Celia's Puppies (14 page)

“
See,” Aden
said.

The woman glared Aden into silence.

“
Ma’am, what are the
requirements?” Jacob asked.

“
We require Mr. Norsen’s
sobriety. We require that the children remain in therapy. We
require that their father maintain a stable residence, school and
social life,” the woman said.

“
What documentation will
be required?” Blane asked.

“
Random drug testing and
regular reports from the therapist,” the investigator
said.

“
Oh,” Aden stammered. “Oh.
Well that’s…”

“
Outside of the drug
testing, you are saying he must keep everything the same as it is
right now. Is that correct?” Jacob asked.

“
Yes Mr. Marlowe, that’s
correct.” Smiling, the woman nodded. “Is he always like
this?”

“
Just as far as his kids
are concerned,” Jacob replied.

“
May I have a copy of the
report?” Blane asked. “Would you mind helping me find the forms
Aden will need...”

“
Of course, if you will
come with me...”

The woman stood. She held her hand out to
Aden. Aden looked at her hand then, jumping to his feet, he
impulsively hugged her. The woman laughed.

“
Thanks,” Aden
said.

“
The man you should thank
is Detective O’Malley down at DPD. He’s did most of the criminal
investigation on you. Usually we wait for months for these things,
but he completed it in less than a week. He recommended not
pursuing a case against you. That’s was your last hold up for sole
custody.”

“
Well, thank you for all
your work,” Aden said.

“
You’re welcome. You need
to speak with an attorney. We’ll be happy to provide our reports to
assist you.”

“
Thank you. I... Thanks,”
Aden said.

~~~~~~~~

Thursday afternoon

“
Hi Molly,” Sam said.
Stepping aside, he let the young woman into the Castle. “Jacob’s
not here. He, Aden and Blane went to Social Services.”

“
Shit,” Molly said.
Tugging on her curly brown hair, she bit her lip.
“Crap.”

“
I’m sure you can get him
on his Blackberry. Do you have his number?” Sam asked.

“
I’m his assistant, Mr.
Lipson. I mean for his home rehab business. I mean, I’m really an
accountant, well bookkeeper, but I also help him with customers and
other stuff... And… I mean, I know he’s the President of Lipson
Construction but...”

Nodding, Sam waited for the flood of words
to end.

“
I mean I saw him on
television last night. Well, that’s part of the problem. And I
tried his phone and even texted him. And, I mean, I know he’s super
busy and when he doesn’t answer his text he’s usually asleep or
sick or unable to answer or... I don’t know. It’s only been a week
or so since he got injured but it seems like forever. And… Why are
you home, Mr. Lipson?”

Sam continued nodding for a minute until he
realized she had asked him a question.

“
We’ve had an unusual
day.”

“
Oh,” Molly said. “How did
the interview go? Mike and Val right?”

“
It was painful for
everyone who loves them. Did you watch it on
television?”

“
Uh huh,” Molly said. “I
was surprised because she’s never done a live show or not in a long
time or maybe never, I haven’t checked. She said the story was too
compelling to hold onto, even for a week. Was it compelling to you?
I was compelled. I cried a couple of times. Gosh that Wes is a real
jerk. I hope...”

“
Molly,” Sam said. “I was
getting a change of clothing to go out to a site. You were looking
for Jake?”

“
Oh right.” Molly blushed.
“Sorry. I don’t know what to do, Mr. Lipson.”

“
Maybe I can help.” Sam
led Molly into the main Castle living room.

“
Wow, it’s really fixed
up. Is this for the party?” Molly asked.

“
Yep. You and Pete are
coming, right?”

Molly nodded. She bit her lip again and
pulled at her hair.

“
Molly?”

“
Just before Jake got
hurt, like hours before, he pulled some windows from a house we are
almost done with. I mean, the owners changed their minds and added
the windows, so it’s really their fault. They’ve been really nice.
The owners, I mean. They haven’t pressed at all but they want to
move in. I mean, the house is really done but there are these
gaping holes where the windows were. I asked the guy who does some
of our extra carpentry work. He said he could help but Jake does it
differently than everyone else. Well the owners? They want Jake.
Period. I mean...”

“
I can put windows in,
Molly,” Sam said.

“
Oh, that’s sweet of you,
Mr. Lipson, but Jake puts them in a special way. He puts them in so
you can’t...”

“
See the nails or seams.
Sure.”

“
How did you know
that?”

“
Where do you think Jake
learned it? It’s been a while but I bet with a little help, I could
do it,” Sam said. “I’m supposed to help Jake starting next
year.”

“
When you retire?” Molly
asked.

“
Yes.”

“
Why didn’t Jake tell me
that?” Molly bit her lip.

“
Because he doesn’t
believe I’ll stop working at Lipson,” Sam said. “You know what
Molly? I’d love to work on some windows. It’s exactly what I need
right now.”

“
There’s a piece that is
rotten. Can you…?”

“
Of course,” Sam said.
“Where are the windows?”

“
At the workshop. I picked
them up earlier this week. I mean, I know it’s stupid but I kept
hoping Jake would... He’s really sick still.”

“
He’s mending,” Sam said.
“What’s the deadline?”

“
Well, the
owners decided to paint. Colors. But they need a color consultant.
We’ve used a woman who’s really good, I don’t know her name. She
works at Belcaro Paints.
Has
an Irish last name I never remember
. She’s fast too. But, she’s not available for a while. Or
at least that’s what Belcaro said. They have a couple people but
she’s really good so I want to wait for her. The
owners...”

“
I have someone who might
help.” Sam smiled. “You know Jill, right? I bet she’s your Belcaro
expert.”

“
Wow, Jill. That’s right.
Her last name was McGuinsey. I always forget that. Great. I can
have painters through in a day. Oh. Gosh, that’s just
great.”

“
When do you need the
windows?”

“
Tonight? No, if we paint
then... How about by Sunday? The owners could move in next week
after the painters finish.”

Sam nodded. “I’ll take a look at them
tonight and let you know if there are any complications.”

“
Thanks Mr. Lipson.” Molly
beamed at Sam. “See you tomorrow night?”

“
I’ll look for you,” Sam
said then walked her to the door.

Molly smiled, waved, and then went across
the lawn and into the growing crowd.

“
We were right,” Delphie
said. She had watched the entire interaction from the kitchen
entrance. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“
When you first brought it
up, I thought it was crazy. I can’t go back to carpentry! I’m an
underground man.”

“
I remember,” she
said.

“
But you’re right,
Delphie. I need movement, something to look forward to other than
fishing and lying around.”

“
You’ve never been that
man,” Delphie said.

“
What’s Jacob going to
say?”

“
I’m sure he already
knows. Don’t worry about Jake.”

“
He was so angry when I
went to see him in Maine. Furious. And I can’t blame him. He’s not
even thirty yet. I don’t...”

“
Don’t worry,” Delphie
said. “Do you need to get to a site right away?”

“
No.”

“
Would you like to help me
with my beehives? I want to do a split so we have a few extra hives
going into winter. I need help lifting a few boxes. Mike usually
helps me but he’s in Chicago.”

Sam beamed. He hadn’t realized how worried
he’d been about his future. As relatively young man, what was he
going to do with himself when he stepped away from Lipson
Construction? The worry ate at his peace of mind. He hadn’t slept
well.

Hearing Delphie talk about beehives, and the
joy of carpentry, he saw his life continuing. Yes, bees, his
hammer, a few projects and fishing and love and...

“
Come on, old man,”
Delphie laughed. “Help me then get on your way.”

“
Yes, ma’am.”

~~~~~~~~

Thursday evening — 8 P.M.

Blushing, Jill twirled her glass of Merlot
then looked up at Jacob. He had arranged their first real date for
them. Everything was perfect. He even picked out her outfit from
her new Claire Martin’s clothing then presented her with matching
Louboutin heels. In her size! She stretched out her toes in the
shoes. They didn’t even hurt too much.

Sitting at a small table in Twelve
Restaurant, she felt like a princess in a story book.

“
Say something,” Jacob
said.

“
I’m not sure what to
say,” Jill said. “I’ve never… any of this. I don’t even know what
to order.”

“
I ordered for us when I
made the reservation,” Jacob said. “They serve an amazing lobster
here. I haven’t had anything like it since leaving
Maine.”

“
I’ve never had lobster.”
Jill smiled.

“
You look good enough to
eat,” he said.

Jill’s blush deepened. She leaned back for
the waiter to set their salads in front of them. When she leaned
forward, Jacob took her hand.

“
You said you wanted to
talk about the fall,” he said.

“
I’ve decided what I want
to do this fall,” Jill said. “I mean, if it’s okay with you and
...”

Jacob winked at her. Jill often asked
Jacob’s permission for what she wanted to do. He didn’t like it,
but couldn’t seem to convince her otherwise. She nodded.. Clenching
her teeth, she gathered her courage.

“
I’d like to go to college
in the fall. Full time.” She took a drink of her wine for courage.
“And I want to work at Pete’s a couple nights.”

She nodded. Jacob waited for her to
finish.

“
I know I have the money
from the diamonds and the modeling thing, but I really loved
working at Pete’s.”

Jacob opened his mouth to say something.

“
Pete’s is like a family
to me. I’ll need help with Katy.”

“
Ok, that’s easy. We can
plan around it,” Jacob said.

“
You’re all right with
it?”

“
Of course,” he said. “I
think it’s a great idea. I bet you’ll love going to college. I
don’t know if you can get in this late but we can sort that
out.”

“
I checked,” Jill said. “I
can take classes at Metro or the community college and transfer
when I get into UC Denver. What about Pete’s?”

“
If you want to work
there, you want to work there.” Jacob shrugged. “Katy and I will
survive.”

“
She can stay with Megan,”
Jill said. “I need help with school and...”

“
If I’m going to be Katy’s
father, then I can take care of her a few nights on my
own.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“
We agreed that I’m
adopting Katy, right?” Jacob asked.

“
We signed the papers and
submitted them to the courts,” Jill said. “My lawyer said it would
be six months until we were sure.”

“
Fathers take care of
their children sometimes. Look at Aden, he has his kids all the
time. That’s what fathers do.”

“
Oh.” Jill blushed again.
“Really?”

“
My Dad used to take us
all day Sunday. It gave Mom a break and gave us some time to be
together. It was fun. He still takes care of Briana and
Becky.”

“
Oh.”

“
You’re Dad didn’t
...”

“
I don’t really remember.
I don’t think so. Tim takes care of their kids. He said he would
take care of them if Meg went to college. I’ve been trying to talk
Megan into going to school with me. I think she might. I just… I
mean...”

“
Yes?”

Jill almost said ‘Trevor didn’t ever take
are of Katy’. She promised herself she wasn’t going to talk about
him anymore.

“
That would be great,”
Jill said.

“
So we’ll work it out
together?”

“
Right,” Jill said.
“Together. Right.”

Hoping Jacob would forget the other thing
she was supposed to tell him about, the button, she focused her
attention on her salad.

“
You were going to tell me
about the button,” he said.

“
I...”

Her cell phone rang. Pulling the phone from
her bag, she saw that it was Megan.

“
I’m sorry. I have to
answer,” she said. “It’s Meg. Katy’s...”