Suddenly a Family

by Harris, Leann

  His mind had turned over the problem from a thousand different angles while they had been on the plane, and the only thing that had occurred to him is that he didn’t know a single thing about preschoolers.

  The situation hadn’t improved after they landed in Midland. The girls had looked around the airport and then at him and asked, “Where are the mountains?” In Phoenix, the Superstition Mountains were in the distance, visible to all in the city. Here in Midland there were miles and miles of flat horizon.

  He’d driven to the office first, wanting to check in with his secretary. At least that was what he told himself. What he had secretly hoped was that Nancy would have a useful suggestion on how to handle the situation. Maybe she would help. When he discovered she’d reported in sick for two days, he’d been desperate. Frowning over the problems, he’d looked at the girls and they had burst into tears, calling for their mother. He supposed it was the expression on his face that had scared them. He’d been known to put more than one Marine on edge with just a glance, so the girls’ reaction wasn’t so unexpected.

  And then, like an angel sent from heaven, Toni had appeared in the doorway to his office with the dog, and the girls, literally speaking, had run to her. With a blinding insight, he knew she was the answer to his dilemma. No matter that he felt a definite sexual pull toward the woman and on more than one occasion had passionate thoughts about her. From the actions of his daughters, who were clinging to Toni like a lifeline, he knew he’d found help.

  “Are you coming back?” a small voice from the door of the snack room asked, snapping him back to the present.

  Zach looked up and saw the twin without a broken leg—Lisa—in the doorway. There was a look of terror in her green eyes. It had been clear to Zach since he picked the girls up this morning that they didn’t like being with him. Yet, the prospect of being deserted yet again probably frightened them more than being with him.

  Toni held out the bag of popcorn. “Yes, sweetie. Your dad and I were getting the popcorn and drinks for you. Why don’t we go back and share this with your sister?”

  Lisa looked at Toni, then at Zach, searching, he guessed, for the truth. Finally she nodded. “’Kay.” She slipped her hand into Toni’s.

  Zach felt an odd settling in his chest, unlike anything he’d experienced before.

  “Were you worried about us, Lisa?” Toni asked as they walked back to the office. Her voice, soft and mellow, made her question soothing.

  “Naw.” Lisa looked down, then at Toni. “But Lori was—you know, with her broke leg. Besides, you wouldn’t leave Sam.”

  “Well, then, we should hurry back so Lori won’t worry. Isn’t that right, Zach?” Toni threw the question over her shoulder at him.

  “Uh—right.” He hadn’t felt so awkward since he was fifteen and going through puberty, when his voice would drop an octave then shoot up like a bottle rocket.

  When they entered his office, Lori sat on the couch, her fingers clutched in Sam’s hair. The instant her sister entered the room, some of the fear left Lori’s eyes.

  “We’re back,” Lisa announced the obvious.

  Zach was struck by the fact that these girls had lived with the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to happen to them after their mother’s death. Of course, his being introduced to them as their father hadn’t been a comforting experience. He was a stranger to them

  Lisa thrust out the bag of popcorn. “Want some?”

  Lori took a handful. Zach held up the two cans of soda. “I have a 7UP or a Dr Pepper. Which would you like?”

  “The 7UP,” Lori answered.

  “I wanted that,” Lisa complained. “I want the 7UP, please.” Her eyes darkened with her entreaty.

  “But this—” Zach held up the other drink “—is wonderful.”

  A militant look entered her eyes. Lisa folded her arms over her chest. “I want what Lori has.”

  Zach looked at Toni for help.

  “I think you should go back and get another 7UP.” She stepped closer. “You’ve just learned an important lesson. Buy two.”

  Zach shook his head and walked to the lunchroom for another drink. How was he to know all these little tricks?

  When he stepped back into his office, the girls were greedily eating the popcorn. He popped the top and handed the drink to Lisa. She took a sip, then said, “I want the other drink.”

  Toni gave Lisa the Dr Pepper. Lisa sipped it, then smiled. “That’s good.”

  Zach stared at the girls in disbelief. Lisa had just said she wanted a 7UP.

  “When was the last time the children ate?” Toni asked Zach.

  He didn’t have any idea. “We had peanuts on the airplane.” The girls hadn’t complained, and he hadn’t given food a thought.

  Turning to the girls, Toni asked, “Did you have breakfast this morning?”

  “Yeah, the lady that was taking care of us fed us oatmeal,” Lisa answered. From the tone of her voice, it was clear that Lisa considered oatmeal to be an awful thing to serve to a child.

  “I see.” Toni’s gaze met Zach’s.

  From the condemnation there, Zach felt about two inches tall. “I’m used to commanding soldiers in Special Forces. As I told you, I know nothing about—”

  Toni held up her hand. “Why don’t we go and have dinner?” She turned to the girls. “Do you two have a favorite place where you like to eat?”

  Lisa and Lori looked at each other. “Yeah. We like Jerry’s,” Lisa said.

  “What is Jerry’s?” Toni asked.

  “Pizza and clowns. It’s fun,” Lisa informed them.

  Zach’s eyes widened. Clowns and pizza? What in the world—?

  Toni laid her hand on his forearm. “I have just the place for you. My big sister has a boy and girl, and they love to go to Pizza Charlie’s. They have games and a yard with swings and slides.” When Lori’s eyes widened when she realized she couldn’t participate, Toni added, “They have indoor games that you can play, too. You’ll have fun.”

  Both girls smiled for the first time since Zach had picked them up this morning. A ray of hope penetrated the dark cloud hanging over his head.

  Toni took the cans and empty bag from the girls and threw them away. “Okay, let me call my dad’s office and have someone come and claim Sam, then we can go to Pizza Charlie’s.”

  The girls nodded.

  Toni moved to the desk and made the call. “Yeah, Betty, I’m in Zach’s office and I have Sam with me. Will you send someone down to pick up the dog? Sure, no problem.” Toni hung up. “Okay, we’re all set.”

  Lisa looked at her. “Your daddy works here?” There was awe in her voice.

  “He does.” Toni threw a glance at Zach.

  “And you’ve always had a daddy?” Lisa continued.

  Zach winced. Damn, this pain was something new.

  Toni didn’t hesitate in her answer. “Yes, I’ve always had a daddy. But sometimes mommies and daddies can’t stay together.”

  “Oh.” Lori threw Zach a frown. Luckily George Anderson appeared in the doorway before she could ask any other questions.

  “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

  Leaning down, Toni said in a stage whisper, “That’s my dad.”

  Zach shook his head. The fat was in the fire now.

  Chapter 2

  “That’s your daddy?” Lisa whispered in awe, her eyes round with wonder.

  Smiling, Toni nodded and stood. “Hi, Dad. I was expecting Betty.”

  “I was leaving when you called.”

  Sam raced to George’s side and gave his master a hearty greeting. After scratching the dog on the head, George pointedly looked at the girls. “What have we here?” His voice, which held a booming quality, made Lisa scoot to the edge of the sofa and reach for Toni.

  Zach answered, “George, these are my daughters, Lori—” he nodded to the child on the sofa “—and Lisa.” He pointed to the girl behind Toni.

  “Well, you’re a couple of mighty pr
etty girls. And I know about pretty girls. I had three of them.” A frown gathered on George’s forehead. “I don’t recall you ever mentioning having children, Zach.”

  A muscle in Zach’s jaw jumped. “I just flew in with them today. Their mother was—” He glanced at the girls and saw their distressed faces staring up at him. “Toni’s offered to help me with a few logistics.”

  “Oh?” Only George could make that single syllable sound so ominous.

  “The girls are hungry, Dad, so will you take Sam home?”

  George studied Toni, then Zach. There was a twinkle in his eye. “Sure.”

  Toni’s instincts went on full alert. Something was going on behind that pleasant smile her father flashed her. But what? Since her mother had been killed last year, Toni had worried about her dad. He seemed so lifeless, so easygoing. Toni thought she’d never miss her dad’s overbearing manner, but she had. Lately, he’d been showing signs of his old self, much to her relief.

  Zach locked his office and they walked to the elevator. It took a long time with Lori hobbling on her crutches. As they stood waiting for the elevator, George smiled down at Lori. “Did you know Toni spent a long time on crutches when she broke both of her legs?”

  Lori shook her head. “Did she have to use crutches, too?”

  George looked at his daughter. “She sure did. And for a long time she was in a wheelchair, too.”

  Lori smiled shyly at Toni.

  The elevator doors slid open and Zach handed the crutches to Toni and scooped Lori into his arms and walked on. Lori didn’t look happy at the situation.

  “This elevator is fast,” Zach told Lori as he stepped into the interior.

  Toni knew Zach was right. More than once she had had to run to catch it. She smiled at the other twin. “Let’s hurry.”

  The little girl grinned and raced into the elevator. George and Sam followed.

  The car stopped on the eighth floor, and Carl Or-mand stepped on. He smiled tightly at the crowd, though a growl from Sam took his smile away.

  George and Carl exchanged a glance. “Leaving already, Carl?”

  “I need to go out to one of the oil fields and check with the foreman about several pump jacks.”

  Toni bet Carl wouldn’t know a pump jack if it bit him in the rear. But she refrained from saying anything. Zach caught her eye and she saw that he shared her opinion. Her dad had quit pushing Carl at her, for which Toni was very grateful. She wondered if Zach had ever told her father what happened at last year’s Christmas party. No, she didn’t think he had, because George would’ve fired Carl. Toni had never told her father about the incident because it had been so soon after the accident that had killed her mother. She hadn’t wanted to disturb her father with Carl’s obnoxious actions, so she kept quiet.

  “I didn’t know we’d branched out and started caring for kids here at the office,” Carl said, sounding obnoxious and patronizing.

  Zach’s eyes narrowed. Lori, who was in his arms, visibly tensed. The girls didn’t need this confrontation, Toni thought. As Zach opened his mouth, Toni touched his elbow and silently pleaded with him to avoid a fight.

  “Don’t make a fool of yourself, Carl,” George snapped. “And if you’re going to next comment about my dog, I suggest you don’t.”

  Wisely, Carl didn’t say anything.

  When the elevator stopped at the ground floor, Carl raced out of the elevator ahead of everyone.

  “I’ll talk to you later, Dad,” Toni said as she followed Lisa into the lobby.

  “Have a good meal, and thanks for picking up Sam at the vet for me.”

  Toni had to grin. “It was nothing, Dad.” She and her dad had been through a lot over the past ten years. Maybe they were on the other side of their troubles with each other. She kissed his cheek and winked.

  “Can we go with you?” Lisa asked Toni.

  Toni chanced a glance at Zach. Silently, she asked if that was okay.

  “Of course.”

  All three females smiled. Zach looked disgruntled at their smiles.

  “Where’s your car?” Zach asked.

  “Straight ahead. It’s the red Jeep.”

  “Thanks for your help,” he said as he walked beside her through the parking lot. The dark gruffness of his voice washed over her.

  Lifting a shoulder, she tried to appear casual. “I owed you.”

  He nodded.

  She stopped by the Jeep and opened the passenger-side door. While Zach buckled Lori into the front seat, Toni opened the back door for the other girl.

  “Be sure and put on your seat belt, Lisa,” she admonished. Toni waited until Zach finished and closed the door. “Do you know where the pizza place is located?”

  “I’ve seen it a couple of times. It’s on—”

  “Why don’t you follow me?” Toni held her breath and waited for Zach’s reply, wanting to know how he would react. Would he allow her to lead, or did he have to be the “man” at all times?

  “Sounds good to me.”

  A smile broke across her face. His mouth started to turn up at he corners, then suddenly, it was as if a shutter came down across his face, and all emotion fled his face.

  “I’m parked a couple of rows over. I’ll drive over here.”

  As he walked away, Toni wondered about his reaction. Why had he decided that smiling was out of the question?

  Zach raced to his 280ZX. It had been a nightmare getting the girls into it when they came back from Phoenix. When he looked at the car, then at the children, he only had his worst fears confirmed. He was not prepared for this experience.

  He drove over to where Toni’s car was parked. She headed out of the parking lot, with him following close behind her.

  George’s reaction worried him. The older man had a razor sharp mind. Zach didn’t believe for a minute that George coming to his office was simply an accident George had a reason for everything he did. Was George worried about him using Toni? Zach could understand the older man’s view.

  Gratitude filled Zach’s heart when Toni had tempered his reaction to Carl. He had a few choice words for the fair-haired man, but they were things that his girls didn’t need to hear. And again, he was struck by the fact that he wasn’t prepared to be an instant father. Maybe if he’d had a running start at it, he’d have a better chance.

  He shook off the regrets. What good did it do now, wishing things could be different? All anyone could do was deal with the here and now. It had been a hard lesson to learn, but he had. And he wasn’t going to ignore what he knew to be true.

  And to add to the mixture, when Toni had smiled at him, it hit him square in the gut. He’d caught himself grinning back at her, like a teenager with his first crush. He’d managed to tamp down those reactions. He just hoped he could continue to do so.

  “Was my daddy mad at your daddy?” Lisa asked Toni, leaning forward in her seat.

  It appeared that of the two girls, Lisa was the chatty one. Toni wondered if the accident had changed Lori or if Lisa had always been the most extroverted of the two.

  Toni glanced in the rearview mirror. Lisa appeared worried.

  “No, I don’t think so. Zach—your daddy—sometimes doesn’t smile a lot.”

  “Yeah, we noticed,” Lisa grumbled, folding her arms over her chest and flopping back against the seat.

  Toni glanced at Lori beside her, and Lori agreed with her sister’s assessment. Laughter bubbled up, and Toni chuckled. Both girls stared at her.

  “I noticed it, too,” Toni confided. “Maybe now that you two are with him, he will have a reason to smile more. I know my dad always loved to laugh with me and my sisters.”

  The girls looked at her, doubt coloring in their eyes.

  “You don’t believe me?” Toni asked.

  Lori shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t know. We haven’t had a daddy before. He seems strange.”

  “And he doesn’t smile,” Lisa stated again. Apparently, that aspect of Zach worried Lisa.

  How
could she help these precious children understand what she didn’t? Zach had always been a mystery to her, but a mystery that attracted her. He seemed far removed from her everyday world. She couldn’t ever recall seeing him smile. How could she reassure the girls that their father had a lighter side when she’d never seen evidence of it herself?

  “Well, I think that he was sad that your mother went to heaven.”

  “Mom said he didn’t want us,” Lisa commented.

  Glancing in the rearview mirror, Toni looked at the little girl, hoping she heard wrong. From Lisa’s bleak expression, Toni knew she hadn’t.

  “I don’t think your daddy knew about you two girls,” Toni explained, as she pulled into the parking lot of the pizza parlor.

  Lisa frowned. “How come he didn’t know?”

  Toni was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she told them what Zach had shared, it would put their mother in a bad light. And yet telling them the truth was going to be hard.

  “We’re here at the pizza place,” she said, hoping to divert the girls from the question. “What kind of pizza do you like the best?” she asked Lori.

  “I like meat on my pizza.”

  Zach appeared at the passenger-side door and opened it. He reached for Lori, but she frowned. Toni noticed the girl’s reaction. Leaning over the steering wheel, she looked at Zach. “Maybe Lori would like to walk. Why don’t you ask her?”

  The idea of asking the child her opinion seemed to startle Zach. Then he shrugged. “Do you want to walk, Lori?”

  She thrust out her chin. “Yes.”

  Zach stepped back and held the crutches for Lori as she wiggled out of the car. As she watched Zach help Lori, Toni was pleased that Zach had followed her advice. Maybe there was hope in this situation after all.

  Zach set down his tea glass, then followed Toni’s gaze to where Lori played Skee Ball. She tossed the wooden ball and hit the bull’s-eye.