But right now, he needed to sit and think. He’d had the basic idea for a plan and had just needed to refine it some, first. Now he’d have to think about contingencies. Camping gear. He knew how to set up camp and do it in a way no one would ever know he’d been there. This was a town, but a small one, and it seemed to him there were lots of fields and clumps of trees that could conceal him. How hard could it be?
He’d sit down and write out everything he knew about that little town with the dirty name and the three people he’d been following—his targets. Then he’d make himself two solid plans—one he’d use if the gates were open and one he’d used if they ended up being closed when he was ready to move. Or if, for some reason, he felt the heat closing in on him. Yeah, that was a good reason right there to get the camping gear. He was proud of himself for thinking of it.
Chapter Thirteen
“What do you think, Mary? This is going to be great, isn’t it?” Her sister-in-law’s expression held such joy that Mary knew she had to give the space real consideration.
Her sister-in-law had begged her to accompany her, and Mary really couldn’t say no. Though Jacqui was a few years younger than Mary’s own 31 years, she liked her, and felt a very real connection to her. Jacqui Kendall was the little sister Mary had never had.
So she looked around at the spotlessly clean and currently unfurnished great room of a two-story Victorian-style brick house just down from the Lusty Combined School.
The space wasn’t nearly as large as the great room at the Big House, nor the one at the New House, for that matter, but it was, she thought, a good-sized space to be the main cage….er housing area…for the town’s new daycare center.
Jacqui, of course, was totally in favor of the project. All the parents would take turns, along with a newly hired early childhood educator, supervising the children. Just like the other moms not born in Lusty, she wanted her children to know their cousins and to know that they belonged.
“It’s…yeah. I guess I can see this working.”
Jacqui just laughed and gave Mary a quick hug. “I realize that kids aren’t your thing, sister. Thank you for being so patient with me. I know the boys are my main focus at the moment and practically all I talk about. Especially during those times, like now, when I’m not with them.” Will and Norm, who worked from home, were spending time with the twins back at their house, so Jacqui could come here for the first meeting of the board of directors of the brand-new Lusty daycare.
“It’s not that they’re not my thing, Jacqui. I’ve just never been around many babies in my life. I don’t know how to behave with them.” That was the truth. She did have to admit that each time she saw her little nephews, James and Keith, she fell a little bit more in love with them.
“But you see, that’s the great thing about kids.” Jacqui grinned. “They’re absolutely the easiest people in the world to be with. You just have to be yourself, and they’re good with that.”
Mary had to admit that she’d never thought about it before. Again, no experience with kids.
But what if kids were in her future? How could I have reached the ripe old age of thirty-one without once really considering if I wanted children or not? One of the problems, Mary decided then and there, with being the kind of person who could focus so keenly on achieving a goal was that other thoughts tended not to form or, if formed, be pursued.
What if kids are in my future? She let herself wonder about that for a minute, but the thought changed. She imagined in a flash, being pregnant with Anthony’s or Toby’s baby. The picture that formed in her mind was so clear, so real, so…evocative.
The wave of longing that swamped her nearly brought her to her knees.
“Are you all right?”
The look of concern on Jacqui’s face seemed incongruent with her inner thoughts and emotions. Like we’re in two different worlds.
“I’m fine.” Or as fine as a person can be when their entire world just changed in one explosive, mind-numbing, heart-melting moment of time.
Mary brought her attention back to her sister-in-law. She read the look of disbelief on Jacqui’s face and went with her gut.
“I just imagined myself with children of my own.”
Jacqui choked. “And that was such a terrifying thought you nearly fainted?”
Mary shook her head. “No, it was a new and unexpected thought.”
Fortunately, other people arrived and saved her from further explanation. The group was meeting to tour the space that Grandma Kate had thought would be a good space for the parents and little ones of Lusty to use.
They didn’t waste any time in looking at the entire building, instead focusing on those areas that would be most in use. The large main room was the house’s biggest appeal, closely followed by the nicely enclosed and shaded back yard.
Along with Jacqui was Ari and Shar Benedict, Tamara Kendall, Emily Ann Richardson, Penelope and Maggie Benedict, and Iris Kendall. These women formed the group that would make the on-site decisions.
“Just take your time, look around.” Grandma Kate beamed at them all. “Discuss the changes you’d like to make, and then we can discuss them with Jordan and Cameron.” Jordan Kendall entered the room. He had another man with him, and Mary was pleased to see him there. Because he was Anthony’s friend, she focused on Cam.
Her lover had said the man was broken, and while she saw no tears, neither did she see any joy.
“We won’t likely want
