Sun-Kissed Baby
She had mentioned being recently divorced. She was probably spinning her wheels, passing time, till she decided what direction she wanted to go in her life.
It saddened him to see someone in her situation, especially with a child, and wondered where her ex-husband was and whether he kept in touch to see his boy. God knows, if he’d had one with Gina, he would never have relinquished his rights as a father. Maybe some men could just walk away and never look back, but not him. And he didn’t like to think it was only because he couldn’t have a child of his own when he wanted one so badly. It was just the right thing for a man to do.
He parked the beach buggy next to an empty cottage that had recently been painted and a new air conditioner installed. While Carlee was getting Scotty out of her car, Nick went inside to make sure everything was as it should be. The same migrants returned year after year because the facilities and pay were the best to be had in the citrus-picking industry. They appreciated that fact and took care of things, so there was little maintenance to be done off-season. But some of the buildings were getting old, and refurbishment was needed.
He walked through the cottage and by the time he returned to the porch, Carlee was coming up the steps. “There’s a slight smell of paint left, but I opened all the windows to let some fresh air in. Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
Again he held out his arms to Scotty, who went to him eagerly.
Carlee pasted on a smile as though pleased he was so fond of her child.
“It’s small but comfortable,” Nick said as they stood in the tiny living room. There was a sofa that folded out into a bed, an upholstered chair and a television with rabbit ears. “The reception is pretty good from Orlando. I wish we had cable back here, but it would be too expensive, and nobody really has time to watch TV when we’re working the regular season.”
He led her through the other rooms. The kitchen had a table and four chairs, a small refrigerator and stove. There were twin beds and a dresser in one bedroom, and a double bed and chest in the other. “I can have the furniture moved out of the one where you want to set up Scotty’s crib.”
“He doesn’t have a crib. Just a portable one, and it’s small. It can go next to my bed.”
“Well, we can get him a crib. Someone left one behind last season and—”
“No. Don’t trouble yourself. We won’t be here but a few months. We can get by. But thanks, again.”
“Well, okay, it’s up to you. I’ll go get your things.”
Again she was quick to protest. “I’d rather do it myself, really. I packed the car and know where everything is.”
“If you’re sure…”
She nodded. “I’m sure.”
He did not insist. Her puzzling wariness had returned. Maybe she was uncomfortable accepting help from her employer.
He left her after saying he’d stop by later to see if she needed anything. That was met with yet another wooden thanks-but-no-thanks.
As he drove back to the office, Nick decided maybe Carlee Denton was just an independent sort, determined to make it on her own and didn’t want anything smacking of pity or charity. After all, she hadn’t wanted to accept the teddy bear as a gift for Scotty.
Scotty.
Nick really liked that little boy, even though holding him, feeling his chubby little arms around his neck, made him sad to think that he’d never have a son of his own. But maybe one day, with the right woman, he could adopt, and—
Forget it, a voice within warned. You’ve been there, done that. And the bad memories are like a souvenir T-shirt wrapped around your heart.
“Well, how did she like the cottage?” Elaine asked when he walked into the office.
“She seemed to like it. She didn’t have much to say. I think she’s tired. The little boy’s sure cute. How’s the day care doing, by the way?”
“I think there’s six children there now, enough to keep it operating.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “We’d have to keep it open even if there was only one child, Elaine. Migrants know they can always depend on having good care for their children here.”
“I know. It just seems expensive sometimes during Valencia season when there aren’t many here.”
“Well, regardless, we’re keeping it open. Anything important in the mail?”
“No, but the Sheriff’s Department in Brevard County finally got around to sending back your wallet and credit cards they retrieved from the guy who stole them.” She handed him a large brown envelope.
Amazed at how long it had taken, he dumped the contents on the desk. There wasn’t much. Just the wallet, his driver’s license and a couple of credit cards. Things he had replaced right after the theft.
Elaine said, “There’s also a letter apologizing for the delay. How long has it been? Two years?”
“Almost. I was at that Growers’ Association meeting in Cocoa Beach they have every year in June.” He frowned to remember. “The guy that picked my pocket sure had a good time using my credit cards till I could get all the companies notified and put a stop to it.”
Elaine nodded to recall. “It was sad what happened to him, though.”
Nick put everything back in the envelope. “Yes, it was.”
He went into his office and tossed the envelope on top of a file cabinet. He had some paperwork to catch up on and then later he wanted to make sure Carlee had settled in all right. Maybe if Scotty wasn’t napping, she would let him take him down to the lake to see the ducks.
And even though every instinct told him to back off, Nick knew he also wanted to see Carlee again.
Chapter Four
Carlee braked to a stop in front of the day-care center. She had overslept and was running late. Nick had said they started work at 6 a.m., and it was almost that now.
A young woman who looked to be the same age as Carlee saw her from a window and was waiting when she carried Scotty to the door.
“Hi, I’m Becky Ivy. You have to be Carlee Denton, and you—” she caught Scotty’s little hand and kissed it “—must be Scotty. I am so glad to meet you and your mommy.”
“And we’re both happy to meet you, Becky.” Carlee followed her inside and looked about. It was a very nice room, decorated in blue, white and yellow with cheery animal-print curtains hanging at the windows. There were little tables and chairs, playpens and cribs, and sleeping pallets stacked in a corner awaiting nap times. Toys of every description and suitable for different age groups were arranged neatly on shelves or spilling out of wooden chests.
Becky explained, “We have a kitchen where we prepare snacks and lunches, two bathrooms, and two small rooms in case a child is sick and needs extra attention. I have a girl who comes in around lunchtime to help me. We don’t have a full house now, as you can see.” She indicated two boys and a girl playing in a corner. They looked to be about two or three. “If we did, there would be an attendant for every five children. Mr. Starke’s rules.”
Carlee was satisfied that the facilities were as nice as she’d expected. She also liked Becky. She was neatly dressed in Bermuda shorts, a crisp white blouse and a blue smock appliquéd with dancing bunnies. She was friendly, cheerful and seemed very mature and capable.
As if she could tell Carlee was sizing her up, Becky volunteered, “I’m a licensed practical nurse, and I studied child development at Florida State for a few years before deciding to go into nursing. Only, I found once I had my license, I missed being around children. I was lucky enough to get this job, and I can assure you that you don’t have to worry about leaving Scotty with me.”
“No, no, of course not.” Carlee didn’t want her thinking she was overprotective. She was just worried that being left with a stranger was going to upset Scotty. Other than Fran Bremmer, she and Alicia were the only ones who had ever looked after him, and now he was clinging to her tightly and staring at Becky with fearful eyes.
“Come on,” Becky said. “I’ll show you around.”
Carlee decided that perhaps Scotty would calm down if she didn’t leave right away.
At Becky’s suggestion, she put him in a playpen with some toys, which instantly caught his attention.
“Is there anything I need to know?” Becky asked. “Is he allergic to anything?”
“Not that I know of.” Carlee showed her the bottles of formula in his diaper bag. “He’s really a good baby. You shouldn’t have any trouble, but if you do, I guess you’ll know where to find me.”
“Sure. I can call the office, and they’ll send for you, but don’t worry. He’s going to be just fine, and after you leave I’ll see if he wants to play with the other toddlers.”
Carlee told her he would probably be better off in the playpen. “He hasn’t started walking yet. I think it’s because he’s so chubby.” She felt a stab of sorrow to remember Alicia saying that the day she died. “He can’t even stand alone for more than a few seconds.”
“Well, don’t be concerned about it. One of these days you’ll come in from work and find him running all over the place.”
Carlee remembered Alicia saying she wanted to be there when Scotty took his first steps, and now Carlee knew how she felt.
“Come on. Let’s take the tour. It won’t take long.” She led the way through the kitchen with its gleaming countertops and the very latest in appliances. The two private nurseries were cozy and clean, as were the bathrooms.
Becky motioned Carlee to follow her out a side door where the other toddlers were playing. “As you can see, we have every imaginable kind of play equipment. Mr. Starke insists on the best.”
Thinking she might be able to find out more about Nick from Becky, Carlee asked, “How long have you been here?”
“Almost a year.”
“And you like everything about it? Including Mr. Starke?”
“Oh, yes. The pay is good, and the working conditions are great. And Mr. Starke is wonderful. Nice-looking, too, isn’t he?” Her eyes twinkled. “Too bad I’m married, but then, I’ve heard he doesn’t date much. Now and then he might take someone to a charity benefit dance in Orlando. The family has always been involved in things like that, but he’s a workaholic. With him, it’s all about the groves.”
“Strange. You’d think with his money and position in the community he’d be having parties all the time.”
“Well, I think when he was married his wife threw a lot of parties. At least that’s what I’ve heard.” Becky flashed a teasing grin. “Why do you ask? Aren’t you married?” Her gaze lowered to Carlee’s ring finger.
Carlee glanced about the yard, suddenly self-conscious. “No, I’m not, and I was only curious about Mr. Starke since I’ll be working for him. I’m certainly not interested in him. He’s not my type.”
“Oh. Well, you probably won’t see much of him. Mike Thurston is the foreman, and he’s real nice. I met him at the end-of-season picnic a couple of months ago.” She turned and headed back inside. “I’d better get back to the kids.”
“And I’d better get to work and leave you to yours.” Carlee went to the playpen and leaned down to kiss the top of Scotty’s head. Engrossed in his toy, he paid her no mind. “So much for him crying when I leave,” she said, laughing.
Becky picked up his arm as Carlee walked away. “Wave to Mommy, honey. Tell her bye-bye.”
Mommy. It still sounded strange whenever anyone called her that. But she would get used to it, just as she was becoming accustomed to having total care of Scotty. Sure, she had helped Alicia from the beginning, but that wasn’t the same as being the primary caregiver. It felt more natural though, with every passing day. And she liked it.
No, she loved it, loved Scotty, despite worrying about money and what the future held.
But she was starting to feel better about things. Before leaving home, she had called the school and was told she could pick up where she left off in the fall. Her old job would be waiting, and by the time she left Starke Groves, she hoped to have a good handle on her finances, especially if she was ultimately able to persuade Nick to help with child support. Regardless of how she felt about him personally, so far he didn’t seem to be mean-spirited. Perhaps he would listen to reason and be willing to help if she took Scotty and left without making a scene that would tarnish his family name.
She looked at her watch. It was almost six-thirty. Being late would not make a good first impression, but she would assure him it was not going to be a habit. Settling Scotty in on his first day was surely an acceptable reason.
No one was in the office. In fact, no one was anywhere around. The open tractor-trailers she had seen parked under nearby sheds the day before were gone. Elaine would not be in until probably nine o’clock, so she couldn’t ask where they were all working.
Standing in the middle of the road, she turned in every direction, but all she could see were the long rows of orange trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. She had no idea which way to go and was leery of taking off to search because she could get lost out there, the place was so darn big.
Hope surged when she heard the sound of a car approaching. She ran to the corner of the building to look around, then groaned to see it was Nick. He was the last person she wanted to encounter right then, even if it meant the day wasn’t lost, after all.
He eased the beach buggy to a stop beside her. “Good morning, sleepyhead. When I say we start at six, I mean six in the morning. Not the evening.”
The dimples were showing. He was smiling. So she knew he wasn’t angry. Just amused. But that didn’t make her feel any better. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I took too much time looking around the day-care center.”
“I understand, but the trucks always leave promptly at six. Get in, and I’ll take you to where they’re working.”
As they drove, he explained that in the future she would probably know where picking was going on. “But if you miss the trucks it might be a heck of a long hike. I’ve got over two thousand acres of trees, and the Valencias are way in the back.”
She was impressed, having heard Starke was among the biggest but she’d had no idea just how big.
“Well, I don’t plan to be late again. Besides, I don’t like to think of losing pay wandering around looking for everybody.”
As they bumped along between the orange trees, he wanted to know how she liked the day-care center. “Or, more importantly, how did Scotty like it?”
“He seemed to settle right in.” Nick had a friendly way about him that made him easy to talk to, and she found herself chatting away despite her secret loathing for him. “The center is really nice, and I liked Becky, too. I don’t think I have to worry about leaving him with her.”
“No, you don’t. She was carefully screened, has terrific references, and I’ve never had a complaint about her.”
Carlee tried not to think about what a nice profile he had or the strength in his hands as he gripped the wheel to steer around a hole in the road. His every movement was effortless, and he exuded confidence.
Remembering it was her turn to speak, she murmured, “It’s commendable that you provide such good care for the children, Mr. Starke.”
“Oh, please.” He laughed and let go of the wheel to throw up a hand. “Call me Nick. I intend to call you Carlee—if that’s okay.”
“Sure. That’s fine with me.” The friendlier terms they were on, the easier it would be for her to get to know him.
“So you’ve picked oranges before?”
“That’s right. Down the coast a ways.” It was not a total lie. She had gone out into the orchard one day with Ben to handpick some really nice oranges for a gift basket a special customer had ordered.
“And you don’t mind climbing up and down ladders all day? I have to say I was surprised you wanted a job picking. Most women would rather work in processing and packing. I’ve got six women there for the Valencias. I could use another.”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’ll make more money out here.”
“It’s hard work,” he warned. “If you change your mind…”
“I won’t.” She took a deep breath to drink in the sweetness as they drove by trees in bloom. “I don’t think there’s a sweeter smell in the world than orange blossoms.”
“Those are the Hamlins and the Parson Browns. They’ll mature from October through January, but I guess you know that.”
“Right. Those are the early varieties. But what about mid-season oranges like pineapple oranges? Don’t you grow those, as well?”
“No. We concentrate on the Hamlins and Parson Browns because we probably transport over fifty tons of oranges a day during full season to juice-processing plants. That’s our profit. The Valencias are gravy. We bag them and send them to wholesalers who then turn around and sell to retail outlets.”
Carlee’s thoughts were straying again, this time to the way his T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. He was wearing shorts again, and she tried not to look at his rock-hard thighs. She understood how Alicia had fallen for him so easily. He was handsome and charming, and she could well imagine how irresistible he would be if he tried to seduce a woman.
Suddenly she asked, “Do you ever go to the beach? Like Cocoa Beach, maybe? It’s so pretty there. I was thinking about going to work there at the Indian River Groves. But then I heard Starke was hiring and how it was a good place for migrants and their children,” she added the lie.
“As a matter of fact I do. There’s a Growers’ Association meeting held there every year. I really like the area. It’s pretty. I haven’t missed going since I took over the business after my father died.”
Bitterness flashed. How very convenient. She wondered where he’d hung out the last time he’d gone and whether he’d left yet another woman heartbroken and pregnant. “What about the rest of your family?”
“It’s just me. My mother passed away before my father. I don’t have any brothers and sisters.”
“So you’re all alone since your divorce?”
He threw her a wry grin. “Looking back, I think I was alone when I was married. At least it felt that way. How about you? Any family?”
“My mother is somewhere in California. I haven’t heard from her in years. It’s just me and Scotty.”
“Well, what more could you ask for?” he cast her a mock incredulous glance. “He’s all boy, too, I can tell. I came by to see you yesterday evening, by the way. I wanted to check on whether you needed anything and was going to ask if I could take Scotty down to the lake to see the ducks, but your car was gone.”
“I found my way into town to get a few things I needed.” She was glad she had missed him. Being around him from time to time while working and casually asking other workers about him would tell her what she needed to know. She did not want him coming around the cottage. Nor did she like being with him in a one-on-one situation, as she was now. After all, she was no fool when it came to men, and she was aware of how he looked at her sometimes. The man was a womanizer. No doubt that was why his wife divorced him. She had probably caught him running around and hit him for huge alimony, and as a result he had sworn off marriage. Instead, he would consider women a buffet—enjoy as much as he wanted, sample all the varieties, and then go his merry way.
But not with her, he wouldn’t. Oh, no. She would hold him at bay and wait until the last minute to inform him he’d left Alicia with a souvenir of their love affair. The Valencia season would last till the end of June or first of July, and she intended to stay till it did.
“Well, would it be all right if I came by this evening?”
She snapped her head around to stare at him, wondering how to gracefully decline, then explained she had planned to put Scotty to bed early. “And I intend to turn in early myself so I won’t be late tomorrow.”
“It wouldn’t take long,” he persisted. “We’ve got some really pretty ducks down there. I even bought a pair of swans. Besides, it would give you a chance to unwind and catch your breath while I take him, unless you’d like to go with us.”
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