Page 4 of Second Chance Baby
Truth was, I was sick of my transient life. I longed to spend time growing and tending real roots in the place I’d grown up. All the wanderlust I’d had after high school had finally burned itself out.
And my little girl was growing older. I didn’t want my daughter’s predominant memories from her teen years to be seeing her old man wave goodbye.
She was at a vital age. I mean, yeah, every age was vital, but some were even more so than others. The teen years were so fundamental. Not saying that I’d know what to do every step of the way—I sure hadn’t so far—but at least I’d be around more than I’d been available the last few years.
A quick glance at the time had me cursing. I needed to get to the hotel. But maybe I could do a quick ride past the Gideons place, just to get an idea what was exciting my girl so much.
Granted, Macy Gideon was like the biggest Halloween freak ever. She spared no expense when it came to tricking out her house as well as her café Brewed Awakening. Macy’s husband, John, was a high in-demand contractor for Crescent Cove and the surrounding towns. This time of year, he spent every minute building the biggest, best holiday displays known to man to please his wife and teen daughter. I was pretty sure his toddler son was already being indoctrinated to the Halloween craze too.
God, now that I thought about it, he was well into elementary school age now. Time was going far too fast to suit me.
Yet another reason I wanted to spend more time in the Cove. I was missing everything lately and I didn’t want to look back with regrets that life had passed me by.
On impulse, I swung my truck to the curb as soon as I spotted the giant glowing purple spider crawling down a huge web that extended over much of the Gideons’ front lawn. Theirtidy,well-trimmed front lawn, I noted a little sourly. The brightly colored leaves had already been raked into neat piles that would likely be tucked away in Halloween leaf bags for collection in the next few days.
Rakingmyginormous, very overgrown front lawn would likely take me the better part of a day. Maybe just an afternoon if I conned my daughter into helping for a sweet allowance bonus.
I’d no sooner climbed out of my truck that someone yelled across the lawn. “Hey, Masterson, you lost?”
I grinned at John’s familiar deep voice. “Yeah, saw that spider and got confused where I was.”
“Gotta keep the wife happy, you know?” He met me on the walk, and we shared a quick man hug. I’d known John forever, and he was probably as close to a best friend as I had outside the circle of my family.
“Yeah, I do. In theory, anyway. How the hell are you, man?” I moved back and grinned at him, noting that his dark hair had a bit more salt in it these days. “Being run ragged by those two cute kids of yours?”
“Three now.”
I scratched the back of my neck. “How the hell long have I been gone?”
He laughed. “Not that long, I don’t think, but it’s not always easy to stay up on current baby counts in the Cove. Hang on. I’ve got a picture.” He dug out his wallet and flashed a picture of a smiling baby girl with her tiny dark ponytail standing straight up and wrapped in a Halloween bow.
“Aww, good job, dad. She’s beautiful. You’re a lucky man. Working on a human six-pack.” I clapped him on the back again. “Damn, I gotta say again—how the hell long have I been gone?”
“Don’t sweat it. Sidney’s barely nine months. Thanks. Think we’ll keep her. Pretty sure we’re probably done now, unless Mace gets another wild hair.” He laughed and tucked away the photo in his well-worn leather wallet. “I have no clue the last time I saw you. Feels like it’s been years, Mr. Big Shot Model.”
“Yeah, I’m sticking around for a few months at least. Feel like shit is getting away from me lately. Hell, if I take on a few more jobs, your oldest kid will probably be in college by the time I get back.”
Visibly, John shuddered. “Not yet, thank God, though the years are passing far faster than I’d prefer. I may just lock Dani in the basement now and save myself the trouble.”
“Room for one more in that basement?” I asked affably as we crossed the lawn so I could get a better look at that gigantic spider and its web. “My girl’s gonna be eleven soon.”
“No way. Really?”
“Same thing I keep asking myself. Doesn’t seem possible.” I cocked my head to eye the currently crawling spider from up close. Its legs were truly amazing, moving in a way that almost seemed real. I ducked down to crawl under the web to get a better look. “Damn, man, you built this web, didn’t you?”
John tucked his fists under his armpits as a faint flush darkened his cheeks. “How could you tell?”
“Because it’s so fucking awesome. Man, can I pay you to build one for my yard too? Maybe change up the spider some, make it glow in the dark or something so my girl doesn’t accuse me of copying you?”
“Though you actually are?” His tone held an innocent note that fooled no one.
“Okay, fine, make it different. I got an idea. Maybe create a monster playpen or some shit and I can find some creatures to put inside?”
His raised eyebrow made me wonder if I’d officially jumped the shark. “You want me to be sleeping on the couch for the entire holiday season if I give you better shit than we have here?”
I had to laugh as I crawled out from under the web and straightened to my full height. “I had to shoot my shot.”
“Where were you with these ideas earlier? Mace would be thrilled if I turned into some sort of Halloween decorating maniac. As long as our house was still the best, of course.”