The Surprise Holiday Dad (16 page)

Chapter Sixteen

If Renée Green was trying to drive Wade crazy, she couldn’t have done a better job of arranging her activities the afternoon and evening before Christmas.

He’d have preferred to postpone further surveillance for a few days, but Bruce refused to hear of it. After receiving Wade’s preliminary report finding nothing suspicious, the old man had wielded his sarcastic tongue with a vengeance. Wade’s detective skills must be severely lacking, he’d snarled, since Renée’s behavior had become increasingly erratic and contradictory.

According to Bruce, sometimes she accepted his calls or returned them promptly, and other times he heard nothing for hours. She’d sweetly promised to cook a big brunch tomorrow but refused to spend Christmas Eve with him, giving no reason.

If this were simply a personal matter for Wade, he’d have told his grandfather to stop pestering the woman. Either she was planning a surprise—unlikely, given that Bruce hated surprises and Renée hadn’t shown any interest in party stores, fancy restaurants or other entertainment venues—or she was ill suited to be dating such a rigid guy.

However, Wade had a job to do. And he was trying his best.

He logged nearly an hour outside the Sexy Over Sixty Gym directly downstairs from his own agency. He parked behind a large RV and was grateful he didn’t get spotted by any colleagues.

Then he put in two hours outside the Oahu Lane Shelter, which was holding a pet-adoption event. Wearing a blue volunteer’s uniform, Renée occasionally appeared in the front to greet arrivals and hand out flyers. While Wade admired her kindness and was glad to see animals finding new homes, did two dogs have to mark his tires as they passed?

Renée’s next stop proved even trickier: Lock’s house on the east side of town. Spending the evening with her son, grandson and daughter-in-law meant she was probably not up to anything questionable. Nevertheless, stung by his grandfather’s insults, Wade resolved to keep an eye on the place. After all, she might spend half an hour here and then head elsewhere.

Just his bad luck—the only free parking space on the block was directly in front. And if Lock glimpsed Wade, there’d be awkward explanations that might breach confidentiality. Already stiff from his afternoon’s work and growing hungry after finishing the last of the snacks he’d brought, Wade sank down in his seat.

Well, what else did you have to do tonight?

Two days ago he’d moved into his new digs and done his best to spruce up the place, literally, with a small pine tree. Even though he’d strung lights and baubles and placed a couple wrapped presents underneath, the display reminded him of some feeble office attempt at holiday decor.

During their Monday-night sleepover, Reggie’s attempts to act cheerful failed to reassure Wade, because whenever the boy believed himself unobserved, he drooped like a wilting poinsettia. They attended a new animated film, chuckling occasionally while the families around them roared with laughter.

Camping out in Wade’s living room in sleeping bags was fun, but Reg retreated into moodiness on the early-morning drive home.
Home.
When Wade delivered his son to Adrienne’s cream-and-blue house, its broad porch and array of flowers struck him as paradise lost.

He carted his son’s possessions to the front and then moved to the sidewalk until the door opened. Her blond hair and flowing robe haloed by the light, Adrienne reminded him of a dream. Standing there, she gazed at him longingly. Or maybe that was pity he saw in her eyes.

He still didn’t understand how he’d misjudged her so completely. Or, if he hadn’t, what he’d done wrong.

Refusing to torment himself or her, he’d spun around and returned to the car.

They needed to clear the air. Perhaps tomorrow, Christmas Day, when he picked up Reggie after lunch as they’d arranged. Or, better, at a time when the little boy wasn’t present.

For Reg’s sake, they had to continue as co-parents. But this pain inside Wade, this ache in his heart, wasn’t going to vanish overnight. While it went against the grain to open himself up to more hurt, for Reggie’s sake—and his own—he meant to give her another chance to explain.

A sharp rap on the side window snapped him into the present.
Caught napping. Damn.

The face glaring at him through the glass belonged to Renée Green. With a sigh, Wade rolled down the window.

“I don’t know who the hell you are,” Renée snapped. “But I know
what
you are. You’re a private detective and Bruce hired you, right?”

No use arguing. “That’s right.”

“You’d better show some ID or I’m calling the police.”

Why wasn’t she calling her son, whom Wade had glimpsed earlier inside the house? Keeping her private life to herself, he supposed. “Yes, ma’am.” He dug in his pocket for his license and handed it to her. “It’s not safe standing in the street, Mrs. Green.”

She glanced around. “There’s no traffic, and I don’t want my son to see me. I’d rather he didn’t know what a controlling jerk I’ve been dating.”

That seemed a fair assessment of Bruce, Wade thought. “Then may I ask why you’re dating him?”

Startled, she scowled at him. “I don’t see that that’s any of your business.” Angling the license in the dim light, she studied the name. “Wade Hunter. You’re his grandson?”

“Guilty as charged,” he said.

“You work for my son.”

He nodded.

Her eyes narrowed. “Does Lock know about this?”

“No.” Wade wrestled with how much to disclose and decided the matter had been taken out of his hands. “My grandfather specified that only Mike and I were to be informed.”

“Bruce hired his old agency.” She released a “huh” noise. “That, I didn’t expect.”

Wade wished she’d move out of the street. Drunk drivers were especially a threat on holidays, even in quiet residential neighborhoods. Also, she’d begun shivering. “Mrs. Green, why don’t you get in the car so we can talk?”

“And so you can roll up your window and stay warm,” she retorted.

“That, too,” he responded mildly.

With only a brief hesitation, she stomped around the front of the car. Wade cleared his papers and camera off the passenger seat and stuck them in back.

She folded her sturdy frame into the right front side of the sports coupe. The scent of apple cider and cinnamon drifted from her. “Cramped, isn’t it?” she grumbled.

“Sorry about that.” Now, how could they deal with this business? “I’d appreciate if you’d clue me in as to why you’re dodging Bruce. I have to fill out a report and my client isn’t going to be pleased if I come back empty-handed.”

“He’s your grandfather. He’ll forgive you.”

Hoping he didn’t look as uncomfortable as he felt stuffed in here with this angry woman, Wade said, “That doesn’t mean he cuts me any slack.”

“I should have figured that.” A streetlight played over the silver glints in her brown hair. “Bruce has plenty of redeeming qualities. He can be amusing and tender. But I refuse to account to him for every moment of my day.”

“Why not tell him that?”

“I’ve tried. He says he understands, and then he keeps calling.” She clenched her hands in her lap. “I figured when I refused to cooperate, he’d get the message.”

“You aren’t trying to break up with him?” Wade asked.

“No, but I might have to.”

Frustration fired through Wade. “You should be talking to him instead of giving him the runaround. How do you think it’ll look in my report? Girlfriend communicates by refusing to communicate.”

“Don’t make me out to be the bad guy!”

“I’ll just present the facts, ma’am,” he said with a trace of irony. “But if it’s any consolation, Bruce must be fairly smitten to go to all this trouble.”

“All the trouble of harassing me?” She took his irony and doubled it.

She’s as stubborn as Bruce. What a couple.
“If you care about someone, don’t play games. Instead, establish boundaries. When you see him again, tell him that if he doesn’t respect your privacy, you’ll be gone permanently. Set specific limits on how often he can call. Make him earn his way back into your life.”

Renée’s mouth tightened as if she were about to argue. Then she clicked her tongue. “Well, well. Who’d have figured Bruce’s grandson had so much insight?”

“I assure you, I don’t...” His phone vibrated in its dashboard holder. He’d secured the device because California banned using a handheld phone while driving. With an impatient breath, Wade glanced at the readout.

Why was Adrienne calling on Christmas Eve? Puzzled, he excused himself from Renée, pressed the phone icon and spoke over his wireless connection.

“What’s up?” In the background over the phone, he heard the clattering and buzzing typical of a hospital. But she was supposed to have the night off.

“Reggie’s missing.” She was breathing hard, close to hyperventilating.

“What do you mean, missing?” Wade had been picturing the pair cozily ensconced at home. “Where are you?”

“Stacy went into labor with the triplets and the doctor on duty couldn’t handle it all,” Adrienne answered shakily. “I left Reggie with Harper and Peter for a few hours. He seemed fine.”

In the passenger seat, Renée’s expression grew concerned. Well, Wade couldn’t keep his private life out of this. Nothing mattered now except his son’s safety.

The story tumbled out of Adrienne. “Reg was playing with Mia and went to the bathroom. When no one was watching, he sneaked out of the house. Harper and Peter tried to reach me, but I was in surgery.”

Wade’s brain raced. “Have you tried calling him? Or if his phone’s on vibrate, the police can locate his cell. Did you notify them?”

“Harper did.” That was good, he registered. “They found Reg’s phone near the bus stop. He must have dropped it.”

The bus driver had noticed a little boy climbing on board alone, she explained. When Reg calmly announced that he was going to visit his father, the driver hadn’t found that suspicious.

Why didn’t he call me to pick him up?
But Reg must have figured Wade would only tell him to stay with Harper until Adrienne came home.
And I probably would have.
“Did he reach my motel?” There was a bus stop on the corner.

“He must have been confused. He got off several blocks too soon, according to the driver, and the police can’t find any sign of him,” Adrienne said tearfully. “Peter went to your complex and talked to the manager, and he’s staying there to watch for him. Harper and Mia are at my house in case he goes there, but...I just got out of surgery. I called you as soon as I heard.”

“They should have told me right away.”

“Harper didn’t have your number.”

He squelched the impulse to blame. Adrienne hadn’t done anything wrong. Well, rejecting Wade, maybe, but his hurt feelings were immaterial. “I’ll cruise the area around the motel. Exactly where did he get off?”

After filling him in, Adrienne was about to hang up when Wade recalled the reason she’d gone to work. “How’s Stacy?”

“Came through with flying colors,” she said, a little more calmly.

“And the triplets?”

“Two boys and a girl. Healthy weights, and their vitals checked out fine. They’re under observation in neonatal intermediate care, but they should be able to go home in a few weeks.”

“I’m glad. Call me if you hear anything.” He also took down phone numbers for Harper and Peter.

“Of course.”

Wade struggled to think clearly. While there’d been no indication of foul play, the image of his son wandering around lost in the darkness terrified him.

“What’s wrong?” Renée demanded.

Wade had almost forgotten about her. “I’ll take care of it,” he said tightly. “I need you to leave now.”

“Don’t be an idiot,” she said. “I want to help. So will Lock and your bullheaded grandfather.”

She was right. The more people searching, the better their chances of finding his son quickly.

Wade sketched the situation and sent her a picture of Reggie from his phone. “I’m on it,” Renée said, and left.

As he put the car into gear, Wade reflected that he liked this new lady in Bruce’s life. Then he steered a course across town, his adrenaline pumping.

* * *

T
ALKING
TO
W
ADE
,
knowing that he’d be searching for Reggie, eased Adrienne’s fear, but only marginally. Why hadn’t she paid closer attention to her little boy and his determination to be with his dad?

She’d give anything, do anything, to keep him from harm. If he really wanted to be with Wade, then that was the way it had to be.
Just let us find him safe.

Embarrassed, she discovered that tears were pouring down her cheeks. Paige, who’d kept a discreet distance in the doctors’ lounge, hurried over with a box of tissues. “I called Mike,” the redhead informed her. “He plans to pack our baby in the car and drive around the harbor and along the beach just in case Reggie wound up there.”

“Thanks.” Adrienne blew her nose. “I should go.”

“Don’t drive until you’re in better shape,” Paige advised.

“I can’t just sit around.”

Paige’s phone rang. “Dr. Brennan,” she answered, and listened for a moment. “How far along is she?”

It must be the charge nurse, Adrienne thought. Someone else had come in. Did they have enough physicians to handle everyone?

“Yes, keep Dr. Rayburn here and call in... Who’s next on the list? Dr. Franco?” That was Paige’s partner, Nora, who must be at home with her husband and preschooler. “Una’s her patient. She’ll come.” Paige ended the call.

Una Barker, pregnant with twins, was only a few weeks ahead of due date. Still, if the hospital really needed more hands, Adrienne had to pull herself together. “I’ll stay.”

Paige frowned. “As soon as we make sure Nora’s available, you’re leaving, if I have to arrange for Mike to drive you home himself.”

Not Mike... Wade. The two of them ought to join forces. They’d be more effective that way, Adrienne thought. No matter how angry he was at her, surely he’d work with her today.

“I have a better idea,” she told her friend, and took out her phone.