Cold feet by Brenda Novak

instead of baking naked in a tanning salon. And he seemed unconcerned with impressing others. He put down the bin and shrugged into his T-shirt the moment he saw them.
    "There you are," he said.
    "Sorry I'm late." Madison tried to hold the mental picture of his bare torso in her mind so she'd be able to recall it later. After being relatively uninspired over the past few weeks, she suddenly felt a jolt of creative energy. "I had to do a few things that just couldn't wait."
    "No problem. I'm nearly finished in the back."
    "I really appreciate your help," she said, and meant it. Having Caleb around, pitching in, made her life suddenly seem fuller, almost...normal.
    He picked up the grass bin and emptied it in the green refuse container. "I found something I think you and your bunny might like," he said to Brianna.
    Brianna had already dropped to her knees and situated Elizabeth beside her. She was digging in the dirt with a stick and pretending to ignore Caleb, but Madison could see her peeking at him, trying to figure out what he was talking about.
    "Do you want to see what it is?" he asked when she didn't answer.
    "No." She continued to dig.
    Madison opened her mouth to remind her daughter of the talk they'd just had in the car. But Caleb gave her a quick shake of his head, indicating that he didn't need her to get involved.
    "I'll bet Elizabeth would like to know," he said.
    Brianna pretended to converse with Elizabeth, but ultimately shook her head.
    "Okay." He started toward the mower with the empty bin.
    Brianna rocked back on her haunches. "It's probably nothing we'd like, anyway," she called after him.
    He didn't bother turning. "Whatever you say."
    She frowned at his retreating form. "So, what is it?"
    "Never mind."
    "You're not going to tell?"
    "You're not interested, remember? Even Elizabeth doesn't want to know."
    Grabbing her stuffed animal, she stood up and ran after him. "What if Elizabeth's changed her mind?"
    Madison retrieved her briefcase from the car, smiling at how easily Caleb had engaged Brianna's curiosity. Then she headed to the backyard to find them both kneeling over a shoebox covered with a piece of plastic Caleb had slit in several places.
    "What is it?" she asked, unable to see because their heads blocked her view.
    "It's a praying mantis," Brianna breathed, as though she'd never seen anything quite so wonderful. "See, Mom? It looks just like a green leaf."
    "That's how it camouflages itself," Caleb explained. "Most of the time it blends in with the trees."
    "Will it bite me?" Brianna asked.
    "No."
    "What does it eat?"
    "Other insects."
    "Yuck!"
    "That's a good thing," Caleb said. "It helps keep the bad bugs in the garden from eating all the vegetables."
    Brianna's nose was still wrinkled in distaste. "Ooo."
    "Don't you find gnats and mosquitoes particularly appetizing?" he teased.
    "What's appetizing mean?"
    He chuckled. "Never mind. Do you want to hold it?"
    Brianna shrank away from him. "I don't think so."
    "Come on." He pulled back the plastic and gently withdrew the mantis. "It won't hurt you. It has spiny legs that feel a little funny, but it's harmless."
    Brianna remained skeptical at first, but the longer Caleb let the praying mantis perch on his hand, the more confident she became. "Okay."
    He carefully transferred the insect to her just as Madison's cell phone rang. The LED readout identified the caller as Danny.
    Taking a deep breath, she stepped away from Brianna and Caleb. "Hello?"
    "You left a message on my voice mail this morning that you want to talk about Brianna," Danny said without the courtesy of a greeting. "What's going on?"
    "I do want to talk, but I'm afraid now isn't a good time."
    "What could possibly be wrong? God, she's six," he said.
    Madison lowered her voice. "I have some very legitimate concerns, Danny. Our daughter is going through a difficult time, and I'm hoping you'll cooperate with me for her benefit."
    "She'd be fine if only you'd let her come and live with us.