September Love Read online

  Beth felt like swearing, which she never did. Actually, she wished Kayla hadn’t come home. She had plans for today, and Kayla was not part of them. But Kayla was drinking again. She couldn’t leave her here on her own. What if Kayla got drunk? What if somebody came to the door? What if that CPS woman came back? Or called?

  “All right,” Beth said. “I’m going over to Kate’s house as soon as I finish here. This all happened so fast that Kate wasn’t able to finish arranging the new baby’s nursery. I told her I’d get it ready. You can help me with that, if you want to.”

  “Okay. Good. And before that I’ll help with the beds here. And when Dad gets home you tell him everything I’ve done! Okay?”

  “Yes, if that’s what you want,” Beth answered. Maybe she would tell him a good deal more than that.

  Adam was so delighted to be returned to the house with the swings that he didn’t make a row when he was told that story time wasn’t going to happen today because there was too much else to do. They really must get him something to play with here in their own backyard, Beth thought. A swing of his own, maybe even a slide. He’d love that, and he needed to be outside more. She would talk to Doug about that, among other things.

  Kate and Ian’s three children would be at school, so Kate’s house would be empty. Beth was glad nobody else would see Kayla in this angry mood.

  Beth stopped the car in front of Kate’s house, wondering how she was going to get through the next couple of hours. Kayla had sat sullenly silent next to her on the drive over. As Beth turned off the engine and set the brake, Kayla spoke for the first time.

  “So, that’s where Kate lives. It’s pretty grand, isn’t it?” There was clear resentment in her tone.

  Beth felt she was near boiling point herself. They’d be lucky if they got through this without open warfare.

  “Kate hasn’t always lived here,” she said quietly. She was remembering Katie’s difficult widowhood years, and her courage living through them with her two children. “Kate has had some rough times. That little house next to this one—the gray frame house—that was Kate and Claude’s. She had been a widow for several years before she and Ian married. This house—the big one—was Ian’s. They were next-door neighbors.”

  “Oh, really. I didn’t know,” Kayla said, glancing back at the small gray house. “It’s…kind of shabby, isn’t it?” There was just a hint of satisfaction now in Kayla’s tone.

  “It’s empty now,” Beth said. After she and Ian married, Kate had rented the little house to a nice elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hyslop. Mr. Hyslop had Alzheimer’s and Mrs. Hyslop took care of him. He was a gentle, confused old soul. Finally he passed away, and she went to live with their daughter—this was a few weeks ago. Kate was going to fix it up a bit before she rented it again, but she hadn’t got to it yet when she started having difficulties with her pregnancy.

  “I guess we’d better get started,” Beth said. She was feeling a little calmer. She wanted to be busy, not talking with Kayla when she was in this mood.

  “Swing!” Adam reminded them from the back seat.

  “Yes, yes. We’re going in right now,” Beth said, getting out to take Adam from his car seat. She didn’t fail to note Kayla made no move to help. “Ian fenced in the back,” she added to Kayla, “so Adam will be safe there while we’re inside.” Not that Kayla would care, of course.

  “Oh, we don’t need to worry about Adam,” Kayla said. “He won’t go anywhere. He knows better.” She got out of the car and stood looking up at the house. Then she followed Beth around to the back. Adam was rushing in ahead because he knew where they were going.

  Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to bring Kayla here, Beth thought. It all probably looked very opulent to her, and she obviously resented Kate apparently having so much when she had so little. And whose fault was that?

  Beth opened the back gate and they went into the rear area. There was the well-kept sweep of lawn, the flower beds here and there. Then there was the excellent collection of children’s play equipment, plus the barbecue area on the flagstone terrace in back of the house. Yes, it would all seem very grand to Kayla.

  “We’ll go in the back way,” Beth said, “after we get Adam settled.”

  Adam rushed for the first swing and got into it, trying to pump up some motion. Kayla stood silently, looking around, making no move to help him get started. Beth went over and gave him a push and was pleased to hear him laugh. It was so good to hear Adam laughing. She wished Doug could hear.

  “Okay, let’s get going,” Beth said, hoping she sounded more cheerful than she felt, but her heart sank. She’d have to take Kayla through Kate’s beautiful kitchen with all the polished wood, stainless steel and copper. It was really a House Beautiful kitchen. Then, of course, the lovely dining room with its elegant china cupboard filled with expensive china. If only she hadn’t had to bring Kayla along. She must try not to be so judgmental of Kayla, but it was hard not to, when comparing her with Jill and Kate. On the other hand, they had had a completely different life. She should try to be more understanding, but, with Kayla’s personality, it would be hard going.

  “Wow,” Kayla said when they entered the kitchen.

  “Everything’s so neat. I guess someone came over from the Ladies’ Guild to clean away the breakfast things. The kids certainly didn’t, in their rush to get to school.”

  Kayla gave a sudden harsh laugh. “Speaking of your church people, guess what? Preacher-man was working up to asking me for a date yesterday. You know, when he so kindly offered to drive me over to Wanda’s.”

  Beth’s heart sank. So poor Pastor Cooper was trying to follow through on his feeble friend-of-the-family idea. “Well, you could do a lot worse,” she said somewhat tartly. She still didn’t think it would be a good match for Pastor Cooper, and she felt defensive. “Are you going out with him?” She couldn’t help but ask it, hoping that Kayla hadn’t agreed.

  “Not on your life,” Kayla snapped. “I don’t need that kind of trouble—although I have to admit I was tempted. He’s quite a hunk. But I’ve got more sense than to get involved with a man of the cloth. Can you imagine such a thing?”

  Actually, no, Beth thought. Not in a million years, but she didn’t say it, reminding herself again that this was Doug’s daughter.

  “He’s a nice person,” Beth said finally.

  “Of course he’s a nice person. And I wish him well,” Kayla said drily. “I wish him a long happy life with somebody sometime. But not with me.”

  They were progressing down the hall and had come to the living room. “Oh,” Beth said to change the subject, “let me show you a picture your father painted. Kate has it over the fireplace. In here.” She led the way into Kate’s living room. Kayla went to the fireplace and stood looking at the picture.

  “It’s your back garden. He’s good. I have to admit it.”

  “It is good, isn’t it?” Beth came to stand beside her. If they could just get through the tasks here and get back home, maybe Kayla would go and sulk in the bed-sitter.

  “Okay, where’s all this work I’m supposed to do?” Kayla turned suddenly from the picture.

  “Upstairs,” Beth said in a businesslike tone. “Right out here.” She led the way through the hallway and up the stairs. She hoped all the bedroom doors were closed. Kayla had seen enough fine furniture for the moment. But apparently Kayla’s mind was no longer on Kate’s possessions.

  “I had a great talk with Wanda last night. She’s a terrific person. Real hardheaded, good sense.” There was an undertone of satisfaction in Kayla’s voice now.

  “Good. It’s nice that you’re making some friends,” Beth agreed. Anything to keep Kayla placated until she cooled off. “Right in here. This is going to be the nursery.” Beth opened the door and they went in.

  The baby furniture had been delivered. There was the crib, the bassinet, stacks of baby blankets and comforters, still in their plastic wrappings. All sorts of colorful baby paraphernalia
were stacked here and there from the several baby showers.

  “What a mess. First, of course, we’ll need to wash this stuff the baby’s going to use. Kayla, do you think you can work that washer and dryer downstairs? I can show you,” Beth offered. “Would you like to do that or something else?”

  “Please, Beth, I can work any washer or dryer on the planet, since any washing I do has to be in Laundromats. I don’t have a lot of fancy equipment. Let me do the washing, and you work in here.”

  “Good,” Beth said in relief. “Let’s get started.”

  Kayla worked doggedly for the next two and a half hours, until the new Beth’s nursery was perfect for her arrival home.

  “Well, are we finally finished?” Beth asked as she got the last clean stack of baby clothes into a drawer and shut it.

  “Almost done,” Kayla answered. She was standing just inside the door, looking slowly around the new nursery. “Looks good,” she commented. “We did a real job of work here. Be sure you tell Dad.”

  “Yes, we did,” Beth answered.

  “You know, in case you ever wonder,” Kayla said, “I do appreciate all you’ve tried to do for me, Beth. You’ve been real great with Adam. He’s not an easy kid to get along with.” There seemed to be no anger in her tone now.

  “Why, thank you,” Beth said uncertainly. She was going to say something else, but she heard in the distance the slamming of a door. “Can that be Adam?”

  “Yeah, probably. Last time I was down in the service porch he was griping about being hungry. That kid’s a bottomless pit.”

  The peaceful moment was gone. “Of course. Why don’t we stop someplace and get something on the way home?” Beth suggested.

  “A burger maybe. Adam likes burgers,” Kayla agreed.

  Although her anger seemed to be gone, on the way home Kayla was almost as silent as she had been before. She only made one comment. “Looks like Adam gave up. He’s asleep in the car seat, now that he’s full of burger.”

  “Well, his lunch was late and it’s well past his nap time,” Beth answered. She was already thinking of the rest of her day. Was Doug home yet? Two new guests wre coming in for the night. She’d need to think of something for dinner; then there were the breakfast preparations to deal with. Maybe she shouldn’t have worked so hard in the nursery. She could have left some for another day—the new baby wasn’t going to be released from the hospital just yet. She wanted to simply lie down and fall asleep, as Adam had.

  As she turned into the drive she saw with relief that Doug’s car was there, and her heart lifted. Somehow she would get through the day.

  “I’ll take Adam,” Kayla said, pulling him, still asleep, from his car seat. As soon as they were inside she disappeared into the bed-sitter and shut the door.

  Beth breathed a sigh of relief.

  At eleven o’clock that evening, when all the chores were finally finished, the four-poster in their bedroom had never looked so good. Almost as soon as her head touched the pillow Beth was engulfed in sleep. Then, an instant later, or a long time later, there was a haunting sound that came and went. Somewhere in the distance, Adam was calling. It faded in and out, wavering.

  “Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?”

  Beth moaned and tried to push the sound aside but it continued forlornly.

  “Mommy? Mommy?”

  “Doug?” Only half awake, she reached over to touch him.

  “I heard it. It’s the monitor. He’s awake. I’ll go down.” He was getting up. She heard him struggling into his robe, then reached up and snapped on the light.

  “I’ll come with you,” she said, forcing herself toward full wakefulness.

  She followed him down the stairs, holding on to the banister because she still felt half asleep. They reached the bed-sitter door almost at the same time. It was open, and one of the lights inside was on. Only Adam was there, sitting up in the wide sofa bed. He was weaving a bit groggily. He was holding a piece of folded paper out to them.

  “Take iss,” he said sleepily. Then, “Mommy gone.” There was a pause during which he swayed slightly. “Mommy come back?” Then he toppled over into sleep again.

  Doug went over and plucked the paper from Adam’s lax fingers. He flipped it open and read. Then he handed it to Beth.

  “She’s gone. For good.” He stooped over and scooped up the sleeping child, holding the limp body close to his broad chest. Beth looked down at the note. It was in Kayla’s large, scrawly writing.

  Dad and Beth,

  I give up. Sorry things didn’t work out. Wanda’s fed up, too. We’re taking off. Don’t worry about me. In case you would. I’ve got a line on a job for the summer. Take care of Adam. He’s better off with you two than with me.

  Kayla

  Beth looked up at Doug. His face was gray with shock as he cradled the sleeping child.

  Beth felt stupid. Kayla had left her child, How could a mother leave her child? Then, Kayla’s gone. She’s not coming back.

  Doug spoke first, his voice sounding far away.

  “I’m sorry, Beth,” he was saying. “I’m so sorry I got you into this.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “But where could she go?” Beth asked. “She doesn’t have any money. She couldn’t afford plane fare, or even bus fare.”

  “Check the closet,” Doug said.

  Beth crossed the room to open the closet door. It was almost empty. All of Kayla’s new clothes were gone, and some of Adam’s more expensive things.

  “Oh, Doug,” Beth said. “She took some of Adam’s things but she didn’t take Adam. Why—” She stopped, already knowing the answer before Doug could say it.

  “To sell, Beth. She took everything she could sell, to get a few dollars traveling money. Is anything else missing?”

  But even as he asked it, Beth was glancing around the room. The potpourri jar was no longer on the coffee table.

  “The little green jar,” she said weakly.

  “The one that belonged to your grandmother. And she’ll probably sell it for a couple of dollars. Some hock shop gets a real buy there,” he added bitterly. “I feel sick about this.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Beth made herself say it, but she felt a rising anger. At Kayla. Even at Doug. It was his daughter who had come barging in to wreck the smooth, happy tenor of their lives. But to leave her child! “Does Kayla say where she’s going?” she asked evenly, not looking at Doug. She didn’t want him to see the outrage in her eyes.

  “No. But I doubt if it’s that job back east she mentioned. Probably something closer to here. Beth, beloved, do you realize what I’ve gotten you into?”

  Yes, I realize what you’ve gotten me into, Beth thought, but she didn’t say it. She didn’t trust herself to speak yet.

  “You realize what this means,” Doug continued. “She left her child. Adam needs care. Years and years of care. And he’s my responsibility. You’ve already raised one family.”

  “Don’t remind me,” she snapped. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. We can’t settle anything tonight. It’s late.” She glanced to where the small clock radio had been. It was gone, too. “It must be midnight,” she added. “We…we can talk about it later. After the guests have left. We…can work it out.” But even as she said it, her mind was screaming silently. How? How can we work it out? Can we run a business and take care of a troubled little three-year-old child? “Put Adam back to bed,” she added, suddenly very tired.

  “All right,” Doug agreed after a moment. “No point in trying to do anything now. There’s no knowing who her friend Wanda put her in touch with. She could be headed anywhere. Kayla always did pick losers as friends.” He put Adam down on the sofa bed, covering him up gently. Adam muttered something and snuggled under his warm covers.

  She left her child, Beth thought again in disbelief. How can a mother leave her child? She shivered and tugged her robe more tightly around her. “Let’s go back to bed,” she said dully.

  Tomorrow. They wo
uld think about it tomorrow. She couldn’t think about everything now. She was too exhausted. Doug looked exhausted, too. What in the world were they going to do? That CPS woman had been doubtful about leaving Adam in a B and B.

  But morning brought no answers. Doug worked steadily beside her as they got through the breakfast and checkouts for the two guests who were leaving. His silence was almost morose, as if he were withdrawing into himself to some dark and private place she could not enter.

  Adam wandered around disconsolately, getting in the way with his storybooks. He seemed to be coming down with a cold, too, which worried her. Having a small child who demanded to have his nose wiped every five minutes during the checkout of guests seemed irritating beyond belief. Where is my patience? Beth wondered. I’ve always been so good with children.

  One departing guest even remarked about it. “How odd,” she said. “I thought the B and B directory said this place didn’t take children.”

  “We don’t,” Beth explained quickly. “This is…my husband’s grandson. He’s just, uh, visiting.” Even as she said it, she felt the guilt of lying. He’s living here. Kayla has left him here.

  After both checkouts were gone and the other guests were out exploring the city of Seattle, she looked around for Doug. At last they could talk. Then she saw him in the doorway in his down-filled jacket that always made him look bigger than life. He was jingling car keys in his hand.

  “Are you leaving?” she asked. We must talk, work things out.

  “Not for long, Beth. I’m just going over to check things out at the Hulls. I won’t be long. You mind looking after his highness?”

  “No, of course not,” Beth said evenly. Of course she would look after Adam. She did most of that anyhow. She was in a foul mood. Maybe she could lift herself out of it before he came back. Wasn’t he the love of her life? She must try to remember that.

  Upstairs there were beds to strip and remake, and laundry to collect. But before she started she called the church and left a message for Pastor Cooper. He must be told that Kayla had gone. It was only fair. She hoped Doug would return before the pastor arrived.