Daddy's Little Girl (A Homespun Romance) (8 page)

Enough enthusiasm to fill an egg cup.  "If it doesn't fit, the store will be happy to alter it for you."

"Thank you," Sara's voice sounded too polite.  "If you'll excuse me, I'd better go and try it on."

Jason was left staring at the empty box.  You'd think he'd given her a hair shirt. 

Sara stared at herself in the mirror in her bedroom.  She'd never worn anything so beautiful.  The pants were attached to a bustier top.  The jacket, left open, made her neck look long and elegant.  Sara gathered up her hair and held it on the top of her head.  The deep purple added color to her face, made her look almost pretty. 

Suddenly Sara was glad Claire had insisted on taking her to her hairdresser friend and told her she need some gold highlights in her hair…it had been Claire’s gift to her.

“Forgot Uncle Meanie and live a little,” she had whispered in Sara’s ear as she had hugged her goodbye.  “Everyone needs a break and you are long overdue.”

Sara sighed.  If only she didn't have so many freckles.  If only she was less plain.

CHAPTER
FIVE

The Wiltons surprised Sara.  About Jason's age, there was nothing critical, or condescending about them as there had been with Dee Dee.  Meera Wilton's parents had come out to England from India when she was three.  Peter and she had met at Cambridge.  They'd been married six years, had a little boy the same age as Kelsey, and were expecting their second child.

By the time their drinks were served, Sara had decided she liked the warm, talkative Meera.

Hearing she hadn't done any sightseeing so far, Meera said, "I would love to show you around London."

"I'm not sure...," Sara began hesitantly, when Jason cut in.  "She'd love that.  I was just considering hiring a guide for her.  Someone who would make it fun and interesting."

Sara blinked.  Why would Jason want to make things fun and interesting for her?

"Aren't you going to take her around yourself?"  Peter asked. 

Jason shook his head.  "I can't for the next few days and I don't want her to feel tied to the flat.  Meera, if you're sure?"

"I'd love to."  She smiled at Sara.  "I haven't been doing too much lately because of this pregnancy but now I'm over the morning sickness, I want to enjoy myself till it's showtime."

"I don't want to bother you," Sara protested.  "You've got a little boy and you must need to rest."

"We've got a really good nanny for Sean, and he goes to a private nursery school for half a day anyway.  As for resting, pregnancy's a condition, not an illness."

"How is Sean doing?"  Sara stole a look at Jason's face.  There had been a note in his voice that got there when he was upset about something.

"He's fine."  Peter said.  "Has so many friends.  Came home yesterday and told Meera that he had asked someone to marry him."

Though Jason smiled, Sara sensed what he was feeling immediately.  Sean's accomplishments reminded him of Kelsey's handicap.  She looked at Meera who was glaring at her husband.  Sara reached under the table for Jason's hand.

"Kelsey worked out a twenty five piece puzzle in no time yesterday," she said quickly.  " When I worked in a preschool, I knew three and four year olds who couldn't put a twelve piece one together.  I play a math game with her, and she can match up numbers and symbols right away, up to ten."

Meera guessed what she was trying to do.  "Sean's slow about things like that," she said.  "Must take after Peter's side of the family."

The joke lightened the atmosphere.  Jason had never been so surprised in all his life as when Sara had gripped his hand.  The fact she'd guessed his pain, that she'd reached out to comfort him, had eased some of the tightness around his chest.  Some of his close friends knew how he worried over Kelsey, but no one had ever done what Sara had...sensed his pain and shared in it besides defending Kelsey as if she were her own cub.

He looked at her, aware that her gaze searched his face for signs of stress.  Finding none, she made to withdraw her hand, but Jason turned his so that his fingers linked through Sara's and let their clasped hands rest on his thigh under the table.

Jason glanced at Sara a little later as she talked with Meera.  She'd done her hair in some kind of braid that drew attention to her slender neck and the delicate bones of her face.  Purple was a good color on her. 

He was glad he'd insisted on the dinner with the Wiltons.  Meera and Peter, with their easygoing manner, had made Sara comfortable.  He knew his friends liked Sara too or Meera would never have offered to take her around.  The Wiltons had met Diana once, and no one had suggested a repeat but now Meera couldn't stop talking about the places she wanted to show Sara.  When the women had gone to the rest room, Peter had clapped him on the back and said, "Found the treasure trove finally, did you old chap?  Sara's a wonderful woman."

All three of them laughed at something Peter said.  Aware they were looking at him, Jason smiled.  He'd better pay attention to the conversation.

In the car going home, Sara turned to Jason.  "I really don't have all that much time to go around with Meera.  Maybe I can call her and tell her so."

"No.  I want you to take her up on her invitation.  Kelsey's doing great with the Bintys, so there's nothing for you to do at the flat anyway."

Sara said nothing, but for a few minutes Jason had reminded her of Uncle Samuel.  Firm, unbending, domineering.  The change in him was so sudden it frightened her.  Had his warm, friendly manner this evening been just an act for the Wiltons?

Sara leaned back in her seat, feeling very tired.  She'd enjoyed the evening, but it was time to get back to reality now. 

Three weeks to the day he had met Sara, Jason put his key into the lock and turned it.  His daughter's laugh reached his ears bringing a smile to his lips.  Setting the briefcase down, he hurried towards the sound. 

Sara was in Kelsey's bedroom, playing a simple game of peek-a-boo.  Kelsey saw him and flung herself at him.  Jason felt the familiar rush of love as he hugged his daughter.

Please let Kelsey start talking soon.  Please let there be nothing wrong with her.

His gaze met Sara's over his daughter's head.  She wore her usual skirt and sweater.  He'd asked Meera to take her shopping, but Meera had reported through Peter, that Sara refused to buy anything. 

"Did you have a good day?"

Some kind of charge passed between them, and Sara got to her feet.  "Yes, thank you.  Excuse me.  I'm going to start dinner."

Jason frowned at the old familiar refrain.  He'd thought all that was behind them.  "Where are the Bintys?"

"I...I gave them the afternoon off.  One of their granddaughters had her tonsils removed this morning in Woolrich and they were anxious to see her.  They'll be back in the morning."

She looked at him as if she expected him to open his mouth and roar fire at her like the dragon in one of Kelsey's books.

"That's fine with me," he said mildly, watching Sara relax.  Had she been worried that he would be upset by her decision?  "I have a better idea.  You give Kelsey her bath, and I'll fix dinner."

Sara's eyes widened.  Bathing Kelsey was one of Jason's favorite tasks.  She had never seen him happier than when he came out of the bathroom, his shirt and pants soaked, his towel-wrapped little girl in his arms.

"Are you sure?" she asked, taking Kelsey from him, and balancing her on her hip.

She watched him drag his tie off, undo the top button of his shirt, and begin to roll his shirt sleeves up.

"I'm sure.  What with the Bintys and you taking over all the cooking, I haven't done any in a while."

Sara flushed.  Did Jason resent the fact that he'd lost all his privacy by this new arrangement?

Jason stared at her as she walked out with Kelsey.  Now what had he said to make her look as if he'd just stepped on her?  The woman was an unsolvable mystery.

Forty five minutes later, Sara stepped out of the bathroom and took a deep breath.  Kelsey immediately did the same.  Sara smiled as she put Kelsey down and followed the toga wrapped child into her bedroom.

"Umm!  That smells good, doesn't it?  Let's get you dressed and see what Daddy's made for dinner."

Kelsey ran to the bottom drawer of her chest, opened it and took out the nightie she wanted to wear and clean underwear.

Sara slipped the blue gown over the child's head.  Her mind went back to the look she'd seen earlier in Jason's eyes.  He was very worried about Kelsey.  At least she had the experience with the little boy in the preschool to convince her it was only a matter of time before Kelsey started speaking.  Jason had nothing to hold on to, except hope.

She stopped abruptly in the doorway of the kitchen.  Kelsey had run on ahead and was already seated at the table, her bib around her neck. 

"I thought we'd eat in here tonight."

"That's fine." 

Mr. Binty insisted on serving the evening meal in the formal dining room and they had given in rather than hurt his feelings or his pride. 

Sara stared at the table.  Jason had set the table, even putting a single rose in a vase in the middle of it.  Her eyes were held by the packages on the counter.  Had he slipped downstairs to the deli to get something for dinner.

"Sit," he said, drawing a chair out with a flourish.

Sara sat.  She couldn't see anything on the stove top, so whatever it was Jason had made had to be in the oven. 

"I took out the salad Mrs. Binty left in case you don't like what I've made."

He opened the oven door as Sara watched.  Her eyes widened as he took out a huge baking tray.

"Nachos?" she asked, a note of disbelief in her voice.

"Smothered in cheese sauce."  Jason set the tray down and produced a can from the refrigerator.  "And jalapenos."

The tears came so quick, she had no time to think up an excuse. 

"Hey!" Jason said, looking at her face.  "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."  Sara shook her head and grabbed at a paper napkin from the holder in the center of the table.

Kelsey's face crumpled and she leaned towards Sara.  Jason picked his daughter up, but she didn't want to stay with him.  He put her on Sara's lap and looked at both of them in exasperation.

"You said you liked them," he reminded Sara.  "You didn't say they made you cry."

"Oh, Jason."  Sara laughed and looked at Kelsey who was looking very worried.  "It's all right sweetheart.  I'm not really crying.  Daddy just surprised me, that's all."

Unconvinced, Kelsey put her arms around Sara, and laid her head against her chest.  Sara reached for a nacho, and looked at Jason.  Was he annoyed by her reaction?  "Thank you for going to all this trouble, Jason."

"When was the last time someone did something for you Sara?"

Her mouth quivered, and he said quickly.  "Don't answer that.  Just prove you like them by eating them all up."

Sara reached for a nacho, then another.  As her taste buds responded she couldn't help the long `Mmmm..mmm', of appreciation that left her mouth.  The bland corn chips, the tangy cheese sauce and the bite of the jalapenos provided a wonderful complement of tastes.

Jason smiled.  "You do like them," he said, heaping some more on the plate in front of her.

Kelsey decided life was back to normal and turned around on Sara's lap.  Picking up a nacho, she bit into it. 

"Mmmm..mmm."

The sound was an exact reproduction of the one Sara had made.  Both adults froze.  Except for laughs and sneezes and coughs, this was the first sound they'd heard Kelsey make.

Jason gripped Sara's hand hard.

"Did you hear that?"  He was afraid his longing to hear his daughter speak had conjured up the sound.

"Yes."  Sara's heart leaped with excitement as she turned to Kelsey.  "You like nachos, don't you sweetheart?  Let's hear you say mmm...mmmm again.  It's so good."

"Mmm...mmm," Kelsey repeated obligingly. 

Sara hoped Kelsey would add `good' or something to the sound, but she just smiled at them. 

It was enough for the two adults.  Sara looked at her hand.  Jason's grip made it feel quite numb, but heat of a different kind shot up her arm and down her spine.

"I'm sorry."  Jason released his hand and stared at the imprint of his fingers.  "I didn't mean to hurt you.  Shall I get you a wet towel to wrap around it?"

"Of course, not."  Sara reached for another nacho.  "There's nothing wrong with my hand."

"I was just so excited..."

"I know.  I was too."

They looked at Kelsey who had cheese sauce dripping down her chin. 

"She'll talk when she's ready," Sara said, glimpsing the yearning in Jason's eyes for reassurance.  

"I know."

When Sara got to her feet after the meal was over to gather up the plates, Jason placed his hand on her arm.  "I made the mess in here.  I'm going to clean up."

"You've done enough.  Let me load the dishwasher."

He'd stayed up late last night working and left early this morning.  He must be tired. 

"No, Sara."

"Cleaning up is woman's work," she tried again.

"Woman's work?"  Jason looked as if she'd hit him over the head with something.  "What do you mean?"

"Well...I don't come into your office and do your work and you're pretty tired tonight.  I think you should let me help you with this."

"There's no law that says you have to do it, Sara.  After Di died, I moved out of the house in Pasadena and let the staff go.  I took care of Kelsey all by myself for two months."  He laughed.  "I passed a crash course in Housework 101, with flying colors.  Later I got someone to watch her in the daytime, but till I moved to Rainbow Valley and hired Mrs. Garcia, I still fixed the evening meal and cleaned up.  There is no woman's work, or man's work.  It's just whoever feels like doing it."

Sara watched Jason tie Mrs. Binty's apron on.  He'd taken two months off from his work to mourn his wife?  He must have loved her very, very much.