Be My Babies

The doorbell rang. Rising, her grandfather said, “That’s Jake. I’ve got to go.”

“Tell him I made an appointment with Dr. Rabin.” Jake was Doc Jacobs, an established physician in town and Gil’s best friend. He had a young partner who was slowly taking over his practice. “The last time he came here, he insisted. I do need checkups.”

“I’ll tell him.” Leaning over, he kissed Lily’s head. It was the first time he’d done that. “I’ll be back this afternoon.”

“Enjoy bowling and lunch.”

After Gil left, Lily was feeling discomfited, probably because she still had some conflicted feelings about Gil’s role in her mother’s life. And because she’d talked about Derek. She’d tried to downplay that last encounter to Gil, but in reality the scene had been a nightmare. Getting out of the house unnoticed. Covering her tracks. Derek wouldn’t be able to trace her to Fairview because when she met him she’d been using the Clarkson name—which her mother had taken to protect her identity—and he’d never known Lily’s connection with the Gardners.

To dispel her anxiety, Lily opened the Sentinel to search for the classifieds. She’d feel better if she was doing something with her time.

The paper did look good, though with her art and advertising background, she couldn’t help thinking of improvements that could be made to the layout and design. The classifieds, especially, needed revamping. She began circling jobs that she could do and not be on her feet all day. There weren’t many. She was halfway through the ads when the phone rang, and she answered the extension by her bed. “Gardner residence.”

A hesitation. “Lily? This is Simon McCarthy. Is Gil there?”

“Ah, no. He just left to go bowling and have lunch with Doc Jacobs.”

“Damn.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Our receptionist called in sick and we’re fielding a lot of local ads today.” He sighed. “Never mind, I’ll try Sammy’s mother. She might be able to pitch in.”

Sammy Johnston was the photographer on staff. From the looks of the paper, she was a good one.

“What about me?”

“You?”

“I can answer phones. Take ad copy.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“Really, Simon. I was just looking at the classifieds for myself.”

“You’re staying in town?” His tone of voice was odd.

“For a while. I need to earn my keep.”

“I see.”

“Give me a half hour to shower and get over there.”

“I don’t think…”

“I insist I be allowed to help out. See you then.”

Lily hung up, wondering why Simon McCarthy didn’t want her at the Sentinel. She allowed a spark of anger to surface. She was on her way to becoming the woman she’d been pre-Derek and here was another man who seemed to want to hold her back. Well, not again. She’d be damned if she let Simon McCarthy interfere in her life.

SIMON DIDN’T WANT HER HERE. When she walked through the door, he felt trouble sidle in along with her. She looked rested today. Her cheeks were rosy from the walk here and the warm April wind had played havoc with her hair, tumbling it into wavy masses. The light blue top she wore with a navy skirt accented the color of her eyes. “Hi. I told you that you didn’t have to come.”

At that moment, Sammy poked her head out from the newsroom. “Simon, we need you back here.” She smiled. “Hi, Lily. Feeling okay?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

Just then, the phone rang.

Lily crossed to the desk. “Go back. I’ll get that.”

“Suit yourself.” He disappeared into the newsroom, cursing the curtness of his voice.

After he’d made the decision about which photo to use for the upcoming fair in town, he went back out front.

Lily was sitting at the desk, taking notes. “Why, yes, Mr. Martini, I think that copy reads well. Might I suggest a little tweak?”

Simon stood behind her and watched. She smiled into the phone and listened to the caller. “Perhaps replace cute with adorable.” She paused. “All right, good. Do we usually bill you? What? Well, news travels fast. Uh-huh, I’m his granddaughter. Why, thank you so much. I’m glad to be here.”

When she hung up, she swiveled the desk chair around and saw Simon. “Lots of ads coming in today. That’s the third since you went back.”

“I know. It picks up on Friday. You’ve made yourself at home.”

Her eyes narrowed. The mirth had gone out of them. “I hope I’m helping.”

Running a hand through his hair, he said, “Sorry. You are.”

“Is there a reason you don’t want me here, Simon?”

About a thousand. He could never reveal his worry that she might make a claim to the paper, but eventually he was going to warn her not to hurt Gil. “Gil said you were exhausted. I don’t want to answer to him if you get tired out.”

Her hand went to her abdomen. “Didn’t your wife work when she was pregnant with Jenna?”

“No. She was sick a lot, throughout the first and second trimesters.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got an appointment with the mayor in ten minutes. I have to go. I hate to leave…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t run off with the company savings.”

His heart knocked against his chest.

“Kidding. I can hold down the fort.”

“Our advertising guy is out soliciting ads and Sammy’s only here in the mornings, but Evan, the other reporter, is in back.”

“Fine.”

“We usually close at lunchtime.”

Her expression was amused. “Really?”

“Uh-huh. Fairview’s pretty much a reincarnation of Mayberry, only bigger.”