Slamming outside, Adam shoved the whole kit and caboodle to the back of his mind and went to have a word with his roofing subcontractor.
UPSTAIRS, NOELANI SPREAD the information on previous parties out on the desk and tried to make sense of the various lists. She heard a noise behind her. It wasnt much, and sounded as if it came from behind the couch, which stood near a row of floor-to-ceiling bookcases.
She slipped from her chair and tiptoed across the room, aware of each creak in the old floor, wondering who or what had made that sound. She didnt expect to find Jacksons daughter, Megan, huddled in a corner behind the couch, hugging a tattered rag doll and crying. Not really crying, Noelani decided. More the kind of body-racking sobs that followed a crying jag. A childs book lay forgotten on the floor.
Hi, Megan. Its Noelani. Do you remember meeting me last night? Afraid of scaring the little girl if she hung over the back of the couch, Noelani walked around it and sat cross-legged on the floor. Not too near so as to appear threatening, but close enough for comfort.
Megan hugged her doll tighter. The girl wore a long, frilly pink nightie and fuzzy bunny slippers. Her beautiful dark curls were tangled from sleep.
Does your tummy hurt?
Megan shook her head until her curls bobbed.
Did you get up to go to the bathroom and forget the way back to your bed? Esme had skipped Jacksons end of the house on her tour, so Noelani wasnt sure if the child shared a bath with Tanya, or if she had one en suite.
Noelani sighed. Im not a good guesser. Maybe you should tell me why youre crying.
I came to wave bye-bye to Daddy. And I fofound Emmylou in a s-sack. In the trash. She pointed a quivering finger toward a waste basket tucked between a lamp and the bookcase.
Mommy gave her to me. I lost Emmylou and Miss Tanya said she was gone. She said I could only sleep with the dolly Daddy bought me. Butbut shes hard. Not soft like Emmylou.
Several thoughts as to how the doll might have accidentally ended up in the trash flitted through Noelanis mind. None made sense, especially since there was no denying that the crumpled plastic bag bore the name of a local boutique. Obviously someone had tried to dispose of the tattered doll.
Nanny Tanya, with eyes that coveted Jackson, fell several notches in Noelanis estimation. But would a young woman who was infatuated with her boss take anything so drastic upon herself?
But Noelani preferred to blame Tanya rather than Jackson. This morning hed acted concerned about his daughters transition into the household. He wouldnt sink so low as to dispose of a harmless toy.
Did your daddy read you that book this morning?
Megan nodded. Hooking the doll under one arm, she pulled the book onto her lap. He woke me up. We read half. Then he had to go to a meeting.
I see its Dragon Tales. Thats one of my favorite stories. Would you like me to read the second half now?
Nodding her head, Megan lifted the large book and handed it to Noelani.
Shall we go sit on the couch? The lights better, and I think wed be more comfortable.
The child weighed that thought carefully. Finally, she got up and scampered over to perch on the very end of the sofa.
Noelani sat at the opposite end, near the lamp. She found the place where Megans daddy had left off, and she began to read.
Little by little, Megan edged closer. Until finally she wriggled right up next to Noelani, who used various voices for the characters, from tiny to gruff to scary. Megan started out not smiling. Ten minutes later, she was giggling out loud.
They were both laughing when Tanya Carson rushed into the room looking as if shed thrown on her clothes haphazardly.
Megan! You gave me a scare, disappearing right out of your bed like that. Its time for you to dress and go downstairs for breakfast. Oh, my, howwhere did you find that pitiful thang? Tanya shoved her glasses up her nose and glared accusingly at Noelani.
Megan edged closer, shifting the doll, whose threadbare dress was badly torn and whose button eye was missing, into the space between her and Noelani.
Isnt it lucky Megan found her favorite toy, Tanya?
But Jackson bought her a perfectly beautiful new doll. She has long blond curls, eyes that move and three changes of clothes. Oh, you dont understand. Jackson wants her to play with her new doll.
Jackson wants his daughter to be happy here, Noelani said flatly. This morning he asked if Id seen this doll anywhere. She crossed her fingers below the book and silently begged forgiveness for such a blatant lie.
He did? Tanya blinked several times.
Noelani smiled at Megan. Honey, I have a sewing kit in my room. If youll leave your baby with me while you go with Tanya and get dressed, Ill mend her so shell be almost as good as new.
Tanya stuck up her nose. Theres not enough thread in the universe to accomplish that miracle.
Youd be surprised what a little cosmetic surgery can do. How about it, Megan, would you like me to sew up Emmylous rips?
The four-year-old gave her doll one last squeeze before placing her trustingly into Noelanis hands. Please, she said in a very small voice. Take good care of her. I was so afraid Emmylou got taken somewhere far awaylike Mommy. Little face sober again, Megan slid off the couch and walked sedately from the room.
Even as Tanya flounced out and snatched the childs hand, Megan kept darting glances back at Noelani, as if checking to make sure her most cherished possession was safe.
Anger mounting for that poor, motherless girl, Noelani leaped up the second she heard the door at the end of the hall slam. Hurrying straight to her own room, she made a mental note to have another talk with her half brother. Megan needed to be able to ask honest questions about her mother. The child needed to know she hadnt been abandoned. Noelani could attest firsthand to the fact that avoiding mention of an absent parent only led to frustration, mistrust and outright dislike on the part of the child.
She found her sewing kit and stitched quickly. A button for the missing eye presented the biggest problem. Her kit had come with white buttons in three sizes and an assortment of safety pins. The dolls eyes were half an inch around and black.
The black suit shed worn on the plane had exactly the right-size buttons on the jacket cuffs. Emmylou needs this more than me. A snip of the scissors and Noelani had her button.
After shed finished, she held the doll at arms length and eyed her critically. With felt and yarn maybe she could fix the shoes and the hair. But she had none, and anyway, Megan loved the rag doll exactly as she was. Tucking the doll under her arm, she went off in search of the little girl.
It turned out she didnt have to go far. Noelani opened her bedroom door and practically fell over the child. Tanya leaned against the wall by the stairs. There you are. Thank goodness! Megan refused to go have breakfast without her doll. Bettys going to throw a hissy fit cause were so late.
Noelani tuned Tanya out. She focused in on the beautiful smile slowly blossoming on Megans face.
Emmylous all well. You found her a new eye, Nolani. Oh, thank you. Ive worried and worried bout her not being able to see so good.
Youre welcome, honey. Maybe one of these days, you and I can go to town and find yarn to spruce up her hair. Give her a new look. She smiled gently at the child.