Perfect Morning Read online

  “How about going to my study?” she asked. “I think we both can use a drink. Then we can talk.”

  Jason cleared his throat. “Lead the way. It sounds like a good idea to me.”

  Downstairs, Riki turned in the opposite direction from the kitchen. She slid open a pair of sliding doors made of oak and stained glass, revealing a magnificent room. Jason had never seen a room like it before. The cream-colored carpet had to be three inches thick. The walls were paneled in teak, and powder blue satin draperies were drawn across the windows. Logs lay in the marble fireplace, ready to be lit. In the center of the room was a huge antique desk with a leather swivel chair behind it.

  Riki walked over to a wall that was almost completely covered by bookshelves. A cabinet stood in front of it. “What do you drink?”

  “Do you have Scotch?”

  “Yep. Ice?”

  “No, thank you.”

  After fixing his drink and an apricot brandy for herself, she led the way over to the window that had two wing chairs and a table in front of it. She sat in one of the chairs and motioned for Jason to take the other. He sat down and stared at his drink. Riki decided not to bring up the subject of Charlie until he had relaxed somewhat.

  “This is my sin room,” she said.

  “Your sin room?”

  “Yes. This room is off limits to the kids. Isn’t that awful that they aren’t allowed in it?”

  “Not really. This is exquisite. It must have cost you a fortune to do.”

  “It really only cost time, not money. When I bought the house, this room was just like this, except the paneling all had to be refinished. The fireplace needed some minor work, and I got a mason to do that. The desk and chair were in the attic. Can you believe that the former owners told me there was junk in the attic and I could throw out what I didn’t want? When I think of the nights I spent on that desk ...” She shook her head. “It’s astonishing what some people think is junk.”

  “You refinished that desk?” Jason was truly amazed.

  “I refinished just about everything in this house. It’s my hobby. It keeps me from going nuts. A woman in town makes all my drapes, and she also upholsters most of the furniture for me. She’s a widow and I tell myself she could use the extra money, but the real reason is I can’t sew for a damn.”

  “Mrs. Perfect has a flaw?”

  “Several.”

  “I must congratulate you. You really did an outstanding job on this desk. From the look of the rest of the house, you’ve done a bang-up job on all of it. But can I ask one question? Why didn’t you do anything on the outside of the house?”

  “I’ve been telling everyone that it’s because of the weather, but now that it’s spring that excuse won’t hold. The real reason is my second flaw. I’m scared to death of heights.”

  “Considering this house is three stories high, you may have a problem.” Jason was pretty sure Riki didn’t tell everyone she was afraid of heights. He gave her credit for knowing her limits. Now he wondered how she was going to get around the difficulty.

  “I sure do have a problem,” she said. “The last time I was up on the third floor, I broke out in a cold sweat and had to stay in the basement for two hours.” She shuddered, remembering the feeling.

  “No offense intended, but I don’t see how that helps.”

  “Are you scared of heights?”

  “No.”

  “Then you wouldn’t.”

  “Oh.” Jason still didn’t understand what the basement had to do with Riki being afraid of heights, but obviously she didn’t want to discuss it anymore. He had no idea why they were discussing the house anyway. The only reason he was here was for Charlie. “Do you think Charlie will ever talk again?” It was the first question that came to his mind.

  Riki looked at him as if trying to see into his soul. After apparently coming to a decision, she rose and crossed to the desk. She picked up a manila folder that was lying on top of it and handed it to him. “Here is the complete file on Charlie. It is as accurate and current as possible. Why don’t you read it while I go make some coffee? I’ll be back in a bit. Make yourself at home.”

  After Riki left the room, Jason sat there holding the file. His daughter’s life was written on a few pages and stuffed into a folder. Not knowing what he was going to read made him nervous. Shaking his head as if to clear it, he opened the folder and started to read.

  When Riki returned Jason was standing at the window. He held the drapes back with one hand. In the other hand was a fresh drink. From his rigid stance she could tell his thoughts were deep and troublesome. He hadn’t even heard her enter. She carefully set the tray on the table and walked over to him. She wanted to cradle him in her arms and tell him everything would work out. But that was the million-dollar question. Would everything work out? From what she could make of the reports, something more than the death of her parents had traumatized Charlie. She was almost positive that whatever it was, it had happened before the tragic accident. Since Charlie wasn’t talking, she had no way of finding out what it was.

  Jason turned toward Riki, aware that all his doubt and confusion was reflected in his eyes. He felt so helpless. He was. he admitted, totally out of his depth. He knew nothing about children, especially ones with emotional problems. He had to leave everything in Riki’s hands, or risk taking Charlie to another stranger for professional help. Of the two choices, he’d pick Riki. From what he had seen of Charlie, she seemed happy here. The reports he had Just read indicated she was improving. She was accepting the social structure of the family. He couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t been in control of a situation, and he didn’t like the feeling at all. For Charlie’s sake he would try to tolerate it.

  He raised his glass and drained it in one swallow. “Okay, I read all the technical stuff. Now suppose you tell me in English what it all means.”

  Riki led the way back to the wing chairs and poured their coffee. After Jason had sat down and taken the cup, she cut to the heart of the matter. “The bottom line, as I see it, is Charlie is cutting herself off from everyone because, I believe, she feels guilty.” At Jason’s raised eyebrows, she clarified her statement. “I can’t be one hundred percent sure, but I believe Charlie thinks she caused the accident that killed her mother and supposed father.”

  “How could she think that? She wasn’t even there.”

  “You have to remember that you are dealing with a six-year-old child, not a rational adult. No one knows except Charlie what went on before the accident. From what I can gather, something did. I don’t know what. Maybe her mother and father were fighting, and just maybe she was the cause of the argument. It is quite normal for parents to fight over a child. They could have been fighting in front of Charlie, or maybe she overheard them. Either way, the guilt was placed on her shoulders. The next thing she knew a social worker was telling her that her mother and father were dead. Hence, the total withdrawal. And who could blame her? From all the information we have. Charlie didn’t know that Richard was not her father.”

  “So how do I tell her I’m her father, after six years? And how do we get her to talk?” He anxiously ran his hand through his hair.

  “Time.”

  “How much?” He barked the question out of sheer frustration.

  “As much as needed.” Riki’s voice lowered as her temper grew higher. “Need I remind you, Mr. Nesbit, that we are dealing with a very young child? Your child, to be more precise.” She calmly placed her coffee cup on the tray, then gripped the arms of her chair. She was prepared to do battle, and she wasn’t going to lose.

  Jason took one look at her and grinned widely. He saw a flush start at her neck and creep up onto her face. Her eyes held more than a hint of anger. They were proclaiming death. He couldn’t help himself any longer. He let out a roar of laughter that was so loud, he was surprised it didn’t wake the kids.

  “I’m sorry, Riki, but now I know why you have red in that gorgeous hair. You have the fastest t
emper I’ve ever seen. I’m not upset about how much time it will take Charlie to talk. I’m just very anxious for her, that’s all. I know it’s going to take time, and I have all the time in the world. So just simmer down and tell me what to do. I haven’t the faintest idea where to begin.”

  Lord, she was beautiful when she was mad, he thought. Her eyes started to smolder and her face flushed. He wondered if she looked like that when she was making love. With that temper, there was passion there too. It would just take a certain man to bring it out – like himself.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “For what?”

  “For saying my hair is gorgeous.” Riki couldn’t resist the impish smile she flashed at Jason. “Now to get back to the subject at hand, I don’t think we should tell Charlie you’re her father yet. I would like her to get to know you first, though that will be tricky. That means you will practically live here. You’ll eat with us, drive her to school, maybe even help with homework, whatever it takes. I want Charlie to become used to you before we drop the bomb. The only problem is that you are going to have to put up with me and six other children.”

  “That will be no problem. I’ll even volunteer to sleep here.” Jason couldn’t help that comment, it just popped out of his mouth.

  Riki decided to ignore it. “I will feed you, do your laundry, and whatever else in the domestic department that is required. The only thing I ask is that you treat all seven children as equals. I know you would like to give special attention to Charlie, and you do have that right, but think how the other children would feel. They don’t know that you are Charlie’s dad, and they would be hurt if you played favorites. Jake and Pete don’t need any upsets in their lives at this point. The adoptions will become final soon, but until then I’m sure there are doubts in their minds. You can spoil Charlie rotten as soon as she’s in Texas.”

  “Okay, I can see your point. No favorites. Why do Pete and Jake have doubts? Don’t they like it here?”

  “I’m sure they love it here, but they don’t understand why I would like to adopt them. Jake has been in more institutions and homes than I care to tell you. He was given up at birth and no one would adopt a blind child. All his life there was never anyone. I’m sure he is questioning why I would want a blind child.”

  “Pete started developing a hearing problem when he was two, but no one picked it up. He was already in a foster home at the time, and they didn’t want a child who wouldn’t listen. Neither did anyone else. Everyone thought he was either stupid or just plain bad. No one bothered to check out why he wasn’t listening, until he came here. His last foster home was a real joke. I have already recommended that it be shut down. He had a mouth on him that could make a truck driver blush, and we had quite a few run-ins in the beginning. Neither one of the boys knew what love was. They were used to being last on the list.”

  “What about you? No doubts?”

  “Plenty, like bringing the children into a family with no father. But I figure one parent is better than none.”

  “That’s mighty unselfish of you.”

  “Unselfish? Nope. I always figured that the more love you give, the more you receive.”

  Riki noticed the strange way Jason was looking at her and decided to change the subject.

  “Breakfast will be around eight in the morning, and you are invited to go to church with us.” She stood and turned to pick up the tray, but Jason already had it. He followed her into the kitchen, where she rinsed out the cups. “Is there anything that you need or something that you couldn’t find?” she asked as she led him out onto the back porch. She figured it was a lot safer to get Jason out of her house.

  The night air was cool, and the only sound was the chirping of crickets. The porch was totally dark except where the light spilled from the windows of the house. Jason faced Riki. “There is one thing I need.”

  She turned from the view of the distant mountains right into Jason’s arms. She had no time to do anything before his lips captured hers. Her hands came up to push him away, but never did. The kiss started out gentle and slow, but when Riki responded to his lips, Jason lost control, and fast.

  He had only intended a friendly good-night kiss. He had been dying all day long to know the taste of her. Once he had her in his arms, though, all his good intentions flew out of his mind. His tongue slowly outlined her lower lip, asking entrance. He felt her arms raise from his chest to circle his neck. One hand was running through his hair, while the other was pulling him closer. He heard her make a soft purring sound, then she opened her mouth to him. As the kiss deepened, he pulled her closer. He could feel her nipples hardening through the layers of clothes that separated them. His hands slid down her back to firmly cup her buttocks and hold her against him.

  Riki was left in no doubt as to Jason’s response to the kiss. It was pressed against the front of her jeans. She tried to get closer and found it impossible.

  Jason slowly came to his sense. This was Riki he was kissing, he reminded himself. This was the woman who was acting as Charlie’s mother. He slowly loosened his hold and started to break the kiss. Placing a few good inches between them, he cleared his throat. “I think we may have a problem here.”

  Riki gazed up into his eyes and couldn’t think of one problem. Jason noticed her glazed, bemused look. He kissed the tip of her nose and turned her toward the door. “I’ll see you around eight for breakfast.” His voice was still husky and his breathing was uneven.

  The last Riki saw of Jason he was slowly disappearing into the night.

  Riki overslept the next morning, which was understandable considering she hadn’t gotten to sleep before dawn. The vision of herself in Jason’s arms kept her awake a long time. After losing practically a whole night’s sleep, she still couldn’t figure out what had happened.

  She wasn’t some schoolgirl who couldn’t see what was on a man’s mind. Jason definitely had had that hungry look in his eyes a couple of times yesterday. She hadn’t been surprised that he’d kissed her last night. She had been surprised, if not downright shocked, by her response. She was a thirty-year-old woman, she had been married for over five years, and she had never once responded that way to a kiss.

  Marriage to Brad had been comfortable, like being married to your best friend. In reality, Brad had been her best friend. They had rarely argued. Whenever there was a difference of opinion, they sat down and discussed it. Someone always compromised. Riki compromised on where to live. She wanted a home in a small country town, but Brad wanted to live in Richmond. They lived in Richmond. Brad compromised on children. Riki wanted a large family; Brad was content after the twins were born. After Andrew was born, Brad said they should call it quits. Riki wanted to try at least once more for a girl. Brad was killed in a car accident before he even knew she was pregnant.

  The physical side had been comfortable too. Neither had placed excessive demands on the other. They had both been content, even if Riki never climbed to the heights that romance novels told her she should. She read what other women felt and laughed. Imagination was great, in its proper place.

  Now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe her response to Jason was because she hadn’t been kissed in a long time. Especially by someone who looked like Jason.

  A half an hour before he was due at Riki’s, Jason was up and dressed. He glanced out of the window and spotted Travis and Trevor already out back. Both boys were dressed for church and were feeding the chickens.

  Deciding that Riki must be up and about, he walked next door. Travis and Trevor had just finished and met him on the back porch.

  “Hi, boys. Is your mom up?”

  “Yep, she’s in the kitchen.”

  As the three made their way to the kitchen, Jason could smell coffee and bacon. He stopped and leaned against the doorjamb. He noticed Charlie sitting at the table with the ever-present Tiny curled up at her feet. He couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face.

  There was Riki dressed in an old football jersey that
came to midthigh. Her hair was still tangled from sleep, hanging halfway down her back. She was barefoot, and he saw her toenails were painted pink.

  She was trying to balance two cartons of eggs and a pitcher of orange juice. He pushed away from the door to give her a hand.

  Riki noticed the movement from the corner of her eye, and made the fatal mistake of looking. The pitcher started to sway and orange juice splashed all down the front of her. The cartons of eggs slid forward. If it hadn’t been for Jason’s quick action, there wouldn’t have been any eggs for breakfast.

  He placed the cartons on the counter and turned toward Riki. “Good morning, Riki.” His voice was low and intimate.

  “You’re early.” Riki still held the pitcher, scarcely aware that the juice had soaked the front of her jersey. She was too busy staring at Jason. Lord, she thought, he was even better looking in a suit than in jeans. Most men looked uncomfortable wearing a suit. Jason wore one like he was born in it. She noticed that hungry look in his eyes again. He wanted to kiss her.

  She would have given five years of her life to be alone in the kitchen with him. She kept telling herself it was just to see if last night’s kiss had been a fluke.

  “Riki,” he whispered.

  “Mmm?”

  “If you don’t stop staring at me that way, I will throw you down on the kitchen floor and make love to you. Audience or not!” The hungry look was replaced by something far more primitive.

  Riki’s first thoughts were of female bliss. To have this man make love to her would be heaven. In the next breath, the actual meaning of his words hit her. Good lord, what was she thinking? She hadn’t even known this man for twenty-four hours and she was fantasizing making love with him on the kitchen floor.

  She glanced quickly around the room to make sure they hadn’t been overheard. Hastily putting down the juice, she mumbled something about getting dressed. She dashed through the doorway before Jason could respond.

  He rescued the bacon before it burned. Staring at the eggs sitting on the counter, he started to chuckle. It was definitely going to be an interesting stay, but then again, he’d known that yesterday.