

Is he joking?
Like the rest of the mauve and blue living room, it seemed to Jane that the picture was very old and out of date. Both she and her sisters had suggested to their mother several times that the room could do with redecorating, but their mother always insisted she liked the colors—and that picture. Shrugging it off, Jane decided to go to the kitchen to see if her mother needed any help—and to talk to her about what she’d done.

She found Caroline at the island mashing potatoes.

“Mother, you really should get a mixer,” Caroline complained. “These hand mashers are a pain to use and leave too many lumps.”

“The potatoes are better with a few lumps in them,” her mother insisted. “Hello again, dear,” she said, noticing Jane. “Would you like to make the gravy for me?”

“Sure.” Jane grabbed an apron from the hook by the refrigerator.

Caroline started right in. “So, tell us about
the man
.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Jane said. “He came home. We’re working on being nice to each other and sharing the care of the twins.” She took a pot from the cupboard. “Mother, I
really
wish you hadn’t invited him today. Do you know how awkward this makes things?”

“I invited him as a friend of the family,” her mother said. “And besides, you never know what may happen.”

“But he’s
Jane’s
friend, Mom,” Caroline said, surprising Jane by defending her. “And you know she’s sworn off men. They either end up getting their tongues stitched or getting her fired.”

Or they die. Like Paul.
A swift, familiar pain tugged at Jane’s heart. She set the pot on the stove.

“Stitches? I don’t think I’ve heard about that one.” Her mother arched an eyebrow. “But never mind. Mr. Bryant only got arrested,” she said brightly.

“Arrested?” Caroline’s head snapped up. “Ooh, I’ve missed something good.”

“Not a word, Mom,” Jane warned.

“My lips are sealed,” Marsha said, then pressed them together. She opened the oven to check the rolls. “Perfect,” she murmured, reaching for a hot pad. “Hurry with the gravy and potatoes, girls. I want everything on the table to be hot.”

“Oh it will be,” Caroline teased. “Jane’s
friend
will keep us all melting, I’m sure.”

* * *

“Do you have the stroller with you?” Pete asked as they cleared the table after dinner. “I was thinking we could take the twins on a walk.”

“I’ve got the stroller,” Jane answered. “But it’s my turn to wash the dishes. This probably sounds silly, but we still follow the old rotation from when we were all kids. I’m up this month, then I’ll be free for another six.”

“I’ll help,” Pete said. “It shouldn’t take long.” He took the last plate from the table and headed toward the kitchen, pleased with the look of surprise on Jane’s face.

She’d probably expected him to say he’d take the twins on a walk by himself. Part of him wanted to do just that—he’d yet to have any time alone with them. But he knew if he went without Jane, it would make her really nervous. He’d heard her speaking to her mom earlier, and he knew she was worried he might try to take the twins from her. The fact that she’d learned he was an attorney—and Richard Morgan’s colleague—probably hadn’t alleviated any of her fears.

Pete set the dishes on the counter and opened the dishwasher. “I’ll load,” he offered. “Time me. I’ve never done this many dishes before, but Paul and I used to have races when we were growing up. It’s been awhile, but I bet I’m still pretty fast.”

“Well . . . since I wouldn’t want to deprive you of practice time . . . Okay,” Jane said. She looked at her watch. “On your mark . . .”

Pete held his hand over the faucet.

“Get set,” Jane said. “Go!”

Pete turned the water on and began rinsing plates and loading them into the dishwasher. Jane returned to the dining room to wipe off the table.

Caroline was on the ground, peeling food from the floor beneath Andrew’s high chair. Seeing Jane, she looked up. “Pete’s trying to impress you.”

“He’s trying to impress Mom,” Jane countered. “He’s smitten with her. She reminds him of his own mother.” Jane leaned over the table, gathering crumbs into the dishcloth.

“That may be so,” Caroline said, standing up. “But
you
should be impressed by any man who does dishes.”

“I am,” Jane said nonchalantly. “I feel sort of like Meg Ryan in
You’ve Got Mail
—you know, when her character realizes that Joe Fox is actually not her worst enemy.” Jane scooped the crumbs into her hand and straightened, meeting Caroline’s gaze. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Truth is, I’ve been impressed by Pete all week. He’s great with the twins. He’s helpful and kind and funny . . .”

“That’s good,” Caroline whispered back, keeping an eye on the kitchen doorway.

Jane smiled sadly. “Yes, but—”

“But
what?
” Caroline demanded.

“I’m no Meg Ryan, and like you said earlier, I’ve sworn off men, because it
always
ends in disaster.”