A Mother to Love

by Gail Gaymer Martin

  * * *

  Though she’d slept poorly, Angie looked forward to the day and Rick’s visit. She bounced down the stairs with a sense of accomplishment. The linens lay in a closet in neat piles, her clothes stacked in drawers lined with scented paper, and her cosmetics and personal items had found their logical place in the bathroom drawers and cabinets. She’d even settled on which paintings and wall decor would look best in each room.

  The extra bedroom had become a guest room, though she rarely had overnight guests. It looked neat with the bed made and a couple of knickknacks in appropriate spots to add a little life to the room. The second floor was finished except for hanging the wall decor.

  Rick’s visit added a bit more hope. He could hang the pictures and anything else she’d selected to adorn the rooms while she made decisions about what to tackle in the yard.

  She’d meant it when she’d told Rick she looked forward to meeting Carly. Rick seemed to dote on the little girl, and she’d learned enough to know that things weren’t always smooth between him and his ex-spouse. Problems didn’t make a good environment for their young daughter. Yet she had confidence in Rick. He would never do anything to hurt his daughter, so she suspected when trouble came he did all he could to hide it from Carly.

  She poured coffee into a mug and nibbled on a buttered English muffin. Nothing else appealed to her. Egg? French toast? Pancakes? Although they sounded good, pancake recipes seemed to be for more than one person. She shook her head at her thoughtlessness. She should have invited Rick and Carly to breakfast.

  To help pass time she busied herself by lining pictures along the walls where she wanted them hung, and she laid a couple of items on the bed that she thought might look nice in the bathroom—a cute wall clock set in a floral motif and a small shelf to hold a miniature vase and a pin box that had belonged to her grandmother. For her home office, she’d laid out a tapestry from her grandmother’s home as well as a dry board to jot notes to herself.

  She eyed the kitchen clock. Nine. She suspected they’d be there soon, but with a little one, maybe not. Before she could question his arrival any longer, a sound from the driveway alerted her. She ran to the living room window and peeked out.

  Her heart skipped a beat upon seeing his car. She spotted Rick leaning into the backseat, releasing Carly’s booster-seat straps. The girl jumped out, cute and spunky, her eyes the same shape and hazel color as Rick’s and bowed lips that must have been like her mother’s. Rick’s were full and more rugged than his daughter’s bowed ones.

  Without waiting for their ring, she hurried to the door and swung it open. At work, Rick wore a sport coat or a shirt and sweater, but today he had dressed in jeans and a deep gold polo shirt that highlighted the gold in his hair.

  Rick looked up and gave a wave. “I hope we’re not too early.”

  “Not at all. I’ve been up for a while.” She hated to tell him she hadn’t been able to sleep and had thought about his visit throughout the night. She pulled her gaze from Rick’s and focused on the child. The girl had her daddy’s hair, the same golden brown with cute bangs and the sides curved beneath her chin. “Hi, Carly. I’m so glad you came to visit.”

  The child gave her a shy look and glanced at Rick before her hazel eyes darted back to Angie. “Thank you.”

  Polite and sweet. Angie’s heart gave a squeeze. She could see why Rick’s life revolved around the little girl. “Come in. I was just having breakfast.”

  Rick’s smile faded. “Oh, I’d hoped I would catch you before that.” He lifted a paper bag she hadn’t noticed. “I brought you a breakfast sandwich.”

  Her chest constricted. “Really? I couldn’t decide what to eat, so I’m nibbling on an English muffin.”

  “Well, stop nibbling. I have a sandwich for each of us. Even Carly wanted to give it a try.”

  She stood back, holding open the door as they entered.

  Rick headed straight for the kitchen with Carly on his heels. When she came through the doorway, he’d pulled three packages from the sack and eyed the coffee carafe. “Do you have enough?”

  She nodded and pulled a mug from the cabinet. “Here you go, and, Carly, would you like milk or some orange juice?”

  The child glanced at her dad, who gave a nod. “Milk, please.”

  Angie grinned and poured a glass of milk from the carton.

  They gathered around the table, and when Rick bowed his head, Carly followed. As if a belated thought, he looked up. “Do you mind?”

  “Mind? No, please.” Angie folded her hands and waited.

  Rick gave Carly a nod. The child eyed her before beginning the prayer. “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest...”

  The prayer leaped from the recesses of Angie’s mind. How often had she heard those words spoken around the table? Her father’s voice rang through her head and, fighting tears, she had to force herself to look up when Carly finished. “Thank you, Carly. I used to say that prayer when I was your age.”

  “You did?” The five-year-old looked at Rick with question. “Is the prayer really old?”

  Angie pressed her lips together to control her chuckle. Rick struggled with the same reaction as he explained it was very, very old. “Even your great-grandmother knew that prayer, Carly.”

  The child seemed to ponder what he’d said as she delved into her breakfast sandwich. After two bites her expression made it clear she enjoyed it.

  Angie enjoyed hers, too, but then she remembered Rema’s delicious muffins and wished she’d saved a couple. Maybe she’d have to learn to bake. Kids loved cookies, cake and muffins. Out of the corner of her eye, Angie watched the girl, hoping the child felt welcomed. “Carly, your daddy tells me you’re in kindergarten.”

  Carly’s face lit with a grin, the sandwich forgotten. “Uh-huh and do you know what?”

  “No. Tell me.” Angie leaned closer, enjoying the child’s animation with her hands raised as if ready to applaud.

  “Our teacher gives us fun homework.”

  “Fun homework?” She drew back, never remembering a time when she’d thought homework fun.

  Rick’s eyes twinkled. “I reacted the same way until she explained. The teacher has them go outside for activities. They had to find samples of leaves, wildflowers and acorns, and then she gave the children a list of things to find in their yards.” He grinned. “See. That’s fun homework.”

  “I imagine it is.” She got a kick out of the child’s exuberance.

  Carly’s eyes widened. “And guess what I found.”

  Angie shrugged. “A pinecone?”

  “No. I found a dandelion.”

  “I remember dandelions.” Angie pictured the yellow flowerlike weed, the bane of all the adults when, later, its puffy seeds landed in their yards. Yet her mind shot back to a day when her mom had put a dandelion beneath her chin and told her if it left a yellow stain she would find her true love. So much for dandelions.

  Rick stood. “I noticed the house on the corner has a sold sign already.”

  “I saw it yesterday. A new neighbor will move in soon, I suppose.”

  His sandwich gone, Rick wiped his mouth and motioned toward the archway. “Which reminds me, where do we start?”

  His eagerness tickled her. “How are you at hanging pictures and things?”

  “A pro.” He gave a playful grimace. “Okay, I’m not exactly a pro, but I’m not bad. I have a good eye, but I’m even better if you have a level.”

  A level? “Is that one of those wood things with the little bubbles?”

  An odd expression came over his face, and then, as if a light had turned on, he chuckled. “I suppose a person could describe it that way. Apparently you don’t have one.”

  “Apparently.”

  “I can eyeball it. It’ll be fine.”

  She loved his eyes
, a deep tan sprinkled with gold dust. They twinkled as if they were mischief looking for a place to happen. “I’m sure you can eyeball it. You have very nice eyes.” She snapped her fingers. “How about a measuring tape? I have that along with a hammer and the right kind of nails for frames and things. I asked at the hardware store.”

  “Sure, a yard stick or tape measure works.” He drew back his head with a tilt. “And you even asked at the hardware store.”

  “I did.” She flashed a silly smile as he appeared to study her.

  His look gave her goose bumps. Not the scary kind but the kind that confused her. His eyes drew her in as if he read her mind. And when his dimples flexed, then vanished, she sensed he’d told himself a joke, probably about her. His subtle sense of humor was one of his attributes she loved. But today only tension grasped her. She waited to see what he’d say or tell her what he wanted, but he didn’t say a word.

  Instead he looked away without a response and slipped his hand into his pocket. After a moment, he took a deep breath. “Well?”

  She rose from the table, buoyed with excitement. “If you’re ready to get started, let’s go. I don’t want to hold you up from—”

  “That’s no problem.” He winked at Carly. “You and I saved the whole day for Angie, didn’t we?” She gave him a smile and nodded. “We have nothing else waiting, and we know you want to buy some flowers and get some planting done.”

  “I do.” She pointed to the staircase. “So, let’s get busy. I’ll show you what needs to be done upstairs, and while you’re doing that, Carly can help me decide on the flowers.”

  “I can?” Excitement flickered on her face along with the telltale dimples that validated she was Rick’s daughter.

  “Absolutely.” She loved seeing the child’s enthusiasm. “You can even help me plant some of them. How’s that for an idea?”

  “Daddy, I can help plant.” She bounced on her toes.

  “I know. Angie is a glutton for...” He rolled his eyes. “Never mind.”

  Carly tilted her head. “What’s a glutting?”

  “A really nice person, I think.” Rick patted her head as his eyes shifted to Angie. “Let’s see what you have upstairs.”

  She beckoned him to follow. Carly joined him as they traveled from room to room while she pointed to the various items needing to be hung.

  “You really have a nice place here, Ang. I didn’t pay attention when I was toting boxes.”

  Ang. No one had called her that since her dad had years ago. It had been a special signal they were pals. He’d never had the son he’d wanted, so she’d become his buddy. She loved their relationship. He’d taken her fishing and sometimes had let her help him do minor car repairs or maintenance. She’d forgotten it all now, but it had meant the world to her then.

  Her mind snapped back and she shrugged. “Sorry. I went on a short memory trip. I like it here, too. Thanks.”

  He gave her a playful wink and didn’t seem concerned about her distraction.

  When she had finished pointing out the tasks, Carly joined her downstairs without looking back, and they headed outside. As she studied the yard, Carly did the same.

  Angie lifted a pen to the notepad she’d brought. “What do you think? Where should we put the flowers?”

  Carly skipped across the lawn and selected an empty space in front of the lilac bushes that would experience morning and early afternoon sun before being dimmed by the shade of the foliage in late afternoon. “That’s a good spot, Carly.” Her mind sought the kinds of flowers that could work, ones that thrived with partial shade.

  “Back there.” Carly pointed to an area along the fence just beyond another cluster of large lilac shrubs.

  She studied the place, which would have full sun most of the day. “That’s a good place. We could plant roses.” She made a note.

  Carly spun around and headed back to her. “Roses are pretty.”

  “They are.” She tucked her arm around the child’s shoulders, not sure how she would respond, but Carly drew closer without hesitation. Angie loved the feeling of Carly beside her and enjoyed showing affection to the little girl. From what she’d learned from Rick, Carly’s mother worked a job that resulted in travel and long office hours. The girl spent hours in an after-school program and often child-care services.

  Angie’s chest tightened, picturing the bubbly child, eager to please and anxious to help, being raised by people other than her mom. Angie understood that some jobs were demanding and the woman had to make a living, but she couldn’t alter the emotion she felt for Carly. A lump formed in her throat and startled her. She’d been well loved by both parents as a child, and she wanted that for Carly.

  She and Carly moved to the side of the house and into the front yard, where beds had once held flowers. They made notes of the kinds of plants she could buy. Though she had enough ideas to cost a fortune, she knew she could start small and add perennials each year.

  Taking a break, they sat on the porch steps and talked about different kinds of flowers. Though Carly knew more about flower colors than kinds, she mentioned roses and tulips. Planting bulbs in autumn would add colorful spring blossoms to the landscape. Angie made a note in her book to help her remember.

  “What do you like to do for fun, Carly?” The question came out of nowhere.

  Carly looked thoughtful as if she had too many to list. Yet no ideas seemed to come.

  “How about swings and slides at the park?” Angie watched her face brighten.

  “We have swings at school.”

  “Can you go up high on them?” She watched the girl’s face twist in thought.

  “I don’t know how.” She faced Angie. “Do you?”

  Tender feelings slid through Angie. “You’ll learn when you’re bigger, but one day we’ll have to take you to a park. Your daddy can push you a little bit high.”

  “Really?” Her eyes sparkled. “And can we go on the slides?”

  “You can. I think I’m too big.” She pictured herself trying to squeeze her hips down a slide. The picture made her smile. “Does your daddy take you to the park?”

  “No, but we go shopping and buy groceries. And he takes me to the hamburger place that has tunnels and ladders, and he watches me play.”

  “That’s fun. I don’t think they had that kind of play area when I was a little girl. You’re lucky.”

  “I am, because my daddy is fun.” Her head lowered as if in thought and then popped up. “Daddy reads me stories, and we laugh. And he buys us pizza.”

  “You are a very lucky girl.”

  “Maybe he’ll buy you pizza, too.” She looked thoughtful before nodding her head. “I’ll tell him to.”

  Angie silenced her gasp. “You don’t have to. Let’s see if he thinks of it by himself.” All she needed was to have him think she’d put the bug in Carly’s ear to invite her for pizza.

  Carly nodded. “Okay. Let’s see.”

  “See what?” Rick came around the corner of the house, a bright smile on his face.

  “Nothing.” Angie jumped up. “We were talking about playing on swings and slides at a park. Carly would like that.”

  His eyes widened. “Good. We have a park somewhere near us. Good idea.”

  She suspected Rick hadn’t thought of the park. The child needed fun and ways to play, and she wondered what they did together other than grocery shop and eat burgers and pizza. Little kids needed stimuli.

  His unexpected appearance surprised her. “Are you done with everything?”

  “I think so. Do you want to check?”

  The thought ran through her head and out again. “No. Later. Let’s go to the nursery for the flowers.”

  “Let’s go.” Carly clapped her hands and skipped toward the car.

  Rick reached for her, but
before he captured Carly she spun away from him toward the car, wearing a silly grin as she beckoned to him to follow. A tender feeling oozed through Angie as she viewed the father-daughter antics. Though she had lost confidence in men and had no desire to marry, today a sweet sensation ran through her, and for once she understood the joy of being a family. With the image in her mind, she melted.

  * * *

  Rick pulled into Sunburst Garden and parked. He hadn’t felt this alive in years. Carly’s smile and excitement sent guilt creeping up his back. Why hadn’t he thought to teach her things like planting a flower or doing simple tasks? She’d cozied up to Angie as if she was a female Pied Piper. Though logic said he should feel a bit envious, he didn’t. Seeing his daughter’s spirit higher than the treetops—and over such simple things—lifted him into the clouds.

  He jumped from the car and headed for Carly to unhook her booster seat, but she’d already loosened the belts and slipped out of the shoulder strap as Angie opened the door for her. She bounded from the SUV, skipping around them as if she had swallowed jumping beans. The sight made him laugh. “You are a bundle of energy.”

  “I’m excited ’cause Angie said I can help plant flowers.” Carly gazed at Angie with admiration. “I’ve never planted flowers.”

  “Okay, but if you’re good at it, then I’ll put you to work at home.” He gave Carly a wink.

  Carly loved the idea and skittered ahead of them through the nursery gate into the outdoor area filled with all types of perennial plants.

  He held back, longing for time to talk with Angie, but he suspected that wouldn’t be easy with Carly’s exuberance.

  Angie found a shopping cart and placed an empty flower flat in it and then pushed it along with Carly hanging on to the handle. Rick followed, amazed at his little girl’s attraction to Angie and the whole idea of planting flowers.

  Angie beckoned her toward the annuals inside the building and pointed to a flat. “See these flowers, Carly?”

  She nodded. “They’re pretty.”

  “They’re called wave petunias, and they’re beautiful when they grow in a garden, so I want you to pick out the colors that you like and put them in this box.” Angie picked up a box of pink petunias and set them in one of the little compartments. “We’ll fill this flat with all kinds of colors that you like, and they will grow so big you’ll be surprised.”