by D. R. Grady
“Granna does help whenever she can.”
“Until she broke her foot,” Starla added helpfully. Macy grinned at her. The little girl looked amazingly like Marilyn Monroe. The resemblance was uncanny. Macy suspected much of it was innate, genetics. Apparently femme fatales were born not created.
“Still, you didn’t have to do all you’ve done. And don’t think I don’t know who’s been cleaning your bathroom.”
Savannah grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Macy wrinkled her nose. “I guess you figured out how much I loathe cleaning bathrooms?”
“Yeah. It’s okay, I don’t mind cleaning ours.”
“Okay, well, I’ll take you off laundry detail then, because cleaning the bathroom is plenty for you. Especially since you’re still in school.”
Savannah nodded. “If you wash the towels, I’ll do the rest of the bathroom cleaning.”
“Perfect. When’s your last day?”
“June seventh.”
“You’ve got nearly a full month to go then.”
“Yeah,” Savannah sighed.
“It’s okay. You’ll soon be finished with seventh grade.”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to the summer.”
“I’ll be in first grade next year, Macy,” Starla said, peering at Macy through her lashes.
“That’s right. First grade will be fun,” Macy said. It was a good thing Starla wasn’t the one going to the high school. Best to let Savannah pave that road first. Nick would have a chance to recover and have the two boys between the girls before Starla hit that phase. She didn’t envy him at all.
The light changed so Macy made the turn into the complex where she thought they could start their shopping spree. “Okay, you girls take a look at the bathing suits and select some to try on. I’m going to find trunks for the boys. We can meet at the changing rooms, okay?”
“What if we need you before then?” Starla’s question, which sounded like it bordered on panic, made Macy pause.
“I’m going to be nearby. If you need me, I’ll be in the boys’ section right next to where you’ll be.”
“I’ll be there, too,” Savannah told her sister dryly.
Their reassurance seemed to calm Starla. Once they entered the store, Macy watched Starla very closely; as it occurred to her that an unoccupied little girl who was too beautiful for her own good might prove to be a lure to the seedier segment of the population.
She shopped for the boys with an eye on Starla. Savannah, while a teenager, was still reed thin and petite, so Macy kept an eye on her as well. Motherhood hadn’t been a part of her plans, so the fact that she was now responsible for these two beautiful, precious girls made her heart catch.
An older woman pushing her cart past paused and said, “Your daughters look so much like you. Why, anyone can see who they belong to.” Macy started, smiled, and thanked the woman but her eyes flew to the girls.
She hadn’t noticed, but both Savannah and Starla had blonde, curly hair nearly the same shade as hers. Starla’s face was shaped differently than hers, but she and Savannah could very likely pass for mother and daughter. And it was obvious Savannah and Starla were sisters.
Macy groped behind her for the chair she just passed and sank into it. The girls did look like they could be hers. Bryce and Brandt were near replicas of their father, with dark hair and dark blue eyes, but the girls...
A shiver slithered down her back. She intended to leave in the fall. Vet school awaited. Nothing else had ever been so important to her. Macy didn’t have other goals. She’d wanted to be a vet for years now. Changing her goal in midlife when it was the only thing she’d ever wanted was ridiculous.
But these kids, who looked like they could be hers, made her question her own goals.
What would life be like if she did become their mother?
It wasn’t like she found their father unattractive. It wasn’t like she’d managed to coax him into kissing her. Macy sighed. Vet school was definitely her only future.
Chapter 9
Nick’s mother, following his dad through the door, looked around suspiciously. “Where’re Macy and the girls?”
“They went shopping,” Nick said. He untoppled Brandt’s glass of orange juice and added more bacon to his plate.
Macy had mentioned Brandt was eating like a teenager and now that she said something, he noticed his youngest son was eating for four. No wonder the grocery bill had nearly given him a heart attack this week...
“Shopping?” his mom repeated and stared at him, nonplussed.
“Yeah, she said the kids bathing suits were at least ten years old if not twenty, and she threw out most of their summer clothes.”
“I should have noticed that,” his mom mumbled and he thought he detected all the signs of a mother fret coming on.
“Relax, we had enough to worry about with just keeping the house fairly clean and the kids fed.”
“Macy said we could concentrate on clothes now that everything else is taken care of,” Bryce added. Nick smiled at him.
Since the advent of Rob, Bryce actually contributed to conversations. It was rather amazing.
His mom blinked at Bryce, and he realized she wouldn’t have been around to see the difference. “She’s right.”
“Yes, of course,” his mom added hastily, and he thought she made an effort not to fuss over Bryce’s addition to the conversation.
“Macy’s buying us new swimming trunks so we can go to the creek,” Brandt said. Nick added more bacon to his younger son’s plate.
The last strip landed in his mouth and Nick watched Brandt search the table. Nick passed him the plate with the remaining pancakes. His dad would be disappointed as he was busy perusing the refrigerator contents. Nick frowned and his eyes slid back to Brandt. Brandt might come by his huge appetite naturally.
“Why aren’t you finished with breakfast yet?” his mom asked. She poured herself a cup of coffee.
“The girls were up early and made this, but they didn’t stay very long to eat.”
“We just got up, Granna,” Brandt said. Maple syrup ringed his mouth. His eyes were serious.
“Did you save me any pancakes?” his dad asked plaintively as he stared at the empty plate.
Nick sighed and rose from the table. He saw there was still some batter in the bottom of the bowl. “Hold on, Dad, I’ll make up the last of these.”
“Don’t make them just for me,” his dad said quickly.
Nick turned to stare at Brandt. Who nodded. “I’ll eat more, Dad.”
Bryce looked up. “Can I have more bacon?”
“I’ll make more of each,” he decided. He’d gotten spoiled with Macy around. Normally she did all the cooking and he got to eat. She had improved his quality of life drastically, but he decided he better not take her for granted. Nor had he better sexually harass her, as much as he’d like to.
She made simple tasks like switching laundry sexy. Her preparing supper turned him on like Melissa in lingerie couldn’t by the end of their marriage. Macy also lit up any place with a glow that suffused the entire area. His family seemed happier and more content when she was around.
Macy seemed to care about his children already more than Melissa ever had. And Melissa had birthed them. He hadn’t fully realized how selfish and self-centered Melissa was until Macy barreled into their lives and organized and took care of them. By the time Melissa had finally left, he only felt relief because his feelings for her had long since died.
His feelings for Macy were harder to pin down.
Once he had his concentration skills back and in full working order, life would be better. Work was caught up but if thoughts of Macy kept slipping in... At least now he knew he was alive. It made for a refreshing change.
“Those pancakes done yet?” His dad asked and Nick started.
Whoops. He slipped into la la land there for a moment and nearly burned the pancakes. A bad idea, since he had no idea how Macy had made them. Maybe hi
s mom could figure out the recipe.
He noticed she stood at the frying pan. “Thanks for making the bacon, Mom,” he said with heartfelt gratitude.
“You’re welcome. I thought I could speed up the process. So, where did the girls go shopping?”
“I think Macy said she was taking them to Colonial Park,” Nick answered. Frowning, he tried to remember the conversation. Yeah, he was pretty sure that’s where they were headed.
“Aren’t you afraid she’ll overextend your credit?” His dad beetled his brows at him.
Nick pursed his lips. “No. Sounded like Macy knew what all the kids needed, but she intended to be thrifty.”
“Colonial Park has several good stores with excellent prices. They’ll do well,” his mom added, sounding wistful. Nick wondered if she would have liked to be included on the trip. Apparently Macy didn’t know everything then, because she hadn’t thought to ask his mom if she wanted to accompany them.
His mom readjusted her crutches and Nick realized a shopping trip was probably out of the question for now. And Macy had to be well aware of that.
“You would have liked to have gone with them?” Brandt asked, watching his grandmother from his place at the table. Nick noticed he now sported a milk mustache.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t have been able to keep up, which is no doubt why Macy didn’t mention the trip to me.”
Bryce scrunched up his face. “Granna, she didn’t know until last night that we needed clothes.”
“Yeah, she knew you and Granddad had this fishing trip planned for us.”
“Oh, she didn’t decide until last night?” his mom asked and turned to him for confirmation.
“That’s right.” He shrugged. “I imagine there will be other trips.”
His mom grinned. “I’m sure. Macy seems quite capable.” She glanced around the room. “I noticed she rearranged the kitchen.”
That was news to him. “Oh?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Honestly Nick, sometimes you’re hopeless.”
“I haven’t done any cooking since Macy came.” He didn’t think he sounded defensive, but his mom’s left eyebrow shot up. The one that always indicated she didn’t believe him.
“Obviously. I like what she’s done in here.”
“Savannah helped,” Brandt added.
“I didn’t know that, either.”
“She stayed home sick from school,” Bryce said.
His mom raised a brow at him again. Since this was news to him, Nick shrugged. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t know what was happening in his own house, right? Apparently he had to start lurking around corners again. He quickly turned his attention to the pancakes, and tried to avoid his mother’s eyes.
“Why did she stay home from school?” his mother’s voice sounded like a four star general interrogating a new recruit.
“Um, I assume she was sick,” Nick hedged.
“Macy said she threw up,” Brandt informed them.
Now Nick turned his attention to Brandt. “The rest of you didn’t catch what she had?”
“Macy said Starla would have to worry about Savannah’s problem someday, but that none of us would get what she had then.”
“Oh,” his mother said, and that knowing look slipped into her eyes. He wished she’d share the knowledge.
“It’s okay that she stayed home?” he inquired politely. Although polite didn’t describe how he felt.
“She would have needed too. Macy did the right thing keeping her home.” His mom nodded and expertly flipped the sizzling bacon.
Was it okay to be disgruntled for being the last person in the house to know all the facts? Especially when he was supposed to be the head of the house? His dad checked out the fridge again, and Nick subsided some. He knew from his own growing up years that there was plenty his dad hadn’t known that went on right under his nose.
A terrifying thought sliced through his brain and Nick nearly tossed the pancakes he’d eaten.
When had he become his father?
***
“Savannah, let me see,” Macy wheedled again. She knocked on the dressing room door for affect.
“I’m not sure,” Savannah said and tentatively cracked the door.
Macy stared around the barrier and looked Savannah up and down. “Cute,” she said, and it was. There wasn’t much to the suit, but then this one actually contained enough material to cover Savannah’s waifish figure. Macy was relieved she didn’t have to swimsuit shop.
When Savannah tugged at the bottoms again, and yanked up the top, Macy nodded. “Why don’t you try the others on? We don’t have to buy the first one we see.”
Savannah brightened and she shut the door. Macy moved to the next dressing room. She knocked on it. “Starla, how are you doing?” This would prove interesting. Starla trying on clothing was as natural as Riley chasing Lexus. A sort of built in, genetic thing.
Starla flung the door open and posed. Macy nodded. Yeah, the challenge wouldn’t be finding a suitable bathing suit for the little girl. It’d be narrowing their choices to two.
“Do you like it?” Macy knew she didn’t really have to ask that question. Of course Starla liked the suit.
“Yes,” Starla said and cocked a hip. She placed one slender hand on said hip. “It fits well, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” There was no denying that fact. Everything Starla put on fit well. Life was so not fair.
“Do you want that one?”
“Let me try on the others, first,” Starla decided and clapped the door shut.
Macy returned to the dressing room housing Savannah. “Do you have the second one on?”
“Yes,” Savannah answered, and her voice sounded more confident this time. She opened the door and Macy nearly caught her breath.
“Oh, Savannah, that’s adorable.” And it was. The boy shorts and halter bikini top were both modest and sweet, but teenager enough that Savannah could hold her own.
“I like this one,” Savannah admitted.
“We’ll definitely get that one. Why don’t you try on the one piece suits now?”
“But if we get this one...”
“We’re definitely getting this one. I’m buying the boys two pairs of trunks, and I think you girls should both have two suits.”
Savannah’s eyes enlarged dangerously. “Macy, getting one new suit is...”
“I know you’re a little overwhelmed, but from what I hear about the lake, you kids live in your suits?”
She bit her lip. “Yes.”
“Well, this way you can wear one and I’ll be able to wash the other and you can switch off. Besides, if you’re out on the boat skiing or tubing, you’re going to want a one piece suit.”
“That’s true,” Savannah said and bit her lip again.
“Honestly, sweetie, it’s okay. You need both of these, the prices are great, and this is what we came for.” Macy made a mental note to tell Nick about Savannah’s reaction to this shopping expedition. The girl’s I-don’t-deserve-this attitude, while refreshing, also seemed deeply rooted.
“Are you sure, Macy?”
“I’m positive. Hand me the first suit and that one.”
Savannah wriggled out of the suit they liked and handed it and the other one over the door to Macy. Macy handed her two pairs of shorts. “Thanks. Try these on after the other suits.”
She went back to Starla’s door. “Let me see, Starla.”
Starla opened the door and preened again. Yep, there was no question they were going to have a problem. “That one is cute, too. Do you like one better than the other?”
“No, I like them both.” Of course she did. Having Starla decide by herself would be much too easy.
Macy had only let Starla select one piece bathing suits. She didn’t want to have to deal with a six-year-old in a bikini.
“Why don’t you try on the rest of the suits?” They could choose later.
“I’ll just take these two,” Starla decided.
&nb
sp; “Are you sure?” Maybe this would be easier than she hoped.
“I like the colors of these. Now I’ll try on shorts,” Starla said and handed the stack of suits off to Macy. Macy handed her the shorts and tops.
Wow. This might be a smooth operation.
She hung their discards on the rack and wheeled her cart back to Savannah’s door. “How’s it going, Savannah?”
“I like this one, too,” she said and whisked open the door. The suit was cut nicely and the colors looked great against Savannah’s skin.
“It does look nice,” Macy agreed. The suit was again modest enough for a thirteen-year-old, but cute enough for her to hold her own, even against older, more filled out cousins.
“I’ll try on the others, but I think I found the two I really like.”
“Great. You ladies are making this trip easy,” Macy said, thankful for even small mercies.
“I think we should buy these, Macy,” Starla said from her doorway. She and Savannah leaned out to see Starla framed perfectly in the doorway.
“I like that, Starla,” Savannah said.
“I do, too,” Macy said.
“We’ll buy them then,” Starla decided. The yellow shorts and white top with a slight fringe looked perfect on her. Macy had seen a cute pair of flip flops on their way through that would go perfectly. They had several different colors so Starla could wear them with her other outfits.
Savannah popped her door shut again and she handed the suit over to Macy who added it to their growing collection. She’d managed to find swim trunks, shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops for the boys. All for decent prices.
They’d been easy. She never suspected the girls would be so much fun or be so quick and pleased with their purchases.
Fifteen minutes later, Macy wheeled her full shopping cart to the checkout counter, with two very pleased girls bobbing behind her. Savannah had balked at buying flip flops, but Macy persevered.
“Savannah, last year’s flip flops will work okay for the lake, but you’re going to need some new everyday ones.” Macy had remained firm, and when they started looking at the shoes, noticed they were on a buy one get one free sale. She ended up picking up two pairs for everyone, including Nick.