Chapter 6
Sean angled his car into a slot at the Garfield High School gym on Friday evening. It wasn’t quite five-fifteen. Traveling with a baby was never conducive to being on time, so he considered anything less than thirty minutes late an on-time arrival.
Getting here was only half the battle though.
After dragging everything inside he’d still need to set it all up and make sure Jace was settled before he could even find out how he could help.
He’d been asking himself for several days why this new friendship was worth this much trouble. The answer eluded him.
Sean stepped out of the car, shrugged on the massive stuffed-to-bursting backpack that he used as a diaper bag, and released the car seat straps that kept Jace confined. He held out his arms. “You ready for some play time?”
Jace bounced in the seat, arms reaching to be picked up. Sean tickled his belly and was rewarded with a giggle.
With Jace riding on one hip, the heavy bag of toys cutting into his quickly numbing fingers, and the playpen handle clasped in his free hand, Sean hurried across the lot.
He pulled up short at the heavy door, wishing for a third hand.
With his two free fingers, he wrestled the door open, wedged a foot into the opening, and forced his shoulder through.
“Made it,” he whispered.
There was no time to congratulate himself on his resourcefulness as the flimsy plastic bag chose that moment to split down the middle, sending Jace’s toys scattering across the wooden floor.
Despite the commotion of his entrance, when Sean’s gaze met Monica’s, he had the answer to the question he’d asked himself for days.
He’d move triplets and all their gear just to put that smile on her face.
The ache that sucker punched him in the gut threatened to double him over as Brittany’s face floated in his memory.
What business did he have thinking about another woman’s smile?
He’d meant every word when he’d told Monica he was only looking for friendship.
Maybe he should leave before things got more complicated.
Retreat was a fleeting thought, though, as the others rushed to help him.
“Give me that baby before you drop him.” Monica swooped Jace from his arms.
Even as he nearly choked on grief, Sean braced for an irate eruption from his son. Jace was clingy around strangers.
But the fit never came. Instead of crying, Jace offered giggles as he renewed his acquaintance with the nursery worker.
“Here, let me take that.”
The other man, Caleb, if Sean remembered correctly, grabbed the playpen.
“I can—” Before Sean could finish the thought, he felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down to meet the serious gaze of a child. The little boy held Jace’s dump truck, a casualty of the split bag.
“I got it,” he said, holding it up to Sean.
“Thanks, buddy.” Sean accepted the toy, and the boy raced off to help his mom. That had to be Monica’s friend Bobbie.
Sean took a couple of cleansing breaths.
His grief was real, but he was being foolish. Appreciating the smile of a beautiful woman wasn’t disloyalty to his wife. Benjamin’s unrelenting teasing was just making Sean overly edgy.
He snuck a look at Monica, who’d plopped down on the floor to play pat-a-cake with Jace. As far as Sean could tell, he was as good as invisible to both of them. So much for unwanted attraction.
“Where do you want to set this up?”
Sean was still standing half in and half out of the door, Caleb in front of him, holding the playpen. He took a step forward, releasing the heavy metal door, which closed with a loud snap.
Sean held out a hand. “Sorry. Sean Conklin.”
“Caleb Lowe. Good to meet you.” After shaking his hand, he lifted the playpen slightly.
Sean looked around the cavernous room. Rolls of masking tape and tape measures littered the floor, and about a dozen large areas were already marked off. “Somewhere out of the way, I guess. Monica?”
“Yeah?” Her reply didn’t even come with a glance in his direction.
Right, Conklin, she’s drooling over you.
The sarcastic thought shouldn’t have been comforting, but it was.
“Where do you want me to put Jace?”
She got to her feet, Jace cuddled close to her chest. “There’s no need to cage him up. I can supervise and hold him at the same time.”
Bobbie sidled over to the redhead and pushed her glasses up on her nose before bending down to Jace’s level. She bopped him on the nose with a finger. “Hey there, cutie.” She took a step back, placed both hands on her hips, and looked at Monica. “Nice try, girlfriend, but this is your party.”
She held out her hands and Sean could see red polish gleaming in the overhead lights.
“If I can risk a fresh manicure on this project, you can match me inch for inch.” She held out her arms. “Besides, it’s my turn to hold the baby.”
Monica turned away as if sheltering Jace from a monster. The kid wasn’t even one, but he already had women fighting over him. “Get your own.”
“There’s a difference in smelly toddler and cuddly baby. Gimme.”
Caleb sighed. “You might as well get comfortable. Those two are worse than sisters. Once they start bickering, it takes a court order to get them back on track.” As if to belie his own words, Caleb put two fingers in his mouth and issued a shrill whistle.
Sean covered his ears while the women looked in their direction.
“Ladies, it’s going on six and we’ve barely made a dent.” Caleb’s son had come running at the whistle, and Caleb put a hand on his head. “No one’s had dinner.” He paused to look at Sean.
Sean shook his head.
Caleb continued. “And we have limited time before the banshees get restless.”
“Spoil sport.” Monica headed back to Sean and handed Jace to him.
Bobbie boosted herself to her toes and brushed her husband’s cheek with a kiss. “What she said, but you’re right. Let’s get this show back on the road.”
“Yes, let’s,” Monica agreed. “Just so you know, I don’t plan to send you away hungry. I packed food for when we’re done.” She looked at Sean. “The playpen will be fine by the door, but if you want to leave him free, the space is big enough that he won’t be in the way.”
“Parker will keep him busy,” Bobbie added.
Parker looked up at his name. “I three,” he said, holding up four fingers.
Bobbie bent down and gently tucked the extra finger into the boy’s palm. “Let’s not grow up too fast.”
It was worth a try. Sean put Jace on the floor and surrounded him with the toys he’d brought.
Parker sat next to him, and in no time, the little boys were pushing cars and trucks around the wooden floor, engaged in a conversation that a linguistics expert would have a hard time following.
Sean slid his hands into his back pockets and looked at Monica. “I’m all yours. How can I help?”
***
MONICA STOOD BESIDE Sean. The work ahead should have had her full attention, but with Jace occupied, she was having a hard time focusing.
Sean’s dark brown hair was slightly windblown, and his worn, faded jeans hugged his runner’s legs in a very distracting way.
She couldn’t ever remember describing a man as sexy, but the term certainly fit.
And whatever cologne he was wearing made her want to get two steps closer.
The problem was, only one step separated them.
Arizona... Dead wife. Arizona... Dead wife.
Bobbie cleared her throat and sent her a pointed look.
“Sorry, I was...playing with the layout in my head.”
Liar.
Monica shushed the pestering little voice and turned slightly, hoping the heat on her face wasn’t a full-blown blush.
She motioned to the room. “I’ve got thirty vendors booked.
They each need a ten-foot by ten-foot area.
The best layout I could figure was three rows of ten.
” She handed Sean a roll of tape and a tape measure.
“We’ve got a good start. It shouldn’t take us long to finish. ”
As the work got back underway, the gym was mostly silent except for the playful squeals and an occasional squabble from the two little boys.
Ninety minutes after Sean’s arrival, Monica stepped back to the door and looked out over their handiwork.
The space was marked out with space for thirty booths, each outfitted with a table and a couple of chairs.
Nice, wide aisles would accommodate a tide of shoppers.
She could almost see people browsing the tables for gifts to flesh out their Christmas lists.
Please, God, let tomorrow be a success.
An irritated cry accompanied her prayer. She turned and saw Sean lifting Jace off the floor.
“Is he hungry?” Monica asked.
“Probably. We had a snack at the house,” Sean said. “But, I know I’m starving.”
“I could eat a horse,” Caleb said.
“I’d settle for a sandwich,” Bobbie added.
“You guys have been troopers.” Monica pointed to the nearest table. “You’re in luck about that sandwich thing. Scoot a few extra chairs around that table, and I’ll run out and get our dinner.”
“I’ll help.” Bobbie fell in beside Monica.
“I can—”
“Shh.” Bobbie’s voice was hushed when she responded. “Just keep walking. I’ve been looking for a chance to get you alone. Don’t deprive me.”
When the door shut behind them, Monica turned to discover Bobbie had stopped. She was leaning against the brick wall, fanning her hand in front of her face. “Oh, my goodness.”
“What?”
“You were holding out on me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her words emerged a little haughty, and that protesting too much quote came back to her.
Bobbie smirked. “Please. You know exactly what I’m saying. Sean Conklin is one fine looking specimen. That beard and those eyes...” She was practically swooning.
“Need I remind you that you are a married woman?” Monica asked.
“Wed doesn’t mean dead or blind. And I’ll tell you what. I think that like thing goes both ways.”
Monica rolled her eyes. “I think you’re full of puppy poop. He’s been very careful to tell me that friendship is all he has to offer. He’s still grieving.”