What Makes A Father (HQR Special Edition)

by Teresa Southwick

  “What’s all that stuff for?”

  Apparently she was more focused on what he’d brought than what he’d said. Good. “A plastic trash bag, duct tape and a pitcher. Sit down and I’ll show you.”

  She moved over and sat on the closed toilet lid then rested the crutches against the sink. “Now what?”

  Now he would do his level best to act professionally and not let on that he was crazy attracted to her. “I’m going to put the bag over your leg. Before I secure it with the tape, I’m going to tuck this hand towel into the top of the cast so that if the bag leaks it will still keep the inside dry.”

  “Great idea. I love it when a plan comes together.”

  Not yet, but if his hands didn’t shake when he touched her, he’d call it a win.

  Mason went down on one knee and put her foot on his thigh. Then he did his thing with the towel. There was no way he could avoid touching her skin and the contact just south of her thigh was sweet torture. He tried not to notice, but the material of her robe separated just a little. Not enough to get a glimpse of anything he shouldn’t but enough to torment him with what he couldn’t see.

  He took a deep breath, as if he was going underwater, then opened the plastic bag and slid it up over her cast. Twisting it closed just below her knee, he wrapped it securely with the tape then ripped it off the roll.

  Annie nodded her approval. “That looks watertight.”

  “You still need to keep it away from the running water. Hang it outside the shower stall.”

  “What’s that for?”

  He glanced at the small, plastic sixteen-ounce measuring cup she was pointing to. “I’ll help you wash your hair in the sink. The less time you spend in the shower, the better.”

  Her mouth pulled tight for a moment. “So I need to let go of a long, hot, relaxing wash.”

  “Like I said, it will be quick. Sorry.”

  “Not as sorry as I am.” She met his gaze. “Let’s do this.”

  “I’ll get towels.” He went to the linen closet in the hall and brought back two big fluffy ones. “This one is for your hair.”

  “Okay.”

  “Ready?”

  When she nodded, Mason helped her stand, then put his hand at her waist and tried not to wish she didn’t have that robe on. He instructed her to bend over the sink. Her shampoo and conditioner were right where he’d put them after unpacking her toiletries.

  He turned on the water and filled the cup to wet all that beautiful blond, silky hair. He was a doctor and had been married, but this was the first time he’d ever washed a woman’s hair. There was something incredibly sensual about the soapy strands running through his fingers.

  No way could he stop himself from picturing her, him in the shower together with water running over their bodies. Surely he was going to hell for impure thoughts at the expense of an injured woman. He rinsed the soap as thoroughly as possible then used the conditioner and went through the same procedure, wondering if a man could go to hell twice.

  “All finished.” His voice was a little hoarse and with any luck she was too preoccupied to notice. He helped her straighten then handed her the towel to wrap around her hair while he steadied her. It didn’t escape his notice that the pulse at the base of her neck was fluttering a little too fast. If there was any satisfaction from this ordeal at all, it was that she might be as affected by him as he was by her.

  “Okay. Now for the hard part. I’ll aim the showerhead away from the door so you can stick your leg out.”

  After he did that, she looked at him pointedly. “You can leave now.”

  Here was the classic definition of conflict. He wanted to get as far away from her as possible. At the same time, he didn’t want to leave her and risk a fall. But the fact was he couldn’t stay. He was trying to be a gentleman, not picturing her naked. The last thing he wanted was to be a sleazeball who reinforced all her reasons for being a skeptic. This might just be the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  “Okay. But I’ll be just on the other side of the door if you need anything.”

  “Thanks.”

  He turned his back and walked out, shutting the door behind him. That’s as far as he got. He’d never forget her cry of pain when she’d fallen on the cement and hoped to God he didn’t hear it now. So he waited right by that door just in case he needed to get to her in seconds.

  He waited to hear the shower go on and it was a while because she had to hobble over, take off that sexy little robe, step in and set the crutches aside. The water went off fairly quickly so she’d gotten the message about not standing under it for too long.

  And speaking of long, he stood in that same spot by the door for quite a while after he heard her leave the bathroom and go into the other bedroom. What the hell was wrong with him?

  Stupid question. If this was a clinical situation, he would be focused on the medicine. Only that wasn’t the case.

  It was personal. No matter how hard he tried to stop, no matter how hard he tried not to be attracted to Annie, this was getting more personal every day.

  Chapter Five

  A week after breaking her leg, Annie and the kids were pretty much settled into a routine with Mason’s family. He worked twelve-hour shifts for a couple of days, then was off a couple. When he was gone, his mother took over helping with the twins, bringing one or the other to Annie for feeding and cuddles. When Mason’s dad, John, got home from work, he pitched in, too. His sister, Kelsey, had nursing shifts at the hospital, but happily lent a hand when she was home. It occurred to Annie to wonder why a grown man living with his parents was weird, but not a grown woman.

  Mason swore that as soon as there was time he was going house hunting. And she wondered why he hadn’t kept his house before he deployed to Afghanistan instead of selling it. One of these days she planned to ask him.

  Right now she was too busy feeling guilty and sorry for herself. She was only good for elevating her bum leg and petting the dog while the rest of the adults took care of her babies. She could hear them in the other room getting baths. There was a lot of laughing and splashing going on and she was missing out on all the fun. Broken legs sucked.

  Dogs did not. Lulu was a black shih tzu–poodle mix and completely adorable. Annie rubbed her hand over the animal’s soft furry back and smiled when Lulu licked her hand, like kisses to say “Thank you for paying attention to me.” When she stopped for a moment, sad brown eyes looked up at her. “Sorry, Lulu. I have to get up off this couch and go see the kids.”

  Florence Blackburne picked that moment to come in and check on her. “Not so fast, young lady. Your orders are to stay off that leg as much as possible.”

  “But I’m missing them grow up.” Annie knew she was being overly dramatic and...dare she say it? Whining? But she couldn’t help it. “You don’t understand.”

  “Maternal guilt? Boredom? Missing your children?”

  “Yeah, that.” The words backed Annie up a bit.

  Flo sat in the club chair at a right angle to her position on the sofa. “When I was pregnant with Kelsey, my youngest, I had a condition known as placenta previa, which could cause complications during labor and delivery. I was put on bed rest until she was developed enough to take her by C-section.”

  “Oh, my.”

  “I had three small and very active boys who didn’t understand why Mommy couldn’t do all the things she did before. I’ll never forget Mason’s little face when he asked me to throw the ball with him outside and I couldn’t. It broke my heart.”

  “How did you get through it?”

  “My in-laws were fantastic. It would have been almost impossible if not for them.”

  “You were fortunate.”

  “Don’t I know it. The children adored them. We all still miss them.” Her voice went soft for a moment. “They died a few years ago, a couple of months ap
art. She went first and my father-in-law seemed in good health, except for missing her. He didn’t know how to go on without her.”

  “He died of a broken heart,” Annie commented.

  Flo smiled sadly. “That’s what I always thought. My family helped, too. My sister, Lillian, adored the boys and was here as much as possible on top of her full-time job.”

  “So you had support from both sides of the family.”

  “I always suspected there was a spreadsheet and schedule,” the other woman said teasingly. “Lillian was in charge of that, but business and records weren’t her thing. She was always a romantic and said there’s nothing sexy about numbers.”

  Annie grinned. “That depends on who’s using the algorithm.”

  “So I’ve been told,” Flo said. “My son Gabriel is helping her out with her business right now and I’m told he’s not hard on the eyes.”

  “My friend Carla works at Make Me a Match.” Annie explained how they’d met. “It’s not a rumor that he’s a hottie. She has firsthand knowledge.”

  Flo grinned. “Family can be both difficult and indispensable. So, my advice is, since there’s no way your broken leg is going to heal as fast as you want it to, just sit back and enjoy the help. We’re happy to be doing it.”

  “Thank you. It’s appreciated more than I can possibly say.” Annie smiled when Lulu rested a paw on her left leg and whined just a little to be petted. She happily obliged. “Please don’t think I’m not grateful, because I am. And maybe I’m a control freak. But I haven’t had very much experience with backup.”

  “Do you have family?”

  “My mother and her husband. Stepfather,” she added.

  “You don’t like him.” Flo wasn’t asking.

  “How did you know? I thought I was hiding my feelings pretty well.”

  “You didn’t call him your stepfather.” The woman shrugged. “No offense, but you’re not a very good actress.”

  Sometimes Annie wished she was better at it. Like the night Mason had washed her hair and waterproofed her cast. She’d been a bundle of feelings and jumped every time his fingers had grazed her skin. Every touch was like a zing of awareness, but he probably hadn’t noticed. He’d never looked at her, just concentrated on positioning duct tape.

  The thing was, Annie liked when he touched her. A lot. But since he’d shown up at her apartment, there’d been no signal from him that he had the slightest personal interest, other than being a father to the twins. They had to parent together. That was all. If she let the secret of her attraction show, it would be humiliating, and her life was already filled with enough humiliation.

  Annie looked at the other woman. “I don’t hide my feelings well. That could be why Jess and I didn’t see much of him and my mother after they moved to Florida.”

  “Did they know she was pregnant?” Flo asked.

  Bitterness welled up inside Annie. “They knew. And they know she died after the twins were born. But they haven’t seen their grandchildren even once.”

  Speaking of being an actress, Mason’s mother couldn’t or wouldn’t conceal the shock and disapproval that showed on her face. “Grandchildren are our reward for not strangling our kids as teenagers. But... Never mind.”

  Flo seemed so open and Annie couldn’t figure out why she was reluctant to say more. Just then the dog jumped off the couch and trotted to the kitchen. Moments later the doggie door slapped open and shut.

  “What were you going to say?” Annie couldn’t stifle her curiosity.

  “I shouldn’t judge people I don’t know.”

  “But...?” She prodded.

  “No. Florida is on the other side of the country. I have zero knowledge about their financial situation.”

  “I can tell you have an opinion,” Annie nudged.

  “Of course. I have opinions on everything.” Flo shifted in the chair. “How’s the leg? Are you comfortable?”

  “I’m as comfy as possible.” Annie had her leg elevated on the coffee table with the cast resting on a throw pillow. “And you’re changing the subject.”

  “Yes.” Flo sighed. “I don’t want you to think I’m awful.”

  “Seriously?” Now it was Annie’s turn to be shocked. This woman had been nothing but kind, welcoming and a godsend. “I could never think that. I can’t imagine what I’d have done without this whole family and I don’t even want to imagine it. I’ve actually thought this, so I’ll just say it straight out. You’re a goddess.”

  “Right back at you. The thing is, maybe I have strong feelings because I’ve waited for grandkids for quite a long time. I’d hoped Mason would...” Flo checked her words and sadness slipped into her eyes. “That was another life. It’s just that I can’t picture not knowing my children’s children. They’re a blessing.”

  “The babies are for me, too,” Annie said.

  “Thank you for sharing them with us. I just want to be included. If I overstep, you are to let me know. I mean that, Annie.”

  “I promise.”

  “If I do, just know that it comes from a place of love. I don’t want to miss out on anything.”

  “Okay. And you should know that if I don’t think to reach out, it’s nothing more than me being tired and brain-dead, certainly not deliberate. And you have to tell me.”

  “Thank you.” Flo smiled and reached over to squeeze her hand.

  Lulu returned to stand in front of Annie. The little black dog whined softly and Annie had learned this meant she wanted a treat for successfully going potty outside. The jar was beside her and she plucked out a bone-shaped biscuit, holding it just within the animal’s reach. Lulu stood on her back legs, opened her mouth and snatched it from Annie’s fingers then took it to her favorite spot underneath the dining room table. Annie was happy to be of use, at least to one member of this household.

  But back to her folks. Annie thought about them. “My mom and stepfather have missed everything and don’t seem to mind. That’s in character. When I was growing up, they seemed happiest when they didn’t have to get involved in mine and Jess’s life.”

  “It’s hard finding balance between hovering constantly, being a helicopter parent, and backing off to let your child’s independence evolve.” Flo looked as if she was remembering. “Mason was our oldest and it never seemed fair that we had to practice on him because we had no idea what we were doing. Unfortunately someone has to be first. John and I always joked that he was our prototype.”

  Annie laughed. “At least Charlie and Sarah have each other and eventually a therapy buddy when they grow up and complain that we did it all wrong. At least me. Mason is so good with them.”

  It was clearer every day how much he loved his children, as if he’d been waiting a very long time to be a father. Unlike Dwayne, the douche who’d called her precious babies another man’s brats. When she’d told Mason that, she’d been afraid he’d chase down the jerk and pop him like the douchebag he was. The thought of that was pretty hot.

  “Mason told me about your boyfriend abandoning you,” Flo said.

  “Ex-boyfriend.” Annie was going to add “mind reader” to this woman’s list of superpowers. “I couldn’t have been more wrong about him. I won’t make a mistake like that again.”

  “Not everyone walks out.”

  “Couldn’t prove that by me.” Annie was afraid the other woman could look into her soul and see the feelings she was trying to hide. Then the meaning of her words sank in. “I wasn’t talking about you. I must have sounded completely ungrateful. I’m not sure how I would have coped if not for Mason and you guys, his family.”

  “We’re your family, too.”

  “I appreciate you saying that.” But she wouldn’t let herself count on it. The stepfather had always said she and Jessica wouldn’t have been so much trouble if they’d been his blood. The message had been received loud a
nd clear. Mason’s family were helping, but only because of the blood connection to the babies. Why else would they bother?

  “I mean it, Annie. Of course having trust is hard.” Flo hesitated then added, “You don’t have any reason to believe someone who just tells you he loves you. Believe someone who shows you he does.”

  She was right about trust. Annie’s biological father physically left. The stepfather emotionally dumped her. Then she made the mistake of letting her guard down with Dwayne. Three strikes and you’re out.

  Annie didn’t believe in love anymore. Disillusionment hurt and the longer she stayed here in this house with Mason, the more she could get sucked into believing. As soon as she could manage on her own, she was going back to her place.

  * * *

  Mason sat in the rocker that was older than he was and held Sarah in his arms. Annie was next to him in the glider chair, her bad leg elevated on the ottoman and Charlie nestled to her chest. It was late and everyone else in the house was asleep. To keep it that way, they were tandem rocking the twins.

  He glanced sideways and thought how beautiful she looked with a baby in her arms. She and the twins had been here for two weeks and it was the best two weeks he’d had in a very long time. Charlie whimpered restlessly and she softly shushed, settling him down.

  Annie met his gaze and frowned. “What?” she whispered.

  “Nothing.” He studied Sarah and knew now that she was sufficiently asleep to handle a quiet conversation.

  Annie kept staring. “You have kind of a dweeby look on your face. Why?”

  “It’s the same look I always have. Guess I’m just a dweeb.”

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “So you don’t think I’m a dweeb?”

  “I didn’t say that. Your expression is just dweebier than normal.” She rubbed a hand over Charlie’s back. “What are you thinking about? It’s making you look weird.”

  He hesitated. “I feel silly telling you.”

  “Now I have to know.” There was a teasing note in her voice.