Linda Warren - Madison's Children

And clean air.

THE RIDE HOME WAS AGAIN in silence. Georgie woke up as he pulled into their driveway. The house was a block away from Walker’s General Store. He had no interest in running the store, but Nell had. So they worked out a compromise. They split the profits fifty-fifty and she drew a salary.

Walker had also inherited his father’s house and land. Nell lived in his grandfather’s house, which was next door. When he’d first brought the kids to High Cotton, Nell had helped him, but he could see now it had been a mistake. Her life was the store, and there wasn’t room for anything else. He would have to find other babysitting arrangements when he had to go on a call.

He lifted Georgie out of his car seat, and they went inside the white clapboard two-story house with the wraparound porch detailed with black gingerbread trim. The Walkers before him had taken very good care of the house, so it was in good shape. When he’d returned, he’d had central air and heat installed for the kids.

Since he was an only child, he’d often wondered what he was going to do with the house, land and store in High Cotton. He had no desire to live here. He’d been away too long. But life had a way of mocking his plans. At the ripe old age of thirty-six, this was the only place he wanted to raise his kids now.

He set Georgie on his feet in the big kitchen. “It’s about suppertime, what—”

Haley made a run for the downstairs bathroom and he could hear her throwing up. Dammit! He didn’t know how to help her. She’d started having problems when she was about six. The doctor thought she might have irritable bowel syndrome, but she didn’t. More tests were run and the diagnosis was a nervous stomach. She needed a stress-free environment and a healthy diet void of spicy and high-acidity foods. No matter what he and Trisha had tried, nothing completely cured Haley’s problem.

The divorce had triggered a major upset, and Walker could see his daughter wasting away before his eyes.

“Haley sick,” Georgie said, twisting his hands.

“Yeah.” Walker tousled his son’s hair. “She’ll be okay.” She had to be. “Daddy will be right back. Do you want to watch a movie?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How about Shrek?” he asked, making his way into the living room.

“No. Finding Nemo,” Georgie shouted from behind him.

Walker found the movie and slipped it into the DVD player and pushed buttons on the remote. Georgie grabbed his Curious George off the sofa and settled in front of the TV. Walker hurried to the bathroom.

Turning the knob, he saw that the door was unlocked. He tapped so as not to invade her privacy.

A muffled “Go away” came through the door.

“Haley, sweetheart, it’s Daddy.”

“Go away.”

He couldn’t do that. “I’m coming in.” He opened the door and glanced around. The bathroom was large and had an antique bathtub with claw feet. Everything in the room was antique from the pedestal sink to the pull-chain toilet. Haley was sitting by the toilet, her back to the wall, her forehead on her drawn-up knees.

Ignoring the horrible smell, he sank down by her. Honestly, he didn’t know what else to do.

“Are you okay?” He stared at his boots, searching for the right words.

“Just leave me alone,” she muttered against her knees.

“I’m your dad and I’m not leaving you alone—ever.”

“Oh, yeah.” She raised her head and his heart took a jolt at her pale face. “You leave us with Aunt Nell all the time.”

“I have a job, and I’m not leaving you alone here at the house.” They’d had this conversation before. It was the only thing Haley had opened up about.

“Why not?” Her watery eyes suddenly cleared. “I’m ten years old and I can take care of Georgie. If something goes wrong, we live in the middle of High Cotton and I could get help in no time.”

“So you think you’re responsible enough.”

“As much as Aunt Nell.”

He mulled this over and wanted to meet her halfway. “I’ll think about it.”

She placed her head on her knees again.

Several seconds went by. “We need to talk about today.”

She didn’t respond.

“I don’t know where your mother is.”

Her head shot up, her eyes filled with something he couldn’t describe. It was almost like fear. Was his daughter afraid of him?

“You do, too.”

“Haley, I don’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“I have no reason to lie.” He tried not to raise his voice. “You’re old enough to know your mother left of her own free will. I have sole custody of you and Georgie.”

“You made her leave.” The fire was back in her eyes. “You were gone all the time helping other people and you should have been home helping us.”

“Your mother and I had problems for a long time, and yes, a lot of it was because of my job. I can’t change that now, but I can be here for you and Georgie.” He paused and prayed for a break in her implacable armor. “Please give me a chance.”

“I want to see Mama,” she sobbed against her knees. “I have to see my mama.”

He tried to put his arm around her, but she jerked away. Oh, God, his heart stopped beating and he hurt for her. He felt her pain deep inside him—a place that was created the day he became a father.

The mass in his throat clogged his vocal cords. “Your mother…”

She lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. “I know she left us, and you know where she is. You just won’t tell me. I…I…” Sobs racked her thin body, and this time he pulled her into his arms and held her, searching for those magical words that would help them both. But they were elusive, and he hated that he was so bad at being a parent.

“Please, Haley. Give me a chance.” His words were hoarse, and he had to swallow a couple of times to get them out.

Before she could say anything, Georgie came running in and wiggled into his lap. “Oh, it stinks in here.” He looked up at Walker. “I’m hungry.” The odor didn’t seem to bother his appetite.

“Suppertime,” Walker said, and tried to act normal. “Haley, would you like chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich? You usually can hold that down.”

“I guess.” She straightened and moved as far away from him as she could. That hurt a little more.

“I want peanut butter and jelly.” Georgie gave his menu choice. “Grape jelly. I don’t like any other kind.” Walker had made the mistake of using strawberry one time and Georgie had never forgotten it.

“I know, son.” Walker stood with the boy in his arms. “And we can have ice cream afterward.”

“Yay!” Georgie clapped his hands. Haley was silent. She was silent all through dinner. She was silent as they washed the dishes. Instead of watching TV, she took a bath and went to bed.

Soon he tucked Georgie in, but Walker couldn’t sleep. His mind was in overdrive. His children’s well-being was at the front of his mind—always. All he could do was be here for them and maybe Haley wouldn’t try to run away again.

Not only was he worried about his kids, but Ginny was on his mind, too. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself, not to mention that he’d have no hope of his daughter ever forgiving him.

An hour later, he still wasn’t asleep. He got up, dressed and went into Georgie’s room and gathered him into his arms. He carried him to Haley and tucked him in beside her.

“Daddy,” she mumbled sleepily.

“I’m going to check on the Grubbs family. Take care of Georgie.” He handed her the portable phone. “Call my cell if there’s a problem.” She wanted responsibility, so he was going to give it to her—for a while.

“Oh.” Her voice sounded excited.