The Daddy Gamble

by Debra Salonen

  Maya pushed the doorbell.

  Kate was poking in her bag to make sure she’d packed the sunscreen when she heard a little yip. She looked over the top of her sunglasses at her daughter. “Jo and Poppy must be here.”

  Maya clapped. “Oh, good. I love Poppy.”

  A quick thud of footsteps on tile told her Rob was hurrying to meet them. He threw open the door a second later and swept her into his arms. “You’re here.” After hugging Kate, he bent low to give Maya a quick squeeze then did the same with Yetta. “I’m so glad you all could make it. Are Liz and Alex coming?”

  Kate tucked her shades in her bag. “Yeah. But Liz said she had to do something first.”

  He took their bags in one hand then made an expansive gesture with the other. “Come in. Mom’s in the kitchen with Poppy. We don’t have any furniture yet,” he said, seemingly for Maya’s benefit. “But we do have food.”

  Kate paused to look around. Her last visit had been in the company of a Realtor who was determined to make the sale. Kate had done her best to appear uninvolved, but inside she’d been dizzy with excitement. Rob was buying this house with every intention of sharing it with her and her daughter. She could have burst with joy, if she’d let herself believe the dream might actually come true.

  Rob started toward the kitchen, but Maya dashed past him, calling, “Here, Poppy. Here, Poppy.”

  He looked at Kate. “You realize of course that she’s going to need a dog of her own once you move in, right?”

  Kate looked over her shoulder at her mother. Yetta knew about Rob’s proposal, but they hadn’t talked logistics.

  Yetta smiled and nudged Kate into the brightly lit kitchen. “Maya’s wanted a dog for a long time. What a good idea, Rob.”

  “A dog is also work. Feeding, brushing, walks, shots, lessons, poop to clean up. Who’s going to do that? Maya is too young, which means—”

  “Somebody else would have to pitch in,” Rob inserted. “Someone like me.”

  Kate had heard that line before. Ian brought home a puppy once. Sunny. A beautiful golden retriever that Kate had grown to love with all her heart. She’d wound up doing every chore that Ian had vowed would be his responsibility. And when he disappeared and Kate came to the realization that she couldn’t humanely move a large dog into her mother’s small backyard and care for a toddler and work sixty hours a week, she’d been forced to find a new home for the animal she loved.

  Kate suddenly burst into tears.

  Rob whispered something to Yetta then took Kate in his arms and waltzed her backwards into the living room. In the privacy of the bay window that she’d fallen in love with the first time she walked into the house, he said, “Kate, love. Tell me what’s going on. You don’t want a dog? No problem. I thought a pet might be good for Maya. Make her feel like this was really her home, but there’s no rush.”

  He rocked her gently and offered the hem of his shirt to wipe her tears. “It’s not that. I was thinking about the last dog I owned. Ian brought her home when I was eight months pregnant. He said he wanted the baby and Sunny—that was the dog’s name—to grow up together. He promised to take care of her, but before long he was never home.”

  Rob groaned. “You had to take care of it.”

  “I didn’t mind, really. She was a sweetheart and I loved her. But after I sold the house, I c-couldn’t take her with us. Mom’s yard is small. She was a big dog. She needed room to run.” Her tears started again. He held her tight.

  “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. Maybe, when you’re ready, we could adopt a golden. I’ve always heard they’re a wonderful breed.”

  She wiped her eyes and smiled. She couldn’t help it. He sounded so earnest and sincere.

  “I’m sorry, too. I overreacted. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I hadn’t thought about Sunny in a long time. Not even when we picked out Poppy.”

  He touched his knuckle under her chin and made her look at him. “Are you okay? Really? We can cancel this little bash. No big deal.”

  Her heart swelled with all the feelings she had for this man. “I’ll be fine. Just let me freshen up then I’ll meet you outside.”

  “It’s a date. I’d better go make sure Maya’s got her life vest on.” He gave her a quick kiss then left. “I love you.”

  Kate lingered, watching him through the window. He did love her. She knew it. And she loved him. Which meant the life she’d been living had to change. She was sick and tired of straddling two worlds. What am I waiting for? A neon sign saying your destiny is finally here?

  Maybe.

  Yetta stood at the large granite-topped island stirring a glass of iced tea when Kate walked in. “Mom, we need to talk.”

  “I know.”

  “I love you and I can never thank you for what you’ve done for me and Maya, but—”

  Yetta interrupted her. “Katherine, you’re my daughter. There isn’t anything in the world that I wouldn’t do for you. And the same for Maya. She kept my heart beating when it would have stopped. The sparkle in her eyes reminds me so much of your father that I was slowly able to see that he lives on in each of us. You both helped me heal. That might not have been possible if you hadn’t needed me.”

  Emotion made it hard to speak. “I haven’t been that easy to live with, lately.”

  “Because you’re thinking with your head, not listening with your heart. You’re afraid of making an impulsive decision, like the one that brought Ian into our lives, but, darling girl, he led you to the path you’re now on. If not for him, you might never have met Rob.”

  Kate needed a moment to digest that truth. Had the rough road she’d traveled recently been an unavoidable detour to her destiny? Could it really be that simple?

  She sighed and rested her chin on her hand. “Mom, I need to marry Rob and move.”

  “Katherine, I’ve enjoyed having you and Maya with me, but, frankly, I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Really? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better about deserting you?” She was teasing and her mother responded with a smile.

  Yetta put her arm around Kate’s shoulders. “I’ll manage. Somehow.”

  Kate returned the hug, then stood up. “I’d better check on Maya.”

  “Katherine?”

  She stopped and looked at her mother. “Yes?”

  “Perhaps it’s time to put on that pretty ring you keep hidden under your shirt.”

  Kate reached up and touched her treasure. She unsnapped the clasp and let the ring tumble into her palm.

  Smiling, she looked up and said, “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Maya, sweetie, can you come here? I need to talk to you.” Rob looked at his mother, who was sitting in a lawn chair, fidgeting nervously. A nicotine craving, he bet. “You, too, Mom. This is important.”

  Poppy, who never left Jo’s side, seemed comfortable around Maya as long as the little girl was sitting quietly. Maya squeezed in next to Jo and gently petted the dog.

  “Maya, I have a problem. Mom might be going away for a while and Poppy will have to stay with me.”

  “Going? Where?” Her voice sounded alarmed.

  “To California. But just for a little while.”

  “Why can’t Poppy go, too?”

  “She doesn’t like to fly,” Jo said.

  Maya gave the dog a serious look. “Oh.”

  “Anyway, if Poppy moves in here while Mom is gone, I thought maybe you could help me out. Play with her. Brush her. Make sure I don’t forget to feed her. Stuff like that.”

  “Me?”

  He nodded.

  “Where will Poppy sleep?”

  He looked at Jo. “That’s a good question. I’m not sure. On my bed, I guess. Once I get one.”

  Maya petted the little dog. “She could sleep with me.”

  Rob wasn’t sure what to make of that suggestion. He looked at his mother, who had a funny smile on her face. Before he could pursue the point, Kate joined them. “This looks like an important powwow. Did I mis
s anything?”

  Maya looked at her mother and asked, “Mommy, are you going to marry Rob?”

  Rob nearly choked on his frozen daiquiri. Kate’s skin tone paled.

  “Well…um, yes. Eventually, but we didn’t want to rush you. You’ve been through a lot lately and—”

  Maya interrupted. “But if I lived here, then Poppy could sleep with me when Jo’s gone to the city with the big bridge.”

  Rob felt a shiver slide up his back. The city with the big bridge. How could she...? He looked at Kate, who turned her hands up and shrugged. “Indisputable logic. She could be a lawyer when she grows up.”

  “Sweetheart, I love Rob. He gave me this beautiful ring. See?” Rob sucked in a gasp of surprise—and pleasure. “And I want to marry him. But you’re our first concern. Poppy will be fine here without you.”

  Rob held his breath as Maya studied the pretty diamond a minute then looked at her mother. “But, Mommy, Rob needs us, too.”

  Kate appeared too stunned to reply so Rob went down on one knee and told her, “You’re right, Maya. I do need you. This house is going to feel pretty empty until you and your mom are living here. I’d marry you both tomorrow if we could arrange it.” He took Kate’s hand and brought her fingers to his lips and tenderly kissed the ring.

  Maya frowned. “No. That doesn’t work for me. I have school tomorrow. We’re doing art.”

  Rob chuckled softly, but inside his heart was practically jumping out of his chest. We’re doing this. We’re talking marriage with Maya. There’s going to be a wedding.

  The lawyer part of his brain, which recalled all too clearly Kate’s concerns about rushing into things said, “I love you, Maya. You’re the best. And I promise your mother and I will include you in all the decisions about when and how to make this happen, okay?”

  Maya looked at Rob. “Okay, but I still think Poppy should sleep with me when Jo’s gone.”

  Rob put out his hand to shake. “It’s a deal. But I think we need to clear it with your grandmother. It’s her house, right?” He looked at Kate, trying to convey a sense of the joy and wonder surging through him at this moment. “Will you excuse us a moment, ladies? We need to finalize our negotiations.”

  Once Rob and Maya had left in search of Yetta, Kate took Maya’s place on the bench. “Wow. That went better than I thought it would.”

  Jo snickered softly. “Your daughter is the oldest four-year-old I’ve ever met.”

  Kate agreed. Which meant they would need to be very careful what they said about Jo’s illness.

  “You know, Kate, Rob doesn’t want the kind of wedding his father had. You’re both too busy for all of that nonsense. What if you held it here? Small and simple. A white tent. An evening affair to avoid the heat. Just family and close friends,” Jo said, making a sweeping motion to encompass the backyard.

  Kate looked around. She could almost envision it. “When?”

  “What about late June or early July? That should give me time to get this doctoring business straightened out. We ought to know by then if I’m going to make it, right?”

  Kate’s heart plunged to her feet. She squeezed Jo’s arm. “Of course you’re going to make it.”

  Jo chuckled softly. “You sound a lot like my son at times. But not to worry. I’ve never passed up a chance to bake a wedding cake. The one I have in mind is three layers and adorned with foil-wrapped chocolate coins.”

  Kate looped her arm across Jo’s shoulders and hugged her—Poppy, included. “I love you, Jo. I’m so blessed to have you—and your son—in my life.”

  She might have said more, but at that moment, the French doors opened and her mother stepped outside followed by Liz and Alex. And Ian.

  Chapter 21

  Rob was making a fresh batch of freezer drinks when he heard someone enter the kitchen. Kate, he hoped. They had been entertaining her family for three hours and had yet to talk about their wedding.

  He topped off the last of the glasses and turned around.

  Ian.

  The man looked surprisingly well. His Bermuda shorts with a Hawaiian print shirt were so new they still had creases from being folded on a shelf. “Ah, good, someone to help me carry these outside.”

  Ian didn’t smile. Instead, he walked to the side-by-side refrigerator and pointed at the painting Rob had tacked up right after Ginny, his Realtor, had handed him the key to the front door.

  “She’s got talent,” Ian said. He laughed a bit self-consciously. “I suppose every proud papa says that about his child, but I mean it. She sees the world in a special way and isn’t afraid to put that out there.”

  “You’re right. She’s an amazing little girl.”

  “She’s my little girl.”

  Rob didn’t say anything.

  “But I don’t deserve any credit for the way she’s turned out. When she was a baby, I was too busy working to spend time with her. I always figured I’d make up for it when she was older.”

  Ian pointed at the solitary figure in the drawing. “She made her choice.”

  Rob had no idea what to say. That could just as easily have been him, standing alone in a hideous green tie. And he knew he’d feel just as lousy as Ian obviously did.

  Compassion made him cross the room and hand Ian the drink he’d poured before he added the booze to the mix. “Here. A virgin daiquiri. Liz said alcohol aggravates your condition.”

  Ian took it, then glanced up. “Thanks. You’re being a good sport about me just showing up like this. I was as surprised as anybody when my attorney handed me my release papers. I have forty-eight hours to report to my parole officer in Reno.”

  “I’d heard it was going to be soon. Do you have a ride?”

  Ian nodded. “Yeah, an old friend. The guy who’s putting me to work. He’ll be getting to town in a couple of hours. Liz said she’d take me home in time to meet him. Alex convinced me that saying goodbye in person would be best for Maya.”

  “I agree.”

  Ian gave Rob a smile that seemed tinged with sadness. “I’m glad Katie found you. I think you’ll be good for each other.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Daddy,” a little girl’s voice called. “Where are you?”

  A second later, Maya appeared. She was wearing her swimsuit—a Dora the Explorer one-piece and pink flip-flops. Her slightly wet shoes made a squeaky sound crossing the tile.

  “There you are. Auntie Liz wanted me to make sure you remembered to take your pills.”

  Ian patted his pocket. “I just did, sweetheart. Thank you for reminding me.” He glanced at Rob and said, “We were just talking about your picture. It’s really good. Will you make one for me to take with me when I move?”

  “Sure.” She walked to where they were standing and held out her arms to be picked up. Ian obliged. When level with Rob, she said, “I’ll make you one that has me and Mommy and Rob and Jo and Poppy in it. So you won’t forget where we are.”

  Ian nodded gravely. “That would be great, honey.”

  “We’ll keep this one here because it shows the road from us to you. When we drive to see you, we gotta sing. Like Dorothy.” She looked at Rob. “I told Mommy I needed ruby slippers and she said she didn’t think so. Can you buy me some?”

  Rob knew he was being manipulated, but the little charmer was almost impossible to resist when she gave him that sweet innocent look.

  “Maya Katherine Grant. Are you begging Rob when I specifically told you no ruby slippers?” Kate barked, hurrying to where they were standing.

  “But Mommy. How else will I find Daddy after he moves?” Tears brimmed, threatening to spill over her little cheeks.

  “A map,” Rob said. “I’ll teach you how to read a map. There are big roads and little roads and towns with funny names, like Pahrump.”

  She didn’t look as though she believed him until Ian spoke, “Rob’s right, baby doll. I went there once. A long time ago. The guy who owned the bar had a pet buffalo named Bill.”

  “Bill?�
�� Maya repeated.

  “Buffalo Bill,” Rob and Ian said together, chuckling. They toasted their glasses together, in a total guy gesture that meant something neither could probably put into words.

  Maya wiggled to be put down. “I gotta go show Auntie Liz my new room. It’s empty, but Mommy says we’re going to move all my stuff and dec-o-rate it real pretty,” she said, stressing each syllable of the word. “Wanna see it, too, Daddy?”

  After they were gone, Kate put her arms around Rob and said, “I should warn you, Maya will take you for all you’re worth, if you don’t watch it.”

  He grinned and looked at his painting. A mommy, a daddy, and a little girl. Together. A family. He’d gladly pay whatever price Maya extracted. He couldn’t wait.

  Kate was honestly surprised by how well the afternoon was going—until Liz announced it was time for Ian to leave. Then Maya, who obviously needed a nap, threw a tantrum. Yetta volunteered to take her home for a rest.

  “We’ll catch a ride with Liz,” she said. “That way you and Rob can talk about wedding plans.”

  She squeezed Kate’s hand, which now sported the sparkling engagement ring, and added, “Just remember. The—”

  Kate stopped her. “Please, not another prophecy.”

  “I was going to say, the starter on my car is a little sticky. You have to wiggle the steering wheel a couple of times before you can turn the key.”

  Kate felt her face flush. “Oh.”

  Her mother hugged her. “It’s okay, dear heart. Your road has been a tough one, but I’m absolutely positive things will be less rocky from now on.”

  Kate wanted to believe her, but nagging fears remained. Was this the right move? Maybe she and Rob should just live together for a while. Shouldn’t they postpone any wedding plans until after Jo’s health issues were cleared up?

  “You’re Romani, Katherine. Never forget that.”

  Kate blinked. She wasn’t sure her mother had spoken the words. Or her father.