An Unexpected Father Read online

  Mimi joined them, her eyes on her son. “Hey, are you ready to leave, kiddo?”

  “I’ve gotta help take the masts—”

  “You don’t have to, runt. If your mother wants you to go with her, that’s okay.”

  “But—”

  “You’ve been hanging around here long enough,” Mimi said, ruffling her son’s hair. “And it’s past time for lunch.”

  At that moment, Evan McKenzie came over and draped an arm over Mimi’s shoulder. “Hey, gorgeous. I knew you’d find me again somewhere.”

  Mimi looked pointedly at Evan’s arm, then lifted it off her shoulder as though it were a dirty wet rag. “Actually, I was hoping to leave before you saw me.”

  Evan pulled away with a laugh. “Ouch. Rejected again.”

  Ian’s teeth clamped tightly together and a muscle twitched in his jaw. His heated response was instinctive, but this time, he kept his mouth shut. Evan grinned at him, teeth glinting like a friendly, man-eating shark’s. He slipped his sunglasses down off his nose and winked, then slid them back into place.

  “You all right, Berzani? You’re looking a little green. Maybe you should lie down for a bit.”

  Patrick joined them at that moment and spared Ian the trouble of thinking up a civil reply. “Hey, Mimi. Jack did great out there.”

  “I can stay and help take the masts down,” Jack insisted. “I can do—”

  “Hold on there, sailor.” Patrick put his hand out to stop the words spilling out of the boy. “Lunch first, then back to work.”

  “We’d better let these guys eat, Jack,” Mimi said. “I’m sure Grandmom has lunch waiting for us, too.”

  “No, stay! Join us for lunch,” Evan said. “Then Ian and Jack can put the dinghies to bed while you and I discuss our future.”

  Ian pretended not to hear this. He was damned if he’d let McKenzie make him look like a fool again. To his chagrin, Patrick seconded the invitation.

  “Anna said she might come down. She’d love to see you,” Patrick said. “You can meet my wife, too.”

  “Oh, I—”

  “Kate’s coming?” Evan asked, eyebrows snapping down in a frown. His voice was a growl of displeasure as he glared at Patrick. “You said she wasn’t. You promised.”

  “I lied,” Patrick said with a grin. “Look, here they are now.”

  At the head of the dock, Ian saw Patrick’s wife, Kate, carrying their eight-month-old daughter in her arms. Anna strolled down the dock at her side. In sundresses and sandals, the two women looked as festive as the sails on the dinghies. Kate’s yellow gingham dress matched the one her daughter wore. Anna, in turquoise, her bright red hair flaming in the sun, was even more striking.

  A screech of glee from the baby echoed across the dock as Evan ducked behind Ian and Patrick. “Damn,” he muttered. “I’ve been spotted.”

  “I think you’re wrong, Patty,” Ian said with a grin, part of his good humor restored by seeing Evan squirm. “I think Beth’s eyesight is pretty good. She had him at fifty yards.”

  As the women came closer, Anna was next to let out a shrill cry of happiness. “Oh, my God, Mimi! Is it really you?”

  The two women launched themselves toward each other in a frenzy of hugs, kisses, laughter and tears. A wave of envy swept through Ian. He doubted he would ever get that kind of reception from Mimi.

  While Anna and Mimi played catch-up, Patrick stepped forward to kiss Kate and his baby. Beth was squirming and fussing unhappily. She craned her neck around her father, ignoring his affection, and squealed again when she saw Evan. Her arms reached out for him.

  “All right, all right,” Evan said with a sigh. He held out his arms, reluctance in every line of his body. “Let’s get this over with, Betsy Wetsy.”

  The baby cooed as Kate passed her over. Once in his embrace, Beth nestled into Evan’s neck, small hands grasping his T-shirt, drool dampening his shoulder.

  “Don’t be jealous,” Evan said to Mimi and Anna with a grin. “All the girls have the same problem around me.”

  As Beth gurgled up at Evan, Anna shook her head in dismay. “That is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. If she’s attracted to Evan now, what kind of guy is she going to bring home when she’s sixteen?”

  Everyone laughed except Evan. “Obviously, someone with charm, wit and good taste,” he said, his tone cool. “Now I am terrified,” Kate said dryly.

  Ian chuckled as Evan frowned. “It’s good to have you around, Annie,” he said and slung an arm across his sister’s shoulders. “Somebody’s got to corral McKenzie.”

  “Only too happy to help.” She kissed Ian on the cheek and looked at the rest of the group. “Come on. Kate and I set lunch out on the picnic tables by the office,” she said. “Oh! Kate, did you meet Mimi?”

  Ian watched as Mimi smiled brightly at Kate and shook her hand. He swallowed down irritation as she began chatting easily with the other woman and they moved up the dock. Yet another person she was happy to be with—anyone other than him. Jack sauntered along at his mother’s heels. Evan followed, carrying Beth like a fragile vase that might shatter at any moment, with Patrick at his side. Ian and Anna brought up the rear.

  Ian watched Beth gurgling and clutching at Evan’s shoulder, reaching up for his nose and glasses. “You know, with that baby, Evan could almost pass for a father.”

  “Are you kidding?” Anna asked, shooting him a laughter-filled glance. “He barely passes for a human being.”

  Jack dropped back and bounced up beside Ian. “That was awesome out there,” he said. “Did you see it when that kid almost ran into me? I turned just in time.”

  Ian smiled as he listened to Jack recount his exploits in the Optimist. What a different kid he was now than only a few hours ago. He was floating about a foot off the ground, high on his morning’s adventure in a sailboat. As if he might be in danger of drifting away on his own delight, Jack grabbed Ian’s hand. Ian clasped the smaller one carefully, letting the boy frisk along at his side and listening to his stream of chatter.

  As they continued, Jack kept glancing at Anna, frowning slightly, his lower lip pushed out. “Is that your girlfriend?” he finally asked.

  “This?” Ian looked over at Anna. “Naw, this is my little sister, Anna. Annie, this is Jack Green, Mimi’s kid.”

  “Really?” Anna said, obviously surprised. “How old are you?”

  “I’m nine.”

  She looked intently at the boy, like he was an endangered species on display at the zoo. Instead of flinching, Jack locked his gaze with hers.

  Ian tightened his arm around Anna’s shoulder. “It’s rude to stare,” he said in a mock whisper.

  “He started it,” Anna said.

  “I don’t think so,” Ian said. “You did.”

  “Shut up. If I quit now, he wins.”

  A grin started to steal across Jack’s face, but he kept his eyes fixed on Anna’s. Suddenly, she crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Jack began to giggle, then he blinked. “No fair! You made me laugh.”

  Anna let out a crow of triumph. “The winner and still champion of the stare-down!”

  Jack laughed again, while trying to compose a frown on his face. He tugged on Ian’s hand. “She cheated.”

  “Yeah,” Ian agreed. “Girls do that.”

  They went up the ramp to shore and the group shuffled itself into a new configuration. Evan passed Beth back to her mother. Anna asked Patrick how many more kids they planned to have. Jack took his mother’s hand and Ian found himself linked to Mimi with the boy between them. Mimi shot him a quick look but didn’t say a word.

  Of course, Evan had to notice and make a remark. “Hmm. Looks like a family unit to me,” he said, a smirk on his face.

  “McKenzie, can’t you find something else to meddle in?” Ian asked irritably.

  Mimi looked at them both, but was silent. As the group surrounded the picnic tables—one piled with food and drink, the other cleared for dining—Ian dropped Jack’s hand and drif
ted a few steps away. Jack, Mimi and Anna dished up lunch for themselves. Kate sat with the baby. After Mimi and Jack left the food table, Ian took a plate and slowly filled it. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the seating arrangement take form.

  The table had benches fixed on either side, enough for six adults. It would be a slight squeeze with the addition of Jack. Beth would sit on her mother’s knee. Mimi sat on the other side of the table from Kate, with Jack on the end. Then Anna sat opposite Mimi. Patrick brought a plate a food for his wife and the baby. As if to make Ian’s life difficult, his brother sat next to Anna. That left one vacancy for Evan or Ian right next to Mimi.

  “I’ll flip you for it,” Evan offered, holding out a quarter. “Tails, I sit next to her. Heads, you get to.”

  “Don’t be such a jerk, McKenzie,” Ian said with a growl.

  He put his plate beside Mimi’s, despite the fact that he wished he could sit anywhere else. Ian knew he couldn’t handle it if Evan spent their entire lunch flirting with her. He would end up killing the smart-ass. Mimi kept her head down, her eyes on her food. What she thought about Evan’s offer was anyone’s guess. Ian didn’t want to know.

  When Ian was seated as far from Mimi as he could get on the bench, Evan poked him with his plastic fork. “Scoot over, bench-hog. Don’t think I’m sitting on the other side next to Betsy Wetsy.”

  Ian reluctantly slid closer to Mimi. Her leg, bared in her shorts, brushed against his. Her skin was soft. Warm. Ian clenched his can of soda, fingers putting dimples in the aluminum. He had two contradictory urges: the first, to stroke a hand over that smooth length, up to the hem of her shorts and beyond. The second, to stand up, take his plate of food to his wood shop and eat there in peace and safety. Mimi moved over a bit, but Jack needed some room on her other side. Their legs still touched with nothing to cool the building heat.

  Meanwhile, the chatting and laughter flowed across the rough, unfinished boards of the table. Ian barely heard any of it. Evan kept leaning against him to grab the salt or taunt Anna with some barb. Ian knew his friend was using any excuse he could to push Ian against Mimi. Ian kept his hands on the table where he could see them, not trusting himself an inch. He barely tasted the ham sandwich he chewed; the potato salad might as well have been sawdust. All he smelled was Mimi’s perfume and all he felt was her bare thigh softly pressing against his.

  After the longest, most torturous twenty minutes in history, Ian got a reprieve. Jack finished his lunch and got up. Mimi immediately slid away from Ian, then jumped up from the table, too. She began clearing away empty plates without asking, as if she couldn’t wait for the meal to end, either. Ian supposed that he ought to feel happy she found the situation as uncomfortable as he did, yet for some odd reason it ticked him off when she rushed to get away. He was the one who was keeping his distance. Not her. He stood and dumped his own plate in the trash. Mimi had a bottle of water in her hand, refilling Kate’s glass. Ian took a last swig of soda and tossed his can into the recycle bin.

  “I’m going back down to the boats,” he announced to everyone.

  “I’ll come, too,” Jack said.

  “Not so fast, young man,” Mimi said. “You’ve got schoolwork waiting at home.”

  “Mo-om, I’ve gotta stay and help Ian.”

  “Sorry, kiddo. I think you’ve played around enough for the day.”

  “But—” Jack’s scowl appeared once more.

  “No.” Mimi’s voice rang firm.

  Though he knew he probably shouldn’t say anything, Ian couldn’t help himself. “Come back next Saturday, runt. Class starts at ten.”

  “Really?” Jack’s scowl cleared. “Great!”

  “We’ll see,” Mimi said in a tight voice.

  As childish as it was, her irritation made Ian feel better. He wasn’t the only one leaving this meal unsettled. It also reminded him of his earlier annoyance with her. She was wrong and he wasn’t going to back down from helping Jack. He smiled at her deliberately. “Nice seeing you, too, Mimi.”

  She glared at him, then turned to say goodbye to the rest of the crowd. “Thanks for lunch. Sorry we have to go.”

  Anna got up and gave her a hug. “I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Yes, I can’t wait to hear everything. Details,” Mimi said with a grin. “I need details.” Both women laughed and Mimi turned away. Herding Jack in front of her, she walked off without even glancing at Ian.

  As Ian stood watching her go, Patrick came up beside him. “You know, we really ought to have her sign a permission and release form if you want Jack in the class.”

  “I’ll get it. Later.”

  “What’s going on between you two?”

  Ian turned to his brother. “Nothing.”

  “Right.”

  Ian gave him the I-dare-you-to-contradict-me look that sometimes worked back when they were kids.

  Patrick cocked his head a bit and looked at him for a long moment. Finally, he shrugged. “Have it your way, big brother.”

  Ian grunted and started back to the docks. Whatever Patrick thought, he was wrong. So was Mimi. If she wanted to fight over what was best for Jack, he was ready. He refused to think about what else he was ready to do with Mimi Green. Better to concentrate on Jack. Much better.

  Chapter Five

  When the doorbell rang, Mimi was almost ready. She raced out of her room to the top of the stairs. As she moved, she pushed a hank of hair behind her ear and quickly threaded a gold hoop earring into place. She rushed down the first flight of stairs. At the landing, she checked her lipstick in the mirror next to the coatrack.

  “Just a second,” she yelled to the shadow that lurked behind the stained glass at the front door.

  A memory hit her as she skipped down the rest of the stairs. She had made this same mad dash many times in high school. She remembered always running late—hurrying through dressing, slapping on makeup—all in anticipation of going out on the town with friends. She flung the door open, a wide smile on her face.

  “Am I running late or are you early?” she asked as she hugged Anna before tugging her inside.

  “A little of both,” Anna said with a smile.

  Mimi laughed. “It’s good to know some things don’t change.”

  “This place still looks the same, too. I remember that picture.”

  Anna pointed to a sentimental painting of a heron fishing along some stretch of the Chesapeake shoreline. Mimi hardly noticed it; it had hung there in the entry for as long as she could remember. She bent and slipped her feet into strappy black sandals with low heels.

  “I’m ready. At last.”

  Mimi followed Anna outside to the porch and into the heat. It hit like a blast from a furnace, the humidity adding an oppressive weight to the air. The sun was dazzling, and Mimi slipped her sunglasses on to shield against the glare. When they got in the car, Anna flipped the air-conditioning on high.

  “Ugh, I forgot how awful summers are around here,” Anna said as she backed out of the driveway.

  “It’s not so humid in California, is it? I played a few clubs in L.A. I loved it out there.”

  “I know it’s supposed to be hotter there, but it never feels as bad as it does here.”

  “Admit it, you miss the heat, the humidity, the bugs.”

  “You forgot to mention my family.” Anna shook her head and shot a glance at Mimi. “I don’t know how you’re doing it. Living with your parents, I mean.”

  “Lack of funds is my excuse,” Mimi said with a chuckle. She paused, thinking of the past few months. “It’s been good actually. Much better than I thought it would be. I guess ten years away has made me look at my parents differently. I like them. As people, I mean.”

  “And they don’t interfere in your life?”

  “Now, let’s not slip into fantasy, girl.”

  They both laughed.

  “They’ve been good for Jack, too,” Mimi added. “It won’t last much longer, though. Jack and I need to get our own place.
I’ve been looking, and I think I’ll be able to swing it by the time school starts in the fall.”

  Mimi asked about Anna’s life in San Francisco and her career in architecture. Anna talked about the projects she was working on in California and collaborations with other firms in different cities scattered around the country. She had dated a variety of interesting men, but was still waiting for Mr. Right to knock on her door. Mimi felt in awe of her friend’s success and her freedom. A bit jealous and humbled, too.

  “What about you?” Anna asked. “Are you going to keep working at the bar?”

  “I think so,” Mimi said. “I’ve really enjoyed it this summer and my dad likes to have me there, too. I suppose someday I’ll take over completely.”

  “And you can sing there whenever you want.”

  Mimi looked over at Anna, startled. “I haven’t yet. I’m thinking about it,” she said slowly.

  Anna shot her a sharp look, then turned her attention back to the road. “Then where do you perform?”

  “Nowhere. I’m done with that for a while.”

  “What?” Anna frowned. “Why?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “So, get started. You said you wanted details? Well, right back at you.”

  Trying to keep it succinct, Mimi outlined the past ten years to her friend: the highs, the lows, the good times and the bad. She didn’t dwell on the failures—always looming in her own mind—and skipped over her relationship with Jack’s father. For Jack’s sake, she was not ready to let Anna in on that secret. Anna asked a few questions, letting Mimi know that she understood what wasn’t being said as well as what was. Before she could finish her story, Anna had pulled the car into an angled parking spot on a tree-shaded street. She let the car run to keep the air-conditioning and the conversation flowing.