Invitation to Love (5 page)

Taryn
cupped his tiny face in her hands, kissed her favorite nephew, and sent him on
his way. “Thanks again, Nora,” she waved to them one last time.

“See
you tomorrow,” she replied as she tossed all the bags in the back seat and
waited for everyone to hop in. “Hope you find something.”

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Taryn
laid her head back against the oversized pillow of the couch and rubbed her
tired eyes. After a tuna fish sandwich and sweet tea for dinner, she had been
combing through the wants ads to prepare for the next day.

After taking note of the
ones that looked promising, she finally yielded to the need for sleep. The
clock on the entertainment center beamed 10 p.m. in red numbers. She tossed the
paper on the coffee table then stood to go take a shower before turning in. As
she delayed for a moment to stretch, the doorbell rang. She dropped her arms to
her sides, wondering who that could be at this time of night. The tall figure
was turned from her view when she peeked through the curtains. But, one look at
Gant’s Towing Service emblazoned across the back of his work jacket, announced clearly
who it was: Mac. She exhaled sharply, and with all the patience she could
summon, opened the door.

“Mac,”
there was no hiding that stiff tone in her voice as she unlocked the screen
door.

“Taryn,”
he replied just as coolly as he entered; His sun-worn face stuck in the usual
appearance of grouchy.

“Have
a seat,” she motioned toward the couch.

“No
thanks, I won’t be here that long.”

Relief
raced through her, assuaging her edgy nerves. (Thank goodness)

“I
just came by to get your permission for the girls to come and spend a few days
with me and Phyllis.”

Only
four words out of that entire sentence seared her brain:
Girls—spend—me—Phyllis. The scant relief she felt fled like a startled animal.
She should have known this was coming. Remi and Rachel are the only reasons he
bothers to come around, considering how much he despises even the sight of her.

“Well?”

That
barbed question pricked at her patience. She tried to think of something to say
that wouldn’t provoke and start a war she’s way too tired for.

She
took a deep breath, and, “Now’s not a good time, Mac. I’ve been so unorganized
since returning from Florida, that I haven’t been able to straighten my
schedule out, yet. Everything’s in such a turmoil.”

“All
the more reason to let them stay with us until you get it all straightened out.
Wouldn’t you say?”

“Uh,
you really caught me at a bad time. Can we discuss this later?”

He
thrust his hand through his thick, gray hair and exhaled crisply as his eyes roved
with distaste up and down her. “Why don’t we stop this dancing around and be
honest with one another. Phyllis and I know why you’re dead-set against Remi
and Rachel spending time with us. You’re not very good at hiding it. But, you
shouldn’t let how you and Collen felt for each other get in the way of our
relationship with them. You and Colleen weren’t happy; that’s old news. We
warned him against marrying you in the first place. What’s done is done. He’s
dead, and we’d like to see more of the girls. It’s what he would have wanted.”

She took
a moment to calm herself so as not react to those hurtful words about his son’s
“Big Mistake”. “I’m well aware of how much you disapproved of my marrying your
son. I’ve only heard you say it a million times, now. But, it doesn’t matter
anymore. I accepted it a long time ago. You’re wonderful to the girls, and I
don’t want to deny them their grandparents. But, I can’t in all honesty allow
them to stay with you anytime soon.”

“And
why not?” he stood straight, shoulders squared.

She
didn’t feel like explaining this yet again, but obliged him. “Do you recall
what happened over a month ago? You tried to kidnap my own children. I had to
threaten to call the police before you would return them. I know you haven’t
forgotten that quickly.”

He
sneered at such impertinence. “You mean to tell me that you’re going to let a
little misunderstanding like that keep us away from our grandkids?”

“A
little mis…,” she closed her eyes, circled around for a second, then faced him
again in an effort to end this before it went too far.

It
was obvious Mac could care less about her stress. “To tell you the truth, they
begged to stay with us. They didn’t want to come back here. They’re happier at
the ranch.”

“Really,
Mac? That’s believable.”

“I
can’t see what would be so wrong with them living with us, anyway. It’ll give
you time to get your life in order.”

She
crossed her arms against her, jaws clenched tight. This is a way of life for
him and Phyllis, constantly interfering and trying to separate the girls from
her, the way they constantly did the same with her and Collen. How much can one
person take?

“Listen,
the girls will have a more secure life with us. You’ve been out of a job for
what—two months now? The life insurance Collen left isn’t going to last
forever.”

“I
know that,” she snapped back.

“Then
don’t you think they’d be better off living with us where we can raise them in
a financially secure atmosphere?’

“They
have all the security and love they need right here. And, I’m afraid that I
can’t possibly allow them to stay with you. Not until I’m sure you won’t try
something like that again. Trust goes a long way.”

A
swift blaze of anger emitted in those dark eyes. But, Taryn didn’t care. So
what if he stands six-feet-one. She’s not about to cower under him, especially
when it involves her girls.

“Does
this mean you’re not even going to let us see them?” he demanded.

“You
can see them. But, it’ll have to be supervised. Maybe, it would be best if you
came over here. I’ll stay out of the way.”

He
swore under his breath. “You’re being unreasonable.”

“I’m
not the one who’s unreasonable, Mac.”

“No?”
he shouted so hard, she jumped. “No wonder Collen slapped you around. I wouldn’t
be surprised if he didn’t crash into that pole on purpose just to end the misery
you caused him.”

Now
it was her turn to stand straight and defiant. “Now, let me tell you one thing.
Collen’s treatment of me was not due in any way to my causing it, but more of
the ill-bred way he was raised. He caused his own death. If you want to keep
your head in the sand about that, that’s your problem. But, blaming me won’t
change the truth. Remi and Rachel are mine. And, if you want to see them again,
it will be on my terms.”

After
a fierce silence of just staring—he trying to break her resolve—and she, determined
he’d fail--his viciousness eased into a bitter grin.

“You
know, Phyllis and I hadn’t quite come to a decision on this yet, but you’ve
just made up my mind.”

“Meaning?”

He
took a self–smug breath. “Meaning, that unless you find a suitable job by next
week, we’re going to sue you for custody of the girls.”

A
breath-taking wave of bewilderment caused her to sway backwards; Her eyes
welled hot with the threat of tears. “Custody?” she could barely repeat it.

“We
can. And we will. In my eyes you’re an unfit mother. Hell, you couldn’t even be
a good wife. So heed my warning.” He leaned close to her, hate tightening his
features even more. “Unless you get a job, or by some miracle of a chance marry
by next Friday, we’ll take you to court and fight.”

It
took a stunned moment for those words to process before she was able to speak
again. “Well, I hope you’re in for a good one, because that’s the only way
you’ll ever see them again. Now, get out,” she stepped around him and held the
door wide.

He
swung out into the night, leaving her standing there, mouth opened and
wondering what had just happened. She put her hands to her face to gain control
of her senses. How can he do something so sinister as to take her kids away
from her?

She
closed the front door and leaned against it. It’s no secret that they’ve never
cared for her. They were barely polite when Collen was alive. She had hoped
that after his death, they would accept her for the girls’ sake. Of course,
that turned out to be wishful thinking. Mac is an unbearable tyrant. If things
didn’t go his way, he’d make sure it wouldn’t for anyone else who had the
misfortune to cross his path. He had already picked a suitable girl from a
wealthy family for his son. But, Collen brought her home instead and announced
their plans to marry. (It was during one of his rages that Collen admitted he
married her just to spite his father) For whatever reason, Mac has been spewing
revenge since day one; And this one is a whopper. His cruel temper is matched
only by that of his son. And Phyllis? Taryn huffed and cut her eyes. She’s a
spineless coward shaking in the dominating shadow of her husband. Anything Mac
says is law to her. If he’d said jump, she’d ask from which building. She’s
sure Phyllis wouldn’t want her grandkids going through this terrible ordeal,
but no doubt is too afraid of Mac to say anything. Now what?

She
pushed away from the door and went about securing the house for the night. Well,
marriage is certainly out of the question. And, if she’s going to keep her kids
out of a court room, she’ll just have to find that job by the deadline, or hire
a decent lawyer. She turned out the last lamp before a thought struck her: Even
if she finds a suitable job, would that stop them from coming after the girls?

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It
was close to 5:30 when Taryn made it home the next day. While Remi and Rachel
played outside, she headed directly for her bedroom, all the while massaging
her thumping temples and stiff neck. She slumped down to the edge of her the
bed and immediately slid her aching feet from her heels. If the last two days
is a warning of what the rest of the week might be like, then she’d better
prepare for the battle that awaited her in court. Everyone seems to be reading
from the same script: “Sorry, but the economy—“

She
slid out of her pin-striped jacket and tossed it behind her. This whole ordeal
has caused her nothing but anxiety and sleepless nights. She keeps telling
herself to remain positive—be strong. And yet, there’s that negative vein in
her head that keeps aching out the thought that if she doesn’t find something
by next Friday, she’ll have to face Mac. She can’t even afford to hire a second-rate
lawyer for this absurd action. She shut her eyes, willing herself not to give
in to those tears of self-pity. Tomorrow will surely yield something solid.
Even if it means taking a lesser paying job as a salesperson at a mall, or God
forbid, standing behind the window of a fast-food place asking customers if
they would like to super-size their fries. She’ll find something. For the sake
of her girls, she has to. She exhaled deeply to ease her tired mind where plans
for tomorrow were already forming: The girls will stay with Nora again while
she makes her rounds and…

“Momma?”
Remi stood just outside the door, evidence of finger painting at Nora’s smeared
on the bottom of her t-shirt. “Will dinner be ready soon?”

“As
soon as I change, Remi.”

Remi
leaned against the doorjamb for a second with an inquisitive eye on her mother
before walking over and scooting onto the bed beside her. “Momma, you look
tired. Are you feeling okay?”

Taryn
reached up and smoothed the top of her head then kissed it. “I’m fine, honey. I
had a long day.”

“If
you’re too tired to cook for us, me and Rachel can make us some sandwiches. We
know how. Aunt Nora let us do it all the time.”

She
blinked back the stinging moisture swelling in her eyes before cupping her
daughter’s face in her hands and kissing her again. “I’m never too tired to do
anything for you. I’ll be in there as soon as I get out of these things. Why
don’t you and Rachel set the table for me?”

After
changing into some comfortable pants and top, she went into the kitchen to
prepare dinner. Remi and Rachel were at the table, placing the silverware and
glasses beside the plates. Taryn took a pack of chicken from the refrigerator
and sat it on the counter, then retrieved the skillet from a cabinet and sat it
on the stove. The doorbell echoed through to the kitchen.

“We’ll
get it,” the giggling girls wrestled to get to the front door first.

“Girls,
don’t answer the door if it’s a stranger,” she reminded them as they exited
around the corner.

A
burst of loud excitement, followed by an abrupt silence had her brows lifting
curiously.

“Must
be Nora,” she mumbled to herself when she heard the screen door being yanked
open. She continued searching through her makeshift recipe book for a chicken
casserole, hoping silently that Nora came to rescue her with an invitation to
her house. Remi came running into the room. “Is that Nora?”

“It’s
a surprise,” she took hold of her hand and pulled her toward the front room.

“Remi,
what are you doing? What sur…”