Holding On (18 page)

“Sure.” Marienne grabbed the diaper bag and scooted it closer to herself to make room for him to sit.

“Does Ella like ballet?” He pointed to the embroidered ballet slippers on her bag.

“She does. She took lessons where we used to live, but I haven’t found her a new dance studio yet. I’ve been too busy unpacking.”

“Where are you from?” He shifted on the bench so he was facing Marienne.

“New Jersey.”

“What brings you to Hanover?”

“My husband took a job at Dartmouth. In the English Department. He’s a professor.”

“Good school.” Bob nodded. “And what about you? Do you work?”

“I did, but just freelance since the kids were born. I’m a graphic designer.”

“Really? Well I know some people in the area that might be interested in a freelancer if you’re looking.” Bob studied her as she spoke.

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind once things settle down. What about you? What do you do?”

“I’m a photographer.”

So that’s why he watches everything so intently
. She felt more relaxed, though his pale eyes still unnerved her a little. He was very attractive, in an aging surfer kind of way.

“I used to work internationally but now that I’ve got Katie I do mostly portrait work and weddings. You may have seen the sign.” He pointed down the tree-lined street. “The blue Victorian, on the corner. Picture Perfect. That’s my house—the studio is in the back.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve seen that sign. It’s a beautiful house.”

“Thanks, I grew up in that house. Moved back with Katie just last year.”

Katie and Ella ran over, out of breath from swinging.

Ella swiped the hair out of her face with her hands. “Mommy, can we have a snack?”

“Sure, if Katie’s dad says it’s okay….” Marienne turned to Bob.

Katie pressed her hands on Bob’s knee, giving him a puppy-eyed look. “Daddy, can I? Please?”

“I’ve got plenty.” Marienne pulled a big Ziploc from the diaper bag.

“That would be great, thanks. I never remember to bring snacks. We usually just walk home.”

“Okay, girls, let’s clean hands first.” She squirted hand sanitizer onto their palms and waited while they rubbed them dry.

They each took granola bars and sat down on the next bench, chattering.

Marienne offered the bag of snacks to Bob. He smiled, revealing super-white teeth and pulled out a bag of goldfish crackers. “I don’t know what it is about these crackers. They make me think of going to my grandmother’s lake house. My brother and I practically lived on them every summer.”

Drew started crying. She knew he probably wanted to nurse, but she wasn’t about to whip out a boob in front of Bob, so she settled him on her lap and handed him a sippy cup. He sucked hungrily.

“How old?” Bob asked.

“Six months.” Marienne kissed Drew’s head.

“Moving with a six month old must have been a challenge.”

Marienne nodded. “It’s good now, though.”

“Well, if Ella’s looking for a dance class you should try the one Katie’s in. She loves it. And the two of them seem to be thick as thieves.”

Marienne looked over and the girls were still talking, their heads close together. She was glad Ella had made a friend so quickly. “What’s the name of the dance Studio?”

“Here.” Bob leaned forward and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. His dirty blond hair was getting tousled by the wind, giving him even more of a surfer look. He handed Marienne a bright pink card. “Natalia’s. It’s on Main Street, right past the bank. Katie takes the eleven am class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They should be able to squeeze Ella in, there aren’t too many in that group.”

“Thank you. I’ll call this afternoon. She’ll be so excited.”

“Well, it was nice to meet you. And you too, Drew.” He reached out and chucked Drew under the chin. “I’ve got appointments to take senior pictures, so I need to head home.”

“Thanks for the card.” She stuck it in the outside pocket of the diaper bag.

“Maybe we’ll see you on Thursday at class. Come on Katie. Time to go.”

Marienne watched as Katie took Bob’s hand and they headed down the street to their house.

“I like Katie,” Ella said. “She’s nice.”

“Would you like to take ballet classes with her?”

Ella nodded, grinning.

“Okay, let’s go home and see what I can arrange.”

Marienne pulled into the driveway and was surprised to see Daniel’s car. It was only a few minutes past five in the afternoon. He was reaching up, hanging shelves in the garage.

Ella scrambled out of the car and ran toward him. “Daddy! I made a friend at the park.”

The excitement in Ella’s voice made Marienne smile. She took Drew out of his car seat and grabbed the diaper bag and one grocery bag. Daniel came over and took the bag from her shoulder. “Are there more groceries in the back?” He kissed her, then Drew.

“You’re home early.”

Daniel grinned. “The joys of the ten minute commute.” He hoisted the remaining bags out of the car and knocked the door closed with his leg.

“Mommy, call the dancing place.” Ella tugged on her hand, pulling her toward the house.

“Oh, right. Let’s get the food into the house. I’ll call them while I put the groceries away.”

Ella ran inside, and they followed.

Daniel held the door open with his shoulder so Marienne and Drew could pass. “What dancing place?” he asked.

“The little girl she met at the park takes ballet. I’m going to call and see if they have room in the class for Ella.”

“Sounds perfect,” Daniel said. “Is it local?”

“Right in town. Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

“That would a nice break for her. And you. Might be a way for you to meet some local Mums.” He placed the milk in the fridge while Marienne looked for the business card so she could call the studio.

“Let me call them right now—see if anyone is still there.” She picked up the phone and dialed.

****

Daniel put away the rest of the groceries, watching Marienne as she talked on the phone. She looked so much calmer than she had in the past few weeks. Having the house unpacked and being able to do things like take the kids to the park seemed to have helped her to feel more settled.

She hung up the phone and grabbed a pot out of the cabinet. “She’s all set. She can start this Thursday.” She turned on the sink and let the pot start filling with water.

“Great. So this girl will be in her class? What’s her name?”

“Katie. She’s blonde, very cute.”

Daniel smiled. “Maybe you can get to know her mum while you wait for them.”

Marienne’s brow furrowed. “Maybe. I’m not sure who takes her to dance class. She was at the park with her dad today. He’s the one who gave me the information about the dance class.”

“Oh,” Daniel said.
Okay
. “What was he like?”

“Blond, very cute.” Marienne laughed as she looked up at him, her eyes playful.

“Funny.”

“Actually, no.” She leaned past him to grab the lettuce off the counter. “He wasn’t funny at all.”

“Oh, well that’s a relief.” Daniel pulled her into his arms. “I don’t know that I’d want my wife laughing in the park with another man.” He kissed her, feeling her rest the head of lettuce against his shoulder as she relaxed in his arms. “What do you say we try to get the kids to bed early tonight?” He rocked against her, not wanting to let her go.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She pressed against him. He wished he could carry her upstairs.

Drew started to whimper. “Hold that thought.” Daniel kissed her again then went to pick up Drew. “What’s wrong, little man, you not getting enough attention?”

“Actually, I bet he needs to be changed. We were out for quite a while.”

“I’m on it,” Daniel said.

He carried Drew upstairs. It was nice to be home before dinner, while it was still light out. He was glad for the extra time with the kids and looking forward to more time with Marienne. Their new house was starting to feel like home.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Daniel opened the garage door and was surprised to find it empty.
Where would Marienne be at this time of day?

The moment he opened his car door he caught the rich aroma of sautéing garlic.
She’s home.
He sighed with relief as his stomach rumbled.

He walked into the house just in time to see one of Drew’s plastic blocks launch across the kitchen. He put down his bag and bent to grab the block. Wet and slightly sticky, it had the familiar recently teethed on feel.

Marienne turned away from the stove and smiled. “How was your day?”

She looked so pretty, cheeks flushed from the heat of the stove, hair pulled into a haphazard ponytail, a long-sleeved t-shirt clinging to her curves. He walked straight toward her. She tilted her head up, eyes twinkling. Her lips were sweet and warm against his. “Better now. Hey, where’s your car? “

“At the shop.” Her mouth twisted into a scowl.

“What happened?” He walked toward the high chair and kissed Drew’s downy head. His natural freshly baked muffin scent mixed with smell of the applesauce that glazed his cheeks. He gurgled happily and tossed another block on the floor.

“I took Ella to dance class and when we went to leave it wouldn’t start. The guy was supposed to call me and tell me what’s wrong with it, but I haven’t heard from him yet.” She slid a bowlful of sliced mushrooms into the sauté pan, and they hissed.

“What guy?” He picked up the second block and started rinsing them both in the sink.

“The guy from the car place I had it towed to—over on Elm Street.”

“Why didn’t you call me? How did you get home?”

“Bob drove us.”

Daniel turned off the water and reached for a paper towel. “Who’s Bob?” He started to dry the blocks.

“Bob is Katie’s father. Remember the little girl Ella was talking about last week? From dance class?”

“Oh, yes.”

“He saw us in the parking lot and came right over.”

Oh he did, did he?
“Well, that was…nice of him.”

“He’s very nice. And he seems to know everyone in town. He called the gas station and had a tow truck there within ten minutes. He and Katie live in that big Victorian house over by the elementary school. It’s the house he grew up in.” She stirred the mushrooms and turned the heat on beneath a second frying pan.

He placed the blocks back on Drew’s tray. “No wife?” Daniel’s eyebrows rose.

“Not anymore. She walked out on them a few years ago. He’s a photographer, so he used to travel all the time. He hired a nanny and took Katie with him on photo shoots for a while, but it got too crazy and he wanted someplace stable to raise her, so he moved back here a year ago. His mom was looking to move into an adult community, so he just bought the house from her.”

She sure seems to know a lot about Bob.
“You got all this from a ten minute wait for a tow truck?”

“Well, no. By the time the tow truck came and I paid him, the girls were starving so we stopped at a coffee shop for lunch.”

Daniel’s stomach twisted from a mixture of hunger and tension.

“Ella and Katie really get along well. I’m so glad she’s already made a good friend.”

“Me too.”

“Would you mind if I invite them for dinner? To thank Bob for today? I couldn’t even pay for lunch. I had no cash on me, and the coffee shop doesn’t take anything else. I’ll have to remember that.” She carefully laid chicken cutlets in the frying pan. They sputtered, flecks of oil flying in every direction. She jerked away from the spitting.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She moved a cutlet over with the edge of a spatula, making room for the last one. “So can I ask them? About dinner?”

“Sure,” Daniel said.

Ella skipped into the kitchen holding a stuffed bear. “Hi Daddy.” Ella attached herself to his leg. “Did you have a good day at work?”
Just like her mum.

He stroked her hair. “I did. How was your day?”

“Our car broke, but we got to have scrambled eggs at a restaurant.”

Daniel smiled. Her version of the day sounded much less threatening.

Marienne flipped the cutlets, and they sizzled loudly. Daniel drew Ella away from the stove so she wouldn’t get spattered.

“When’s dinner?” Ella asked. “I’m hungry.”

“In about five minutes. Can you help Daddy set the table?”

Ella nodded and placed her bear on one of the kitchen chairs. Daniel reached into the cupboard for plates and put them on the counter. Ella placed them on the table one by one and started folding napkins.

Marienne reached into the big kitchen drawer and handed Daniel three forks and two knives. “Ella would you like it if Katie and her dad come for dinner one night?”

“Yes.” Ella bounced up and down.