The Friendship Star Quilt (20 page)

****

Across the street, the falling snow obscured the lone figure who stood watching the happy scene in front of The Stitching Post. Ignoring the fat flakes that splattered against the lenses of his wire-framed glasses, he pulled a cell phone from his overcoat pocket. He pressed a button for speed dial then waited until the line was picked up.

“It's me. Kyle,” he barked into the phone. “Remember the case you told me about a while back…”

“Here we are,” Brad announced as he pulled up to the short term parking ramp and took a ticket from the dispenser. When the gate opened, he found a place to park in the busy lot then led Jennie inside the Gerald R. Ford Airport terminal.

The airport had recently been expanded and remodeled, but it still consisted of only two concourses. The security checkpoints for both were accessed through a central waiting area with comfortable seating and large viewing windows. Holding Jennie's hand as he always did in crowds, Brad made his way to the lounge to wait for his aunt's plane. Thanksgiving was two days away, so the place was busier than usual. Some of the people appeared to be travelers, passing time in the gift shop and café before they'd head through security to the gates beyond. Others were like Brad and Jennie, waiting to greet arriving friends or family members.

Aunt Bonnie had called the night before to say she'd just realized the court calendar would be clear after Monday's morning sessions, but Uncle Ted couldn't get away until later in the week. “So, I'm thinking of flying to Grand Rapids tomorrow afternoon if it will be okay with you. It will give me a few extra days to visit with my favorite nephew and great-niece.”

“I'm your
only
nephew, Aunt Bonnie.”

She chuckled. “Picky, picky. Are you sure you aren't an attorney?”

“Positive. And we'd love to have you come early.”

“Wonderful. I wanted to check what time you get finished at school, so I can book a flight about then. I'd drive, but it seems silly to have two cars there since your uncle will drive up on Wednesday.”

Jennie had been delighted when he told her. His daughter loved spending time with his godmother as much as he did.

Now, he checked her flight number on the arrivals monitor and saw the plane had apparently left Detroit a little late. It wouldn't land in Grand Rapids for another thirty minutes.

“It's going to be a little while until Aunt Bonnie get here, honey. Would you like something to drink while we wait?”

“Can I have a hot cocoa, please? I like the kind they make at the coffee shop.”

The café, operated by one of the national coffee franchises, was more expensive than a beverage from one of the vending machine would be, but would taste much better. Besides, the café also served wonderful biscotti, which was the deciding factor for Brad.

“Sounds good to me. I like their coffee.”

Hand in hand, they made their way to the café line. When it was his turn, Brad placed their orders. Jennie watched with bright-eyed intensity as a young barista quickly made the beverages.

“Would you like extra whipped cream on your cocoa, miss?” the clerk asked.

Jennie tugged his hand before answering. “Can I, Daddy?” she asked. Receiving his permission, she turned back to the clerk. “Yes, thank you.”

When their order was ready, Brad picked up the tray and carried it to an empty table in the café. Jennie opened a napkin and tucked it into the collar of her shirt as he put her drink and biscotti in front of her. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You're welcome,” he replied and sat down across from her. He took a sip of his blond roast blend then sighed with contentment. The brew was perfect. Well worth the extra buck or so.

Jennie took a nibble of her cookie then a dainty sip of her cocoa. “Will we have time to watch the planes when we're through with our snacks, Daddy?”

“Sure. We should be able to see the runway from the windows in the waiting area. Maybe we'll see Aunt Bonnie's plane land.”

“That would be fun. I love Aunt Bonnie. She's almost as much fun as Miss Anne. It was fun catching snowflakes with her.”

“It was fun, wasn't it?” He agreed, remembering Anne's musical laugh and how beautiful she'd been with the snow sparkling like gems in her hair.

“Are you going to marry Miss Anne?”

“What?” Brad startled. “Marry? Oh, no, sweetheart. Anne and I are — um — just friends.”

“But you smile all the time when you see her.”

“I smile all the time when I see you, too.”

“I know, Daddy, but you can't marry me.” She flashed a grin then took another sip of her cocoa before continuing in a serious tone. “I think you need to marry somebody, Daddy. And I think Miss Anne would be a good choice.”

“You think so, do you?” he asked trying to hide his amusement at her logic.

She nodded.

“Why? Because I smile around her?”

“Uh-huh, and because she takes care of me.”

“Don't I take care of you?”

“Yes, but you have to. You're stuck with me.”

“Jennie!” Brad gasped. “Why on earth would you say such a thing? I'm not stuck with you.”

“Yes, you are,” she argued softly. “Mommy used to tell her friend she couldn't go away with him because she was stuck with taking care of me. Now, she's in Heaven so
you're
stuck with me.”

Brad felt his jaw drop. Sarah was self-absorbed and liked her freedom, but he'd never imagined she would say such a thing around their daughter. Then the full impact of Jennie's words hit him.

—couldn't go away with him.

He closed his mouth and swallowed. Forcing down his shock, he patted the seat beside him. “Come here, Princess. I need a hug.”

“Here?” She peered at him curiously, but got up and came around the table. “Mommy said people shouldn't hug in public places.”

Before Jennie's birth, he and Sarah had agreed to never contradict each other in front of their child. If they disagreed, they would discuss the matter later, privately. Now, he reassessed the decision.

“Jennie,” he said as he pulled her up on his lap, “I disagree with what Mommy said. I think people should hug every chance they get.”

“I like hugging,” she whispered as she settled into his embrace.

“Me, too.” He squeezed as tightly as he could without hurting her and felt her little arms wrap around his middle to return the embrace.

“Princess,” he murmured against her hair, “you are the very best thing that has ever happened to me. I loved you even before you were born. And I have never, ever, ever felt stuck with you. Do you understand?”

He felt her slight nod against his chest.

“Jennie, I love you very much. I can hardly wait to come home to see you each day. You might be my responsibility, honey, but it's a responsibility I chose. I've never regretted it.”

He put a hand under her chin and tilted her face upward so he could stare into her eyes. “Princess, I know sometimes I don't do a very good job of being a dad. I forget to do the laundry, and I don't realize you need a different size dress. But it isn't because I don't love you. Sometimes, Daddy just needs a bit of help with such stuff.”

Jennie nodded, wisely. “Miss Anne would be a good person to help you. That's why I think you should marry her.”

Brad chuckled at his daughter's persistence. “I'm sure Anne probably would be good at remembering those things. But if she married me, honey, she'd have to take care of me, as well as you. And that's a
big
job.”

“I think she likes helping. She sewed flags for your band. And made skirts, too. And she let me stay with her at the quilt shop and taught me to sew. And she fixed my Cinderella dress. And—”

“Yes, she's been great about helping me,” Brad said, interrupting Jennie's spiel. “But it doesn't mean she wants the job permanently. Marriage is a very big step.”

However, even as he tried to convince Jennie he and Anne weren't involved, a part of him wished they were.
Miss Anne
stirred the emotions in him which were increasingly hard to dismiss.

“Well, here's my little family,” a familiar voice called. “I hope you didn't have to wait too long.”

“Aunt Bonnie!” Jennie exclaimed. She wiggled from her father's lap and ran to greet her great-aunt with a bear hug.

“My, my! What did I do to deserve such an effusive greeting?”

“Daddy said people should hug every chance we get,” Jennie answered with a sunny smile. “I like hugs, do you?”

“I most certainly do,” his trim and stylish aunt said. Matching the gesture to her words, she stooped to give Jennie another hug and winked at her godson over the girl's head. “So does Uncle Ted.”

After giving Brad a hug, too, she handed him her carry-on so she could take Jennie by the hand and spin her around. “I swear, young lady, you've grown another foot since I saw you last.”

“No, I didn't. I still only have two feet.” Jennie giggled at the familiar joke as they headed to the baggage carousel.

Brad listened to the happy chatter between his aunt and daughter about school and the upcoming holiday. But his thoughts kept returning to his earlier conversation with Jennie. Sarah had been restless in their relationship after only a few months. She'd planned to travel the world, painting or writing, free to pull up stakes and move on when the spirit moved her. In fact, she'd told him the things he wanted in life — marriage, a home, and family — were anathema to her. The two of them never would have married if she hadn't gotten pregnant. Life as a stay-at-home mom had to have been confining for a woman who'd longed to be footloose and free. But Sarah seemed to have adjusted, finding an outlet for her creativity in her various social activities and her online business.

Now, he remembered her evenings out and the many weekends when she'd gone off to conferences. Had it had all been a façade, an elaborate cover so she could go away with her
friend?
Sadly, he realized the thought didn't shock him. What hurt was the knowledge Sarah had been so careless as to voice her dissatisfaction where Jennie could hear and be hurt.

“Earth to Bradley, Earth to Bradley.” Aunt Bonnie's voice called him back to the present.

“I'm sorry, Aunt Bonnie, what did you say?”

His aunt gave him an odd look. “Is everything okay, dear?”

He slanted a glance at his daughter then back at his aunt. “We can talk about it later. Right now, let's get your luggage and head home before the rush hour traffic gets too bad.”

Aunt Bonnie settled in like she'd never been gone. After stowing her luggage in the guest room, she returned to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Good grief, Bradley! I know your mother taught you better than this. Milk and leftover pizza? Applesauce but no fresh fruit? And the only vegetable I see is this half-wilted head of lettuce.” She closed the door and put her hands on her hips, frowning. “At least you have eggs. I suppose I can make pancakes or an omelet for our supper.”

“Sorry, Aunt Bonnie. We planned to eat out this evening. I was going to shop tomorrow and get groceries for the holiday weekend. I probably should have done it last night after you called.”

“Never mind, dear. We'll do as you planned and go out to eat this evening. Tomorrow morning, I'll drive you and Jennie to school then I'll go to the grocery store. I'm going to cook up several meals and freeze them for you. It will keep me busy while you're working and Jennie has classes. Then, the next time you've had a busy day, you can just pull out one of the meals and heat it up.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Brad agreed. “As long as you make a big batch of your chili for us, too. I'll give you grocery money.”

“Of course, I'll make chili. It's my specialty. As for the grocery money, don't be ridiculous. Your uncle and I are going to be here several days. If we'd gone to some stupid resort for the holiday, we'd pay through the nose for our room and meals. I prefer to spend my holidays with the people I love. End of subject. Understand?”

“Yes, ma'am.” Brad knew better than to argue with his aunt when she wore the expression. She'd honed her debate skills years ago as a prosecuting attorney in Detroit's busy court system. Now, as a District Court judge, she kept control of her courtroom with what he called her “here-come-da-judge” face, a quirked brow and a stern glare. Still, he didn't want to take advantage of her. “I just feel guilty about not stocking up over the weekend.”

Her expression softened. “Bradley, you're a busy man, and you've had to be both mother and father to your daughter. You're doing a marvelous job with it. Jennie is a delight.”

She walked over to the breakfast nook, where her great-niece was coloring and tweaked one of the child's blond curls. “However, we need to work on fattening up this little goose to put some meat on her bones.”

“No, thank you,” Jennie said, shaking her head. “I have enough meat. Miss Anne needs to be fattened up though, Aunt Bonnie. We should have her come for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Miss Anne?” Aunt Bonnie asked, giving Brad a look guaranteed to make him squirm a bit, even when he had nothing to hide.

“Anne Brown from the quilt shop,” he explained. “I told you about her when we visited you. She's the woman who sewed the flags for the parade last weekend and the color guards' new outfits.”

“And she went shopping with us to help me find my outfit for the winter concert at school. We got a dress and coat and shoes. Even underwear,” Jenny enthused.

“Anne came along since I couldn't take Jennie into the fitting rooms.”

“How nice,” his aunt replied but her tone told Brad he hadn't heard the end of this subject.