Bachelor Father

by Pamela Bauer

  Faith released her hand and gently urged her toward her father who gave her a squeeze. Then with a “See you tonight” he was gone and Megan was leading her down the tiled hallway toward the staircase, acting as a tour guide.

  “That’s the living room and there’s the kitchen.” Her tiny arm went first in one direction then the other. “The bathroom’s in there in case you have to go,” she said, pointing to a closed door to the right of the staircase.

  “Thank you. I’ll remember that,” Faith told her.

  “There are more bathrooms upstairs, but that’s my favorite one because it’s not so big.”

  It didn’t take Faith long to see that most of the things in Adam’s home were big. He definitely liked large furniture. As they passed the living room she saw oversize leather chairs the color of dark chocolate. The house wasn’t airy and open as Lori’s house had been, yet it didn’t feel dark, either. It felt warm and inviting.

  “I’m not supposed to go up the stairs fast,” Megan explained as she methodically climbed the steps. “I have to be very careful.”

  “It’s always a good idea to use caution on stairs,” Faith agreed.

  When they’d reached the top landing, Megan continued her tour of the house. “That’s a guest bedroom and that’s a guest bedroom,” she said pointing at closed doors as they walked down the hallway. “That’s Adam’s room,” she said, aiming her finger at the double doors at the end of the hall.

  “It must be big if it has two doors,” Faith murmured, wishing she wasn’t curious about the man’s room, but she was.

  “It’s huge. He has a really, really big bed,” she said, spreading her arms wide. “You want to see it?” She ran over and placed a hand on one of the knobs.

  Although she was curious to see Adam’s bedroom, Faith didn’t want to invade his private domain. “No, it’s all right. I’d rather see your room.”

  “Mine’s prettier,” Megan said, slipping her hand in Faith’s and pulling her along.

  Faith could see why Megan was so proud of her room. The walls were white with a border of pink flowers at the ceiling. Lacy white curtains covered the windows and on the floor was a soft yellow rug with a border of pink and blue daisies. It was the bed, however, that was the centerpiece of the room. It was an old-fashioned canopy draped in sheer pink curtains.

  “This is a lovely bedroom,” Faith told her, thinking the six-year-old lived like a little princess.

  “It’s not as nice as my room at home, but it’s bigger.”

  Faith didn’t miss that she still thought of the house where she’d lived with Christie as being home. It was a reminder of everything Megan had been through the past six months, something Adam had alluded to but had never actually talked about with her.

  “See all my books,” she said, posing in front of a bookcase that ran the length of one wall. She dropped to her knees and spread her arms as wide as possible across the lowest section. “These are the ones from Mommy.”

  They looked worn and used, compared to the newer books on the second shelf. Faith understood why. As she fingered the titles her heart ached for the woman who no longer had the joy of reading to such a precious little girl.

  Megan went over to the bed and grabbed a cloth doll whose pink dress was stained and tattered. “And this is Mrs. Giggles. She used to laugh when you tipped her like this.” She turned the doll upside down and then right side up again. “But she doesn’t work anymore. Mommy says sometimes stuff just gets worn out and there’s nothing you can do.”

  “That’s true,” Faith concurred, noticing that several other dolls, all shiny and new, sat in a corner looking rather neglected. It was only Mrs. Giggles who looked as if she’d had the attention of small hands.

  Faith watched as Megan lovingly set the doll back in its coveted spot. As she did, Faith noticed a small picture frame on the nightstand. The photo was of Christie with Megan, her arms wrapped around her daughter lovingly. They were both happy. You could see it not only in their smiles, but in their eyes. Faith reached for the photo to get a closer look at the woman she was supposed to resemble.

  “That’s me and Mommy.” Megan stated the obvious.

  Faith didn’t say anything, but stared silently at the photograph, trying to see some resemblance between herself and Megan’s mother. She didn’t see it, but then she wasn’t the most objective person to be making that comparison. She wanted to ask Megan, “Do I look like this?” but she couldn’t.

  “Do you want to see my closet?” Megan asked, unaware of the thoughts racing through Faith’s mind.

  “Yes, I would.” She set the photo down.

  “It’s over here,” Megan told her, motioning for her to follow. What looked like a cranny was actually a walk-in closet. All of the racks and shelves were at a level designed for a child’s reach.

  “Oh! So many clothes for one girl,” Faith exclaimed.

  “Lori likes to shop…a lot!” She rolled her eyes.

  “I can see that.”

  “I didn’t have this many clothes when I lived with Mommy.” She fell to her knees and reached for a large square box. She tore off the lid saying, “And these are my new ice-skates. I haven’t got to use them yet because of my operation.” She lifted the small pair of figure skates for Faith’s inspection.

  “They’re very nice,” Faith noted.

  “Maybe we can go ice-skating when I’m better.”

  “Maybe we can,” Faith said, not wanting to curb her enthusiasm. “Did your mother teach you to skate?”

  “Uh-huh. She was really good. We used to skate in the backyard.”

  “You lived on a lake?”

  “No. Uncle Tom made us a skating rink using the hose. I asked Adam if we could make one in his backyard but he said no.” Again Faith noticed that she referred to her father by his given name and that the house was “his,” not “ours.” Clearly Megan didn’t feel as if she belonged with him.

  Megan stuffed the skates back in their box in the closet and continued with her show-and-tell tour of the room. There was a child-size table with four pink chairs, a dollhouse with miniature furniture and woven baskets filled with toys and stuffed animals. If the way to a little girl’s heart was through a beautifully decorated room, Adam Novak would have certainly won Megan’s. Judging by what Faith had seen, it wasn’t material things his daughter needed.

  “You can’t just sit and pray for people. You have to go help them,” a woman’s voice echoed in her head. It startled Faith to hear it and she closed her eyes, hoping it would help her put a face or a memory to the voice.

  “Why do you have your eyes closed? Are you sleepy?” Megan interrupted her thoughts.

  Faith opened her eyes and smiled. “I was imagining all the fun things we’ll be able to do now that you’re out of the hospital and feeling better.”

  “Like bake cookies?”

  “Yes, like bake cookies.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to be my nanny.”

  Faith gave her a hug. “I’m glad, too.”

  ADAM DISCOVERED THAT not much of his daily routine changed with the hiring of Faith. He left Megan in Lori’s care in the morning and when he returned in the evening it was his sister-in-law who greeted him. From Megan he learned that Faith came sometime during the day, juggling her hours at the child-care center with the responsibilities assigned by Lori.

  Tonight when he stepped into the kitchen he found not only his sister-in-law and his daughter, but Faith, too. The three of them sat at the table playing Parcheesi. When they heard him enter, all three turned and stared as if he were a door-to-door salesman.

  “What are you doing here?” Lori asked.

  “Ah, I live here,” he reminded her dryly, tossing his keys along with the mail onto the kitchen counter.

  She clicked her tongue. “I know that, but you’re never home this early.”

  “Your husband said you had dinner plans. I didn’t want to be the one to make you late.”

  “If you had
called I could have told you that there was no need for you to leave work early. Faith’s here.”

  And looking very uncomfortable, Adam thought. He didn’t miss how quickly she’d lowered her eyes once she’d seen who had entered the room. Now she sat looking down at the game board, avoiding any further eye contact with him.

  He shrugged out of his leather jacket. “It doesn’t matter. I was ready to come home. What smells so good?”

  “It’s stew,” Megan chimed in. “I helped make it. I peeled the carrots, didn’t I, Faith?”

  “Ja, you did.” Faith gave her an indulgent grin.

  “And look. She braided my hair.” Megan turned her head so Adam could see how her blond hair had been twined into a single strand. “And we made handkerchief puppets and we finger-painted. My picture’s on the refrigerator.”

  Adam glanced over his shoulder and saw what looked to be a purple sun shining on three green stick people. He didn’t ask who the people were, afraid he might learn he wasn’t one of them.

  “That sounds like an awful lot of activity for someone who’s supposed to be resting,” he commented.

  “She took a nap this afternoon,” Lori told him. “Besides, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if tomorrow when we go for her checkup the doctor says she’s ready to go back to school.”

  Megan groaned and pulled a face. “Do I have to?”

  Lori gave her braid an affectionate tug. “Yes, you have to. Your teacher and your friends are anxious to see you. Olivia Martin has called nearly every day wanting to know when the two of you can play together again.”

  “Kendra called me, too. She’s having a birthday party next week,” Megan announced cheerfully.

  “See. If you’re not in school you miss out on all those fun activities,” Lori pointed out.

  “But I like being with you and Faith.”

  “You’ll still be with us after school.” Lori glanced at her watch. “As much as I’d like to finish this game, I need to go home.” She gave her niece an apologetic grimace.

  “But I only have one more elephant to get to the palace,” Megan whined. “Can’t we play just a little longer. Please?”

  Lori scraped back her chair. “Sorry, sweetie, but I really should go home so I’m not late for this important dinner with Uncle Greg.”

  “But we need one more player,” Megan said.

  “Maybe your dad will fill in for me.” She glanced at Adam, one eyebrow lifting slightly.

  Before Adam could utter a sound Megan folded her arms across her chest and said, “He won’t. He never plays games.”

  “It’s not like I’ve had a lot of free time lately,” he said in his own defense, but it was as if no one was listening.

  Lori patted Megan’s hand. “It’s okay. You and Faith can take my turn and move my pieces for me.”

  Faith didn’t look any more enthused about the game than he did. “Maybe I should go home with you,” she said to Lori. “You probably have things for me to do there, yes?”

  Lori waved away her concern. “No, you stay here and play with Megan.”

  “But I’m supposed to be working.”

  “You are working. You’re making dinner for Megan and Adam.”

  “She doesn’t have to feed us,” Adam interjected. “I’ll take care of dinner.”

  Lori waved him off with a flap of her hand. “Don’t be silly. Faith has already started it and she wants to do it, don’t you, Faith?”

  Adam had serious doubts about that, but he’d come to the conclusion that it wasn’t in Faith’s nature to be contrary. That’s why he wasn’t surprised when she told Lori, “I’ll make sure that everything is on the table before I go.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” Lori said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. She pushed herself out of the chair, exhaling a long sigh as she placed a hand on her protruding stomach. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make it a couple more weeks. It’s getting harder and harder to do even the simplest of things.”

  “Your time is close,” Faith said in a comforting tone.

  “I hope you’re right.” Lori held her arms open to Megan. “Give me a hug, sweetie.” Megan obliged her and then popped back onto her chair, eager to resume the game.

  Lori then turned to Faith. “You’ve been a peach all week. Thank you,” she said, giving Faith a quick hug, too. “I’ll see you in the morning. Same time, same place.” As Lori passed Adam she whispered, “Didn’t I tell you she’d be great?” and then she was gone.

  Adam had known from the start that eventually, this situation would arise. Technically Faith may have been Lori’s employee, but she was in his house taking care of his child and cooking his dinner.

  As soon as his sister-in-law was gone he turned to Faith who had stood and was pulling on two large oven mitts. “No matter what my sister-in-law says, you don’t need to wait on us. I know she thinks I’m incompetent in the kitchen, but I do know how to feed myself.”

  “I don’t think it’s you she worries about,” Faith said, bending over to open the oven door and peek at the contents inside.

  “No one’s died of malnutrition under my watch yet,” he said dryly.

  She looked as if she wanted to club him with one of the giant oven mitts, but struggled for self-control. He had to hide his smile.

  When Megan asked, “What’s malnutrition?” he realized that his daughter was following every word of their conversation. He picked up the stack of mail he’d set on the counter and handed it to her. “Would you do me a favor and put this on my desk in my office?”

  “Okay,” she said in a dutiful voice and scrambled off the chair and out of the room.

  When she was out of hearing he said to Faith, “You don’t need to stay and feed us.”

  “You want me to go.” It was said matter-of-factly as she pulled the earthenware pot from the oven and set it on top of the stove.

  “I’m offering you the opportunity to leave early. I would think you’d be happy to have the time off.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because most people are eager to leave work at the end of a day.”

  She turned her attention back to the pot, stirred it, then slid it back into the oven saying, “Work isn’t something to be avoided.”

  “You’re not avoiding it. I’m giving you the time off,” he said on a note of frustration.

  “But Megan is expecting me to finish the game.”

  “As Lori pointed out, you can do that tomorrow.”

  “She’s hoping we’ll finish today…that we’ll both play the game with her.”

  He shook his head. “I’m expecting a couple of important business calls. I don’t have time to be playing a game.”

  “That’s too bad, because it brings a sparkle to Megan’s eyes. Her eyes haven’t sparkled much lately.”

  If it was her intention to make him feel guilty, she succeeded. He sighed. “All right, then I’ll play with her, but after dinner.”

  “Gut. She’ll like that.”

  It sounded to him as if she’d said gut, the German word for good. Ever since he’d met her he’d been trying to figure out her accent. Now he wondered if it wasn’t German. He would have questioned her about it had Megan not come bouncing back into the room.

  She climbed back up on her chair. “Can we please finish this game?” she asked, impatience lacing her words. “My poor little elephant wants to go to the palace.” She stared up at Adam beseechingly.

  Automatically his eyes met Faith’s. He expected to see an “I told you so” there, but all he saw was concern.

  Megan picked up the dice. “Who’s going to take Lori’s turn?” She looked first at Faith and then at him.

  It was an appeal he couldn’t resist. He motioned for Faith to sit down, then took the chair next to hers at the table.

  “What am I?” he asked, noticing the different animal pieces scattered across the board.

  “You’re the blue ones—the water buffalo,” Megan said. “I’
m the green elephants and Faith is the red tigers. Do you know how to play?”

  “I think I remember,” he answered, surveying the board. “Your uncle Greg and I spent many hours bent over this game when we were kids, but I don’t remember ever having a water buffalo for a game piece. I wonder when they redesigned it.”

  He glanced up at Faith who didn’t say a word but simply shrugged as if saying, “Don’t look at me. I can’t even remember my childhood.”

  “You shake the dice and move your animals, like this.” Megan cupped a pair of dice in her hand and rolled them out onto the table. “See? I get to move six spaces. You want to get all of your animals to the palace up here,” she said, pointing to the area in the center of the board. “You’re blue so you go to the blue palace.”

  Adam nodded, eager to take his turn and have the game come to an end. He rolled a four so he picked up one of the tiny water buffalo and counted off four places, landing on the same rectangle as a tiger—one of Faith’s animals. He glanced up and found both Megan and Faith staring at him expectantly.

  “What?” he asked, puzzled.

  “You can’t have two animals on one space,” Megan chastised him. She picked up his water buffalo, clicked it against the tiger, muttering “bye-bye” as her tiny fingers sent the tiger prancing back over the board to a large circle of the same color on the opposite end.

  Adam looked at Faith. “Sorry.”

  As he expected, she didn’t say a word, but she did do something that caught him off guard. She wrinkled her nose at him. It was a gesture he found quite amusing and at odds to her usual sober demeanor. It made him wonder what sort of mischievousness lurked beneath her cool exterior.

  She sat quietly, seldom speaking except when she’d roll the dice and she’d announce the number of spaces she was to move her piece. Megan chattered enough for all three of them, happy to be on the fast track to victory. When she moved the last of her pieces into the green palace, she let out a whoop of delight.

  “I won!”

  “Yes, you did. Good job,” Adam congratulated her.

  When he would have picked up the game pieces she stopped him. “We need to see who’s the second winner.”