Madison's Children

She didn’t respond.

“I don’t know where your mother is.”

Her head shot up, her eyes filled with something he couldn’t describe. It was almost like fear. Was his daughter afraid of him?

“You do, too.”

“Haley, I don’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“I have no reason to lie.” He tried not to raise his voice. “You’re old enough to know your mother left of her own free will. I have sole custody of you and Georgie.”

“You made her leave.” The fire was back in her eyes. “You were gone all the time helping other people and you should have been home helping us.”

“Your mother and I had problems for a long time, and yes, a lot of it was because of my job. I can’t change that now, but I can be here for you and Georgie.” He paused and prayed for a break in her implacable armor. “Please give me a chance.”

“I want to see Mama,” she sobbed against her knees. “I have to see my mama.”

He tried to put his arm around her, but she jerked away. Oh, God, his heart stopped beating and he hurt for her. He felt her pain deep inside him—a place that was created the day he became a father.

The mass in his throat clogged his vocal cords. “Your mother…”

She lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. “I know she left us, and you know where she is. You just won’t tell me. I…I…” Sobs racked her thin body, and this time he pulled her into his arms and held her, searching for those magical words that would help them both. But they were elusive, and he hated that he was so bad at being a parent.

“Please, Haley. Give me a chance.” His words were hoarse, and he had to swallow a couple of times to get them out.

Before she could say anything, Georgie came running in and wiggled into his lap. “Oh, it stinks in here.” He looked up at Walker. “I’m hungry.” The odor didn’t seem to bother his appetite.

“Suppertime,” Walker said, and tried to act normal. “Haley, would you like chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich? You usually can hold that down.”

“I guess.” She straightened and moved as far away from him as she could. That hurt a little more.

“I want peanut butter and jelly.” Georgie gave his menu choice. “Grape jelly. I don’t like any other kind.” Walker had made the mistake of using strawberry one time and Georgie had never forgotten it.

“I know, son.” Walker stood with the boy in his arms. “And we can have ice cream afterward.”

“Yay!” Georgie clapped his hands. Haley was silent. She was silent all through dinner. She was silent as they washed the dishes. Instead of watching TV, she took a bath and went to bed.

Soon he tucked Georgie in, but Walker couldn’t sleep. His mind was in overdrive. His children’s well-being was at the front of his mind—always. All he could do was be here for them and maybe Haley wouldn’t try to run away again.

Not only was he worried about his kids, but Ginny was on his mind, too. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself, not to mention that he’d have no hope of his daughter ever forgiving him.

An hour later, he still wasn’t asleep. He got up, dressed and went into Georgie’s room and gathered him into his arms. He carried him to Haley and tucked him in beside her.

“Daddy,” she mumbled sleepily.

“I’m going to check on the Grubbs family. Take care of Georgie.” He handed her the portable phone. “Call my cell if there’s a problem.” She wanted responsibility, so he was going to give it to her—for a while.

“Oh.” Her voice sounded excited.

In less than thirty minutes he was back. Earl was passed out on the sofa. Verna, his wife, said everything was fine. Ginny seconded that and Walker felt a lot better.

He fell into bed exhausted, but the worry over his kids was always there. What was he going to do? He needed help.

Blue eyes edged their way into his subconscious. His eyes popped open. Madison Belle. It was hard to explain his reaction to her. When he was a senior in high school, he and his dad had gone on a fishing trip to the Gulf Coast. They’d rented a cabin on a secluded cove outside Rockport, Texas. The cabin was shaded with gnarled, bent oaks, tempered and tried by the Gulf winds. The water in the cove held him mesmerized. It was the purest blue he’d ever seen, as if it had been untouched by nature and its wrath. He thought he’d never see that color again.

Until he looked into Madison’s eyes.

She had that same purity. That same quality of not being tainted by the ups and downs of life. It had to be an illusion. No woman could be as pure or as good as Madison appeared.

For a cynical man like himself, he knew it was an illusion. His motto was to avoid the woman in case she could look into his soul and see all his sins.

MADISON SLEPT VERY LITTLE. She couldn’t stop thinking and worrying about Walker’s kids. And Ginny. She was so young to be pregnant. Her family situation seemed dire, and she wondered how the girl would cope?

A baby.

Maddie would give everything she had for a child. It seemed so unfair, but she’d come to grips with her situation long ago. Every time she thought about it, though, she felt that empty place inside her that would never be filled.

She had a ready-made family waiting for her in Philadelphia. All she had to do was accept Victor’s marriage proposal. Victor’s wife had died five years ago, leaving an eleven-and a fourteen-year-old who needed a mother in their lives. But Victor was a friend, a very dear friend. She didn’t have passionate feelings for him. Hadn’t even gone to bed with him. She’d told him how she felt, and he’d said those emotions would come later. She didn’t believe that.

Soon she’d have to go home and face Victor and her future. But for now her life was here on High Five. Maybe she was in denial. Maybe she was hiding. Or maybe she believed in miracles and love.

She went to sleep with that thought.

The next morning she dressed in jeans, a pearl-snap shirt and boots, her customary garb. Oh, yes, she was a cowgirl now and she was getting damn good at it.

She hurried to Gran’s room as she did every morning. Gran was up and winding her white hair into its usual knot at her nape.

“Good morning, my baby.” Gran smiled at her.

Maddie sat on the stool beside her in front of the mirror. Gran called her three granddaughters “baby.” At thirty-one, Maddie was past being a baby, but it was useless to mention that to Gran.

“Caitlyn’s coming to pick me up. I’m going to Southern Cross for a visit,” Gran told her, patting her hair.

Maddie lifted an eyebrow. “So the honeymooners are having company?”

Gran slipped on her comfortable shoes. “I’m not company. I’m the grandmother. Besides, we were all at Southern Cross for Thanksgiving.”

“Everyone but Sky.” Maddie worried about her baby sister and wished Sky would just come home.

“Sky has a mind of her own.”

“Mmm.” Maddie linked her arm through the older woman’s. “Let’s go down for breakfast.”

“Yes, my baby. It’s the first day of December and we have to start thinking about the upcoming holiday.”

Maddie would rather not. But soon she’d have to tell her mother that once again she wouldn’t be in Philly for Christmas.