Chapter Seventeen
Holding her little boy in her arms soothed some of the ache of regrets that had settled in Rachel’s heart. As much as she adored her Nico, knowing that Rosie was still missing tightened the throbbing inside her until it radiated everywhere. Exhausted from the sorrow of her world spinning out of control, she clung to her little man who made everything sane.
Lance left the truck to come up behind her, and a strong-looking, jean clad woman stepped close to reach her hand out and give him a welcome side hug that was obviously acceptable. After patting her back, he pulled away so he could introduce the two women.
First, Rachel noticed the strong jaw and then clutched the hardened hand of a working woman who approached. When she saw Marcy’s face – that of a person who cared more about her job than her looks – her silly jealousy vanished. Hair cut short like a man’s, her rounded body obviously built from muscles earned on the job, and eyes filled with twinkles of realism,Rachel felt an instant rapport with her and knew her unfounded worries were all in her own head.
“Rachel, this is Marcy. My office angel and a great help in the field. Marcy, I’m stunned you don’t know each other already. Rachel pointed it out to me that you two hadn’t met. I’ve no excuse. Time flies by so fast, I forget you’ve been with the company almost a year now.”
Rachel clung to the hand holding hers and watched as the other woman smiled her acknowledgement before saying, “So you’re the mom of these two. They’re great kids. I’m sorry Rosie was able to sneak off without me knowing. I feel terrible. I truly thought she just wanted to be alone, and I respect that some kids, even as young as Rosie, feel that way. And with what’s been happening with her daddy, I didn’t want to push her. I’m so sorry about Damon… about everything.” She turned to Lance and reached to hold his arm like one friend would to another. “If you need anything, boss, I’m here. I can take care of the office, and Phil would be happy to work the roster so the jobs we’ve got going don’t get held up.”
As Rachel hugged her boy, she watched the two who obviously knew and trusted each other and let go of the silliness that had sparked earlier. Knowing she had no right to those jealousies hadn’t seemed to matter. Unable to stop her heart from misbehaving, craving Lance’s attention for herself, she needed to reevaluate her conduct.
She was married.
To his brother.
Lance was single. Goodlooking. Wonderful.
God help her. She had to stop this nonsense.
When Nico lifted his head from her shoulder, his smile for Marcy reassured her that Lance had known exactly what he’d done by reaching out for help from his workmate. Before she could thank her, Nico piped up, “Phil’s Marcy’s husband. He’sa good guy, Mommy. He took me for a ride on the fork pickerupper.”
Lance laughed and corrected the boy, “It’s called a forklift. If you liked that so much, we’ll take you for lots of rides. But right now you have to be a good boy for your mommy, okay? Uncle Lance is going out for a little while, but I’ll be back soon.”
Earlier, while returning to his place, they’d decided that Lance would go to the police station and fill out a report, and she would stay with Nico. He’d convinced her that Nico needed her with him, even if just for the time she put him to sleep in his own bed. “He’s a little boy, and he needs the reassurance of his mommy being there. You can settle him much better than any of us and right now I think it’ll be good for you too. Take the time to grab a bite also. Maybe have a rest and a shower. It might be a long night.”
Rachel had to grin, finding it lightened her pain. “You telling me I stink?” The quip slid out before she could stop it and having Lance smile back at her brevity made her feel good.
“I wouldn’t dare. I’ve seen that mommy-glare you use on the kids. Makes me tremble in my boots.”
When a chuckle broke free, Nico pulled back and piped up. “Is Uncle being silly, Mommy?”
“Yep.” She hugged her son and got serious before turning back to Lance. “Won’t the police want to talk to me too?”
“If they do, I’m sure they won’t mind coming to the house.”
Chapter Eighteen
Lance arrived at the police station, and the minute he stepped through the doors, he heard a child misbehaving. Her high pitched voice resonated above the usual office din.
“I’m not going with you. I’m going to the hospital. I have to see my dad.” The girl’s voice rose with each word until her rising screams couldn’t be ignored. No one would dare to dispute the fact that the kid was quickly becoming hysterical.
By the time Lance had rushed into the main area, having pushed past the officer at the desk, he saw immediately what was happening. Rosie stood on a chair, holding both hands out in front of her, warding off the approaching woman. Since Lance knew Rosie very well, he recognized that those actions were foreign to the little girl. But by the tone of her voice, he also knew they were serious and would soon be out of control.
“Rosie.” His tone cut through the frenzy of the officers surrounding the child, and the rather large crouching woman pleading for Rosie to trust her. Everyone stopped dead and turned to him as if in a choreographed play.
“Uncle Lance.” Rosie sobbed with relief, holding out her arms, tears pouring down her face, and her little girl’s body shaking from the pressure being used against her. He swept her into his arms and could feel her body trembling uncontrollably. Clinging tight, legs wrapped around his waist and hiding her face in his neck, she sobbed. “They won’t listen. I have to see Daddy. He’s calling for me.”
***
Lance spent a short time explaining to the officers who he was, and having the principal vouch for him with the police, made the difference in them taking him seriously. All the while, Rosie wouldn’t let him disengage even for the space of a few inches. Once she’d clung to him like a thirsty bumblebee draining nourishment from a flower, no way was she about to let him go.
Finally, after everyone was happy that the mystery was solved, they stepped back and let Lance take Rosie to his truck. Once there, he gently disengaged and set her down in the passenger seat. “Honey, I’m going to call your mom. She’s worried sick about you.”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Lance. I guess I was wrong to go to see Daddy alone. But I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You should have called me or Mommy. We would have listened.”
