Page 42 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Hi, Mia. Hi, sweet pea.” He winked at Maisie and watched as she continued to carry Angie’s old tomcat around like a blanket too heavy.
“I just realized I’ve lost my cellphone when I went to make a call a few minutes ago. Can you remember if it got left in the restaurant?”
Attitude changing instantly, she appeared concerned. “Gosh, no I don’t, Jack. I’m sorry. That’s a bummer. Don’t know what I’d do without mine. Did you try them? It could have fallen on the floor under the table. Oh, right – no phone. Sorry. What about in the truck?”
“Not there and I searched pretty thoroughly.”
“I’ll call the restaurant for you and see if it’s been turned in.” Mia had the number in seconds and held her phone to her ear while it rang.
He waited, totally uncomfortable with her cool friendliness and untouchable attitude. Maisie dropped the cat who ran for the hills as soon as it sensed freedom and flung herself into his arms. “Did you finish unpacking the twuck, Jack? I saw you there, but Mia said I wasn’t to bother you.”
“Honeybee, you’re never a bother.” He tickled her chin and watched her giggle. Mia lowered her phone and shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, Jack. No one saw it.”
“Darn. I wish I knew where it could be. I guess I’ll check the hospital next. Thanks for trying. I appreciate it.” He lowered Maisie after one last kiss to her cheek and turned to leave, his face in profile when he stopped. “Mia, I’m here for you if you need anything. I hope you know that?”
Her acceptance left a lot to be desired when all she said in return was, “Yeah, thanks.”
Chapter Nineteen
Jack returned to the truck and started in the direction of the hospital. Frazzled didn’t begin to describe his mind space. Anger sneaked in there also, and he had to talk himself down. Who could he be mad at?
The phone belonged to him. If it went missing, fault had to be his too.
Wanting this day to end, he drove along and the craziest sight he’d ever seen caught his attention in the passenger side mirror.
Perched on the top of the moving van in the lotus position sat Lucas, riding along just as happy as any kid would be if allowed in such a dangerous place.
The wind blew his short gray hair back, his navy sweatshirt glued to his chest, arms folded like a Buddha, the man made him laugh so hard, it was all he could do to control the truck and pull it over to the side of the empty road.
Rushing to the back of the truck in time to see Lucas, agile as a young man, drop to the ground, he greeted his friend witha question that just had to be asked. “Lucas, what in the world, man? Riding on top of a transport truck?”
Grinning like a kid who just had a treat he’d loved, Lucas handed Jack his cellphone and replied, “Someone had to stop the dang thing from falling off and getting run over. Not a good idea to leave it on the top of the truck when you’re working.”
Affected beyond belief, Jack took the phone and then reached to Lucas’s arm, not sure if he could touch an angel or not. Glad to feel solid mass, he squeezed gently. “You can’t know how much I appreciate this, Lucas. My heart dropped when I thought it was gone for good. Losing everything from this phone would mean big problems.”
“I know. I felt it. You missed it in your search. Look, maybe you need to keep more files on paper like we used to do in my day, rather than just on your toy.”
“You’re right. Of course. But these toys make our lives a heck of a lot simpler, trust me.”
“I beg to differ. It separates folks rather then bringing them together in person. But it’s not my world, nor my place to make an opinion.”
The noise of an approaching car signaled the end of their conversation as Jack found himself alone on the side of the road, clutching his… toy.
Chapter Twenty
Mia was thrilled to be at Angie’s beautiful house, a place she’d always thought of as her second home. Since she, Jasmine and Maisie had visited many times in the past, though not recently, she knew where Angie kept most things.
“Come on, cutie, I’ll show you the pool before Mark arrives with dinner. He just phoned to say we’re eating Chinese tonight.”
“Mawk is here, in Mawicopa?”
“Yes, he arrived a few days ago. He’s been waiting for us. After we eat, I’ll show him where we’ve arranged to set up shop. Then we can start working again, probably tomorrow. We have so many orders waiting to be finished.”
“Auntie Angie has a pool?” Maisie had a one-track mind when it came to what interested her… or lit up the lights in her little world.
“Yes, we can go for a swim if you like. But first I want to show you the house. Last time you were here, you were a little girl andmight not remember everything. Now you’re so big, you won’t have any trouble.” Mia knew how to please Maisie. Calling her a big girl did it every time.
“Yep, I’m a big giwl now.” She skipped along with Mia while they visited most of the rooms and clapped when Mia helped her change into her swimsuit, and then donned her own.
