Tomorrow's Promises (Bellingwood Book 7) Read online

  "I get it. No problem. This is awesome." Polly checked the time, it was only eight thirty. "I think I'll wake him up."

  "On a Saturday morning? You probably will unless he's working."

  "You don't have that information, do you?"

  Anita chuckled. "I do. He works at an auto parts store." She gave Polly the name and number of the shop and they hung up.

  Polly entered the home phone number in her telephone and hovered over the screen, trying to decide if this was the right thing to do. She could just give the information to Curt Locke and let him deal with it, but it would be horrible if he screwed it up in his panic to find his daughter. She swiped the phone and took a breath. All she could do was try.

  The phone rang three times and a groggy voice answered, "Hello?"

  "Is this Dennis Smith?"

  "Yea, who's this?"

  "My name is Polly Giller. I'm looking for Jessie Locke. Is she there?"

  "Why do you want to know?" He was starting to wake up and got defensive.

  "Could I speak with Jessie?"

  "No."

  All of a sudden, Polly was listening to dead air. He'd hung up.

  "Well, damn," she said out loud.

  "What's damn?" Henry asked. She turned her head and looked at him. He was so handsome. She smiled. He wasn't drop-your-jaw gorgeous like Mark Ogden, but he'd definitely do. His shoulders and upper body were well-defined from working construction all day long and even though his arms and face were much darker than the rest of him, he made her heart beat a little faster when he took off his clothes.

  "Damn, you're a good looking man," she said.

  "Well, thank you!" He did a little pirouette and the towel he'd wrapped around his waist nearly fell off. To ensure his cool factor, he stumbled at the end of it and grabbed the towel before it hit the ground.

  "Yeah, that's my man," she said. "Suave and debonair."

  "I try," he said and tossed the towel back into the bathroom. "So what were you swearing about?"

  "I talked to Anita and she gave me a phone number of a Dennis Smith in Oelwein. I called him and he hung up on me."

  Henry took a deep breath and then pursed his lips. "You're going to get involved in this, aren't you?"

  "Maybe?" She tried a flirty smile and realized it wasn't going to work. He knew her too well.

  "What are you going to do next?"

  "First I think I'll call him back. Let's see what he does with that."

  She re-dialed the number and waited. It went to voice mail. She tried it twice more and the third time he answered.

  "What in the hell?" he asked.

  "I'm sorry to bother you, but I really am looking for Jessie Locke. Is she there?"

  "I told you no. Leave me alone."

  "Look, I'm just trying to find this girl and her friend gave me your name." Polly heard movement and then the sound of his footsteps.

  "She's not here," he said. His voice sounded muffled as if he were covering the phone with his hand.

  "Was she there?"

  "She left. I kicked her out. She's gone."

  "Gone? Is she still in Oelwein?"

  I don't know."

  "When did she leave?"

  "Last week. She got all weepy about her mama and I told her to get over it. Now leave me alone."

  "Wait!" Polly said. "Does she have a phone number or a job in town? Where's she staying?"

  "I don't know. I'm not responsible for her."

  "Do you have a phone number for her?"

  "No. Now get off my phone, bitch."

  "Yeah. That's helpful. Do you talk to your mother with that mouth?"

  "My mother doesn't ask me too many questions."

  He hung up again and Polly put her phone down on the desktop. "Well, now what?"

  "What's up?"

  "He said that Jessie left and he's not responsible for her."

  "More detective work?" he asked.

  "I'd better get a shower before I do anything, don't you think?"

  "Probably," he said. "Do I need to remind you that you have a party to prepare for?"

  "I know, I know," Polly said distractedly as she walked to the bathroom. "I wonder what kind of job Jessie would try to get?"

  "Why do I even bother," Henry muttered.

  Polly spun around, ran back to him and hugged him, "Because you love me. I'll be out in a minute."

  CHAPTER SIX

  "Ready!" Polly announced, prancing out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a smile.

  Henry stammered and finally got out, "For what?"

  "Whatever the day brings."

  "I didn't see this coming when I asked you to marry me. I'm the luckiest guy in the world!"

  "Darn tootin.' What have you been doing out here?"

  "Uh. Uh."

  Polly put her hands on his shoulders and turned him so his back was to her. "Now, try to think again."

  "Yeah. Okay. Your phone rang. It was Lydia. I answered it."

  "That's fine," she said. "What's up?"

  "She says you're supposed to stay up here this morning until Joss comes and you aren't supposed to ask questions."

  Polly chuckled. "I wonder what they're planning. They weren't happy with me ignoring pre-wedding fun. But it's not like I needed wedding showers or a bachelorette. I'm just not into that."

  "Well, apparently when Joss comes to get you, Nate is taking me to my bachelor party."

  "At least I don't have to worry about you getting all drunked up for a wedding at this hour on a Saturday."

  Henry turned back around and hugged her, sliding his hands down to rest on her hips. "Should I worry about you?"

  "With Lydia and Andy in the room? Doubtful!" She butted him with her hip. "Now back off, Mister Handsy. I have to get dressed." Polly ran her hand over the dress she had purchased for the evening. It was a strapless, silk chiffon gown in a beautiful deep sea blue. She could hardly wait to wear it. When it had arrived, she'd run upstairs and tried it on while Henry was out on the jobsite. Polly could hardly believe the wonderful opportunities she had at Sycamore House to wear beautiful gowns.

  After listening to Aaron extol the virtues of owning a tuxedo, she and Henry had decided to purchase one for him. This wouldn't be the last time he had cause to wear it. Polly had always known that a well-fitted tuxedo made a man look good, but when Henry came out of the fitting room, good wasn't quite the word she wanted to use to describe him. He looked delicious.

  Not knowing what her friends had planned for her this morning, Polly dressed simply in a pair of khaki pants and a fun, purple blouse she'd found. She slipped into a pair of flip flops and then sat down on the bed. "Now what am I supposed to do?" she asked him. "When is all this fun taking place?"

  "Joss and Nate will be here at ten. Maybe you should go play with your other girlfriends."

  "I'd rather stay in here and play with you, sexy," she said and pulled him to the bed.

  He grinned and stood in front of her, then leaned over and cupped his hands around the back of her head and kissed her. "You only married me for my body, didn't you," he said.

  "Well, that and your woodworking skills." Polly giggled and snorted. "It's all about the wood." Then she laughed out loud and clapped her hand over her mouth. "I'm terrible!"

  It didn't take but a moment, and she was laughing again. "No, I'm not terrible. You men are! Everything is about sex with you, isn't it. You drill and you screw and you hammer and pound."

  "You are just putting that together now?" Henry sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, my sweet Polly. Sometimes you are completely naive."

  "Not naive, just slow," she said. "I can't believe it. I married a carpenter and everything he does is a euphemism for sex."

  He shook his head. "Yes. I love you."

  "You can't tell anyone that I just put that together today. Promise? Sanctity of the marriage bed and all that?"

  "You're going to make me promise to not tell people about this conversation?"


  "Please? I'll be so embarrassed if they think I didn't get it before today."

  "Okay. I promise. But you have to promise that when you decide to tell it on yourself ..." he looked at her and gave her a scowl. "... and I know that you will, I get to be in the room. Because otherwise, it just wouldn't be fair."

  "I promise."

  "Polly?" Drea's voice came just before a knock on their door.

  "I'll be right there," Polly said.

  "No, it's okay. Bunny and I are heading out with Sal. She's here to pick us up. We'll see you in a little bit, okay?"

  Polly walked over to the door and opened it. "What's going on?" she asked innocently.

  "Don't you be pushing us, missy," Sal said from the front door. "We have big plans."

  Drea hugged her. "We'll see you soon." She looked Polly up and down. "And you look great!"

  "Thanks. I'll see you later." Polly watched them leave and then went out into the living room. "We're all alone again," she said to Henry. Now what should we do?"

  He came out and looked around. "It's really quiet in here. And that seems weird."

  "They've only been here for a day."

  "But there's always something going on. Between the kids and our friends and Doug and Billy and Rachel, it doesn't stay quiet very long."

  "Maybe that's what we should do for our honeymoon. Lock the doors and not let anyone in. We can just enjoy the quiet."

  "We're going to the Grand Canyon, Polly. Stop trying to talk me out of this. You'll have a great time."

  "I know. I know. It's just that I'm going to miss everyone and I'll miss Obiwan and the cats and all of the animals at the barn and I'll have to sleep in strange beds and ride in a car all day and be around strange people ..."

  Before she could go any further, he said, "But you'll be with me. Surely I'm enough."

  "Well of course you are. I'm just being a whiny butt. I've never been much of a traveler. I still can't believe I moved to Boston to go to school."

  "I can't either," he said. "But at least it got you to Bellingwood."

  "I suppose. But now that I'm here, I really don't want to go anywhere."

  "I've waited my whole life to have someone travel with me. You're going. Even if I have to buy you a camper so you can take all of your animals and your stuff with us."

  Polly swatted his arm. "Now you're just being silly."

  "Am I?"

  "Maybe we should have rented one for this trip. Do you think we can pull that off?"

  He looked at her in shock. "Are you kidding me? We're leaving Monday morning and now you decide that you want to rent a camper? Tell me you're kidding."

  "Only kind of. I don't really want to stay in campgrounds. I want to stay in motels. I just want to take everything and everybody with us."

  Henry put both of his hands on his head. "I love you more than life itself, Polly Giller, but sometimes you give me a headache."

  "I know. It's just pre-trip jitters. I get like this every time I go somewhere. I'll be fine and we'll have a great time. I promise. We just have to get me on the road."

  "Okay. Then I won't worry. But this isn't the last conversation we're having about the trip, is it?"

  "Nope." She grinned and started walking to their front door.

  "What are you doing?" he asked.

  "Look at the dog," she said. "Someone's coming up the steps."

  Obiwan had gotten up and walked to the door, wagging his tail. By the time she got there, a quick rap was heard.

  Polly opened the door to Joss and Nate.

  "Come on in." Polly stepped back and gestured to the room.

  "We're here a little early," Joss said. "We've got some bad ..."

  Nate interjected, "...and good ..."

  She grinned at him and finished the sentence, "news."

  "What's up?" Polly asked.

  "Well, we can't go to Arizona with you. We have to cancel our side of the plans."

  "Why?" Polly's heart sank. Something was wrong.

  It must have shown on her face because Joss placed her hand on Polly's forearm. "No, that's the good news. We're getting a baby this week!"

  "You are!" Polly pulled Joss into a hug. "I'm so excited. What day? Where? What's going on? Do you know if it's a girl or a boy? When did you find out?"

  Joss took Polly's hand and led her to the sofa, while Henry strode across the room to Nate, "Congratulations, man. I know you've been ready for this."

  "We really have," Nate said. He puffed out his chest. "I'm gonna be a dad."

  "Tell me everything. Don't leave anything out," Polly said. "When did you get the call?"

  "They called this morning." Joss looked up at her husband and her eyes glistened. "I can't believe it's going to happen. I couldn't let myself think about it. I had to prepare, but I couldn't believe it." She started to cry and Polly reached out and took her hand.

  Henry looked around desperately, found the box of tissues and dropped them on the table in front of the two girls. Joss sniffled and used a tissue to wipe away the tears.

  "We've got time. You two sit down," she said, pointing at the chairs.

  Being the obedient men that they were (Polly smiled to herself realizing how easily they fell apart with a few tears), they sat exactly where Joss had pointed.

  "I'm fine." Joss took another tissue and clutched it in her hand. "They called this morning. There was a couple who planned to adopt a baby that was due this week, but something happened and they backed out. So we got the call. It could be any day."

  "Where do you have to go?" Polly asked. "Is it close?"

  "We're going to Omaha. And since we've already taken vacation for this week, we don't have to worry about our work schedules."

  "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

  Nate smiled and said, "We told them we didn't care. I think they know, but we want to be surprised."

  "Are your parents coming out?" Polly turned to Henry. "This is a lousy time to leave Bellingwood. I keep telling you."

  He laughed and said, "I knew we weren't done with that conversation."

  Joss put her hand on Polly's knee. "You can't cancel your honeymoon. Nate and I feel bad enough that we aren't going. We aren't even sure when the baby is going to get here. The case worker says she is due tomorrow, but you just never know."

  "Are you going to meet the mom?"

  "She doesn't want anything to do with us, so no. It sounds like she just wants this to be over."

  "I can't believe that I won't be here for you," Polly said.

  "You'll be back in two weeks. Nate and I will have time to get comfortable with a baby in the house. Our parents will come out and make a big fuss and then when you get back, you can come calm me down. It's really going to be okay."

  Polly stood up. "Well, then I have to give you this before I leave. Because that baby won't stay little very long." She went back into their bedroom and came out with a wrapped gift and handed it to Joss. "It's really silly."

  "Polly, you and Lydia already threw me a baby shower and gave us a bouncy seat. You didn't have to get anything else."

  "Really. It's silly. But I want a picture," Polly said, laughing. "Go ahead. Open it."

  Joss opened the small package and laughed as she pulled out two onesies with the Sycamore House logo on the front. "You're right. This is totally silly. But we will take a picture of the baby in one of these right away. Be watching for the announcement of our new family member. Thank you, Polly."

  "I can't wait to meet your new little one," Polly said. "I'm disappointed that I won't be here when you come home." She heard Henry take a loud breath. "I know, I know. We'll be having fun."

  Joss looked at her watch. "It's time to go! Today is your day. I just needed to tell you before everything got going."

  "I'm so excited for you." Polly hugged her again. "Can we tell people or not?"

  "Let's not do that today," Joss said. "I wanted you to know why we weren't going to travel with you, but we're supposed to cel
ebrate your marriage today and I'm still feeling a little leery that it won't actually happen."

  Polly stood up again. "It's going to be great. I just know it." She walked over and took Henry's hand. "I hope you have fun today. Be good, okay?"

  Nate stood up beside his wife. "We aren't going to get in too much trouble and we'll be back in plenty of time to get him dressed for the evening."

  Henry glanced at Nate, curiosity in his eyes. "Aren't we going to help set up the auditorium?"

  "Oh right!" Nate clapped Henry on the back, laughing loudly. "I guess we'd better get moving then."

  The four went down the steps and Henry and Nate left by the front door. When Polly tried to follow them, Joss stopped her. "Nope. We're not going that way. Come with me."

  She opened the door to the auditorium and stepped in. Tables toward the front of the room were filled with women she'd come to know since moving to Bellingwood and hot pink seemed to be the color of the event. There were pink and white balloons and hot pink cloths on the tables. A fountain was flowing with pink liquid and cupcakes were decorated with pink and purple frosting. A bright purple drape covered a pile of something on a table off to the side and Polly wasn't surprised to see her closest friends dressed in pink and purple.

  "We had to have it here so Sarah and Rebecca could be part of things. And there were so many women who wanted to come, we needed a large space," Joss whispered.

  "I can't believe that I put this blouse on," Polly said. "I match."

  Joss grinned. "Everyone in town remembers your purple undies." She unbuttoned the black tunic she was wearing to reveal a purple t-shirt. "We had to do this one more time for you."

  Lydia was waving madly from the front of the room. "Here's our girl!" she said. "Come on in, Polly. We've been waiting."

  A smattering of applause greeted Polly as she and Joss walked to the front. "I'm a little embarrassed," she said. "I wasn't expecting a party."

  "Well, of course you weren't," Beryl said. "But it's what we do."

  Polly looked around the room and smiled at people she'd grown to know so well. It felt as if she'd always known these women. They were entwined in her daily life and some had become close friends. They'd each shown up at different times, but the connections were strong.