Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
“Addy said a square word,” Elana singsonged.
My oldest squeaked in outrage. “I did not. And it’s ‘swear word,’ not ‘square word.’”
I huffed out a breath, squeezing the steering wheel tighter. The realtor had ushered us out the door two minutes before the official time for the open house.
My car was crammed full of things that I couldn’t find a place for; the rest I’d stuffed under beds and into closets. But the house now looked unlived-in, and there was not a toy or stray sock in sight.
“Stop fighting, girls.”
I was sweaty, I was exhausted, and the last thing I wanted to do right now was play referee to my girls.
“I only said cheese and biscuits. That’s it.”
I watched her stick her tongue out at her sister in the rearview mirror and sighed. It would be a long ten-minute drive.
“Hey, you’re not allowed to do that.”
And then commenced the screaming and throwing of things. Unfortunately, there were plenty of things to throw. I’d stacked toys and clothes up behind the passenger and driver seats, so the kids had to rest their feet on everything. The middle seat was also stacked high.
The trunk was crammed full, and I’d had to tie down the door to keep it somewhat closed.
I also had to take both Orange and Winston with me. Winston was in a cage in the trunk, and Orange sat in the passenger seat, sticking his nose out of a gap in the window.
When we pulled into Malena’s driveway, my eardrums were ringing and the clothes that had previously been on the seat were now covering the girls.
I dropped my head on the steering wheel, counting backward from a hundred.
The girls were still bickering, but I couldn’t get up the energy to talk to them yet.
I’d been up since four. I was tired of doing this on my own.
I should have been used to it since I hadn’t had any help since they’d been born, but somehow it seemed to get worse rather than easier with every year that passed.
A knock on the window made me grimace before I lifted my head. I didn’t want anyone to see me having a moment. Everyone had them, but I liked to have mine in private. Usually in the bathroom with the door closed.
Not in my car with Vance looking inside with a little frown on his perfect forehead.
Hang on, what is Vance doing here?
Before I had a chance to open the door, he had done it for me, bending down so we were at eye level. “Hey, everything okay?”
I swallowed and nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Turning off the ignition, I called out to Addy and Elana, who had gone quiet as soon as Vance appeared. “Come on, girls, let’s go say hi to everyone.”
They’d already unbuckled their seat belts and tumbled out of the car. Elana stopped in front of Vance, hands on her hips. “Who are you?”
He crouched down, holding out his hand. “I’m Vance. And you must be Elana.”
She took his hand, pumping it up and down enthusiastically. “You know my name?”
He nodded, thankfully with his arm still intact after the little assault. “I do. Your mom talks about you and Addy all the time. I brought cupcakes. They’re in the kitchen.”
Having heard Vance say there were cupcakes, Addy didn’t bother saying hello. Instead, she raced to Malena’s front door, closely followed by Elana.
Vance stood up, and I gaped at him. “What are you doing here?”
The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them. Him being here surprised me. I needed to be prepared when it came to seeing Vance. Working in the same office as him all week had been an exercise in self-control.
I needed more notice. There was hair to be smoothed and makeup to be checked. And I had to quietly panic for a bit. Now I had minimal makeup on, and my panic was hitting me full force while he was standing in front of me.
“I was going over some files with Malena.”
“On a Saturday?”
“It couldn’t wait.”
Nodding, I gathered my numerous bags and stepped out of the car. Vance moved back a few steps so I could close the door.
He took my bags from me before I had a chance to protest. “Is there anything else you need?” He looked through the windows of the messy car, and I cringed at the sight. Already walking to the back, he glanced back at me. “I can get Orange.”
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I mumbled a “That’s okay” and let Orange out.
He was ecstatic to meet someone new and immediately raced up to Vance, who leaned down, scratching him behind the ears while dodging his tongue.
“What are you two still doing out there? Come inside,” Malena called out from the entrance to her house.
Orange took off, nearly running into Vance in his excitement.
I carefully opened the trunk. Only a pair of slippers and a blanket fell out, much to my relief. After stuffing them into a small space on one side, I reached for the cat carrier. I didn’t get to touch it before a big body crowded me against the car and a hand reached over, pushing mine away.
“I’ve got it,” Vance’s rumbly voice said in my ear, making goose bumps break out all over my body. It also rendered me immobile.
He somehow maneuvered the carrier out beside me without anything else falling out, then nudged me back and closed the door again. “Is there anything else? I can come back and get it.”
“That’s it for now.”
He walked with me up to the front door, where Malena was waiting for us with crossed arms and a twinkle in her eyes. “The girls are playing in the backyard with Felix, Miles, and Orange.” She looked at Vance and clarified, “Miles is our dog.”
We made our way into her kitchen, and I stared with wide eyes at the construction zone. “You didn’t tell me you were remodeling.”
“I didn’t know we were until yesterday.” She rolled her eyes. “I complained about my tiny kitchen last week. Next thing I know, I’m getting a new one.”
She acted put out, but I knew we’d swoon about Thad’s sweet gesture later.
Malena pointed to the living room, the wall that was there before now gone. “Why don’t you put Winston over there.”
Vance carefully set him down, placing my purse next to the carrier. “Do you want me to let him out?”
He reached for the latch, and Malena and I yelled out. Vance stilled with his hand on the cage door. Before I had a chance to warn him, Winston swiped at him, and Vance jumped back.
“Are you okay?” I rushed up to him. “Show me your hand.”
He did as instructed, and I winced when I saw the deep scratches, blood already welling up. “I’m so sorry. He hates strangers.” Or anyone, really. “Take a seat on the couch and I’ll put something on it.”
I turned as Malena reached into a box off to the side and handed me a first aid kit. “I’ll be outside with the kids and dogs. They’ve been left unsupervised for too long.”
Vance was now seated on the couch, not looking overly concerned about his injury. But I knew a scratch from Winston hurt.
Malena disappeared outside, and I sat down next to Vance, taking his warm hand in mine. The scratch was on the back, so I put his palm on mine. It was surprisingly rough for someone who worked in an office.
But one thing I had figured out quickly was that Vance had more layers than I’d first thought.
The gruff and growly lawyer who had been so dismissive of me in the beginning was unfortunately finding his way into my heart.
And no matter how many barriers I put up, it seemed he’d taken up residence for now.
Inspecting the scratches, I hoped Malena had a Band-Aid big enough to cover them. Reluctantly releasing his hand, I searched through the first aid kit, first taking out the iodine and gauze pad, then two large Band-Aids. I placed everything on the coffee table, then opened the cap on the iodine.
I held in the contented sigh that wanted to escape when I held his hand again. And I worked hard on not showing any emotion when he closed his hand around mine. And I nearly choked on air when our eyes met and held.
What was it about him that turned my insides into a carousel and my head into a marshmallow?
Fumbling for the iodine, I put it on the gauze, then wiped it over the scratches, my hand trembling. Once there wasn’t an inch left to wipe, I released his hand.
Vance’s gaze never left me, but I avoided looking at him as if his eyes would shoot lasers at me if we made eye contact.
Once I’d somewhat successfully stuck the Band-Aids on his hand, I jumped up. “That should do it. Again, I apologize about Winston.”
“Not your fault. I should have checked before I put my hands anywhere near him.”
After screwing the iodine lid back on and placing it back in the first aid kit, I picked up the trash. I did all this while still avoiding looking at him. “He once bit Hank so hard he had to get stitches.”
He’d been so mad, I thought he’d put Winston down. I’d talked him out of it, the painkillers they gave him at the hospital helping my cause since they’d made him loopy.
“I’ll remember to bring him treats next time.”
I wasn’t sure what caught me off guard more, the fact that he’d try and befriend my cat or that he was planning on meeting him again.
“Mom, Mom, there’s an injured bird outside!” Adelaine stormed into the house, pigtails streaming behind her. “Malena said he has a broken wing. And we need a box to put him in.”
“Oh no, the poor thing. Give me a second and I’ll be right out.”
She nodded and shot back outside.
I put the trash and first aid kit away, then looked for a box. One step ahead of me, Vance was already holding up a bucket. “Will this work?”
A tentative smile took over my face. “Absolutely.”
He followed me outside, and we knelt down next to Malena and the kids, who were in a circle around the bird. The dogs were jumping around behind them, little Miles following Orange, who ran around us and then back to the huddle on the grass.
Malena looked up when we approached. “Let’s get him inside, and I’ll call around to see if there’s anywhere we can take him.”
Vance knelt down, slowly reaching out for the bird. He had a reddish-orange breast, a darker head, and a gray back. But since I knew almost nothing about birds, I had no idea what kind it was.
“Come on, little guy.” Vance’s low rumble seemed to have an effect even on birds since he managed to scoop him up. “Let’s get you inside the bucket so we can take you somewhere safe.”
Vance placed him in the bucket, his movements calm and efficient.
Elana leaned against Vance, who was still crouching next to the bucket. “Is he going to die?”
Vance pointed at the bird. “See the wing that’s sticking up a little?”
Elana nodded, leaning farther into him.
“That means it’s most likely broken. But we’ll find someone who can fix it.”
She sniffled into his shirt, and I itched with the need to pull her back so she wouldn’t get snot all over him.
Vance nudged her gently. “Now, what do you say we get this little guy inside?”
“Can I hold the bucket?”
He lifted it up, holding it out to her. “Of course.”
She grabbed it in a hug, clutching it to her chest. “Can you carry us?”
Before I could tell her I would carry her, Vance had already picked her up and was halfway to the back door. Malena looked at me with a smirk but thankfully didn’t say anything. Addy and Felix skipped along next to Vance, peppering him with questions about birds.
All of which he seemed to be able to answer.
They disappeared inside, and I shrugged at Malena. “Guess he likes birds.”
She ignored my comment, raising a brow at me. “And the plot thickens.”
“Plot?”
She winked at me and headed inside.
“What plot?” I called in the direction of the door she’d gone through but received no answer.
Grumbling under my breath, I followed them into the house. There was no plot.
While the kids watched the bird as if he’d vanish if they took their eyes off him for a second, the adults made calls to figure out what to do with him.
Vance eventually found a vet who could take him. Addy blinked tears away and Elana had stuffed her head under my shirt when Vance announced he would be dropping Blinky off at the vet.
I knew the moment Elana had given the bird a name, it would be difficult to part ways.
Vance held the bucket, letting each kid say goodbye. When it was Elana’s turn, she didn’t make a move to untangle herself from my clothes.
“He’s hurting right now, and the vet will make him feel better,” Vance gently explained, kneeling next to my daughter. “And then he’ll be able to fly again and be with his family.”
She dropped down to her knees, peering into the bucket. “But then I’ll never see him again.”
“I’m sure he’ll be back. We’ll ask Malena to leave food out for him.”
Elana nodded sagely. “And water. He might get thirsty.”
Vance tapped her nose. “And water. Now, how about you say goodbye so we can get Blinky some help?”
Crisis averted, she blew the bird kisses, then stood back up. “Bye, Blinky. See you when you feel better.”
Malena held out a large bowl in one hand, flour in the other. “Who wants to help me make snickerdoodles?”
Elana raced Addy over to the counter, both wanting to do the mixing.
Vance stood up, and I watched him walk to the door. And I was definitely not looking at his ass.
He turned around as he was about to step outside. “Bye, Mrs. Porter.”
Snapping my head up, I bit my bottom lip before answering. “Bye, Mr. Moore.”
He nodded, then left, the door silently shutting behind him.
And I most definitely did not feel a sense of loss once he was gone.