can’t officially commit until I talk to some of the guys at the station, but this sounds like the kind of thing we could get involved in,” Shay said. “When we aren’t on shift, we’d help with the landscaping or the plumbing, hanging drywall—anything we’re skilled at doing.”
Natalie felt her mouth drop open. “You’d do that? For us?”
“Of course. Like I said, I’d need to ask around. I’m a little new to be volunteering the whole station, but the chief’s made it very clear that you will have our full support.”
“I—I don’t know what to say.”
He grinned, warmth returning to his eyes. “Say ‘thank you.’ Maybe a few cheeseburgers from The Grille would help, too.”
“Done.” Natalie held his gaze, noting the way a crescent-shaped scar on his cheek accompanied that incredible smile of his.
“I’ll schedule some youth group work parties, as well.” Pastor Adams dusted crumbs from his fingers. “Our congregation always pulls together when there’s a need.”
“See? We’ve got you covered,” Missy said. “It’s all going to work out.”
“I hope you’re right.” Natalie typed more detailed notes into the app. She still couldn’t envision this all coming together in the next month. But she’d never forgive herself if the festival and the service project fell through on her watch. Now that Forever Love’s incredible offer had arrived, wooing her with a fantastic opportunity, she’d have to work extra hard to guard against distraction. There was too much on her plate already.
Shay linked his arms across that muscular chest she couldn’t seem to get out of her line of sight.
It was time to add “stop staring at handsome service project volunteer” to the top of the to-do list.
* * *
Shay corralled Aiden in the bathroom and swept him up in his favorite bath towel—the one with a puppy face and floppy ears on the hood and his name embroidered on the front. “What does a puppy say, Aiden?”
“Woof, woof.” Aiden grinned, beads of water from the bath still clinging to his pale eyelashes. That adorable, innocent smile offered a ray of hope—a tender reminder that even in Shay’s exhausted state, he could keep going. In moments like these, weary from the marathon of the evening routine, he found himself wishing for a partner—someone to laugh at the boys’ antics with, as well as share the load. Natalie’s head cocked to one side, her gaze holding his, flitted through his mind.
No.
He gritted his teeth. Who was he kidding? He pushed the mental image aside and shifted his focus back to the boys—where it belonged.
“That’s right.” He quickly dried Aiden and settled him on the bath mat. “Let’s put your jammies on.”
“Books?”
“After we brush your teeth, okay?”
“’Kay.”
He’d already lifted Liam from the tub, dressed him and sent him across the hall to play in the bedroom. Once he had Aiden’s diaper in place, Shay leaned back on his heels and listened.
Silence answered back.
“Liam?” he called over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“He play.” Aiden stared up at him, fingering the hem of the bath towel lying nearby.
“It doesn’t sound like he’s playing.” He scooped Aiden up, grabbing the clean pajamas off the counter on his way to the door. “Let’s go check.”
“Yee-um?” Aiden called in a soft voice as they crossed the hallway to the boys’ bedroom.
A line of cars and trucks sat abandoned in the middle of the floor, and puzzle pieces were spilled underneath one of the cribs, but there was no sign of Liam.
“Nope, not here.” Shifting Aiden to his other hip, Shay hurried down the hall of their modest rambler and stopped at the back door. The dead bolt was secure, so he moved on, checking both the washer and dryer in the laundry room. Don’t panic. He’s got to be here somewhere.
“Where go?” Aiden opened his palm heavenward.
“I don’t know. We’ll find him.” He jogged to the front door and double-checked the childproof knob and the lock. A two-year-old couldn’t get past that, right?
He pivoted, raking his hand through his hair as he surveyed the den and breakfast nook. “Liam?” His voice echoed off the empty walls. “Come out, buddy. No more hiding. It’s time to read books.”
Aiden giggled. “Yee-um hide.”
“I’m glad you think it’s funny,” Shay muttered. His heart rate rising, he retraced his steps back down the hall toward the master bedroom. Once or twice since they’d moved in, he’d allowed the boys to snuggle in bed with him and watch a cartoon on TV. It was the only way he could keep them still while he caught a few more precious minutes of sleep.
“Liam?” He yanked back the comforter on his king-size bed. Empty. His chest tightened. “Where is he, Aiden?”
Aiden regarded him with a wide-eyed stare, his thumb tucked securely in his mouth. This was probably just the beginning of the boys taking up for each other. Shay glanced at the clock on his nightstand. Mom would be over in a few minutes. She could keep Aiden occupied while he searched more thoroughly. Maybe he should call her and ask if she was on her way.
“Sweepy.” Aiden mumbled around his thumb, resting his head on Shay’s shoulder.
“I know you are. It’s almost bedtime. As soon as we find your brother.” He patted Aiden’s back while he went to the kitchen to grab his phone. When he reached the tile floor, something hard crunched under his bare foot. He stepped back and glanced down. The remnant of a Cheerio was smashed against the tile. A few more dotted the space between him and the pantry door, which was open a fraction of an inch. Shay nudged it open the rest of the way. Liam sat on the pantry floor, surrounded by the cereal—likely the entire box.
“Liam Douglas Campbell, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh-oh,” Aiden whispered.
“Da-da.” Liam offered up a Cheerio. “Want some?”
“No, I do not. Get up. Right now.” Shay couldn’t keep the exasperation from his voice.
Liam clambered to his feet, Cheerios sticking to his dump truck pajamas.
“Daddy mad.” Aiden patted Shay’s back.
“Daddy is mad. You know better, Liam. You don’t go in the pantry without a grown-up, and you certainly don’t open anything without asking.”
Liam’s lower lip pooched out, and he hung his head.
Oh, here we go.
His little body trembled as he began to cry. Out of sympathy, Aiden sniffled a few times before launching the waterworks, squirming to get down. Shay was happy to comply, releasing Aiden to stand with Liam, perhaps in a declaration of solidarity. They stood together, sobbing in the middle of the kitchen floor.
“How did we get here?” he whispered, massaging his aching forehead with his fingertips.
The doorbell rang, which only meant one thing. Backup.
“Let’s go see who’s here. I sure hope it’s Nana.” They made their way to the front door, the boys’ cries escalating. He was certain that was for Nana’s benefit.
He checked the peephole. Mom stood on the porch, holding a grocery sack and her overnight bag. He turned the lock and then opened the door. “Hey, Nana. We’re glad you’re here.”
“Oh, my.” Her eyes widened.