Twisted Paths (4 page)

“Knock it off,” she said, a blush rising on her cheeks. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

He sighed dramatically. “Yes, I know.”

Laughing, she pulled a muffin out of basket on the counter and wrapped it in a napkin.

“Breakfast to go?” Mike asked.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “I’m just feeding the officer who’s been on duty this morning. I’m walking over to the Brennan’s place after that.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“It would be my pleasure,” she agreed.

After dropping off a can of soda and a muffin to Officer Deutsch, she walked down the street to the Brennan’s with Mike at her side.

“So, why the cop?” he asked.

“Gary Copper escaped just before his sentencing,” she said. “The authorities are worried he might show up here.”

“Is he coming for you or for Clarissa?” Mike asked.

Mary paused before the Brennan’s house. “Well, I think we’re both at risk. But I don’t know if he realizes that Clarissa is here.”

“Did I put Clarissa at risk by bringing her here?” he asked.

“No. No, I think she’s safer because she has people who will watch over her,” Mary said. “And people who understand what Gary Copper is capable of.”

“Is she going to Bradley’s?” he asked.

 “No, we thought about that, but because Bradley could be called out at any time of the day or night and because both Ian and I are at my place, we decided she’d be safer here,” she explained. “And the fact that the Brennans are just down the street from me in case of emergency helps too.”

Mike glanced at the big house behind him. “Are the Brennans at risk now?”

She nodded. “Yeah, they are. And that’s what we have to discuss this morning.”

“Well, that ought to be a fun discussion,” he replied. “Thanks for including me.”

Smiling, she nodded, “Wouldn’t want to do this without you.”

Chapter Seven

Katie Brennan opened the door, wearing her bathrobe, her hair still in disarray from her short night’s sleep. “Do you people ever sleep?” she asked with a yawn.

“I’m so sorry, Katie,” Mary said. “But we wanted to speak with you before the children woke up.”

Katie nodded wordlessly and led Mary and Mike back into the kitchen.  “I understand,” she said, “and it makes sense. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

She slipped into a chair next to her husband, Clifford, picked up her cup of tea, took a sip and immediately looked contrite. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Would you like a cup…”

Mary pulled out her can of Pepsi and shook her head, “No, thanks anyway,” she said. “I came prepared.”

“We’ve got about fifteen minutes before the kids get up,” Clifford said. “So we’d better start talking.”

Mary glanced around. “I thought Bradley would be here by now,” she said.

Mike moved over by Mary. “Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you,” he said. “He got a call and had to go in.  He sent me to tell you that.”

Mary rolled her eyes and then turned to Katie and Clifford. “Well, I just remembered that Bradley told me he couldn’t make it this morning,” she said. “Sorry.  Forgetful me.”

“So, there’s a ghost here too?” Clifford asked casually, taking another sip of tea.

“I beg your pardon?” Mary asked.

“A ghost.  That’s who just told you Bradley wasn’t coming, right?”

Nodding slowly, Mary conceded, “Yes, well technically not a ghost, a guardian angel,” she said. “He’s actually Clarissa’s guardian angel. He was the one who brought her here last night.”

“I wondered how that happened,” Katie said. “Good for him.”

Mary was amazed at how well Katie and Clifford were reacting to the news. “You’re okay with all this?” she asked.

Katie shrugged. “Well, really, we’re not totally awake yet,” she admitted. “So we’re fairly mellow.”

Clifford yawned and nodded. “I’ll probably react in a couple of hours.”

Mary looked at Mike, shrugged, and then turned back to the Brennans. “Do you remember when we first spoke about Clarissa and how her father was probably killed by the dentist who was on trial, Gary Copper?”

Katie nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

“Hey, isn’t that the guy who was on trial last week?” Clifford asked.

“Yes, that’s the one,” Mary replied. “He’s also the one who escaped just before sentencing.  He’s dangerous.  He killed his lawyer and there’s a good chance he’s either in Freeport or on his way here.”

Clifford sat up straight. “Okay, I’m awake now.”

“So, Clarissa is in danger,” Katie said.

Mary nodded. “Yes, because he considers her his daughter.”

“But he doesn’t know she’s here,” Clifford said.

“That’s right,” Mary agreed. “He actually would be coming to Freeport for me. He feels there is some unfinished business between us.”

“But once he gets here he might learn of Clarissa,” Clifford added.

“Exactly,” Mary said. “And we don’t want to put your family at risk. There was a police car outside your home all last night, so, even though it was highly unlikely that he could find out she was here so quickly, we didn’t want to take any chances.”

“What do you need us to do?” Katie asked.

Mary wasn’t expecting the emotions that almost overwhelmed her at their simple offer of help.  They had children to protect.  They didn’t need to get involved. And yet, here they were, willing to do whatever she asked of them.

Reaching over, she placed her hand over Katie’s. “I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize your family,” she said firmly. “But I do want Clarissa to have some kind of transition, so she’s just not taken by people she doesn’t know.”

“That seems wise,” Clifford agreed. “What kind of transition?”

“Bradley is arranging to take the day off,” she said, “which is probably why he’s in the office so early this morning.  He wanted to spend the day with her, in your company.”

“That’s a great idea,” Katie said. “I’d been thinking about taking Maggie and Clarissa shopping today, so Bradley can come with us.”

“Then, if things seem to go well, we’d have Clarissa stay with me tonight,” Mary said. “That way the police are only watching one house and your family isn’t pulled into this more than they need to be.”

“We don’t mind being involved,” Clifford said.

“I know,” Mary replied, smiling at him. “But I want to be sure your family is safe.”

A noise on the staircase behind them had them all turning.  Two sleepy little girls walked slowly down the stairs.  “Mommy,” Maggie yawned. “Is it morning…”

She paused and her eyes widened in surprise. “Mike!” she yelled and ran down the last few steps and, from her parents’ perspective, threw her arms around thin air.

“I missed you so much,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Mike returned her hug. “I missed you too, sweetheart,” he said.

“Hey, how come you know my guardian angel?” Clarissa asked Maggie.

“This is getting too weird for me,” Clifford said, standing up from the table and walking to the stairs. “I’m going upstairs to get dressed.”

Clarissa ran around Clifford and joined Maggie in front of Mike.

“He was my bestest friend when he was still just a ghost,” Maggie explained. “He’s your guardian angel now?  You’re so lucky.”

“You know Maggie?” Clarissa asked Mike.

Mike nodded. “Yeah, Maggie and I go way back.”

“And do you know Mary?” Maggie asked, grabbing Clarissa’s arm and pulling her over to Mary. “She lets me spend the night at her house and she makes cookies and waffles and everything.”

Then she bent over and whispered into Clarissa’s ear. “And she’s getting married ‘cause she’s in love.”

Mary extended her hand to Clarissa. “Hello, Clarissa,” she said. “We met last night, but you were pretty tired.”

Clarissa took her hand and looked up at her face. “Are you an angel too?” she asked.

“No, she just looks like one,” Mike said, winking at Mary.

“No, I’m not an angel.  I’m just someone who cares a great deal about you,” she replied, “and wanted to find you.”

“Was I lost?” she asked.

Mary nodded. “Well, you were lost to some people who loved you a great deal,” she said. “But other people who also loved you, made sure you didn’t feel lost.”

Clarissa looked up at Mike. “You said you knew my daddy.  Did you know my daddy, Henry, or my other daddy?”

“I know your other daddy,” Mike said.

“Is he a ghost too?” she asked quietly.

Mary shook her head. “No, he’s alive and he’s been searching for you.”

“Can I meet him?” she asked.

There was a quick knock on the door and Bradley poked his head into the house. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “How are things going?”

“Well, speak of the devil,” Mike muttered.

All eyes went to Bradley and there was an awkward silence in the room for a moment, no one quite knowing what to do.  Stepping into the house, Bradley closed the door behind him. His eyes immediately went to Clarissa. “Good morning, Clarissa,” he said quietly. “Did you have a good sleep?”

A thundering sound behind them had the attention now focused on the Brennan’s staircase, as the Brennan boys headed downstairs in search of breakfast.  Their usual early morning tussles were amplified by the quiet in the room.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Andy called from the landing.

“Hush,” Maggie called back. “Clarissa is finding out that Bradley’s her real dad.”

Mary clapped a hand over her mouth and glanced at Katie who was shaking her head in mortification.  She turned to Bradley, an apology on her lips, when she froze as Clarissa slowly walked across the room to face him.

Looking down at the little girl, Bradley’s heart caught in his throat.  She looked so much like Jeannine, yet he could also see himself in her, especially as she studied him with her all too serious eyes.  He squatted down in front of her, so they could see each other eye to eye.

 “You carried me last night,” she finally said.

 “Yes, I did,” he replied. “I carried you from the bus and then to the Brennan’s van.”

“You saw my angel. You saw Mike.”

“Yeah, your angel and I have been friends for a little while,” he agreed.

“Mike told me he was friends with my daddy,” she said, her eyes never breaking contact with his.

Bradley nodded and held her eyes for a moment, forcing himself to take things slowly. He couldn’t push, couldn’t rush, Clarissa needed to take her time, set her own pace in this discovery. He exhaled slowly. “Yes, Mike is very good friends with your daddy,” he assured her.

She moved closer and placed her small hand on his chest. Bradley held his breath. She stared into his eyes. “Are you…are you my real daddy?” she whispered hopefully.

He was amazed at how much joy a simple question could bring.  Stunned at the emotional impact it was having on him.  He tried to speak several times, but his voice seemed to be caught in his throat.  His eyes stung and his heart pounded loudly in his chest.  Finally, he just nodded in response to her question.

She stepped closer. “Really?” she asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

“Yes, baby,” he finally breathed, “I’m your daddy. And I love you.”

Throwing herself against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.  He hugged her tightly, inhaling the sweetness of his little girl, his heart bursting with joy.  Finally, he looked up and smiled at Mary, “Thank you,” he mouthed.

Wiping stray tears from her own cheeks, Mary nodded back at him. “I love you,” she mouthed silently.

 “Have to admit, they look good together,” Mike said to her.

“Yes. Yes, they do,” she agreed.

Katie came over, put her arms around Maggie and hugged her tightly.

“How come you’re crying, Mom?” Maggie asked.

“Because I love happy endings,” she said, kissing Maggie on the top of her head.

“But, mom, this isn’t an ending,” Maggie explained. “This is just the beginning.”

Chapter Eight

Mary parked the Roadster in front of her office building, took a deep breath and opened the door.  She scanned up and down the street, and seeing no one, hurried to the door with her key already in her hand.  After unlocking the door and entering the building, she checked to be sure the alarm was still working and then deactivated it before she moved into the room. She still took a few minutes to check the bathroom, the supplies room and the back door to be sure everything was safe. Finally, she dropped her briefcase and purse on her chair, dialed the phone and held it between her ear and her shoulder as she shrugged out of her coat.

“Well, hello again Mary,” Bradley said when he answered her call.

“Hi, I’m at the office,” she replied. “I checked the alarm and all of the rooms and doors. I’m secure.”

“Good girl. Did you lock the front door behind you?”

She rolled her eyes and then walked back to the front door and flipped the lock. “Yes, I am now officially locked in,” she said. “And if I didn’t love you so much, you would be a little annoying.”

“Lucky for me that you do.”

Walking back across the room, she went to the small refrigerator and pulled out a Diet Pepsi and popped the can open.  “How are you doing?”

“I still feel like I’m dreaming,” he admitted. “I called Jeannine’s parents and told them about Clarissa.”

“Oh, wow, that was quite a wake-up call for them,” Mary said. “How did they react?”

“They’re in Florida, taking the first vacation they’d had in years,” he explained. “They immediately decided they needed to pack and drive to the airport until I suggested that Clarissa might need a little time before she meets everyone.  I thought we could get together next week.”

“That’s a good idea,” Mary said. “Clarissa needs to get to know her dad first.”

“I can’t believe it. My daughter is getting ready to go shopping with me. I get to shop with my daughter.”

Mary took a sip of Pepsi and smiled. “Well, we’ll see what you say once the three of you hit the mall.”

“I can’t wait,” Bradley said. “Besides, how much could two little girls spend on a shopping spree?”

Laughing, Mary rolled her eyes. “Just be sure to keep your credit card handy,” she said. “And let Katie take the lead, she’ll let you know if they’re taking advantage of your ignorance.”