Hidden Hills Read Free Page A

curls, since I got so many.”
    Jake burst out laughing at the pint-sized chatterbox. Before he realized what she was up to, her greasy hands pushed his lips away from his teeth. Gagging, he jerked his head out of her reach and grabbed his handkerchief. “What are you doing?”
    â€œDo you got false teeth?” she asked, fascinated with his mouth. “My granny does. She don’t eat corn on the cob, but I do. Sometimes Mama won’t cook it ‘cause she says I make a mess, and ladies don’t suppose to make messes, and I’m a lady.”
    Jake spit again and again, trying to get rid of the gritty motor oil. “I know, you told me.”
    â€œOh yuck!” she cried. “You spit — that’s not nice!”
    â€œNeither is sticking your fingers in someone’s mouth,” he said, wiping his tongue. Quick as a wink, the girl plopped her bony rear-end onto his lap. Gone was the mowing deck. He was staring at Santa’s beloved red curls.
    â€œWhy you stopping?”
    â€œBecause it’s break time.” He leaned back on his hands to keep her hair out of his mouth.
    The sharp bones dug deeper into his legs when she twisted around. Her hand pushed his face sideways.
    â€œWhy’s your face all dirty? Mama don’t like dirty faces.”
    At the moment, Jake could care less what her mama liked. He planted her facing the hedge. “Go find your mama.”
    Maggie rotated on the spot, her hands firmly on her hips. “You not got no kids, Mr. Jake?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact,” he replied, thinking this should get rid of her, “I’ve got three boys.”
    Her face scrunched up as if he’d suddenly grown two heads and a horn. “You not got no girls?”
    â€œNo, just boys.”
    â€œPoor Mr. Jake.” Disappointment drooped her shoulders when she walked toward the hedge. Then, as if remembering her manners, she stopped and waved. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Jake.”
    His glimpsed her greasy rear end darting through the hedge.
    The women came closer, and he listened to see if Maggie was with them. All he heard was Mrs. Wilson’s soft voice, pointing out the property lines, but then—
    â€œMaggie McGregor! Where have you been?”
    He wondered if the kid’s mother was as prissy as she sounded. What had Maggie said? “Ladies don’t get dirty. Ladies don’t make messes. Ladies don’t say guts.” His boys would eat her alive.
    The closing of the car doors had Jake craning his neck for a glimpse of the woman, but unfortunately the bushes were in the way. All he could see was the house, which had once been identical to his own. He listened to the car purr to life. Moments later, the sun disappeared behind the clouds, and they were gone along with the warmth of the afternoon.
    The late August wind ruffled his hair as he continued to stare beyond the hedges. There were moments like this when his life seemed empty, like the old house. The peaceful afternoon began closing in, leaving him restless and out of sorts. As before, he took a couple of deep breaths, refusing to give in to the loneliness. He had his boys and it was enough. They were his sole reason for living.

CHAPTER TWO

    â€œTurn the racket off!” Jake thumped his thirteen-year-old on the head. “You going deaf?”
    The music stopped.
    â€œMan, Dad!” Jeremy flinched from the pain. “That hurt!”
    â€œIt was supposed to.” His attention remained on the stove, not the boy, while giving the soup a final stir. “Somebody set the table. It’s time to eat.”
    Pictures rattled in the hallway as the younger boys wrestled their way toward the kitchen. Bruce tossed Andy into the air, caught him by the seat of his pants, and swung him around in a circle.
    â€œAirplane!” squealed the three-year-old just before his feet made contact with Jake’s left kidney.
    The racket was deafening, but he