Chapter 11 #2
Maren’s throat worked. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.
After I took custody of Juni, I thought about getting a DNA test for her, so I could find her father and tell him about her.
” She closed her eyes. “But I kept talking myself out of it. Mira had always wanted a family, so there had to be a good reason why she wouldn’t tell me who he was.
For all I knew, the guy lied to her and was married with his own family, or she found out too late he was abusive, or he just didn’t want kids. ”
Colin tried not to flinch.
Maren went on. “If any of that was the case, I didn’t want to invite trouble into our lives. I didn’t want Juni to meet her father until she was old enough to understand.” She grimaced. “Not that this is better. This was way worse, actually.”
She looked down at her twisting hands on her lap. Colin fought the urge to go to her, to wrap his hands around hers and still them, tell her she’d done nothing wrong. That she was amazing.
“I’m glad her DNA isn’t on file somewhere,” Arden said, as she did what Colin wished he could do and placed her hand over Maren’s.
“Anyone can find that information. Anyone can sell it.” She squeezed Maren’s hands.
“And as far as meeting this way? It doesn’t matter.
You did the right thing coming to us. We’re strangers to you now, but we are your family. ”
Maren looked down at their joined hands. “Well, Juni’s at least—”
“No.” Arden squeezed hard enough that Maren’s head came up. “Both of you. The moment you crossed that gate, both of you became family, and not just by blood, understand?”
Colin watched Maren’s eyes go glassy. She nodded.
Arden cleared her throat and her tone shifted, lightening deliberately. “Which brings me to my other reason for barging in. Book club’s next Saturday night at the ranch. I want you to come.”
Maren blinked. “Book club?”
“Monthly gathering. Let’s see…” She let go of Maren’s hands and counted off on her fingers.
“Ellie, Wren, Rochelle, Frankie, Charlie—she picked this month’s book, a romantasy by Kat Healy—April, who owns Riversong Coffee in town, Jodie, who you already know, and of course Stephanie.
” Arden’s mouth twitched. “Who is... well, you’ll see when you meet her. ”
“I don’t want to intrude—”
“You’re not intruding. You’re family.” Arden stood and pulled Maren up with her. “Six o’clock. Bring your appetite, and I hope you like wine.”
Maren looked at Colin. “Is that okay? I don’t know the rules.” She looked so uncertain.
He gave her a small nod. “Of course. You should go.”
She rewarded him with a warm smile. How was it that he’d just met this woman and a single smile from her threatened to undo him completely?
“Okay, great,” Maren said. She turned back to Arden. “Thank you.”
Arden squeezed her hand once more, then let go. She turned toward the kitchen. “Juni, sweetheart, Aunt Arden has to run. But I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay!” Juni ran back into the room and hugged her. This time, Arden was ready for it.
“Actually, would you like to stay for lunch?” Maren offered.
Arden glanced at the basket on the table. “No. No, thank you. My appetite has been off. Nerves.” She smiled sheepishly.
“Well, you’re welcome back any time,” Maren said. She frowned. “Geez, I sound like this is my house, when I should be paying you for letting me stay—”
“What?” Arden looked horrified. “Don’t even think about it.”
Colin opened the door for her.
“Colin?” Arden said quietly, pausing on the threshold. “I’m glad you’re the one watching them.”
His throat tightened. “Just doing my job.”
Arden’s silvery gaze pierced him. “You’re doing more than that.”
She left before he could answer.
That night, Colin was awakened by a sound that had him immediately on his feet. Someone screaming.
Juni.
“I’m coming!” he shouted, his feet moving before he was fully awake.
He could already hear footsteps pounding down the hall and realized Maren had heard her too and was on her way to Juni’s room.
Colin caught sight of Maren going through the door.
By the time he got there, she was already sitting next to the little girl, pulling her into her arms.
“Juni, baby, are you all right?” Maren asked.
“Mama, Mama.” Juni cried. “I had a nightmare.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. I’m here now.”
They both looked up at Colin in the doorway. The night light showed him two frightened faces, whose expressions were immediately replaced with relief.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, his eyes scanning the room. Secure. She’d really just had a nightmare. She wasn’t in any danger.
At least not physically.
Juni, her head pressed against Maren’s chest, nodded in answer.
“She just had a nightmare,” Maren said, rocking her. “But we know how to deal with those, don’t we, sweetheart?”
Juni nodded again as she squeezed her eyes shut. “Bad dream, bad dream, go away. I don’t like you, you can’t stay,” she chanted.
Colin couldn’t help his small smile. “That’ll do it every time,” he said, his gaze shifting to Maren, who gave him a look full of relief.
“Do you think so?” Juni asked.
“I know so. Can you say it again? In your fiercest voice.”
Juni opened her eyes. “Bad dream, bad dream, go away. I don’t like you, you can’t stay.” Louder this time.
Colin nodded. “Better. Now, how about one more time, even louder to really show that nightmare who’s boss.
That actually got him a grin. Juni pulled away from Maren and shouted, “Bad dream, bad dream, go away! I don’t like you. You. Can’t. Stay!”
“Good job, Junebug.” The nickname slipped out before he could stop it. “That nightmare’s off telling every other nightmare in the neighborhood to stay away from Juni Walsh.”
“I hope so,” she whispered back.
Maren swept her arm under Juni and stood up from the bed, holding her. Juni clung to her. “I’m going to take her back to my bed,” she told Colin. “It might help, too.”
“Mama,” Juni whispered, instead of Maren.
Smiling at that, Colin was surprised to see something move across Maren’s face—heartbreak, there and gone in a blink.
“It’s all right, Juni,” she said, smoothing the girl’s hair down. “I’ve got you.”
It was the way she said I’ve that struck him.
She doesn’t realize it, that when Juni says Mama, she’s not talking about Mira. She’s talking about Maren.
That hurt Colin to see. Maren had devoted her life to a little girl who loved her like her own mother, and she didn’t think enough of herself to accept the truth. In Juni’s eyes, she was her mother in every way that counted.
He watched them disappear into Maren’s bedroom and fought the urge to follow them. They weren’t in danger, and that’s where his duties ended.
Or, should have ended. He wanted to go in and help soothe both of them, stand guard until they fell asleep. Maren carried the world on her shoulders, and he had a feeling she’d been that way all her life. He wanted to help, if only for a little while. Make her feel special.
That’s not part of the job.
He was having to remind himself of that more and more often.
Colin headed back to the couch. He ran his hand through his hair and scrubbed at the back of his neck.
This had never happened to him on an assignment before.
The principal was the principal, no more, no less, and it was his duty to keep that person physically safe until the job was over.
Not stand guard over a little girl’s dreams.
Or reassure her mother that she was worthy of love.
That she was the most selfless person that Colin had ever met, and she deserved to know that she was enough.
More than enough, truth be told. Colin felt his heart turn over in his chest as he lay down, accompanied by something much lower down stirring to life.
Stand down, soldier. That’s totally inappropriate in this situation.
Colin punched his pillow and laid his head on it.
The problem was, in addition to being sweet and selfless, Maren was lovely.
She wasn’t your traditional beauty, but Colin didn’t care for that anyway.
Maren was all curves and generous hips and breasts.
When she wasn’t frightened, her eyes sparkled with good humor. And those lips…
Colin threw himself over onto his side facing away from the hallway and the woman just a few feet away.
Stop thinking about her lips. She’s in there comforting her daughter, and you’re out here perving on the woman. Now get some shuteye. With all the security this house has, you’re practically redundant.
As redundant as he’d be in Maren’s life. Those two were a closed unit, and that’s how it needed to stay. They didn’t need his intrusion.
I don’t do kids anyway.
Then why do I feel like that little girl has me absolutely wrapped around her finger?