Daddy On Call. Judy Duarte

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      Leilani parked the car in the underground garage, then took the elevator up to her aunt’s small apartment on the fourth floor and stepped into the hallway that bore the same blue plaid carpet she’d remembered. It was more worn than ever and, like everything else in the building, needed to be replaced.

      Without any windows to air out the hallway, the scent of stale cigarette smoke had permeated drapes, walls and flooring.

      At one time, the Eberly Arms Apartments hadn’t been the safest complex. But it seemed as though the tenants, at least the ones on this floor, had all been around for a while. Most of them were her aunt’s age and looked out for each other, which was comforting.

      As she used her key and let herself inside, Danny jumped up from the sofa and rushed to meet her. “Mom, you’re back. Finally. When are we leaving?”

      Excitement spread over his face, and his green eyes—so much like his father’s—glimmered.

      She bit her lip, struggling to find words that wouldn’t disappoint him too badly, but failed. Instead, she ran a loving hand through his brown hair and offered him a bone-weary smile. “Just let me take a quick shower, honey. Then we’ll go. All right?”

      His grin was worth the sacrifice of a few hours sleep.

      As she started toward the guest bedroom she and Danny had been sharing, Aunt Addie stopped her. “Lani, you look dog-tired and ready to drop. Why did you agree to go to the zoo today? I’m sure Danny would understand your need for rest.”

      “I know. He’s a good kid.” She cast her elderly aunt a smile. “But this is supposed to be his vacation, too. He’s really looking forward to visiting the reptile house and seeing the pythons and the rattlesnakes.”

      “I’m sure they’ll be there tomorrow.”

      True, but Leilani also wanted her son to get some fresh air and sunshine. While she’d been gone, she’d asked her aunt not to take him outdoors. She had no idea what she’d do if anything happened to him. The thought of losing him like she’d lost Kami was too painful to contemplate.

      “How’s your friend Carrie doing?” Addie asked.

      “She’s hanging in there.”

      Addie clucked her tongue. “It’s a downright shame what happened to her. She’s better off without a man in her life anyway.”

      Leilani found it hard to argue, especially with a woman who refused to remarry after a nasty divorce, a woman who still seemed angry with Leilani’s father for not allowing her to raise his children on the mainland.

      But when Leilani’s parents died, their will had been explicit. Leilani and Kami were to live with their maternal grandparents on Lanai—an island not far from Oahu, where they’d been living.

      “I’m glad you finally learned that lesson,” Addie said, as she opened the linen closet. She pulled out a blue towel and washcloth then handed them to Leilani.

      “What lesson are you talking about?”

      “That most men can’t be trusted. You’re better off this way.”

      Leilani wasn’t quite sure what she meant. “Do you think that’s why I never married?”

      “Well, you’ve had bad experiences with two young men. First with that hellion who was responsible for Kami’s death. Then that Navy SEAL who got you pregnant.”

      Leilani glanced down the hall, making sure Danny wasn’t within hearing distance. “Danny’s birth blessed this entire family, so his father did us all a favor. And for what it’s worth, I’ve been too busy with work and trying to be a mother to my son to even think about dating. It has nothing to do with not trusting men.”

      “Hmph.” Addie handed her the linens. “Nevertheless, I’m glad you haven’t tried to find that boy a step-father. He’s doing just fine without one.”

      Was he?

      She’d told herself Danny’s father wasn’t a man he could look up to, a man he could trust. But now she wasn’t so sure.

      Of course, there were more reasons than that for keeping Danny a secret for eleven years.

      First, she didn’t know Luke anymore. What if he let her son down? Or made promises he wouldn’t keep?

      Second, she’d always preached the importance of honesty to her son. And the lie she’d told him about his father had been a whopper.