Matthew's Choice (11 page)

Matt hesitated. “Yes, ma’am. I oversee catering, staffing, contracts, that sort of thing.”

“And what do you propose to do with the boy while you are doing your job?”

“He, ah, there’s school, and then my fiancée plans to help watch him....” His voice trailed off as the judge’s soured expression went south.

Allie raised her hand. “I may have a solution, Judge Stafford.”

The judge raised her eyebrows. “Ms. Carson, would you please identify yourself for the court record?”

She addressed the court reporter. “Allie Carson. I am Noah’s school counselor, and I am familiar with his case. Noah is presently staying with my parents, who are approved foster parents, but unfortunately, they’re going out of town at the end of the week. I believe except for a few technicalities, I am approved to be a foster parent.”

The judge turned to Peter. “How many technicalities are we talking about, Mr. Elliott?”

“None, Your Honor. I looked over Ms. Carson’s paperwork first thing this morning and signed it. She is now a certified foster parent.”

Matt leaned forward. Excitement danced from Allie’s eyes. He was glad she was happy. Evidently being a foster parent was important to her, but where was she going with this?

“Your Honor, Noah has been through enough. He needs to stay in familiar surroundings, whatever it takes. If Mr. Jefferies is agreeable, Noah could continue to stay in Cedar Grove with me during the week, and then on weekends Mr. Jefferies can take charge of him. A home study could be conducted in Memphis during this time.”

Judge Stafford studied the papers in front of her. Finally, she directed her attention to Matt. “How do you feel about this?”

“Your Honor, can I take a minute to think about it?”

“Do I need to recess court?”

“No, Your Honor. Just give me a minute.” Matt rubbed the bridge of his nose. The enormity of caring for a nine-year-old hit him, and even with Jessica’s help, it would be a daunting task. Neither of them knew the first thing about caring for a child full-time.

Allie’s solution grew on him. It would solve so many problems, like what he would do with Noah when he had to work until midnight. The one it wouldn’t solve was the biggest one—he’d be forced to make regular trips to Cedar Grove.

The judge jotted notes on a pad then pinned her gaze on Noah. “While you’re thinking, why don’t we ask the young man involved? Noah, would this arrangement be suitable with you?”

Noah sat straighter in his chair and locked his fingers in front of him on the table. “I don’t want to leave my mom. And I really like Miss Allie.”

Judge Stafford’s face softened. “I take that as a yes.”

She turned back to Matt. “Do you have any objections?”

Matt stood. “I’m agreeable, Your Honor.”

The judge brought her gavel down. “I hereby grant temporary custody of Noah Connors to his uncle, Matthew Jefferies, until Mariah Connors is able to care for her son, with the stipulation that Noah remain in Cedar Grove until Mr. Jefferies’s home study is complete. Mr. Elliott, would you please make the necessary arrangements?”

Peter looked none too pleased, but Matt didn’t care. He drew a deep breath through his nose. He’d won. Sort of. As the next case came forward, he hurried out of the courtroom behind Allie and Noah. When he caught up with them in the hallway, Allie was trying to smooth Noah’s unruly cowlick. “Thank you so much,” he said.

“I’m not doing this for you.”

How well he knew that. He squeezed his nephew’s shoulder. “Well, we appreciate it, don’t we, Noah?”

The boy wiggled out of his grip and planted his feet wide. “You didn’t tell me I had to go to Memphis. Mom was right. I never should’ve trusted you.”

Matt had been trying to do right by Noah, but still, he felt he’d let the boy down. “I thought you understood. Besides, Memphis is a great place. There’s all kinds of things you can do...play ball, go to the movies—”

“I can do all that here.”

Matt’s head throbbed over his left eyebrow, and he massaged the spot. “Well, you’re staying here, thanks to Miss Allie.” He shot Allie a help-me-out-here look.

She put a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s focus on that, Noah. Okay?”

Matt mouthed a thank-you, which she ignored. He checked his watch. “It’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t I treat us to another one of those burgers like we had the other night?”

Noah crossed his arms. “I’m not hungry. I want to go see my mom.”

Matt got a call from Jessica. “Excuse me just a sec,” he said and walked away as he answered his cell phone. “Hey,” he said, his voice husky.

“I’ve been thinking about you. How did it go?” Jessica said.

At last, a friendly voice. “We just finished.”

“So you’ll be bringing your nephew with you this afternoon?”

“Ah...not exactly. He’ll be staying here for the time being.”

“What happened?”

“I should’ve listened to you and brought in your attorney. It’s complicated, but probably for the best. I’ll explain when I get home later today.”

Her sigh came through the phone. “I can’t wait to see you. Have you missed me?”

“Of course I’ve missed you.” He caught a glimpse of Allie and Noah. “I’ll call you when I get on the road.”

“Be careful on the drive back. Love you, ’bye.”

“You, too—’bye.”

Matt approached Allie and Noah. “Okay, have you decided where you want to eat? The hamburger place, maybe?”

Refusal flashed in Allie’s eyes. “We don’t want to hinder your departure to Memphis.”

He counted to five. He had more to do than stand around arguing. “I have time to take you two for a burger. Besides, we need to discuss a few things, like Patches and clothes for Noah.”

The
no
morphed into a
maybe,
and she knelt beside Noah. “We can’t visit your mom until two o’clock, and those are pretty good burgers. How about it?”

Noah shrugged an indifferent okay. “He can’t make me leave Mom, can he?”

Oh, great, now it was back to “he” instead of Uncle Matt. He squatted to reach eye level with his nephew. “Noah, I’m doing the best I can here. Until Miss Allie offered for you to stay with her, Memphis was my only option. I promise you from now on, I’ll make sure you know my plans, and I’ll try to work with what you want, but I’m not going to promise you’ll always like my decisions.”

Noah stood up straighter. “I’m not leaving my mom.”

“I hope you never have to.” He stood on creaking knees. “So, are we going to get something to eat or not?”

* * *

N
OAH
BLEW
ON
the French fry then popped it in his mouth. He’d quit listening to his uncle and Miss Allie after they decided Patches would stay with him in Cedar Grove. He kicked the side of the booth and tried to read Matt’s upside-down watch. “What time is it?”

“Five minutes past the last time you asked,” Matt said. “And stop kicking the booth.”

Noah stilled his foot. His uncle didn’t have to be so grouchy.

Miss Allie patted his back. “One o’clock.”

He huffed a sigh and sagged into the booth just as the door to the restaurant opened, and an older black woman and twin boys walked in. He gulped and sank deeper, trying to make himself invisible. He hadn’t seen Miss Sarah since he ran away.

“Hey, look! There’s Noah!”

The twins might be hard to tell apart sometimes, but he’d recognize Lucas’s voice anywhere. And they were coming to the table. Today Lucas was dressed in a plain blue shirt and Logan wore another sweatshirt with stars on it.

Miss Sarah stopped at their table. “Why, hello, Allie. And, Noah, I’m so glad to see you and hear your mom is better.”

He ducked his head and mumbled a thank-you. The care in her voice made Noah feel bad that he’d run away from the shelter. He hoped Miss Sarah didn’t get in any trouble about it.

“Would you like to join us?” Allie asked. “We can put the boys at the next table. That way you can meet Noah’s uncle, Matthew Jefferies.”

Since that suited Miss Sarah, Noah reluctantly moved his plate and drink to the table Lucas and Logan had claimed. He tried to listen as the adults talked, but when Lucas swiped one of his French fries, he covered his plate with his hand. “Hey, that’s mine. And I don’t give anything to rat finks.”

“What’re you talking about?” Lucas bit the end of the fry and eyed Noah’s ketchup.

“You told on me, and they sent Jason to find me.”

“No, we didn’t,” Logan cried. “I told you there was an alarm on the door. Thanks to you, they’re watching us like hawks now.”

They didn’t tell on him? Noah removed his hand from his plate, yet he was still skeptical.

“What’d they do to you?” Lucas grabbed another fry and dragged it through the ketchup.

“Nothing. They’re letting me stay with Miss Allie during the week while my uncle is in Memphis.”

“Why didn’t you go with him to Memphis?”

Leave it to Lucas to want to know something dumb. “’Cause my mom’s here. I’m not leaving her.”

The waitress set fountain drinks in front of the boys, and Logan eyed his fries. Noah shoved his plate toward him. “You can have one, but I want one of yours when your plate gets here.”

Logan drew a circle in the ketchup. “School starts tomorrow.”

“But we’re only going to be here this week,” Lucas added. His brother elbowed him, and Lucas clapped his hand over his mouth.

“What’s going on?” Noah asked.

Lucas lowered his voice to a whisper and glanced toward the table with the adults. “Our dad’s coming to get us.”

“Then you’ll have to go to court, like I did today. There’s nothing to it.”

“You don’t get it. We’re running away,” Logan said. “We don’t want to go with him.”

Noah shook his head to clear it. “But...I thought you said he was in jail.”

Lucas scowled at him. “I told you before, he’s gonna bust out. Our cousins said so.”

“You’re crazy. Your dad wouldn’t tell if he was going do that. Your cousins are just messing with you. Maybe he’s getting out on bail.”

“I told him that,” Logan said.

Lucas shot out his jaw. “It doesn’t matter how he gets out. He’s coming, and we’re not going to be here. You can come with us, if you want.”

“Uh-uh. I’m staying where my mom is.”

Lucas sent him a warning glance as the waitress approached with their hamburgers and set them on the table. “Here you go, boys,” she said. “Eat up.”

Noah sipped his drink while the twins dived into their food. Maybe he should tell Miss Allie about Lucas and Logan’s dad, just in case it was true. Just as fast as the thought came, he shook it off. That’d be snitching. And he wasn’t a snitch.

* * *

A
FTER
M
ATT
CHECKED
his watch for the second time, Allie patted Sarah’s arm. “As much as I’m enjoying your company, I need to get a couple of things from Matt before he leaves.”

Sarah leaned forward. “Didn’t mean to hinder you...but could we talk a minute in private before you leave?”

Allie shifted her gaze to Matt, and he nodded. “I’ll get Patches and wait for you at your house. Maybe take Noah with me?”

“Good idea.”

At first Noah seemed hesitant to go with Matt, and Allie resisted the impulse to intervene. Matt had to learn how to reach his nephew on his own. She hid a smile when he mentioned Patches and Noah immediately jumped up. Matt would do okay. As soon as they were out the door, she turned to Sarah. “What’s going on?”

She held up her finger. “Let me take care of the twins first.” She fished a couple of dollars from her purse and called them over to the table. “You boys finished?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Even though Allie taught the mischievous twins in her reading class, she’d never been able to tell them apart. Sometimes she believed they even switched identities.

Sarah nodded her head toward the arcade in the back of the restaurant. “How would you like to play a couple of video games?”

“Really?”

“Cool.”

As the boys raced toward the arcade, she called after them, “Don’t run!” They barely slowed to a walk, and she shook her head. “Those two will keep you on your toes.”

“How do you tell them apart?”

“Logan always wears a shirt with stars on it. Unless they decide to switch. But they’re good boys. Only...”

“Only?”

Sarah glanced back toward the arcade. “They’re at the shelter because their dad was arrested for cooking and selling crystal meth and none of the family could take them. I think there are distant cousins here. At any rate, the dad has arranged for bond and will most likely get out this week. Somehow he’s found out where they are, and I’m afraid he’s going to try to kidnap them.”

“He won’t regain custody of them automatically?”

“Oh, no. That man is pure evil. Robbery, drugs—he even made the boys deliver packages of crystal meth to his customers. Department of Human Services will never let those boys go back to him.”

“What happened to the mother?”

“Died less than a year ago.” Sarah glanced back toward the arcade. “I don’t know what to do. They won’t talk about their dad or their mom.”

“Is Peter aware of the situation?”

“We talked this morning. He mentioned moving them to another shelter, but you know how it is when shelter kids start a new school. The other kids can be brutal, and Lucas and Logan seemed to be doing pretty well in Cedar Grove. Besides, none of the other shelters in the state have room for two boys. They’d have to be split up, and I don’t want that.”

“No, that wouldn’t be good. Let me think about it. How long do you think we have?”

“Maybe a couple of weeks,” Sarah said. “I put in a call to the sheriff in the county where he’s being held, but haven’t heard back.”

“Maybe it’s all talk, from the father, I mean.”

Sarah shook her head. “That kind of man doesn’t make idle threats.”

CHAPTER NINE

M
ATT
GLANCED
IN
his rearview mirror and caught Noah rubbing the arm of his jacket. “You like it?” He certainly hoped so, since he’d shelled out a hundred bucks for it. When did kids’ clothes get so expensive?

Noah nodded. “I never had a coat this nice before.”

Matt hadn’t intended on shopping for a coat much less buying such an expensive one before he left for Memphis. He had other pressing needs, like two texts, one from his client, J. Phillip Bradford, requesting a meeting for later in the afternoon. The other message was from his boss, William Winthrop. Jessica’s dad had given him no idea what he wanted, just said to call him when he could.

He’d intended on calling his boss when he and Noah left the restaurant, but a cold north wind reminded Matt it was January, and that the thin windbreaker Noah wore would do little to keep the boy warm. At the store, the longing in his nephew’s eyes when he spied the jacket among the cheaper coats loosened the strings on Matt’s billfold. They’d walked out of the department store with Noah wearing the jacket, and his windbreaker in the bag.

Matt glanced in the rearview mirror at Noah. “So, are we good again?”

Noah shrugged. “I guess.”

Translation—not yet. “Noah—”

Patches let out a yowl bigger than she was. The boy leaned over and spoke soothing words to the kitten, and then he lifted his head. “Are we almost there? She doesn’t like traveling.”

“Almost.” Matt made the turn onto Allie’s street. She stood by her car in the drive, and he parked in front of her ranch-style house. It shouldn’t take any longer than an hour to wrap up things, and with any luck at all, he would be at his office by four and in his client’s office by five.

As Matt unloaded the kitten and the litter box, Noah scrambled out of the car and raced to Allie’s car, showing off his new coat. At the front porch, Matt sent Noah to get Patches’s bed. He held up the carrier. “Where do you want her?”

Allie raised her eyebrows. “This will be temporary, right?”

He grinned. “I figure the kitty will be wherever Noah is.”

She shook her head. “You’re probably right. Put her down anywhere. We’ll put the litter box in the laundry room. Oh, by the way, nice coat you bought him.”

At least he pleased someone. “Thanks. I’ll give you a check to buy whatever else he needs.” He followed her into the house and set the carrier down as Noah clattered in behind him.

“Can she sleep in my room? Please?” Noah begged.

“I suppose,” Allie said. “I’ll help you get her settled.”

After they left, Matt glanced around the open room. While Allie’s house was nothing like the farmhouse, it exuded the same warmth, with touches of her personality everywhere. He wandered to the fireplace and examined the painting that hung over it. She had gotten quite good. How many times had he sat on that pier and watched the sun go down?

He drew his gaze to a smaller painting, one of Allie’s horse, and then he caught sight of a framed collage of snapshots on the mantel. In the center was Mrs. C, evidently on a recent birthday, her face bathed in the glow of candles. But the other photos were taken years ago, and for a second he was caught in a time warp. Allie on Bridger, one of her on her bicycle, Clint and Allie at the lake when they were young, Allie holding up a string of catfish, Clint on a Jet Ski. Another one—Mr. C with one arm around a teenage Clint, the other around...Matt?

He remembered that day. His gaze shifted to a photo tucked in the corner of the frame. It was the same golden autumn day Allie had taken the picture of him manning Mr. C’s small wooden sailboat. He ran his finger over it, marveling at how she’d captured his intense concentration, one hand on the tiller, the other holding the mainsheet.

It was the day he decided he would have a lake one day, and a sailboat and a Jet Ski. He cocked his head, studying the photos, settling on the one of Mr. C and Clint and him, the three of them laughing, carefree. Belonging. Accepted.

Maybe he’d missed the most important thing that day.

“I think we have Patches all in order,” Allie said as she returned.

He swung around, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Uh, good.”

Conversation deserted him, and an awkward silence settled between them.

“Well, I hope you have a safe journey home,” Allie said.

“Thanks. Oh, wait. I want to give you that check in case Noah needs something.” He dashed off a check for two hundred dollars and handed it her. “Call me if you need more.”

Allie glanced at it and looked up. “This will be more than adequate.”

For a moment, their gazes locked, and deep-down yearning stirred in him, not for Allie, but for...something, and then she looked away. “Okay, then... I better hit the road.”

“When should I tell Noah you’ll be back?”

“This weekend.” That stirring again. “I’ll call every night, um, to talk to Noah. Maybe I can overcome the Memphis thing.”

“You should’ve told him.”

“I know. I’ll try to do better in the future.” He turned, searching for his nephew.

“Noah!” Allie called. “Your uncle is leaving. Come say goodbye.”

The boy appeared in the hall doorway, Patches draped over his shoulder. Impulsively, Matt pulled out his phone and snapped their picture to show Jessica. Then he gently lifted the kitten, unhooking her claws from Noah’s shirt. He rubbed under her neck, surprised at how attached he’d become to the animal. “Be good,” he said to the kitten, then tousled Noah’s hair. “You, too. I’ll see you this weekend.”

Noah didn’t say anything, just nodded and took the kitten that Matt held out. With one lingering glance at Allie, Matt turned and walked out of the house.

* * *

A
LITTLE
AFTER
FIVE
, Matt suppressed the urge to flex the tightness out of his shoulders. It had been a long day. The hearing, driving in from Cedar Grove—he hadn’t even been by his apartment. Instead he’d come straight to the Bradford Foundation and to J. Phillip’s office.

Bradford leaned back in his leather chair and tented his fingers, his expression mirroring the somber moose head mounted on the walnut paneling behind him. “I like you, Matt. And I appreciate you coming by and going over the figures one last time. Your family situation—is it settled now?”

“Yes, sir. My sister is improving and my nephew is settled.” Until the weekend. But Bradford didn’t have to know that information.

The older man fingered the wedding band on his left hand, slipping it back and forth. “Taking care of family matters is admirable, but don’t let it slow your career down. Did you find a band to play at the banquet?”

Matt struggled to keep his face impassive.
Play your cards close to your vest.
One of the few things he remembered from his dad. Bradford wasn’t getting the name unless Matt won the contract. He refused to be intimidated by the steel-gray eyes sizing him up and leaned forward. “Yes. If I get the contract, I have an excellent ensemble lined up.”

“Very good.” Bradford’s face actually held a hint of amusement as he picked up Matt’s proposal. “These are your final figures?”

“Yes, sir. And I don’t believe anyone can match them and still give you the level of service we at the Winthrop Corporation can.”

Bradford inserted the proposal into a thick file then looked up. “We’ll see tomorrow, won’t we? If yours is the winning bid, I’ll call you at ten.”

“Yes, sir.” Matt rose and extended his hand. “Thank you for seeing me this late.”

Bradford stood as well and firmly grasped Matt’s hand. “No problem. Do you have plans for dinner?”

Matt caught the hint of an offer. “Uh, yes, sir. My f-fiancée...Jessica...is making reservations at the hotel restaurant. Um, would you like to join us?”

The barest of hesitation, then Bradford patted him on the back. “I hardly think your young lady would appreciate that. No, I’ll have something here at my desk.”

Matt didn’t push it. His client was correct in his assumption Jessica would not be pleased if he brought a guest with him. After all, they hadn’t seen each other in several days. Bradford walked with him to the elevator. “And your sister...you said she was all right?”

Her physical condition had improved. Matt wasn’t so sure about her mental state. He’d stopped by the hospital on his way out of town to discuss getting treatment for her drug problem, but she’d been asleep. Or playing possum. Either way, this coming weekend his sister had a decision to make. Peter had left no doubt that Mariah would have to go through rehab to get custody of Noah. “She’ll be fine. Thank you for asking.”

“Good.” His lips twitched, as if to say more, but the elevator doors opened. “You’ll hear from me tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” Matt hesitated. Bradford seemed distracted, once again fingering his wedding band. Matt held the elevator. “Are you certain you can’t join us for dinner?”

“No, Matthew. Go meet your girlfriend. I’m fine here with my work.”

“Well, have a good evening.” Matt punched the lobby button and the doors silently closed. His client seemed a very lonely man, something Matt found hard to understand, given his wealth and success.

He didn’t remember any mention of family from his research other than a wife who had died years ago from cancer and that one of the nonprofits was named for her. From all reports, the CEO’s whole life revolved around his work. He’d check again tomorrow and see what he could find on the internet.

By the time Matt pulled out of the parking garage, traffic had settled down from the mad five-o’clock rush. While he loved living in Memphis, he could do without the traffic. Fifteen minutes later, Matt unlocked his apartment. He couldn’t wait to get back into his surroundings, his routine. The past four days seemed like four weeks. Inside, the living room looked as picture-perfect as always. Jessica must’ve come by and straightened up. He tried to imagine Noah here, and a sigh came from somewhere deep inside him.

His nephew would hate it.

Maybe Matt could scatter around a few family photos, if he had any. He rolled his suitcase into his bedroom and unpacked it. Maybe chrome-and-glass wasn’t warm and cozy like Allie’s house or the farmhouse. It would do the boy good to be exposed to the finer things in life. Like going to dinner at a fancy restaurant.

Weariness settled in his bones. Maybe he could talk Jessica into eating in. He dialed her number. “Hey, babe,” he said when she answered. “What do you think about ordering in tonight?”

“But I’d planned a celebration dinner at the hotel restaurant. Thought I’d have the chef pan-fry a couple of flat-iron steaks....”

Dinner at the hotel meant a jacket and tie. He used his salesman voice. “Or, you could come here, maybe pick up Chinese on the way over. Nice romantic dinner, just the two of us?”

There was hesitation on Jessica’s end, then a soft sigh. “You do sound tired. And I haven’t talked with Chef yet. Moo goo gai pan sound good?”

Tension eased from Matt’s shoulders. “I knew there was a reason I was crazy about you.”

Her chuckle floated through the phone. “I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”

Matt tossed the phone on the bed and pulled a pair of jeans and a sweater from his closet. As he slipped an alligator belt through his pant loops, he remembered the strand of pearls and retrieved the black velvet bag from his suitcase. While he wasn’t an authority on pearls, the lustrous beads appeared to be high-quality. Just like the wedding ring set. He opened the velvet box holding his grandmother’s engagement ring. Like snow crystals sparkling under a morning’s sun, the diamond glittered under the lamp’s glow. Proof that his mother had a different life once.

You think you’re so much better than me. Why don’t you take these snotty-nosed brats and go back to your father.
His own father’s drunken words just days before he wrapped his pickup around a light pole.

But the words had lit a fire in Matt’s mind. He’d always known his mother was different. That she had a quiet refinement that set her apart. When he asked what his dad meant, she brushed him off. When he persisted, she snapped at him. “Your grandfather is more interested in money than he is family.”

“But if he could help us—”

“We are doing fine, Matthew. We don’t need him or anyone else.”

“Mom, look around. We live in a dump. Why won’t you ask him?”

“The price is too high, son.” Pain had filled her hazel eyes that were red with unshed tears as her shoulders bowed from whatever secrets she hid from Matt.

He’d never asked again. But that did not keep him from dreaming of grandparents who could change his life if only he could find them.

Matt never found them. And now he didn’t need them. He had the life he wanted, and Jessica was part of that life. Matt snapped the velvet box shut and slipped it into his pocket. Before the night was out, he’d find out what she thought of the ring.

In the living room, flames licked the gas logs, reminding him of the Carsons’ real fireplace. Gas might not be as romantic, but it was much easier. He scrolled through a list of movies and selected a comedy so he wouldn’t have to think. For now, he chose a jazz radio station to play softly in the background. He checked his watch as he put cushions on the floor around the coffee table for them to sit on.

Maybe he could talk with Noah before Jessica arrived. He took out his phone, and a tug at his heart surprised him when the photo of Noah and Patches popped up on his screen. He speed-dialed Allie’s cell number and his call went straight to voice mail.

“Hi. This is Allie. Leave your number and I’ll get back to you.”

He frowned. Where could they be?
Probably having dinner with Peter.
But wouldn’t she have her cell phone with her? Maybe she didn’t want to talk to him. His jaw tightened. “Allie, this is Matt. Just checking to see how you and Noah are. Give me a call.”

He laid the phone on the coffee table. He should be happy that Allie had Peter to turn to. Peter could be quite charming when he wanted to be. He was in Cedar Grove.... Matt caught himself grinding his teeth.