Daddy Next Door (3 page)

“Actually, as the oldest child, I had three little sisters, and my mother put me in charge of them often. I would enjoy the shopping trip and you might need help with three of them.”

“Please, Mommy?” Missy said, surprising both him and Jennifer.

“That’s the first time you’ve called me Mommy,” Jennifer said, looking teary-eyed.

“Is that okay?” Missy asked.

“Of course it is, sweetie,” she said, scooping the child up into her arms.

“If you let him come with us, I would hold Nick’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost,” Missy said, her arms around Jennifer’s neck. “And he can tell me I look beautiful!”

The other two little girls came down the hall, all neat and tidy, and Nick took the opportunity to praise their appearances also.

“I don’t— This is ridiculous!” Jennifer said under her breath.

Nick, however, had an angle he didn’t think she
would refuse. “Have you ever thought that it might be good therapy for…someone, to know a man who isn’t bad?”

“How do I know you aren’t bad?” Jennifer demanded.

“I’m just a teacher who helped raise his three sisters. I’m used to girls. Besides, I’m Grace’s nephew.”

“Don’t you have something better to do with your time?”

“Actually, I don’t. This way I’ll get to see lots of Dallas and find out where things are.”

“Please!” Missy added to his cause.

“Oh, all right, but don’t blame me if you get bored!” Jennifer said. She picked up her purse from a nearby table. “Are we ready, girls?”

“Yes,” Steffi said, taking Annie’s hand. Missy struggled out of Jennifer’s hold to come collect Nick. “I’ll take care of you, Nick.”

“Thank you, Missy,” he said, trying to sound like he needed a three-year-old’s watchful eye.

Jennifer rolled her eyes and headed for the door.

T
WO HOURS LATER
, N
ICK
was impressed with Jennifer’s endurance. She still seemed to be enjoying herself. Missy, however, was worn out. She sat curled in his lap while the other girls continued to try on clothes in a nearby dressing room.

“I’m hungry,” she complained.

“Me, too. How about I take us all to lunch?”

“Yeah! Can we go to McDonald’s?”

“I’m not sure Jennifer would like McDonald’s. We’ll see.”

Just then Jennifer and the other two girls came out of the dressing room.

“Mommy, Nick said he would take us to McDonald’s!” Missy said, scooting out of Nick’s lap to reach for Jennifer.

“I’ll buy you lunch when it gets—” She stopped to look at her watch. “Oh, I had no idea it was almost two o’clock. We’d better take a lunch break, girls.”

“Do you have more shopping to do?” Nick asked.

“Yes, but—”

“Then why don’t we go to the food court? I’m sure they’ll have things the girls will like, and maybe something we can tolerate, too.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. Come on, girls. We’ll go have lunch. Then we’ll shop some more.”

When they reached the food court, Nick noticed the McDonald’s nearby. “Do you mind if the girls have McDonald’s?”

“No, that’ll be fine. If you’ll stay here with the girls, I’ll go get their food.”

“You stay with them and I’ll go get the food. This meal’s on me. It’s definitely my turn.”

In no time he was back with three Happy Meals and drinks. Then he looked at Jennifer. “Now, what would you like?”

“I’d like a grilled chicken salad and a diet Coke.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be right back.”

He returned with two salads and two drinks.

“I didn’t mean you had to get a salad,” Jennifer protested as she saw he’d gotten himself the same thing.

“I like salads, too. Though I don’t eat a steady diet of them,” he assured her with a smile.

“How old are your sisters?” she suddenly asked.

He grinned. “Seven years younger than me.”

“All three of them?” she asked in surprise.

“Yeah. My mom had trouble getting pregnant after I was born, so she took fertility drugs and ended up with triplets.”

“Oh, my. I guess you do have experience,” she said in amazement.

“Yeah. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I got to do much of anything by myself.”

“What’s triplets?” Missy asked.

“It’s when your mommy has three babies at the same time,” Jennifer said.

Missy nodded, but Steffi looked puzzled. “You mean like us only all the same age?”

“That’s right. It makes everything much more difficult. With you being older, you can help your sisters. But Nick had to help all three of his sisters.” Jennifer grinned at him. “If you’d told me that earlier, I would’ve been easier about your helping with the girls.”

“I didn’t want to brag,” Nick said, trying to look modest.

“Yeah, right!” Jennifer said with a laugh.

“How’s your hamburger, Annie?” Nick asked. The
little girl had yet to speak to him. He wasn’t sure she would speak to him now.

“Good,” she replied very softly.

“I’m glad. And yours, Steffi?”

“I like it. And I got a car as my toy.”

“Lucky you,” Nick said. “And, Missy? What did you get?”

“I got a cat, I think.” She held up a plastic figure.

“That’s Sylvester the cat. I think they’re bringing out a new movie about Sylvester the cat,” he said.

“Can we go?” Missy immediately asked.

Her suggestion put a pleasant thought in Nick’s head. He and Jennifer in a darkened movie theater—with the girls, of course. Still, he looked straight at Jennifer when he said, “I promise we will.”

“I don’t think you have the right to promise that, Nick,” Jennifer said, her voice starchy.

“I didn’t think a movie would hurt.”

Jennifer, however, was more focused on the girls. “Have any of you ever been to the movies?”

Steffi shook her head. Annie just stared at Jennifer, wide-eyed. But Missy nodded.

“When did you go to the movies, Missy?” Jennifer asked suspiciously.

“Once, my old mommy took four of us to the movies and we had popcorn and candy and a Coke!”

“What did you see?” Jennifer asked, watching Missy closely.

“A movie. And we had to be real quiet!”

“Do you remember what happened in the movie?” Nick asked, hoping to help Jennifer.

Missy hung her head.

“Missy?”

She finally looked at Nick and confessed, “I threw up and my old mommy was mad because she didn’t get to see all the movie.”

“Missy, if it made you sick, why do you want to go again?” Jennifer asked.

“’Cause it was fun. It’s real dark and—”

“Never mind. We’ll discuss going to the movies when that movie comes out and I can decide if it’s appropriate for you.”

“What’s appropriate?” Missy asked.

Nick answered that question. “If it’s a show that’s good for you to see. Some of the movies are made for adults and you wouldn’t enjoy them.”

“Will you let me sit next to you, Nick, if we go to the movies?”

“Sure. We can even hold hands,” he told the little girl with a smile.

“We can’t expect Nick to come with us, Missy,” Jennifer said sternly. “So far, we’ve managed to take all his time since he arrived. I’m sure he has lots to do. He probably can’t come to the movies with us.”

Missy turned to Nick, her brown eyes wide, “Please, Nick?”

“I’ll try, Missy. But you know how it is. My schedule might get crowded.” He stared at Jennifer as he lied to Missy. He thought that was what she wanted.

“Okay. Has everyone finished eating?” Jennifer asked in a cheery voice. When the girls all nodded, she suggested a trip to the bathroom. “Nick, can you guard our bags?”

“I can, but if you’ll give me your keys, I could carry them all to the car and put them in the trunk. Then we can load up again when you buy other things.”

“Would you mind?” Jennifer asked. “That would be wonderful. We’ll be in the children’s department again.”

“I’ll see you there.”

He stood there watching as Jennifer led her three little girls to the bathroom. It reminded him so much of his childhood. When the triplets were four and he was eleven, their father had died, and he’d been responsible for the girls in the summer while his mother worked.

It had been hard on all of them, but they’d survived and forged a bond that kept them close. Two of them were married now and the third was living in New York City. He kept up with them, though; after all, it was what his mother asked of him before she succumbed to cancer a couple of years ago.

He shook off thoughts of his family and gathered up the shopping bags. He hoped Jennifer could afford all she was buying. Children were expensive in more ways than clothes.

When he got back to the children’s department in the store in which they’d been shopping, he didn’t see any of them. But as he drew closer to the dressing room, he heard their voices.

“I want to go outside with Nick,” Missy complained.

“Nick is putting our bags in the car. I need you to try on this outfit, Missy. I think it will look very nice on you.”

“But—”

“Missy, try on these clothes. Then we’ll go see if Nick is back and you can sit with him. Or maybe he can help you find some Sunday shoes and some sandals.”

“I get
two
new pairs of shoes?” Missy asked in astonishment. “But I already have these.”

He could picture Missy sticking out her feet to show Jennifer her tennis shoes.

“Just try on the clothes. Here, let me help you.”

He didn’t hear much until Missy spoke up again after a few minutes. “
Now
can I go see if Nick is back?”

“Yes, I’ll take you out there. Steffi, you and Annie stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“I’m here, Jennifer,” Nick called. “Just send Missy out. I’ll take care of her.”

Instead, Jennifer came out with Missy. “Would you mind taking her just across the aisle to find Sunday shoes and sandals?”

“Sure. About what would you like to spend?”

She looked at him blankly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t know what little girls’ shoes cost. Probably something under fifty. I’ll come pay for them in a minute.”

Nick shook his head as Jennifer went back into the dressing room. He guessed she didn’t have to worry about money. Fifty dollars for kids’ shoes? He could do better than that.

In fifteen minutes, he had chosen black patent leather shoes and white sandals for Missy. She was so excited,
he had trouble keeping her from charging across the aisle to show Jennifer before he paid for them.

When they got back to the dressing room, he sent Missy in to find Jennifer.

Jennifer came out at once. “Did you tell them I’d be there in a minute to pay for them? I didn’t think—”

“I paid for them, but I kept the receipt so you can pay me back. It was just easier that way.”

“Oh. I shouldn’t— I didn’t think— Thank you. I’ll write you a check when we get a moment.”

“Good. Now, are you ready for me to take one of the others shoe shopping?”

Jennifer frowned. “Annie is ready, but…”

“I’ll be very gentle with her and bring her back at once if she gets uneasy, I promise.”

“I’ll go ask her.”

In a minute, Jennifer came back out, holding Annie’s hand. “See, Annie? The shoes are just over there. Nick will take you to try some on. Then you can come right back here if I haven’t gotten over there yet.”

“Okay,” Annie whispered.

Nick thought it was a big step for Annie to trust him. He smiled warmly and offered his hand. It would be the first time he had touched her. Her big brown eyes held a lot of fear and hurt, but she slowly put her hand in his.

“Same shoes for her?” Nick asked softly.

Jennifer nodded. “I liked your choices for Missy, by the way. I don’t think she intends to take the sandals off even when she goes to bed tonight.”

Nick grinned. “She did seem to like them. We’ll try to find shoes that will make Annie smile, too. Right, Annie?”

She just stared at him.

He led her over to the shoe section and they looked at what was available in her size. Nick patiently waited for her to make her selection, but she kept watching him, as if afraid she’d anger him if she made the wrong choice.

“Annie, all these shoes are what Jennifer wants you to wear, so you can choose whichever you want to try on. There aren’t any bad choices. Just pick the ones you like most.”

More silence.

He waited patiently.

Finally Annie pointed to a pair of the dress shoes.

“Good. Are there any others that you want to try on?”

She shook her head. Her hand was trembling in Nick’s. He knew this was a big step for Annie. He settled her in a chair and got the saleswoman to bring her size. He also asked for three pairs of sandals to be brought out, all in styles different from Missy’s. He’d learned with the triplets to get everyone something different, something that suited their unique personalities.

Annie was quite different from Missy. She showed her enthusiasm with a quiet smile, by touching the shoes in a way akin to a caress. In no time she approved the shoes and picked out a pair of sandals.

“I like these,” she whispered, looking down at her newly shod feet.

“Okay, good choice, Annie,” he told the little girl, and paid for her shoes. Then he took her back to the dressing room and let her go show Jennifer.

Jennifer came out without Annie. “You did a great job. She’s overcome with excitement.”

“She has quiet excitement, doesn’t she?”

“Yes. I worry that she’ll explode if she doesn’t learn to express her feelings more like Missy.” Then Jennifer grinned. “But I’ll admit I might enjoy her excitement better than Missy’s some of the time.”

“I know. One of the triplets, Elizabeth, was very quiet, too. But she blossomed later.”

“You really do have triplet sisters?”

“Yes. Did you doubt me?”

“It just seemed such a perfect story to make me accept you. I began to doubt it as I thought about everything.”

He smiled. “Well, it really is true. Is Steffi ready for shoes?”

“Yes, we all are. I’ll go get everyone.”

After Steffi made her choices and Jennifer bought the shoes, they headed for the car, loaded down with packages again.

“It’s a good thing I’m a great packhorse, isn’t it?” Nick teased Jennifer as they reached the car. “And a good thing that you have a minivan. Otherwise, all these packages wouldn’t fit.”

“They’ll all fit. If they don’t, the girls can put them under their feet.”

“I was teasing. But you did buy a lot.”

“But the girls had next to nothing. Their clothes were worn hand-me-downs. Missy was so excited last night that she didn’t have to share a nightgown.”

“They put two kids in one nightgown?” Nick asked in astonishment.

“No. Quit teasing me. They had a community pile of nightgowns. She didn’t get the same nightgown every night.”

“And now she has a choice of nightgowns, all belonging to her?”

“Yes, and her sisters do, too. They all have enough clothes for the rest of the summer. In the fall they’ll be fitted in school uniforms. At least, Steffi and Annie will. Missy will go to a preschool. They don’t wear uniforms there.”

“What school are they going to?”

“Hockaday. It’s where I went to school.”

“Okay, I don’t have to ask if you’re counting your pennies if that’s where you’re sending the girls,” Nick said with a laugh.

“I don’t think I ever said I was,” she replied stiffly.

“No, but I did wonder as the number of packages grew.”

Straightening her back and lifting her chin, Jennifer turned on her heels, mumbling something about checking the girls’ seat belts.

What was it about her financial status that angered Jennifer? This was the second time she’d balked when
he brought up money. He made a mental note to steer clear of any further comments.

He closed the back of the minivan and hustled around to the passenger seat. He figured he’d better get in before she drove off without him.

On the ride home there was no conversation, until Jennifer pointed out a grocery store.

“There’s the one where I shop,” she said. “It’s only a short distance from the fourplex.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll go later today.”

When they reached the fourplex, Nick began gathering packages to carry in to the apartment. Jennifer also came around to the back of the minivan with the girls and gave them each a package to carry in. She gave Steffi the key to unlock the doors.

“Sorry, I should’ve thought of that,” Nick said softly after the girls headed toward the apartment. “It was smart on your part to encourage them to help.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows and put a palm to her chest. “You mean I did something right? With all your experience, Mr. Barry, I guess you would know, wouldn’t you?”

“Are you making fun of me, Jennifer?”

“Well, you do seem to think you know better than me.”

She was baiting him, but he refused to bite. Instead he complimented her. “Just goes to show that your instincts are good even if you’ve never had kids before.”

Before she could reply, another car pulled into the small parking lot.

“Uh-oh,” Jennifer muttered.

Nick looked at the other car. “Is there a problem?”

“Not for you. It’s just my mother.”

He looked at the woman getting out of the car. She had Jennifer’s blond hair, but hers looked artificial. She was dressed in a chic suit and heels, and she wore a lot of gold jewelry. She also wore a frown.

“Jennifer,” she called sharply.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Have you lost your mind?” her mother demanded, ignoring Nick, as she approached them.

“I don’t think so.”

“My brother just complimented me on my daughter’s social conscience! When I assured him I didn’t know what he was talking about, he informed me that you have applied to adopt three little girls! I won’t have it! You must stop this at once!”

“I won’t do that, Mother.”

“But I won’t have it! You’ll ruin your life!”

“I’m going to adopt the girls. I believe I’m doing the right thing. And I won’t let you tell me what to do!” Jennifer finished with passion in her voice.

“It’s your grandmother’s fault, isn’t it? She made this possible. Otherwise, I’d just cut off your allowance and you’d do what I said!”

“You tried that once, Mother, before Grandmother left me anything, and it didn’t work then. It won’t work now. I make my decisions, not you!”

“But, darling, you haven’t thought this through.
What man will even look at you with three kids tugging on your coattails?”

“I would,” Nick said softly, hoping he wasn’t going to upset Jennifer.

Jennifer’s mother whirled around and stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. “Who are you?”

“He’s Grace’s nephew and he’s leasing the apartment across from me,” Jennifer said quietly. “He’s a teacher.”

“Oh, then he doesn’t count. That’s not what I have planned for you. Jonathan Davis has shown some interest. But if I tell him about the girls, he’ll change his mind.”

“Good. I have no interest in Jonathan Davis.”

“But, Jennifer, his father is the president of the CMX Corporation. He’s worth millions, and his father is worth even more! He’s perfect.”

“Then I suggest you marry him, Mother, because I have no interest in him!”

“Jennifer, have you lost your mind?” her mother demanded, her hands on her hips, glaring at her daughter.

With her lips pressed tightly together, Jennifer gathered up the last of the packages and closed the back of the minivan. “I have nothing more to say to you, Mother. I can’t invite you in because the children would be upset. I’ll call you sometime soon.”

“You mean I’m not invited into your home?” her mother screamed, outraged.