Vic finally broke down and spent the extra money to have caller ID installed at home and in the office. Why Jon Ryder got such a kick out of calling and harassing him with the gory details about Dani was beyond him, but it was easier to keep it from Dad by shutting off the answering machine and screening calls. So far, he'd ignored seventy calls. His lawyer had suggested keeping a tally, saying it could be a mitigating factor when he faced his court date.
He didn't recognize the number on the display now—an LA number. Could be Dani. He flipped the answering machine back on, the hair on the back of his arms standing to attention at the voice on the other end.
"Vic, I shouldn't be doing this, but we need to talk. Call me. 213-228-1991."
"You're right. You shouldn't, Julie."
"Here, take Caleb," Kari said, handing Vic one squalling baby through the door while another fussed inside Shelly's apartment. "And c'mon in."
"What do I do with it?" Vic hollered over the baby's escalating screams as Kari cooed the other's name—Joshua—in a vain attempt to settle him down.
"Feed him, burp him, change him, rock him, sing to him, who knows?" Kari said. "Do something. Shelly's in class until ten."
Great. Two hours. Vic tried rocking the baby. Only seemed to set him off. Cooing his name didn't fare much better, and all attempts to give him a bottle were summarily rejected. Doesn't look like Kari and I are going to get much talking in.
After an hour of stereophonic squalling, Vic started rethinking the brood he'd imagined. Half an hour more and the babies had cried themselves out. Vic glanced down at Caleb, sprawled on his shoulder, drooling. "Everyone ought to have a couple of these."
Kari flashed one of those eye-smiles over her glasses, kissing him softly as she tucked the babies in.
Vic had a ton he wanted to unload. He reminded himself to tell her that Julie had been calling. Not that he felt he'd done anything wrong, or even that it would have been wrong to talk with her, but he didn't want any secrets between them. After all, in a couple months, I'm going to ask her.
He was just working his way up to telling her when Shelly arrived, waking the babies and starting a whole new round. By the time they'd helped Shelly feed and burp and coo, Kari had fallen asleep on the couch. Smiling and covering her with an afghan, Vic agreed with Shelly that it was best to leave her there. I'll just talk with her after church.
As morning rolled into afternoon, Vic sat on the front porch with a glass of lemonade, Teddy Bear lounging at his feet. It was the first Saturday he'd taken off in months. A couple of the shop's recent hires were outside San Fran promoting the business at a classic car show, the bills were paid—finally caught up—and he had nothing so pressing that it couldn't wait for Monday. Dad was at the shop, finishing up the detailing on a new client's Model A—the most beautiful specimen Vic had ever seen. Vic had offered to help, but Dad insisted he didn't need to be babysat. Good to see him cranky again.
Julie had tried calling him twice already, but he'd let the answering machine get it. He had to talk himself down when he heard her voice. "Not a good idea. Glad she's saved now, but it wouldn't be right to ask her to be a preacher's wife. Besides, a bird in the hand…"
Teddy Bear slapped his tail against the porch, stretching and giving himself a shake. He nudged Vic as a car pulled in the driveway.
Julie.
There was no pretending he wasn't there. His palms started to sweat as she took a spot next to him on the bench and waited a whole minute before deadpanning, "You're ignoring me."
"You can't skip town and expect me to wait here with bells on."
Inside, the phone rang.
"Oh, now you're answering it?" Julie said, following him.
"Depends." He checked the Caller ID. "It's the office."
"It'll wait." Julie stood in the doorway, hands on hips.
Vic did his level best not to think about how good she looked in a T-shirt and jeans.
"It's about Dani," she said. "Let's go back outside."
As he followed her, Kari's Yugo pulled in. The briefest look told him all he needed to know about how she'd take it. Kari's mascara was already running when she slammed into reverse and squealed out of the driveway.
"You're going to want to sit down," Julie said as Vic took a couple steps toward the retreating Yugo. The phone started ringing again. "It'll wait."
Vic fished his keys out of his pocket.
"Dani's in trouble."
"Thought you had news." He headed toward his car as Kari sped off. First time I've seen her break the speed limit. Or any rule.
"Serious trouble."
Vic's head was on a swivel, looking back and forth between Julie and the Yugo's fading taillights. Squatting on the porch step, he flashed an out-with-it stare.
"Legally, I shouldn't be here. Dani told me not to tell you."
"Look, I can't help Dani. Her manager put a restraining order on us."
"Just thought you'd like to know—" Julie said as a shiny Dodge Ram screeched to a stop at the curb.
Greg leaned out the window, spewing a string of profanities about not answering the phone. "Get to the hospital! Now! Gunny's hurt!"
"You really should know," Julie said, cut off with a wave of Vic's hand.
"It'll wait," he said, hopping in the pickup.
"She's been arrested!" she hollered after him as the truck spit gravel.
"Getting to be a family pastime," Greg said as he sped off.