An Unlikely Hero (1) Read Free Page A

“I’m taking you on a vacation aren’t I?”
    Tessa stopped wiping the table and glared up at her husband of twelve years. “Some vacation. You rent a cabin. I still cook and clean and watch the kids while you fish.”
    “If you feel that way just stay home. I’ll take the kids. How hard can it be?” he said throwing up his hands. “I’ll teach them a whole lot more responsibility than you do, that’s for sure. You stay home and decorate, have tea with the girls and talk about how rough you have it!” Robert wasn’t aware that his voice had grown louder or that his left eye had begun to twitch with irritation.
    For an instant Tessa froze, thinking of Robert taking care of the kids for two weeks without her. That was terrifying! She nearly started to apologize, then remembered the “how hard can it be” comment and decided to swallow her fear. In the calmest voice she could muster Tessa spoke. “Alright.” The word sounded as if it had gone on forever; like when you call out into a canyon and you hear the echo for an eternity. “If you’re sure, Robert.”
    Robert straightened up his hunched frame so fast it looked as if someone had slid a rod down the back of his shirt. Something like panic flashed in his eyes and he quickly tried to cover his lack of confidence, but not before Tessa saw the truth. Slowly she smiled, as she stepped toward her husband who now decided to back away from her. “I’ll just lay around the house in my pjs.” Her voice had taken on that southern drawl from childhood and her head slightly tilted so that the light sparked her pale blue eyes. “I’ll take long baths, eat junk food all day, and call my momma twice a day.”
    “Humph! Just like every day!”
    “That’s right, Robert. I’m just another lazy housewife who doesn’t have a lick of sense!”
    Robert knew when her voice got deeper into that southern thing, he’d cooked his goose. The thought occurred to him that maybe he’d bitten off more than he could chew. If only he hadn’t offered to let her stay home. He almost begged her to come along but thought better of it when he jerked up his chin in defiance. “It’ll be great to get to be mom and dad to the kids. They’ll probably remember this vacation forever!” he bragged nervously.
    Tessa chuckled wickedly as she threw her towel in the sink and brushed past him. “I think truer words were never spoken, Robert.”
    “Where are you going?” Robert began flipping off light switches.
    “To bed. I plan to have an exciting day tomorrow.”

Chapter 2
    Sommersview was a quiet street in a gated subdivision that spoke of up and coming new money. Each lot was at least an acre and every unique house made of brick or stucco boasted a minimum of twenty five hundred square feet of living space. All the houses had fashionable, well-manicured lawns, sprinkler systems, and some even an in ground swimming pool. The exception was the two story Victorian house that appeared to be out of sync with the neighboring trend of California chic. Old-fashioned roses bloomed profusely. Marigolds, so thick they looked like a yellow carpet, grew alongside the circular driveway. Black-eyed Susans, zinnias, periwinkles, all clustered together formed the beginnings of an English cottage garden. This home had no brick or stucco, just the timeless beauty of a bygone era. Although the house was obviously new, care had been taken to make the exterior speak of maturity.
    Chase Hunter caught himself remembering his grandmother’s house in Edwardsville, Illinois and the times he’d played on her big front porch as a boy. But the moment faded as quickly as it had come when Chase saw the Scott family fill the yard with excited children, suitcases and fishing poles.
    “Looks like we’re in luck, Tony! They’re leaving on a trip.” Chase watched the monitor in the rear of the nondescript, white van. “What’s with the kisses and hugs, folks? Get going!” he moaned. “The mom doesn’t