Holding him on her hip, she trailed her finger down the list of preschoolers until she found his name. Moving across James’s signature from that morning, she scribbled her name and added the time.
“Let Mr. Preston know extra charges will be added to his account. If this happens again, we will no longer be able to provide services.” Thin lips turned into a semblance of a smile.
“Now that I’m aware of the situation, it can be resolved.” Joni slipped her license in her purse. “Thank you.”
She buckled Isaac in the backseat, but had no booster for him. James’s ringtone blasted from the front. She ignored it.
“I miss-ed you, Joni. I’m glad you came to get me. I told Ms. Bozly you would. But she had to check files. I don’t like it at Momma’s.” His smile pricked her heart. “Can I come home?”
“Yes.” She brushed her lips across his forehead. “Today you can.”
As she slid into the driver’s seat James called again. She pressed the green button and held the phone toward Isaac. “Here, talk to your daddy. He’s probably worried.”
“Joni.” James’s voice flowed from the phone before Isaac reached for it.
“Hey, Daddy. Guess what? I’m going home.”
~~~
The aroma of pizza sauce teased his nostrils as he climbed up the stairs. Pausing at the front door, James raised his hand to knock. Isaac’s laugh from inside the apartment changed his mind. He ran his hand down his face and opened the door.
“Daddy, you’re home. Me and Joni made pizza.” The evidence was smeared across Isaac’s chin.
James stood in the doorway, not quite sure what to do. Would she invite him in? Or tell him to get out? Isaac ate at the coffee table in front of the television. Where was Joni?
“James, can I see you in the kitchen, please?”
He stepped in and shut the door. In the kitchen, her back to him, she lifted a pizza out of the oven and set the pan on top of the stove. She turned and shed her oven mitt. “I hope you’re hungry.”
His eyes devoured the sight of her. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her shirt had small flour fingerprints on the sides and shoulders. She was beautiful. Her shaky smile begged him to pretend.
He wanted to tell her about the screaming match he’d had with Kathy over the phone. He wanted to tell her he could stay the night because Kathy was at Bayfest and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. But to speak Kathy’s name in Joni’s apartment would be blasphemy. He shed his boots and jacket and then crossed the scarred linoleum. He removed the thing from her hair and ran his hand through the silken tresses. “I’m starving. The pizza smells delicious.” When his mouth met hers he felt as if he’d truly come home. Now, if he could find a way to stay.
The next day, James knocked off work early so he could make it to preschool on time. Mrs. Bozly tilted her head. “Miss Maher signed Isaac out at one o’clock.” James pretended he forgot Joni’s intentions and listened to a lecture on parental responsibility.
When he got to the apartment, Joni had dinner on the table. He ate without saying a word about the preschool and kissed her when he and Isaac left. Each morning, as he signed Isaac into daycare, he’d check the previous day’s checkout time. For the rest of the week Joni picked Isaac up between one and two o’clock.
~~~
“Joni, I was ascared. You was late and they made me sleep on that stupid pallet.” Isaac screwed up his face and shuddered.
If the fear in his eyes wasn’t real, Joni would’ve laughed at his expressive nature. “I’m sorry you were worried, but I don’t get out of class until four on Tuesdays.”
He pouted all the way to the apartment as she tried to explain the concept of time to the grouchy four-year-old. The preschool didn’t close until six and she wasn’t late. In the apartment, she went through his book bag and exclaimed over his daily papers. Since starting preschool in Montgomery, and now here in Mobile, Isaac had learned numbers and most of the alphabet.
“Joni, can I stay with you? Uncle Ray lives with his girlfriend. We saw him yesterday. And girlfriends are nicer than mommas. So can I? Can I stay here?” Sincere blue eyes blinked.
She dropped the green handprint he’d made at school on the table and knelt down in front of him. “Oh sweetie, I would love for you to live here, but your momma...well, she has custody. That’s why you and James live with her.”
“But we don’t like it there and she yells at Daddy all the times. At dark, she laid down on our bed, but Daddy made her go away. Momma said he smelled like his horse.” His little head tilted as if in deep thought. “Is Daddy a cowboy?”
She doubted horse was the word Kathy used. She would have to skimp on perfume. “Isaac, I don’t know what to tell you except…there are things in life we don’t like, but we can’t change them. We live the best we can and pray God will help us through the tough times. Do you understand?”
He sniffed and shook his head. “No.”
“I don’t either.” She sighed and cupped his little chin in her hand. “But, no matter where you live, I will always love you.”
His smile lit up the dark corners of her heart. “I love you too, Joni.”
The door clicked shut and James’s eyes met hers. She hadn’t heard him come in. How much did he hear?
He clapped his hands once. “Tuesday night is Joni’s day off.” He crossed the room and swept her up in his arms. “So what will it be, beautiful? Dine-in or take-out?”
She closed her eyes and breathed deep. It had been so long since he called her by that endearment. He twirled her around and a laugh escaped. “James.”
“Three weeks, Joni.” He fell back against the sofa with her in his arms. “We’ll be a family again in three weeks.”
“How?” Joni scrambled up in his lap and grabbed his shoulders. “Don’t tease me, James. That would be cruel.”
He grinned and nodded at Isaac. “You’ll have to wait until little ears sleep.” His kiss melted her insides, like it did before they’d lost custody.
James grilled steaks on the balcony as Joni and Isaac read a book in the recliner. After dinner, Isaac fell asleep watching cartoons and James told Joni about his meeting at the docks. “We’ll have passports, social security cards, birth certificates, and driver’s licenses in any state you choose.” He kissed her hand. “And the best part…all three of us will share the same last name. We’ll go wherever you want.”
“Are you serious? Will this work?”
“Yes. They’re not fakes. They’re real identities of people who’ve died without next of kin. Will you go with us?”
She couldn’t force the words past her lips. It was too good to be true.
The light dimmed in his eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, to leave your family and friends to be with Isaac and me. If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand.”
“No.” Joni kissed him quickly and then laughed. “Yes, I’ll go.” She kissed him again. “I’ll follow you forever, but how do we keep blabbermouth quiet?”
“We won’t tell him.” James sobered. “But we do have to be careful. I know you don’t like to talk about her, but she’s crazier than usual. I don’t know if she’s drugging or what, but we need to cut our evening short.” His mouth claimed hers. “Three weeks, Joni. It will be over in three weeks. I love you.” He kissed her again. “I love you.” And again.
She forgot he needed to leave early, and it was after midnight when he carried a sleeping Isaac out the door.
Joni tinkered with the piano keys, not playing anything in particular. Three more weeks of crying herself to sleep. Three more weeks of worrying if Isaac was safe. Three more weeks of wondering if James and Kathy…
Her phone sang James’s ringtone from the coffee table.
Something was wrong. He never called when he was with her. She snatched it up. “James?”
Isaac’s trembling voice broke her heart all over again. “Joni, I’m ascared.”
A horrendous crash came from the background. Kath
y cussed and the commotion grew.
“Momma throwed a bottle at Daddy.” Sniff. “He’s bleeding. I think she broke his neck.”
Her first priority was Isaac’s safety. “Go to your room. Daddy’s a tough guy, remember? A little scratch isn’t gonna hurt him.”
The fight faded to a dull murmur and a soft click ended the noise entirely. God, help James calm Kathy down. Joni pressed her speaker button and propped her phone on top of the keyboard. “Climb in bed, sweetie. I’ll sing you to sleep.”
The covers rustled. “She’s loud.”
“It’s okay. Some people like to yell. Snuggle close to Bunkie and close your eyes.” She played his favorite lullaby. After some minutes his sleepy voice interrupted. “Goodnight, Joni.”
“Sweet dreams, Isaac.” She sang the lullaby twice more and listened. Soft breaths echoed, making her smile. She whispered, “I love you.”
~~~
James leaned on the doorframe and watched his son drift off to sleep with a smile. His fight with Kathy didn’t seem to have bothered him. She was already enraged when Isaac said, “Sorry, we’re late Momma. I had to take a nap before Joni could come get me.” After Isaac’s simple statement, it was all James could do to avoid bodily harm. Thankfully, Kathy had stormed off somewhere in the night. Cindy hadn’t been home in days.
He tiptoed across the room and noticed the phone cradled against Isaac’s ear. His phone. Joni’s music wafted from three feet away. He crawled in the bed beside his son and stole the phone to his ear. Her sweet voice shed beams of light in their dark world. In three weeks, he could hold her forever, but until then, he couldn’t see her again.
The music stopped and he absorbed her words of love. The line clicked and James whispered into the darkness. “Goodnight, beautiful. I love you, too.”
~~~
The next afternoon, the daycare director met Joni at the door. “I apologize, Miss Maher, but Isaac’s mother has removed your authorization.”
Joni peeked through the window at the blond head bent over a coloring page. She fought the sting in her eyes. “I see.” She adjusted her purse strap. “Thank you for telling me out here.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “If something happens and Kathy forgets…will you call me?”
“I’m sorry. That’s no longer an option.”
She drove to the apartment in a daze. Trembling fingers texted James. Kathy banned me from preschool. They close at 6. Don’t forget Isaac.
Two ibuprofens later, she crawled in bed and read James’s reply. Three weeks. I love you.
Hiding under the covers, Joni cried for hours. At five, Marla’s call woke her. “Hey, girl. I wanted to remind you that we have church on Wednesdays. Would love to see you tonight.”
Something stirred within Joni. “Thanks, Marla. That’s exactly what I need right now. I’ll see you at seven.”
Rejoining church activities helped pass the time, although Joni couldn’t quite look the pastor in the eye during his sermons. Why did she feel like she should apologize for loving James? Each time she knelt to pray for Isaac’s safety, Anna’s face came unbidden in her mind. Was God trying to show her something? She still had the card Sam had pressed into her hand, but she couldn’t contact the Todds. James would never forgive her. Instead, she helped Marla and Rachel plan Andrea’s baby shower.
It had been two weeks since she’d seen James when she and the girls went to the mall looking for the perfect gift. Joni lifted an infant sailor outfit from the sales rack. She held it up for Marla’s approval. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know. That’s so ordinary. Let’s find a unique gift. Something that won’t be duplicated at the shower tomorrow.”
“Joni!”
She swung around. Isaac broke away from James’s hand and ran through the maze of baby things. Joni knelt and hugged him close to her. She kissed his cheek. “I missed you so much.”
“Where did you go? You didn’t pick me up and now Daddy is sad.”
She stood and turned to James. His hardened stance faltered. Mouth slightly opened, he lifted his shades and turned in a half-circle. With his left brow raised, his eyes darted from diapers to baby blankets. Delicious shivers zinged up her spine as his gaze settled on her flat stomach. He tilted his head as the corner of his lips turned up. “Joni?”
The unspoken question lingered in the air. “No, James.” She swallowed and shook her head slightly. “Andrea’s baby shower is tomorrow.”
His face fell. Sunglasses quickly hid his expression. “Right. My bad.”
Rachel stepped around the wall of baby bottles. “Awkwaaaard.” She smirked at James. “But…suspicions confirmed.”
Marla jabbed her elbow in Rachel’s side. “Let’s go see what they have over there.”
Joni closed her eyes and gripped the rack in front of her. The heat on her face wasn’t from Rachel’s statements, but rather the intense look James pinned her with. Would things be different if she carried his child?
Isaac pulled on her shirt. “Don’t you love us no more?”
“Of course I do.” Joni turned her back to compose her features.
Strong arms encircled her. James’s whispered words were balm to her battered heart. “I love you. I need you to be strong. One more week.”
Joni turned, “But Isaa—”
James claimed her mouth. Starved for his touch, Joni melted against him. Oh, what she would give to be absorbed in him. To go with him everywhere. To become part of him.
“Isn’t this the nice family picture?” Kathy’s voice broke them apart.
James kept his arm around Joni, but she shuddered at the venom in Kathy’s eyes.
“The problem is you’re stealing my family. Mine!” Kathy moved in front of Joni and sneered.
“Don’t touch her.” James stepped in between them.
“Or what James?” Kathy’s loud voice drew a crowd, Rachel and Marla among the bystanders. “Will you cut my allowance? Take away my phone?”
“You’re causing a scene.” James touched Kathy’s arm and Joni recoiled.
“This is nothing compared to what she deserves.” Kathy snatched Isaac and slung him across her shoulder.
“Kathy.” James blocked her path and reached for Isaac. “Stop it!”
Kathy swirled around, putting Isaac out of James’s reach. The little boy held out his arms toward Joni. Tears streamed down his face. “Don’t let her take me. I don’t want to go.” Isaac cried uncontrollably.
“Shut. Up.” Kathy punched the back of flailing legs and her fist rained blows on his back. James lunged forward and captured her flying hands.
Isaac let out a wail. “Joni!” Little legs kicked the air. “Help me! I want Joni!”
Some unnamed emotion rose up within her. She grabbed Kathy’s hair and slung her into the rack of clothes. Isaac thudded against the tile floor. Kathy swung at Joni, but James caught her arms and pinned them behind her back.
James stared at Joni open-mouthed.
“Enough!” Joni gently lifted a crying Isaac from the floor. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get out of here.” Chest heaving, she pointed at James. “Don’t let her follow me.” She grabbed all the cash in her purse and threw it at Kathy. “Here, go drug yourself up and leave my baby alone.”
She ran toward the exit with Isaac on her hip. James called after her, but she quickened her pace. He wouldn’t let go of Kathy. He’d give them time to escape because he thought Joni would find him later. But this time he was wrong. Isaac couldn’t be pulled back and forth anymore. James’s selfish need to be a good father clouded his thinking. Someone had to do what was best for Isaac. And that someone was her. She kissed his forehead and buckled him in the backseat. “I love you so much. She won’t hurt you again. I promise.”
Chapter Seventeen
In Moss Point, Mississippi, Joni gassed up her Honda using her debit card. Forging her trail west, she stopped a few miles later in Pascagoula at the nearest ATM. Confident everyone would be searching the Mississ
ippi coast and beyond to New Orleans, she turned north and circled back to the place no one could find them.
The fight to stay awake consumed her every thought. Isaac was too precious to crash into a ditch. So at three thirty in the morning, she breathed a sigh of relief as she hid her car in the farmhouse barn. Cradling Isaac in her arms, she tapped on the backdoor with her foot.
Mr. Preston smiled in welcome. “Come in.” He lifted Isaac out of her tired arms. “I’ve been waiting up for you. Pour yourself some coffee while I put him to bed.” Joni nodded, but collapsed at the table.
The fatherly hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. She lifted her head and faced Mr. Preston. “James is going to hate me, but I can’t give him back. They’re tearing him apart.” Her forehead dropped to her arm and she cried her heart out.
“Its okay, pumpkin. Get it all out.”
Joni wept until her eyes ran dry. She leaned back in her chair while Mr. Preston poured them a cup of coffee. “Tell me what happened.”
“When Kathy hurt Isaac, I…” She sniffed. “I lost it.” Trembling hands lifted the mug and she inhaled the bitter brew. Mr. Preston took the chair beside her. “If you could have seen the way she hit him.”
“I did. It was on tonight’s news. The security cameras caught it all. People are outraged. Folks all over the South are praying.”
“What?” She blinked at the man who would’ve become her father-in-law. “What happened after I left?”
“All you-know-what broke loose.” He pulled her up by the hand and led her in front of the television in the den. “I recorded it on the DVR.”
On the large television, Kathy hit Isaac. Joni winced at the pain etched on his little face. The Joni on-screen grabbed Isaac and ran. Kathy slapped James and struggled, but he tackled her to the floor. Marla and Rachel were frozen in the background. The scene cut to the parking lot and zeroed in on Joni’s blurred license plate as she exited the mall parking lot. Kathy was led out in handcuffs. Joni’s heart stopped as James likewise was shoved in the back of a sheriff’s car. “Why did they arrest James?”
The news anchor answered her question. “The mother, Kathleen Miranda Davies was arrested on child abuse charges, while James Isaac Preston was arrested for assault and interference of custody.”
“Assault?” Joni looked to Mr. Preston. “Who did he assault?”