Honeymoon at Home by Laura Abbot

Author:Laura Abbot
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

SCOTT PULLED THE CAR into the garage, turned off the ignition and sat in the dim light, summoning the strength to go inside. On the way home along the suburban streets, he’d spotted little ghosts, goblins, Shreks and ballerinas. How long ago it seemed that he’d cradled Justin, dressed in his tiny pumpkin suit, and held the hand of “Beauty” Hayley as they traversed the neighborhood. Hayley’s lilting toddler voice echoed in his memory. “Twick or tweat?”

He leaned his head back against the seat. He couldn’t sit there indefinitely. People were counting on him. But he could hardly bear to witness his once-vigorous father struggle to ask a simple question or feed himself, or to watch his mother wringing her hands from worry. Meg grew more thin-lipped every day, the hollows under her eyes mute testimony to the strain of their situation. Hayley, pulling a classic Greta Garbo act, preferred the solitude of her room—and her cell phone—to their company. And Justin? Like a chameleon, he adapted as necessary to his environment and tried not to make waves. Scott knew he’d go nuts if he had to be home all day, as Meg was. Even the frenetic atmosphere of the agency was preferable. Still, on some level, he knew he was copping out by escaping so totally into his work.

A cinnamon aroma greeted him when he finally made his way into the house. His mother stood in the kitchen, face flushed, spooning dough onto a cookie sheet. Spread on foil on the counter were at least six dozen cookies. “May I?” he asked, picking up a warm snickerdoodle.

Marie smiled as if recalling happier times. “Could I stop you even if I wanted to?”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Probably not.” Gesturing at the array, he said, “What’s the occasion?”

She shook the spoon at him. “Not you, too. It’s Halloween and these are our treats. Meg forgot to buy the candy.”

“These are better anyway,” he said, stuffing the cookie into his mouth. “Where’s Dad?”

“In our room. With Meg.”

“I’ll go say hello.”

Pausing in the bedroom doorway, he observed the two of them, Meg sitting in the rocker holding his father’s hand. Something lurched in his chest. She looked so peaceful he hated to disturb them. Then Bud lifted his eyes. “Son.”

“Hi, Pops.”

Meg glanced up, nodded by way of acknowledgment, then stood. “I’ll go see about dinner.”

Before she could brush past him, Scott put an arm around her. “Hello,” he said.

Her eyes softened briefly before she moved away from his embrace. “I’m glad you’re home.” He pondered her words. Did she mean she was happy to see him or that he was a welcome reinforcement?

Just then, the doorbell rang. “Here they come,” Scott said.

As Meg hurried from the room, Scott heard Justin clattering down the stairs. With any luck, he’d want to cover the front door tonight.

“Coming?” Bud’s brow was furrowed.

“Trick-or-treaters, Pops. It’s Halloween.”

Bud scooted back against the pillows and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “See.”

“See?”

Bud nodded, then pointed to himself.

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