The Family Plan

By Ilene Withers

Craig Fischer couldn’t get his mind off his new neighbor. He’d met Leah Barton the day he moved in next door to her, looking for a fresh start. Her dog Max had escaped through the hedge, and she had chased him down. Standing on Craig’s driveway in her bathrobe with her bright red hair tossing in the breeze, she had been magnificent. But he had found out she was a college professor and he knew she would never be happy with him, an uneducated heating and air conditioning man with a heartbreaking past. Then one day, her mail was misdelivered to his box and he found out she was seeking information on alternative ways to have a child. That was when he came up with his family plan. Next-door neighbors could share a child, couldn’t they? And then, Craig would feel whole again.

Leah was exploring ways to become a single mother. She was not in a relationship and didn’t see her luck turning in the near future. Then she met her new neighbor. Handsome, kind, and interesting, she could tell he desired her. Yet, at first, she was confused about Craig’s attitude toward her until she realized he didn’t think he was good enough for her. Once she discovered why he felt that way, she formulated a plan to prove him wrong.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ilene Withers
• Release date: Mar 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9780692084755

Ilene Withers

Ilene Withers grew up in the Sandhills of Nebraska where she attended a one room country elementary school and a very small high school. After marriage and the birth of her daughter, she and her family moved to Texas and, later, New Mexico. Eventually, they moved to Colorado where she and her husband now make their home in Loveland and work in higher education. In 2013, she published her first novel, The Blackmailed Beauty, a sweet and suspenseful Regency. Since then she has published a sequel, To Release an Earl, and a third Regency, Injured Sensibilities. The Family Plan is her first contemporary. Ilene has a degree in English Writing and is a member of Romance Writers of America. Sharing an interest in history with her adult daughter and an interest in both music and psychology with her husband, she loves to incorporate these in her writing. One of her favorite aspects of writing is research. The other is plotting murder!

Book preview

The Family Plan

by Ilene Withers

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2017 Ilene Withers

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights are reserved, and no redistribution is authorized except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews without written permission of the author.

Cover design by Marvin Withers. Images used under license from Shutterstock.com.

Discover other titles by Ilene Withers:

The Blackmailed Beauty

To Release an Earl

Injured Sensibilities

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

From the Author

Chapter One

Leah yawned, running a hand through her tangled fiery red tresses, as she shuffled to the front door. She pulled it open, intent on grabbing her morning paper before letting Max, her energetic brown and white bulldog, out into the backyard. Just as she pushed open the screen door, the dog's little body brushed against her leg as he made a break for his freedom. Max! Come back here right now!

Max ignored her command as he raced across the lawn and squeezed through the low hedge that separated it from the yard next door. Leah sighed. Now she was going to have to chase after her dog clad only in her nightgown, bathrobe, and slippers. Not only was her hair messy, but her face was also clean of cosmetics allowing her numerous freckles to stand out even more than usual. She reached for the leash that hung next to the door and stepped out before she noticed the moving van in front of the neighboring house. Just walking out of the house were two men.

A sharp bark moved her into action after her brief hesitation. Leah hurried across the lawn, past the hedge, and up the sidewalk that led to the neighbor’s house. Max, she called to her dog as he stood at guard, although he still ignored her. One of the men squatted down in front of him and held out his hand for the dog who obligingly sniffed it. Once the dog seemed satisfied with meeting the man, her new neighbor reached over and stroked the dog’s head, gently scratching behind each ear and under Max’s chin.

I’m so sorry, she said as she reached for Max’s collar, hooking the leash to it. He used to live here, and he hasn’t quite adjusted to being with me next door.

The man stood and smiled. Leah noted that he was quite a bit taller than she was, something she didn’t experience that often. His thick warm chestnut hair was cut short and had a natural wave to it. He had hazel eyes that were focused on her face. A day’s growth of beard was visible on his face causing her fingers to suddenly want to stroke his cheeks. Faded jeans hung low on his hips, and Leah didn’t believe the rips on the right knee had been there when he purchased them. A gray t-shirt with an American flag on the front displayed a muscular chest and flat stomach. The bottom of a tattoo peeked out from under his right sleeve, and he wore slightly scuffed black cowboy boots.

No worries, he said. He seems like a friendly little guy.

He is, Leah agreed. Sometimes he’s a little too friendly.

I’m Craig Fischer, he said as he offered his hand. Leah took it, noticing that his handshake was firm and his hand was calloused. Having her hand encompassed by his was surprisingly thrilling, causing her to experience a strong physical attraction unlike any she had ever felt. Startled, she glanced down at their clasped hands before his next words pulled her attention back to his face. And this is my friend, Ben Reynolds, Craig said.

Leah switched her gaze to his friend. He was shorter than Craig, with unassuming sandy blonde hair and friendly blue eyes. Leah Barton, she announced as she shook Ben’s hand. It’s nice to meet you both. She noticed that shaking Ben’s hand didn’t feel in any way like it did to grasp Craig’s.

You, too, Ben replied politely.

You live next door? Craig asked as he looked over the hedge into her yard.

Yes. It will be nice to have next door neighbors on this side again, Leah said. She assumed he had a family as he was probably a few years older than her. Welcome to the neighborhood. I hope that you and your family enjoy living here as much as I do.

I live alone, her new neighbor replied after a moment’s hesitation.

He sounded a bit uncomfortable with the idea Leah thought. Perhaps he was newly separated or divorced, which meant he was single, and here she stood in her oldest robe without so much as a hint of lipstick or mascara. Jerked back into reality, she started to back up, tugging on Max’s leash as she did so. I’d better get back, she sputtered before she turned and fled.

Back inside the safety of her home, Leah unclipped the leash from her dog’s collar and leaned against the door. She realized that she had forgotten to pick up the paper and decided it would wait. Stepping outside the house again until she looked much better was not an option. With this decision, she moved into the kitchen, let the dog out into the fenced back yard, and poured herself a cup of coffee before reaching into the fridge for a yogurt. It was mid-May, and she was finished with her classes, but she still had grades to compute and enter on the computer within a few days, so she had better get a move on.

Leah would have normally dressed in a pair of nice jeans for a day of office work at the University where she was a history professor. Remembering that her new neighbor had met her in a faded blue robe, she changed her mind and reached for a pair of khakis and a pretty green button up shirt. With her clothes laid out on her bed, she went to take a shower. Her hair was naturally curly and tended to frizz when she wished it wouldn’t. It took time that she didn’t want to spend to straighten it, however, so she blow dried it and pulled it back with a brown leather clasp. She did take a little extra care with her makeup, smoothing a tinted moisturizer over her freckles and carefully applying a little color to her cheeks, lips, and eyes before she reached for her eyeliner and mascara. A peachy gloss finished the routine, and she was ready to go.

Leah decided she would pick up lunch in the student center, and she bid Max goodbye before she went to the garage and backed her car down the driveway. As she pulled away, she saw Craig Fischer and Ben Reynolds unloading a sofa. Craig looked at her, and she gave a small wave, feeling silly.

Craig watched his neighbor hurry back across to her adjoining yard with her little dog fastened to the leash. She’d obviously been embarrassed to be caught in her robe and slippers. He found a grin tugging at the corners of his lips once again as he thought about her.

Ben cleared his throat. She sure has some red hair, doesn’t she? his friend commented.

Yeah, it’s pretty crazy, Craig replied, clearly remembering the long curly strands that danced in the morning breeze like a candle flame. That hair, combined with her pretty green eyes, had done something to him, although he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

She might be single, Ben said. Married with three kids, he was sure everyone would be happier in the same state. Craig couldn’t deny that he felt the same way.

Maybe, he agreed before pulling his mind back to the task at hand. So, how about the bed next? he asked. I would like someplace to sleep tonight.

They turned back to the task at hand. It was almost an hour later, while they were carrying the sofa into the house that Craig saw Leah Barton back out of her garage in a hybrid car the color of a new penny. It fits her he thought, wondering what she did for a living as he assumed she was leaving for work then. As he watched her go, she raised one hand and gave him a little wave. Craig wondered if she was single. He’d have to find out. Surprised at his interest, he stepped into the moving van.

By noon, the truck was empty, and Craig owed Ben lunch. It was Friday, and Ben had taken a day off work to help Craig move. He had joked that it gave him a good excuse for a three-day weekend, but Craig was sure that he had worked overtime during the earlier part of the week to get off from his job as a mechanic at an auto dealership.

How about a big burger and a couple of brews? Craig suggested with a clap of his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Don’t mind if I do, came the answer.

It was after they had ordered at their favorite burger restaurant that Ben looked across the table at Craig. So... new house, new start, he said.

Craig took a deep breath. Yeah. It scares the hell out of me. As soon as I signed on the dotted line, I wondered what kind of a harebrained idea I had gotten.

It was the right one, Ben said. You can’t live in the past forever. It’s been three years, and you know as well as I do that it’s time you moved on.

Could he move on? Craig wondered if he could give up the past by moving to a new house where every little nook and cranny didn’t remind him of the woman he had loved. He knew the answer to that. He’d packed up all those memories and moved them to a new house, but even if he didn’t unpack them, they’d still be there waiting to fill his quiet moments and his dreams.

The beers arrived, and they both took a long drink. You should get acquainted with the new neighbor, Ben suggested gently. She’s got a cute dog.

He is cute, Craig agreed, thinking of the dog’s mistress as well. He must have belonged to the previous owner of my place since Leah said he used to live there.

Who owned it? Do you know?

An elderly lady. She’d lived there since it was new. The realtor said she put it on the market after she moved into assisted living.

Ah! Ben said. She wouldn’t have been able to take the dog with her. Probably gave it to the neighbor.

The men were silent, sipping their beers until their food was delivered. Ben bit into his burger, chewed and swallowed before he spoke again. If the redhead isn’t single or doesn’t interest you I could ask Julie if she’d set you up. She’s got a couple of coworkers down at the hair salon that would probably be happy to go out with you.

Oh, yeah? Craig wasn’t very enthusiastic about it. Instead, the image of his new neighbor filled his thoughts. She was tall and could look him in the eye. That hair was vivid and bright. He’d never known a redhead. But she was probably married, so he decided he should hear his friend out.

One of ‘em is divorced and has a son who’s in elementary school, about Derek’s age. The other one is younger and hasn’t been married. She recently broke up with her live-in boyfriend.

Have you met them? he asked Ben.

I have the divorced one. She seems nice enough. I haven’t met the other one ‘cause she only started a couple of months back.

Craig knew he needed to get out in the field again, but dating a beautician who changed her hair every six weeks didn’t appeal to him. I’ll think about it and let you know, he finally said. He picked up his burger and changed the subject to sports. Do your kids have a game this weekend?

After lunch, they parted ways. Craig thanked his friend for his help and sent him off to start his weekend. He walked to his truck, got in, and drove the yet unfamiliar route to his new home located in a west Denver suburb. The house faced the Rocky Mountains, and he could see them over the top of the trees from the front window. It wasn’t a great view, but it offered more of a view than his home in the eastern part of the city had. As he pulled up into the driveway, he took a moment to enjoy it.

Craig spent the afternoon starting to get settled in his new home. He concentrated his efforts on his bedroom and bathroom then moved on to the kitchen. Tonight he would have pizza delivered, but he needed to have his coffee pot unpacked before morning. It was important to get as much done as possible. Although he owned a small heating and air-conditioning business and could take time off when he wanted, time was money. He planned on spending the next day settling in and then, on Sunday would go clean up his other house. He would be signing it over to the new owners next week and wanted to have it looking decent.

It was late afternoon when he stepped into his backyard to shake a couple of rugs and heard a dog yip with excitement. He looked to the north and saw her. She was standing in the backyard, most of her head visible over the five-foot privacy fence. Craig was struck again as to how tall she was. At least five-eight he figured. And she was thin. She was a complete contrast to Kendra, who had been a petite, rounded, natural blonde. Giving the last rug a good snap, he turned to go back inside.

I was mortified, Leah confessed to her best friend and fellow history professor, Audrey Post, as she related the tale of Max’s escape over a lunchtime salad. There I was in my ratty old bathrobe and slippers with my hair all tangled and no makeup on.

You poor thing, Audrey commiserated in a tone that belied her wide grin. What are your neighbors like?

It’s a man living by himself. His name is Craig Fischer, Leah answered.

How old is he? Is he good looking?

Older than I am, Leah said, in his mid-thirties, I’d guess. And he’s not bad looking. As she spoke, she remembered the warmth of his hazel eyes and the strength of his hand. He’d been good with Max, too, squatting down to let her little dog sniff his hand and become acquainted with him. Leah knew that her married friend thought everyone should be blissfully wed. Not that Leah disagreed, but it just hadn’t happened for her and some days she was confident it never would.

Is he divorced? her friend prompted.

I don’t know. I just welcomed him and his family to the neighborhood, and he told me he lived alone. Then I made my escape.

Always the optimist Audrey added, Well, you have plenty of time to find out now that he’s living next door.

After seeing me this morning, I’m sure he won’t be interested. Leah was surprised at how that thought made her feel. She had been alone for too long and longed for a relationship with a man who cared for her and loved her.

Audrey took pity on her and changed the subject. They talked about how many essay exams and final papers they each needed to grade over the weekend, as well as their plans for the summer.

Will you be flying home to Texas? she asked Leah.

I went last year, so this year Mom will come to Denver. Leah went on, I’m going to try to dedicate a good portion of my summer to research. I have an idea that I’ve been formulating and think I will research the history of social mobility amongst the women in the mining towns.

Audrey looked interested. You mean the women who moved to the mining towns to make good marriages, some of whom were prostitutes?

Exactly, Leah replied. Maybe there’s a book in it.

I hope it works out. Your book on the fascinating women of the American Southwest is great. Audrey sighed. I wish I liked to write more. The research is fun, but the writing…

They finished lunch and walked slowly back to their offices together. Leah recorded the grades from her Survey of American History course. The multiple-choice exams had been scanned by the university’s testing center and were simple to record. She figured those grades and posted them into the online grade entry. It was late in the afternoon by the time she had finished and packed up the essays she needed to grade, added her laptop, and walked out of the office. She would work at home over the weekend to meet the grade entry