Almost a Family by Stephanie Bond

Bailey kept a protective hand on Chad's shoulder while they waited to board. She was glad to see Chad had abandoned his surliness for the time being in his excitement over getting on the plane. Standing with his face and hands pressed against the window, watching the planes depart and land, he appeared to be a typical eight-year-old, mesmerized by the giant machines, anticipating a new adventure.
    Chad's engaging grin evoked mixed emotions in Virginia—extreme joy at seeing her son happy, and extreme anxiety at the challenge to keep him that way. After watching father and son interact for several minutes, she realized with a start that Chad had begun to seek Bailey's attention. When momentary envy subsided, the touching moment triggered an additional sobering thought.
    She and Chad did have one common trait—they were both captivated by Bailey Kallihan.

 
     
     
    Chapter 6

     
    "The resemblance is amazing!" Rita cried, pulling a flustered Chad into a bear hug. "Would you look at this, Jerry?" she asked her husband. "Jean Ann, this is exactly what your uncle Bailey looked like when he was a boy—so handsome!"
    Still recovering from her own exuberant airport greeting from her former sister-in-law, Virginia watched the exchange, envious of Rita's easy way with children. It was early afternoon, and Rita insisted they all caravan back to Shenoway and stay for dinner. Virginia's parents begged off and, after promising Chad a camping trip in the near future, left for home. Detective Lance also took his leave after Virginia and Bailey both gave him a grateful handshake.
    They left the terminal, dodged yet more reporters, and finally made it to Virginia's car. To her chagrin and relief, Bailey had asked to ride with them since Rita had given him a ride to the airport. She wasn't eager to spend more time with him, but she wasn't ready to be alone with Chad either.
    Before they could put on their seat belts, Chad said, "Is this your car?"
    Virginia laughed at his wide-eyed expression. "Sure is."
    "You must be rich."
    Bailey turned around. "What do you know about cars?"
    Chad lifted his shoulders in what was fast becoming his signature gesture. "Lots. I put models together—I hope none of them get broken on the way here."
    "I like cars too," Bailey confided. "I'll show you my collection when we get to the farm."
    "You have a model collection?" Chad asked.
    Bailey smiled. "Not models—the real things."
    "Wow!"
    A finger of apprehension nudged Virginia. How financially reliable could Bailey be if he was still investing in jalopies? Just one more reason why, when push came to shove, she could count only on herself. She knew Bailey would never intentionally neglect his son financially, but he was the kind of man who didn't see the use of planning ahead. She grimaced. Which was just as well, since he couldn't seem to stick with long-term commitments.
    About a thirty-minute drive from the airport, Shenoway had once been a remote location. But no more, Virginia quickly discovered. The area had changed so much, Bailey had to give her directions to the house in which she'd once lived. Subdivisions had popped up everywhere, along with strip malls, schools, and manicured parks.
    But soon the development gave way to familiar surroundings, sending her pulse jumping. She pulled onto the gravel driveway and began the steep ascent to the house at the top of the hill, now hidden by the growth of surrounding trees. At the top, the land leveled to a spacious plateau of nearly fifty lush acres. She frowned when she saw rooftops in the distance—Shenoway lots Bailey and Rita had sold. "How many acres do you have now?" she asked.
    "About thirty-five," Bailey told her, his voice shaded with regret. "We used the money to build a new barn and re-fence the base acreage. We had some great offers, but we refused to sell to developers. The three families who bought from us purchased five-acre plots to build large homes. And we kept an acre between each plot