Oh, Baby! Read online

  “We need to do something,” Brian said, plopping down on a corner of Dillon’s desk.

  Dillon sank into his leather armchair and sighed. “I know. I just hate to make an example of him. It’s hard enough for the kid right now.”

  “Yeah, but if the other guys see him getting away with this crap, that’s not good, either.”

  “I know.” Jeez, Dillon was beginning to wonder if he was cut out for this coaching gig. Or for the fatherhood gig he’d found himself in. And yet what choice did he have? It was important to establish a stable home for Aidan and it was just as important to establish some kind of stable career for himself. He was damned if he wanted to become one of those ex-jocks who tried to become actors or spent their days pitching products nobody needed. And he had no interest in spending his days in a monkey suit and tie, either. He sighed again. “I’ll talk to him, Brian. I’ll make it clear he’s on notice, and if he keeps causing trouble, he’ll be kicked off the team for good.”

  Brian nodded. His still-worried expression mirrored Dillon’s own misgivings. Because Dillon knew removing Jimmy Ferguson—the cosseted and spoiled only son of Crandall Lake’s mayor—from the varsity football squad in his senior year would cause a huge uproar in the community. And Dillon had enough strife in his life right now.

  * * *

  Joy Ferrelli yawned, then glanced longingly out the window. If only she’d been able to skip school today the way Aidan had wanted her to. Any one of her friends could’ve gotten away with it, but they didn’t have older sisters teaching here as she did. No way Joy could skip school without Sophie finding out about it.

  Sophie would have a cow if she knew about Joy and Aidan. That was the biggest reason for keeping their relationship a secret, but it wasn’t the only one. Truth was, Joy didn’t want to share what she had with Aidan. She didn’t want her girlfriends teasing her about him or asking her questions or giving her advice.

  She especially didn’t want them guessing, although she was afraid they probably had guessed. Megan, her BFF, had hinted as much the other day, but Joy had managed to squirm out of a direct answer. That probably wouldn’t be the case much longer, especially because it was getting harder and harder to disguise the way Joy felt about Aidan.

  She thought about last night. The way she’d sneaked out of her room after Sophie went to bed. The way Aidan was waiting for her at the corner of the street. The way they could barely wait to get to the lake before making love. And it was making love. Joy refused to even think of their relationship and the sex between them any other way. What they did was romantic and wonderful...and, and...beautiful. She guessed that was why she didn’t want anyone else to know. Because even Megan might snicker and give her sly looks and say something that would belittle what she had with Aidan. No, Joy couldn’t bear that.

  Joy sighed, remembering how Aidan always made her feel. And how much she loved him.

  “Miss Ferrelli, would it be too much to ask you to answer my question?”

  Joy blinked. “Huh?”

  “That’s what I thought,” Mr. Gardner said, frowning. “You didn’t even hear the question.” He shook his head, obviously disgusted. “If this class is that boring, maybe you’d like to drop it and take something more to your liking.”

  Joy swallowed. American history was a required subject for sophomores. She couldn’t drop it, and old sour-face Gardner knew it. “Sorry, Mr. Gardner. I—I didn’t sleep well last night. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “Hmmph. See that it doesn’t.” He gave her his fish-eyed stare. “Or you’ll find yourself in detention.”

  For a while, Joy forced herself to pay attention, even though she’d much rather have relived the night before. Where was Aiden now? she wondered. Had he skipped out? Had he gone out to the lake? Was he sitting in the sun, smoking a little weed?

  That was another thing that would cause Sophie to have a fit, Joy thought, squirming inside. If her sister’d had any clue Joy was smoking pot once in a while, she’d... Joy didn’t know what she’d do. Probably ground Joy for the rest of her life. Plus, she’d be so disappointed. Joy could imagine the look Sophie would get on her face. And even though Joy was totally in love with Aiden and didn’t really see anything wrong with having some weed now and then—after all, what was the big deal, anyway?—she loved Sophie, and she didn’t want her to get upset.

  So quit, then. Tell Aiden the truth. That you don’t like him smoking weed and you’re not going to do it with him anymore.

  “Miss Ferrelli! I told you earlier if you were bored, you could leave this class. I’m sending a note to the office. Report to Mrs. Woodsen immediately.”

  Joy’s heart lodged somewhere in her throat. She couldn’t believe she’d drifted into another daydream. Face flaming—how she hated the way she blushed so easily—she hastily gathered her books and mumbled, “Sorry, Mr. Gardner. Sorry.”

  “That’s what you said the last time.” He didn’t look up from his cell phone where he was texting the office.

  Joy swallowed. Oh God. Now she was in for it. On top of the detention she’d almost certainly get, Sophie was bound to punish her. And Friday night was homecoming. Joy had been planning to actually tell Sophie she had been invited to go by Aiden, kind of test the waters. Now she’d be lucky if Sophie let her go anywhere this weekend, let alone on a date with a senior boy.

  You’ve totally screwed up.

  Joy just hoped her sister was in a good mood tonight. Maybe the fact that Joy had never caused Sophie any problems before would make a difference. Maybe Sophie would be in a forgiving mood and Joy would get away with no more than a talking-to.

  Sighing heavily, Joy headed for the office and whatever fate awaited her.

  Chapter Two

  “You what?” Sophie said, staring at Joy.

  Joy grimaced. “I got sent to the office because I wasn’t paying attention in history class.”

  “I don’t believe it. You of all people. Why, I thought you loved history.”

  “I do love history. What I don’t love is old sourpuss Gardner.”

  “Don’t call him that. It’s disrespectful.” Sophie kept her expression neutral, even though privately she had called Philip Gardner worse. He was more than a sourpuss. He was downright nasty.

  “I’m sorry. But he’s so mean.”

  “No excuses, Joy. You weren’t paying attention in class, and Mr. Gardner was perfectly justified in sending you to the office. So, what happened there?”

  “Mrs. Woodson gave me a week’s detention.”

  “Good.” Connie Woodson was the assistant principal.

  Joy hung her head. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I really am. It won’t happen again.”

  Sophie suppressed a smile. She knew why Joy was so apologetic. She didn’t want to be punished by Sophie, too. “You’re not going to escape punishment because you’ve apologized, you know.”

  Joy bit her bottom lip. Her eyes, the same soft blue as their mother’s, never failed to elicit tenderness and sympathy in Sophie, although she fought to conceal it.

  “I should ground you,” Sophie said.

  “Please don’t. Not now.”

  Sophie knew exactly why Joy had said not now. Homecoming was Saturday night. And Joy wanted to go. Of course she did. All her friends would be going. Weakening, Sophie said, “Well...if you promise...”

  “I do! I promise! I’ll pay so much attention in all my classes, I’ll bring home straight A’s this semester.”

  Sophie chuckled. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, sweetie.”

  Joy gave her a sheepish grin. “I’ll make you proud, Sophie.”

  Sophie sighed. “Oh, all right. I won’t ground you...this time. But see this doesn’t happen again.”

  “It won’t.”

  “So you have a date for homeco
ming? Is that why you’re so eager to go?” Sophie picked up the mail, which Joy had placed on the gate-legged table in the entryway of the home that had belonged to Joy’s parents.

  “Um, sort of...”

  Sophie idly leafed through the advertisements and credit card offers. When would these banks quit sending her this stuff? She never responded. Suddenly realizing that Joy was standing there quietly, Sophie looked up. “Sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say?”

  “Um, I said I did kind of have a date.”

  “Oh? Who with?”

  “Um, Aidan Burke?”

  Sophie blinked. Aidan Burke? Dillon Burke’s nephew? Alarm bells began ringing in her brain. She opened her mouth, then closed it, not sure what to say. Her first instinct had been to say over my dead body, but she knew she would have to justify an answer like that, and what could she say? I don’t want you seeing anyone even remotely connected to Dillon Burke. The Burke men are bad news. Really bad news. Sighing again, she met Joy’s hopeful gaze. “How old is this Aidan Burke?”

  Joy’s expression became hesitant. “He’s a senior,” she said softly.

  “Yes, that’s what I thought.” Oh God. Is history repeating itself? “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to date a senior, Joy.”

  “Why? He’s really nice, Sophie. You’d like him.”

  Sophie could just imagine. She’d seen Dillon’s nephew from a distance. He was a good-looking kid. In fact, he reminded her of Dillon when he was a kid. No. This would never do. “You are too young to date a senior. And when did you meet him, anyway?”

  “At the pool. This summer.”

  “I see.” She studied Joy for a moment, but Joy evaded her gaze. “Have you already gone out with him?” At first, Sophie wasn’t sure Joy was going to answer her. But then she looked up.

  “We’ve never had a date.”

  There was something about Joy’s answer that bothered Sophie, but she certainly wasn’t going to accuse her sister of lying to her. Was she lying?

  “Sophie, I just wish you’d meet him...”

  “I’m sorry, Joy, but I’ve made up my mind. You cannot go to homecoming with him. You can dance with him if he asks you, but you cannot go with him or allow him to bring you home.”

  Joy’s face crumpled. “This is so unfair. You...you don’t even know him!”

  “Joy,” Sophie said quietly, “you knew what my reaction was going to be before you even told me about him.” When Joy just stared at her, Sophie added, “We agreed last year, when you first began dating, that you would stick to boys in your age bracket.”

  “But that was before I’d met Aidan. Please, Sophie, just give him a chance. Let him come over and talk to you. I know you’ll change your mind if you meet him.”

  Sophie shook her head. If Aidan had even one quarter of the charm his uncle had, she would be putty in his hands. “No, honey. It’s out of the question. When you’re older and in college, you can make your own choices about who you date. While you’re here, and I’m in charge, the rules will stand.”

  Joy gave her one last beseeching look, then walked away dejectedly. Sophie sighed. Please, God, give me the strength to get her safely through high school.

  An hour later, dinner on the table, Sophie called upstairs to tell Joy it was time to eat. Hearing nothing in return, she called louder. When there was still no response, she climbed the stairs and knocked on Joy’s bedroom door before opening it, all ready to deliver a reprimand. Her mouth instead fell open. The room was empty.

  “Joy?” Sophie walked in, then checked the adjoining bathroom. Joy wasn’t there. Where was she? Sophie looked at Joy’s nightstand where her charger lay. Joy’s cell phone, which was always connected to the charger when Joy was in the room, wasn’t there, either.

  Her niece had sneaked out.

  Somehow Joy had come down the stairs noiselessly, opened the front door and left without making any noise or saying a word to Sophie.

  Sophie’s heart sped up. She was furious. In fact, she couldn’t believe Joy had defied her like this. Worse, she couldn’t think what she was going to do about it. Trouble was, she herself was only twenty-nine. She was too close to being a kid herself not to remember what it felt like to have a crush on an older, drop-dead-handsome boy. To think you’d die if he didn’t ask you out. Maybe she’d made a terrible mistake. By telling Joy she couldn’t go to homecoming with Aidan Burke, had she inadvertently pushed the girl right into his arms?

  Sighing, Sophie moped downstairs. Picking up her own cell phone, she texted Joy.

  Where R U? Pls come hm. Lets talk.

  When ten minutes had gone by with no answer, she realized Joy either had her phone shut off or was simply going to ignore her. She probably figured Sophie wasn’t going to relent on homecoming anyway, so what difference did it make? All Sophie could do was wait, and try to figure out what she was going to do now.

  * * *

  The house was dark when Aidan dropped Joy off. But Sophie’s bedroom faced the backyard, so even if her light was still on, Joy wouldn’t have been able to see it.

  Joy silently let herself in, glad there was no dog to make noise, even though she’d been begging Sophie for months to let her get a Lab. Sophie had finally relented, saying they could pick out a Lab puppy for Christmas. Joy made a face. She guessed she’d probably blown that, too, with her disappearing act tonight.

  Why had she sneaked out? She still wasn’t sure. All she knew was that when Sophie had so stubbornly refused to allow her to go to homecoming with Aidan, she was so angry she just wanted to show Sophie she couldn’t control everything in Joy’s life.

  You’ve blown it. Totally blown it. Now she probably won’t let you go to homecoming at all.

  Joy was still thinking dark thoughts when she reached the top of the stairs—thankfully, not making any noise while doing it—so she wasn’t fully prepared for Sophie’s sudden appearance in the hallway.

  “Where have you been?” Sophie demanded.

  Joy swallowed. “I was upset. I—I had to get away...to think.”

  “To think.”

  “Yes.” Joy straightened, abruptly deciding she would brazen this out. She was in the doghouse anyway. Might as well show some backbone.

  Sophie sighed heavily. “Joy,” she began.

  “I know, I know. You’re mad at me. I don’t blame you.”

  “I’m more than mad, Joy. I’m disappointed. I didn’t know where you were or what you were doing. I even bailed out on my book club tonight because I was so worried about you. I’ve been sitting and waiting all night. I know you were out with that boy, otherwise I might have been tempted to call the police and have them look for you. The least you could have done was answer my text, let me know you were safe. I don’t think I deserve this kind of treatment from you. Do you?”

  All Joy’s defiance disappeared. Instead she just felt miserable. Because her sister was right. Sophie didn’t deserve this kind of treatment. She was a wonderful person. A wonderful sister. And she’d never been anything but fair and kind and loving to Joy. In fact, Joy wasn’t sure she would have survived losing her parents if not for Sophie. Tears stinging her eyes, Joy shook her head. “No,” she whispered.

  “Then why did you do it?”

  Joy shrugged. A tear rolled down her cheek. “I—I don’t know. I’m sorry, Sophie. I really am. I—deserve whatever punishment you want to give me.”

  Sophie nodded. She reached out and squeezed Joy’s shoulder. “Look, we’re both tired and upset. We won’t make any decisions tonight. And we both have to be up early tomorrow. So we’ll talk tomorrow night, okay?”

  “Okay.” Joy was grateful for the reprieve, but she was savvy enough to know that just because she’d been given some time before she had to face the music didn’t mean Sophie was going to go easy on
her.

  * * *

  Thank God it was Friday, Sophie thought as she drove to work. The week had been brutal, especially Wednesday night and last night. Thinking about last night, she hoped she’d done some good, at least for Kaitlyn, the senior who was pregnant. The meeting with Kaitlyn and her parents hadn’t been easy, but at least their beautiful, college-bound daughter was in one piece. By the time Sophie had left for home, the family was in the midst of trying to make the best decision about how to go forward. The one thing all three had agreed upon was that Kaitlyn would still head off to UT next fall. Whether she would give her child up for adoption or go another direction was still up in the air.

  Sophie was grateful it wasn’t her decision to make. The decision she had made earlier, before going over to the Macpherson home, was still bothering her. She’d taken pity on Joy and hadn’t forbidden her to go to homecoming, especially when Joy had meekly agreed she would attend with Megan, Jenna and Bethany, her three best friends—all of whom were going stag. Sophie had almost insisted upon picking Joy up when the evening was over, but she’d instead decided to give Joy another chance at trust.

  “You’re absolutely not to go home with Aidan Burke. You will stay with your friends and leave with your friends. Understood?”

  She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake, but the die was cast. And if she had made a mistake, and Joy disobeyed her, then that would be it. She wouldn’t trust Joy again.

  Driving into the teachers’ parking lot, Sophie saw a tall, dark-haired figure getting out of a black Toyota Tundra truck. Her heart skipped as she realized it was Dillon. Parking as far from his truck as it was possible, she waited until he was halfway to the entrance of the school before exiting her little Prius. She felt unsettled enough today without having to contend with another meeting with Dillon.