Saving Alyssa (Mills & Boon Heartwarming) (14 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

W
HEN
 
SHE
'
D
 
MOVED
 
to town last summer, Billie hadn't known how serious Ellicott City residents were about celebrating autumn. From the wine tour early in October to the harvest festival and midnight tours of 1770s haunted houses later in the month, the calendar swelled with activities that attracted tourists from all over the country. Because she'd been new to town, she hadn't participated. But this year, Billie hoped to enjoy a few of the events she'd read about in the
Howard County Times.

According to the articles, doctors and teachers and ordinary citizens claimed to have seen spirits and apparitions lurking in the attics and alleyways. It surprised her that Bud, who'd lived here for decades, had never taken the haunted tour. “Never had time,” he'd said. “If it wasn't work getting in the way, it was something else.” Such as a fourteen-year-old son who'd died of leukemia, and a brokenhearted wife who'd grieved herself to death.

Bud's life hadn't been easy, but as he often said, “Self-pity is an ugly, selfish emotion.” Billie not only admired his determination to squeeze every drop of joy from each day, but wanted to emulate the man she'd come to think of as an elderly uncle. The new mind-set changed so many things. If not for Bud, who knows how much time she might have wasted, wishing for things she couldn't have, regretting choices that brought her nothing but misery? Billie hadn't been this happy or satisfied with life in years, and she wanted to do something to show her appreciation.

Before his surgery, they'd talked about celebrating his health and her new client by signing up for one of the ghost tours. He was doing great, post-surgery, but not great enough to walk the cobbled streets of Ellicott City. His birthday was coming up, though, so why not pick up a card and the fixins for a home-cooked meal from Yates Grocery...directly across the street from Ike's Bikes.

Billie could see Noah over there, unpacking a shipment of cycling shoes, then stacking them along the back wall. She considered offering to give him a hand, and decided against it. Since the camping trip, he had called only twice. He'd been friendly enough, asking her to add links to his website, and yet he'd seemed...distant. She blamed the kiss they'd almost shared. If it scared him half as much as it had scared her, no wonder he was working hard to appear detached and uninterested! And it was just as well, because neither of them were in any condition emotionally to get involved.

Oddly, she found herself missing his bright, energetic little girl, who despite a seemingly endless cache of riddles and jokes, looked every bit the sad-eyed orphan she'd soon play in Deidre's production of
Annie
. Alyssa called every day. Conversations that started with questions like “Can I wear a flowery shirt with a plaid skirt?” and “Do you think Daddy will let me get my ears pierced?” always led to child-friendly snack recipes or something a kid in her class did. The better Billie got to know Alyssa, the more stupid her “I don't like kids, I don't want kids” attitude seemed.

Last Halloween, she'd watched the constant stream of children march up one side of Main Street and down the other, their trick-or-treat bags bulging as shopkeepers, restaurant owners and even the staff at the B&O Railroad Museum handed out candy and trinkets. This year, if Noah would let her, she and Alyssa would be part of that parade.

Home again, Billie signed Bud's card, tucked an invitation to dinner inside and slid it into the matching envelope.

“It's not my birthday,” Troy said, reading over her shoulder.

“It isn't?” Billie thumped the heel of her hand against her forehead and feigned shock. “I've already mailed Todd's card. He'll think I've lost my mind.”

“
You're
a card. Seriously. Who's it for?”

“Bud, next door. Saturday's his birthday.”

“Speaking of Saturday, my real estate agent rigged a special weekend meeting at the title company.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “This time next week, you'll have your guest room back.”

Billie sighed. “I'm torn.... Happy for you, of course, but I'm kinda sorry you're leaving. I like having you around.”

“I'll be right around the corner. Want to see the place?”

“Now?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“But if you don't settle until Saturday, how will we get in?”

“I watched the agent punch in the code on the lockbox.”

“You're sure it's okay?”

“Why wouldn't it be? Nobody lives there, and it isn't like we're burglars or vandals. They cashed my earnest money check, so it's as good as mine.”

“I suppose,” Billie said.

And half an hour later, they were standing on his deck, looking out over the small backyard, when Troy said, “Well?”

“It's perfect for you. Not too big, not too small, easy to maintain—a good thing, since you'll be on the road a lot.”

He led the way to the front door, and while he locked up, Billie said, “Have you told the folks?”

“Yeah....”

“Well, don't keep me in suspense! What did they say?”

“Dad seemed pleased, but Mom...” Troy shook his head. “I'm surprised she hasn't called you, tried to enlist you in the Get Troy Back to Philly campaign.”

“Oh, she won't do that,” Billie said wryly. “She thinks if I hadn't made it so easy for you to stay, you would have gone home, patched things up with Victoria, and she'd be well on her way to her two-point-two grandchildren by now instead of changing your address in her little purple phone book.”

They started walking back to Billie's.

“Two-point-two grandkids, huh?”

“It's a start.”

“Well,” Troy said, “I guess Todd and Dani better get a move on.” He pocketed one hand, rested the other on Billie's shoulder. “And speaking of moving...will you help me figure out where to put the furniture?”

“You know I will. Have you already arranged a moving van?”

“No need to. I sold Victoria the place, furnished.”

“But your clothes...”

“Mom and Dad will bring them down when they come for Thanksgiving.”

“Good grief. I nearly forgot.”

“Can you believe Todd and Dani got away with skipping it this year? Next chance I get, I need to have a heart-to-heart with that twin of mine, find out how he talked Mom into putting her stamp of approval on their combination second honeymoon, business trip. Smart choice, especially since it saves us driving to Philly.”

“With all the move-in stuff going on and a new job, I hear ya.”

Troy frowned. “Why do I hear a
but
in that statement?”

“I'm just now wondering why Mom agreed so easily. She loves making Thanksgiving dinner.”

He looked guilty and shrugged. Meaning he'd promised their mom could prepare the feast here, in Ellicott City.

“My kitchen or yours?”

“Ah-h-h...”

Billie pictured her kitchen as it would look on Thanksgiving morning—steaming pots on all the burners, every utensil and mixing bowl piled in the sink—and sighed.

“I have a favor to ask Noah,” he said, opening the door.

“A favor? But you barely know—”

Alyssa rushed up and made the “shh!” sign. “We have to be quiet,” she said, pointing toward the back room. “Daddy's sleeping.”

“At four-thirty in the afternoon?” Billie asked.

“He had a headache and a stomachache.”

“Uh-oh,” Troy said. “Hope he didn't pick up the bug that's been going around.”

“I'm not asleep,” Noah called out, “and yeah, I picked up something.”

“Sorry,” Troy said.

“Me, too,” Billie added.

“Not as sorry as me, I'll bet,” Alyssa whispered. “He's too sick to take me to rehearsal tonight.”

“That's no problem. I'll take you,” Billie offered. It had been a knee-jerk reaction to Alyssa's disappointment, which instantly vanished.

“Really? You will?”

“Sure.” She remembered the allergy pill fiasco and quickly added, “If it's okay with your dad.”

The three of them started toward the back room, waiting for a response. Billie was beginning to think Noah had dozed off when he appeared in the doorway, dark circles under his eyes, and said, “You're sure? You don't mind?”

What she minded was how quickly she'd volunteered to take his place. What she minded was how she must look to him now, jumping into the mommy role without even being asked. But Alyssa was waiting for confirmation.

“It'll be fun,” Billie said. “And a good chance to visit with Deidre. I haven't seen her in ages.”

“It's a school night, so straight home afterward, okay?”

Alyssa nodded, and Billie asked, “What time does rehearsal start?”

“Six-thirty,” Noah answered.

The clock behind the cash register read four forty-five. “Straight there and back,” Billie echoed, “and if it's all right with you, I'll take her to my house and fix her some supper first.”

He groaned. “Please. Don't mention food.”

Troy said, “Dude. What are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be upstairs in your apartment, sleeping?”

“Probably. I'll head up as soon as you guys leave.”

“Before we go,” Troy said, “I have a favor to ask you.”

“Long as it isn't food related, I'm all ears.”

“I just bought the house up the street,” Troy explained, “and I need to hit the discount stores for pots and dishes and towels and stuff. Think maybe I could borrow your truck?”

Noah leaned against the doorjamb and ran a hand through already-rumpled hair. “When do you need it?”

“Just a couple of hours on Saturday. Move-in date is two weeks from now, but I have permission to store a few things over there before settlement.”

“No problem. If I'm feeling human by then, I'll give you a hand.”

“I'll owe ya one, pal.”

Billie wondered why neither of them had given a thought to Alyssa. She might enjoy shopping for flatware and dishes, but where would she stay while the guys hefted the boxes into Troy's house?

“Better grab a jacket,” she told the little girl. “It might be chilly when we walk home.”

“I'll get some scrunchies, too, in case Miss Deidre wants my hair up.” She started for the stairs, and hesitated on the bottom step. “Do you know how to make braids?”

“Yes....”

Half an hour later, while Troy served up leftover lasagna, Billie stood behind Alyssa, weaving her shining blond waves into two tidy braids. Their walk to the theater was slowed by neighbors who'd stepped outside their shops to bring sale items inside for the night. They chatted about everything from taxes to the weather to which little girl would win the Prettiest Actress title—not that looks were what mattered onstage—so it was no surprise when Alyssa said, “Don't you just love living here, Billie? Everyone is so nice!”

From the mouths of babes...
The shopkeepers were friendly. They were right, too, she thought as the children performed. Alyssa was by far one of the cutest children in the cast. One of the most talented, too, which made her wonder why she hadn't been awarded the lead role.

Rehearsal ended promptly at seven forty-five, and as the kids waited for their parents to pick them up, Billie chatted with Deidre, whose enthusiasm about the production was contagious.

Her exuberance fizzled slightly as she said, “Don't breathe a word of this, but I think it's going to be a dynamite show, even though I had to settle for second best as Annie.”

“Second best?”

“I wanted Alyssa to play that part. Just look at her,” Deidre said, pointing.

Sure enough, the girl stood center stage, singing “Tomorrow”
 
at the top of her lungs...and looking every bit like a star.

“She's perfect for the role. But Noah...” Deidre clucked her tongue, and with an exaggerated sigh, said, “That man takes overprotective to a ridiculous extreme.”

And then, in typical Deidre fashion, she left Billie alone, going to greet the mother of one of her actors at the other side of the stage.

Billie waved Alyssa closer. “I know we told your dad we wouldn't take any detours, but I have some homemade chicken soup in the freezer. How about if we stop by my house again, just long enough to get it?”

“Oh, that's a great idea, Billie. He couldn't eat anything all day. He's probably starving by now.”

Based on how he'd sounded earlier, it wasn't likely. Hopefully, he'd picked up a twenty-four hour bug, and he'd feel more like eating tomorrow.

“Before we go, do you want to hear me sing ‘It's a Hard Knock Life'?”

“I'd love that!”

Alyssa sang her part and Annie's, and danced the steps, too. She faced stage right, stage left, spun in a circle and snapped her fingers.

The a cappella performance was so engaging that Billie barely noticed that on the other side of the stage, another little orphan was putting on a similar show for her mom.

“Hold still, honey,” the woman said, “so I can take a picture to share with Grandma and Grandpa in Chicago!”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“D
ARN
. I
WAS
hoping to get your answering machine.”

Noah listened to the quiet hiss of Billie's voice on the other end of the phone, and thought maybe they'd been disconnected.

“Well, that's a first,” she said. “I'm so very sorry to disappoint you. Would you like me to hang up so you can call back and leave a message?”

Noah wondered if growing up with two brothers made her impervious to insensitive remarks, or if she'd been born a good sport. Either way, it felt good to know she wouldn't hold his feet to the fire.

He took a breath and started over. “Troy said you were going with him to the settlement this morning. Took me by surprise, that's all, when you answered.”

“Settlement was postponed. Something about a missing page from the title search. So what can I do for you, Mr. Tact?”

So much for thinking she'd let him off the hook. “I'm having trouble pulling up some pages of my website, and hoped you could show me what I'm doing wrong.” He filled the brief pause with a qualifier: “Not now, of course. Just whenever you get a minute.”

“I could come over later today.”

“That would be great!”

“How are you feeling this morning?”

“Tired, but I'm okay. I don't think I'm contagious, if that's what you're worried about.”

“If I was worried about that, I wouldn't have spent hours with Alyssa...who spent hours with you while you were sick.”

Noah winced. She was probably wondering if he was born a jerk, or if he worked at it.

“That soup was fantastic,” he said, hoping to change the subject. “Thanks, and for tucking Alyssa in, too. I didn't even hear you guys come in.”

“We put a lot of effort into being quiet.”

“I appreciate it. And the way you cleaned up the kitchen, too.”

“Just something to do to pass the time until she fell asleep. The way you hover over her, I knew you wouldn't want her running around unsupervised.”

Hover? Oh, Max would love that one!

“Anyway,” Billie said. “I'll see you later.”

And hung up the phone.

Noah stared at the receiver for a second before returning it to the cradle. “See,” he told it, “this is why I wanted to leave a message. No groveling required.”

He felt as if he'd been hit by a bus, and didn't know whether to blame a twenty-four hour bug or the convenience store hot dog he'd eaten for lunch. Either way, he shouldn't have taken his bad mood out on Billie. It wasn't her fault that being around her felt...weird; she hadn't initiated the kiss, but it
was
her fault that every time he'd seen her since, he wanted to do it again.

Saturday was the shop's busiest day, but he didn't care. Noah left the Closed sign facing the street and went upstairs. He found Alyssa in the kitchen, leafing through a catalog of Halloween costumes.

When she looked up at him, he wasn't sure how to define her expression. Boredom? Uncertainty? And then it hit him: resignation.

“I know, I know. It isn't safe to go trick-or-treating, but could I still get a costume? Please? So I could wear it to the Day of the Worlds parade at school?”

“Day of the what?”

“Worlds,” she repeated. “I heard the teachers talking in the hall. Their bosses said it can't be a costume parade or a Halloween party because it wouldn't be fair to the kids who don't believe stuff like that.” She shrugged and went back to looking at the Snow White outfit. “So it's called World Day so the kids who aren't allowed to do those kind of things can march around with us.”

Halloween had been one of Noah's favorite days when he was a boy. Pulling crazy outfits together from clothes in the rag bag and his grandmother's attic had been almost as much fun as yelling “Trick or treat!” at every neighbor's door. He felt a little sorry for Alyssa, who would never experience any of that. Changing the name to World Day made sense because the world was an entirely different place now. Still, the day just wasn't as much fun anymore.

“I think you'll look real pretty as Snow White,” he said, looking at the costume she'd pointed out.

She hopped down from her chair and put the catalog on his desk. “You should order it tonight, so it gets here in plenty of time.” Then she headed for the living room.

“I think you must have left your manners at school.” She looked a little puzzled until he said, “Don't I get a please or thank you?”

“Please and thank you for ordering the costume tonight. Can I watch some TV now?”

Her attitude was disappointing, but he wasn't in a mood to lecture her. “Sorry, kiddo,” he said instead. “No TV. You were supposed to clean your room, and you didn't.”

Her shoulders drooped in a full-body pout, and she trudged in that direction. “Fine. I'll do it now,” she snapped.

“Hey. Get back here, missy.”

She huffed and puffed, then stood before him and stared at the floor.

“Sulking is against Preston House rules. You know that. So what's with the big frown?”

“I don't want to clean my room. My friend Sheila doesn't have to clean her room. And neither does Molly or Emily.”

Noah stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, really. Who cleans their rooms?”

“Their mothers do it. Their mothers do
everything
.”

Translation: she didn't have a mother. And if he had anything to say about it, she'd never find out
why.
He could let his guilt dictate his decisions, let it goad him into giving in to her every whim—and guarantee she'd become a self-centered, spoiled brat.

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek, then gently turned her around. “Call me when your room looks shipshape.”

She was a good kid, and so far, hadn't learned how to hold a grudge. He always felt bad when he was forced to hold her feet to the fire. Tonight, after he tucked her in, he would get online and try to order the costume.

She deserved more, a whole lot more, but in their circumstances, Noah was limited as to what he could give her. Couldn't even let her go trick-or-treating, like other kids. It wasn't likely anyone would recognize her, but he couldn't take that chance.

So he'd come up with a next best thing. In years past, kids had come to Main Street from Annapolis, Baltimore City, even as far away as Frederick to take part in the annual trick-or-treat event. Alyssa enjoyed standing at the door of their shop, playing hostess as she dropped candy into tote bags and plastic pumpkins. She'd never complained, but he could tell that she would much rather
get
treats than give them, so he'd promised to give her a nickel for every one she shared, and encouraged her to contribute the money to the children's center at Johns Hopkins.

But in a few short years, she wouldn't even want to go trick-or-treating. How would he feel when that time came, and he had to admit she'd missed out on yet another childhood memory because of the lifestyle made necessary by his past mistakes?

“Somebody's at the back porch,” Alyssa said, breaking into his thoughts.

It surprised him to see Billie here already. “Come on in,” he said, opening the door.

She said a cursory thanks and headed straight for Alyssa.

“Found some cool scrunchies,” she said. “They're tiny, and perfect for braids.”

While they inspected the colorful blobs of material, Noah closed the door and stepped into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee and hoped it wasn't too soon after his stomach bug...and wondered how to put a stop to the growing affection between Billie and his daughter. His girl wanted a mom, and his neighbor seemed to fit the bill. But according to Troy, she had emotional baggage, and Noah couldn't take the chance that her issues might spill on to Alyssa.

He heard his daughter say, “Are you here to fix the computer?”

Noah carried his mug into the living room as Billie asked, “What's wrong with it?”

“I can't watch my movies on it anymore.”

“Yes, you can,” he said, “if you know the password.” He looked at Billie. “Lots of weird stuff out there. I don't want her stumbling into any of it, accidently.”

Alyssa started to protest, until Billie said, “That's a great idea. It only takes a few seconds for your dad to type in the code.”

He raised his mug, more to thank her for backing him up than to invite her to join him.

“I'd love some,” she said. And while he went and poured her a cup, she asked, “So what's up with your website?”

“I'm having trouble accessing the comments page.”

“Well, we have to do something about that,” she said, heading back to the living room. “Who knows how many potential customers might have asked for your advice!”

Billie sat in his big desk chair, which made her look even smaller than her five-foot-two-inch height. “Pull up a chair,” she told him, “and let's see if we can solve this little mystery.”

Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and as pages popped up on the screen, she slid the mouse around on its pad. A moment later, his website's comments page appeared.

“I don't get it. I goofed around with it for half an hour last night, and it wouldn't open for me.”

“Maybe that's the problem. Computers resent being goofed around with.”

Billie stood and gestured for him to take her place in the chair, then knelt beside the desk. She was a good teacher, and patiently walked him through the steps, then made him repeat them without her help. “By Jove,” he said when the third try produced the right results, “I think I've got it.”

Alyssa joined them and put her catalog on his desk. “Since you know how to use the internet now, can we order my costume?”

His satisfaction disappeared, and in its place, doubt. But Billie wasn't having it. With that same patient, gentle voice, she taught him how to find the company's website, fill in the form and place the order. Within seconds, his email alert pinged, confirming that it had gone through.

“Well, cupcake, looks like your costume will arrive...” he read the message aloud “‘...in five working days.'”

“Yay! Thanks, Billie!”

“Don't thank me,” she said. “Your dad is the one paying for the costume!”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He didn't know which hurt more, her lack of enthusiasm or the fact that she'd called him Dad instead of Daddy.

“I wish I could go from house to house,” Alyssa said, “like all the other kids. So everybody could see my pretty costume.”

“They'll see it,” he told her, “when they trick-or-treat here at the shop.”

Billie's eyebrows disappeared under her bangs and her eyes widened. For a moment he wished he could read minds, because he'd love to know what was going on in that quick-witted head of hers.

“How about you go put your new scrunchies where they belong?” she said to Alyssa.

Instantly, his daughter agreed.

When she was out of earshot, Billie said, “I'm guessing she stays here, handing out candy, because you can't be in two places at one time.”

She hadn't phrased it as a question, and yet Noah felt obliged to explain. “Yeah. That pretty much covers it.”

“That's a shame. Some of my best childhood memories center around trick-or-treating with my brothers and a big pack of neighborhood kids.”

“Yeah,” he said again, “same here. Maybe you could take her.”

He couldn't believe he'd said the words out loud. Evidently, the suggestion surprised Billie, too.

“Me?”

“You're going to think I'm a greedy, ungrateful pig,” he said, “asking another favor of you.”

“Another favor?”

“You took her to rehearsal, remember? And again, thanks for the chicken soup, by the way. It really hit the spot. Might even have been what helped me turn the corner.”

“Oh. That. No big deal. I was happy to do it.”

He didn't need mind-reading talents to know she meant every word, and her sincerity stirred something in his heart. Something he hadn't experienced in a long, long time.

“She's only gone door-to-door once,” he said, mostly to distract himself from the feeling, “but she was just two at the time and doesn't remember it. Jillian dressed her up like a little lamb.”

“Aw, I'll bet she looked adorable.”

She had. Not long ago, the image would have really hurt. Circumstance had put him in the peculiar position of giving Alyssa a great memory...and he wouldn't be there to share it if Billie took her trick-or-treating. Noah honestly didn't know which hurt more.

Alyssa joined them as Billie said, “What if I mind the shop while you take her?”

“Take me where?”

Billie understood, really understood. Did she realize that with her thoughtful offer, she'd made it tougher to stay away from her?

“Take you trick-or-treating,” Billie said.

“But...but who will give the children their candy?”

“I will,” she answered.

Alyssa looked at Noah. “Really?”

“Really.”

He'd seen that look before. Any second now, she'd launch herself into Billie's arms to demonstrate her gratitude. Having been on the receiving end of an exuberant Alyssa hug, he knew it could knock a woman Billie's size on her keester. Bending at the waist, he whispered, “Easy does it, kiddo. She's not a whole lot bigger than you are.”

Alyssa ratcheted back her excitement a notch and wrapped Billie in a gentle hug. “This will be my very very first ever going trick-or-treating.” She squeezed Billie a little tighter. “Thank you,” she said. “I love you!”

Billie looked over Alyssa's head and straight into Noah's eyes. If he didn't know better, he'd think she might burst into tears—happy tears, as Alyssa liked to say. Billie's eyes glittered, reminding him of those sweet, warm moments beside the campfire. Alyssa wanted a mom, and he wanted that for her, too. If things were different, if
he
was different—