Baby Kisses (15 page)

"Hi, Tooty."

"How are things in New York?"

"I called to let you know I'll be gone at least another week."

She didn't say anything.

He asked, "Are you still there?"

"Yes. Well, whenever you decide to return is fine."

There was a pause, and then, "Are the boys near? I'd like to talk to them."

"I'm sorry, they're in their sandbox. Can you call back in an hour?"

"Sure. Umm, Tooty, I need to warn you that a rag paper has learned about our marriage and printed some smut. Other papers may pick up on the story, too."

Tooty sat straight up. "What do you mean?"

"One of those papers that invade the lives of high profile people has decided to focus on us. I just want to prepare you. In fact, I'd really like for you and the boys to stay with Sage and Sarah until I get back. I've already called them and Sarah's going to call you about it."

"I'm not leaving my home. That's crazy."

"I knew you'd say that. Listen, if anyone shows up asking questions or taking pictures, call 911." There was a short pause. "I've had a lot of loose ends to tie up, but I want you to know I'll be back as soon as I can. Please consider staying with Sage and Sarah until I return."

After he hung up, Tooty called the boys in, cleaned them up, and headed for the Shop Til You Drop Truck Stop. If anyone carried the rag magazines, they would. Hurrying her boys out of the truck, she rushed inside and found the rack just inside the front door. The top paper had a picture of a sophisticated Miles and beside him a frumpy, poorly dressed girl. The head belonged to her, but the body did not. The caption said
, "Famous Author, Maxwell Henry, Tricked into Marriage by Country Bumpkin."
Her eyes widened and she looked at Harris to see his eyes had widened also. He opened his mouth to say something and she clamped her hand over it. She whispered fiercely, "Don't say anything. We don't want anyone to know it's us." He nodded his understanding. Eli pointed at the picture and said, "Daddy, Mommy."

Tooty reached into her purse for her sunglasses, slipped them on, and took the paper to the counter to pay for it. Thankfully, the distracted clerk didn't seem to recognize her as being the bumpkin on the cover. Back in the nice pickup she'd purchased right after she'd received the trust money from Miles, she slipped Eli into his car seat and fastened Harris into his seatbelt. After pulling to the back of the parking lot amidst the eighteen wheelers, she jerked the paper open and read:

Maxwell Henry, author of the popular
Mac Righteous Series,
which was made into blockbuster movies, has finally tied the knot. He's been an eligible bachelor sought after by beautiful and famous women for years. For that reason, his marriage to Tooty Townsend, a country gal with two children, comes as a shocking surprise. Rumor has it that the children are Maxwell's. Seems the posh and sophisticated Mr. Henry has a secret life in the sticks of Colorado. Of course, the question on everyone's mind is whether this country bumpkin can keep the interest of the literary genius for longer than six months. Of course, maybe it's not her mind that's captivated him. Rumor has it she's barely out of her teens. Only time will tell.

Tooty slapped the paper shut seeing spots dance in front of her eyes.

"You okay, Mom?" asked Harris.

Inhaling a calming breath, she said, "I'm just fine, honey. Hey, why don't I get you boys some Happy Meals for lunch?"

"Yeth, Happy Meal!" Eli shouted.

"Yeah!" said Harris.

Later that afternoon while Eli slept and Harris played outside, Tooty called Julie and cried her heart out. "I
did
make him marry me, Julie. I…I just wanted us to be a family… Oh, God, I had no idea something like this could happen. I'm so stupid."

"You did
not
make him marry you. From what I've seen, he's not the kind of man you
make
do anything. He wouldn't have married you unless he wanted to. You've got to stop blaming yourself for everything. He participated in making Eli."

"No, he didn't! I forced myself on him," Tooty sobbed.

"Oh, piddle. He's a strong man, he could have resisted. Well, no matter. That man is crazy about you and everyone knows it but you."

A couple of days later, Tooty had to call 911 when a car pulled into her drive taking pictures. The intruder was gone before the police arrived, but the incident not only made her furious, it scared the daylights out of her. When Miles called and she told him about the incident, he said some choice words, and then, "That does it. I'm letting my agent know I'll finish whatever needs to be done by phone or email. I'll be home as soon as I can get a flight."

"Miles, I wouldn't have told you if I'd known it would mess up your schedule."

"Screw my schedule. I'll not have people messing with my family."

Tooty blinked at his words and an unexpected joy flickered in her heart. He'd said
my family
.

* * *

Miles parked his van and puffed air. The flight from New York to Denver, and then from Denver on the hopper to Cortez-Montezuma County Airport, had been long and exhausting. After retrieving his van from long term parking, he'd rushed home.
Home?
Was this his home now? Tooty stepped onto the front porch carrying Eli, and Harris ran down the steps toward the van. His heart thudded. When he lowered himself on the lift and touched ground, Harris lunged and hugged him. "I'm so happy you're home, Daddy."

A lump formed in Miles' throat as he lifted Harris onto his lap. "Me, too, son." He glanced toward Tooty sitting on the porch swing still holding a squirming Eli. When he rolled forward, she stepped off the porch and set his baby on the ground. Running toward him, Eli shouted, "Daddy! Daddy!" Miles couldn't swallow the lump that had gotten bigger. Eli reached him and threw his little arms around Miles legs. Miles lifted him onto his lap beside Harris and rolled toward Tooty. He wondered what her reaction to him would be. When she didn't say much beyond a casual greeting, he felt crushing disappointment.

* * *

Tooty lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Seeing Miles interaction with the boys confirmed the fact that he loved them dearly. If only he loved her half as much. His greeting had seemed cool and forced. She sighed and reached for Annabelle's Diary. Turning to the final page, she read for the hundredth time…

Tuesday, December 25, 1883

It has been years since I've written in my diary. I found it yesterday while I was looking for the present I'd special ordered for Eli and then hidden. Silly me, I'd forgotten where I'd put it. It was a new set of whittling knives, and when he opened them this morning, he was so pleased.

His present to me was a carving of our family. It's simply the most beautiful sculpture he's ever created. In the center is me and Eli and we're surrounded by our five children: Sam, Jake, Matt, Tom, and Jen. What surprised me most was that Eli did a full carving of all of us, not just half bodies that meld into the wood. He carved himself in a wheelchair and even showed that his legs are missing. Later, in bed, he told me that he'd seen my surprise. Then he said something that I will forever cherish and carry with me when I pass on to whatever lies beyond this life. He said, "I would do it all over again just to be with you and our children. I love you more than life, my sweet Annabelle."

I think I will never write another diary entry because this one is the crowning glory of my life.

Tooty could barely contain her excitement. Copies of her poetry book had arrived. Running back to the house from her mailbox at the entrance to her property, she asked Miles if he'd watch the boys while she made a trip to town. He looked up from his laptop. "Sure. What's up?"

"I just need to pick something up. I'll show you when I get back."

"You're looking pretty excited. I can't wait."

Tooty rushed to her truck. Over the past month, she and Miles had fallen into a routine. He seemed satisfied living in their humble home and she no longer tortured herself with "what ifs" and recriminations. They were both busy writing and sharing responsibilities for the boys. As soon as Harris and Eli were tucked in bed in the evenings, she'd say goodnight to Miles and work on her latest project in her room. She was writing a fictional love story based on Annabelle's diary. The more she wrote, the more the characters came alive in her mind, and she wondered if Miles felt the same way about his own characters. Often, she would sit on the porch visualizing Annabelle and Eli and their children laughing in her yard.

At the rural post office, she rushed to the counter and handed over her slip. The clerk did a double take. "Hey, I seen you on the cover of Tattle Tale Mag. You're married to that famous author. Wow. I want you to know I don't believe the crap they write, but it sure makes for entertaining reading. Me and my friends are bettin' your marriage will last more than six months. Hell, we're believin' it'll last fifty years cause somebody needs a happily-ever-after in this life. I sure ain't found mine."

Tooty gave the woman a half-hearted smile and tuned her babble out. Grabbing her box, she hastened back to her car. She just couldn't wait and searched her glove box for her pocket knife. Slicing through the wrapping, she held her breath and lifted one of the complementary copies of
Sweet Torment.
Gently flipping through the pages, she felt overcome with pride for her accomplishment. She'd wanted to tell Miles so many times, but intimidation had held her back. He was such an accomplished writer and she wondered what he'd think. Would he consider her poetry drivel and just say nice things to keep from hurting her feelings. That would be worse than him telling her his true thoughts.

Returning her attention to the book, she grinned. Unless someone did some digging, they'd never know that Tooty Townsend had written this collection.
Thank you Annabelle for my pen name, Anna Belle.

When she got home and carried the box into the living room, Miles had Eli on his lap tickling him and Harris was playing with his miniature race cars. Miles glanced up and his eyes rested on the box. "Okay, boys, time to chill. In fact, I think it's Eli's naptime."

"What's in the box, Mommy?" asked Harris.

"Nothing you need to know about right now." She took the books to her bedroom and then returned to hoist Eli into her arms, "Yep, its naptime. Come on, Harris, you can read to your brother; but if you start goofing off, I'm gonna separate you two. Understood?"

"Yes, Mom," said Harris.

"Yeth, Mommy," said Eli.

Tooty settled the boys in their bedroom and then returned to her own room to retrieve
Sweet Torment.
Her pulse pounded when she walked back to the living room.

Miles said, "Okay, Tooty, the mystery is driving me crazy."

Butterflies swarmed in her stomach. She handed the book to him. He accepted it, looked it over, and then said, "Anna Belle. Pretty name. Do you know her?"

"Ah, yes and no."

He waited for her to explain.

"I've been reading the diary of a woman named Annabelle who was born in the 1800s. I only know her through words."

"Did she write this book of poetry?"

Tooty inhaled slowly. "No…I did. I made her name my pen name."

Miles jerked his gaze from the book to Tooty. "You wrote this? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I-I don't know. I guess because you're so accomplished and-and I-I feel so…amateurish."