Doctor Daddy

by Jacqueline Diamond

  “This is good,” Jane remarked. At least she hadn’t been abducted.

  Luke shot through a yellow light onto Harbor Boulevard. “I won’t feel better till she’s in my arms.”

  “I can imagine.”

  As Luke drove, Jane finally had a chance to consider this whole new side of him. While she’d imagined him continuing with his love-’em-and-leave-’em ways, he’d been transformed into a devoted father. The marriage couldn’t have been easy on him, either. He deserved credit for standing by the mother of his child and trying to make it work. As for Pauline, Jane supposed she’d done the best she could, too.

  Still, Zoey had deserved better than to be dragged from motel to motel. No wonder Luke harbored strong feelings about children’s needs.

  “I never really understood my wife,” he commented as he veered around a double-parked truck. “During our marriage, I didn’t have a clue how unhappy she was until she exploded at me. One day I thought everything was fine—or at least stable—and the next she stormed out. We hadn’t even been arguing.”

  “Lots of people hold things inside,” Jane observed. “My mom used to do that to avoid angering my dad.”

  “I suppose my mother did, too,” Luke reflected. “She kept quiet for a long time, and then she blew, just like Pauline.”

  “What happened?” He hadn’t talked much about his parents when they were in school.

  “She left when I was four.” He gripped the steering wheel. “Dad was a workaholic, plus she gave birth to three boys in a row, ending with me. I guess by the time I came along she felt trapped.”

  Jane couldn’t imagine abandoning three young children. “Did she have joint custody?”

  “No. In fact, we hardly ever saw her.”

  That was unusual. “Who raised you while your father was working?”

  “A series of housekeepers,” he said. “We acted up a lot. Eventually Dad cut back on his hours to be with us after school. He told me later he was afraid one of us might turn into a drug addict or an armed robber. Plus he mellowed a lot as he got older.”

  “Why didn’t you see more of your mother?” Jane asked.

  “Dad treated her departure as a betrayal. The mellowing part came later—much later. In those early days, whenever she visited or even phoned, he’d start a fight. After a while, she kind of gave up.” Luke’s shoulders slumped.

  “That must have been hard on you.”

  “We saw her for birthdays and Christmas. That’s about all.” A light turned red, forcing the car to a halt. “She moved to San Francisco, plunged into art classes and started a new career.”

  “As an artist?”

  Luke nodded. “I have to hand it to her. She did surprisingly well. She began teaching as well, to pay the rent.” He accelerated as the light changed to green.

  “What kind of work does she do?” Jane found the idea intriguing.

  “I went to a gallery opening of her paintings a few years ago. Technically, they were well-done, but I found them bleak. Other people appeared to like them, though.”

  Talking about his mother provided a welcome diversion, so Jane dared to probe further. “What did you say to her?”

  “That I was proud of her. It’s the truth.”

  They were approaching the theme park when Luke’s phone rang. He clicked a button and listened. “Yes…Where?”

  From his responses, Jane gathered someone had spotted Zoey again. But Luke didn’t look happy about it.

  “What?” she asked after he finished the conversation.

  “She tried to buy a ticket to Disneyland but didn’t have enough money. When security approached, she ran off. They’ve got people fanned out around the area.” His voice broke. “She must have panicked. I hate thinking of her so frightened.”

  “She made it all the way to Anaheim on her own,” Jane pointed out. “She must be very resourceful.”

  In heavy traffic, they edged past the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure attractions. “Her school doesn’t allow cell phones. If I had it to do over, I’d buy her one anyway.”

  Rather than dwelling on what might have been, Jane reviewed what she knew of the area. “Maybe she went to the Downtown Disney.” There was no admission charge for the shopping and dining zone adjacent to the park, and the colorful store windows would appeal to a child.

  “Good idea,” Luke said. “Let’s start walking. We can’t see much from the car.”

  After parking, they hurried along a landscaped pedestrian avenue, pausing to show Zoey’s picture to passersby and storekeepers. A few said they might have seen her but weren’t sure, and none of them agreed on exactly when or where. New Orleans jazz rolling out of a restaurant created a festive air, but as the minutes turned into an hour and then longer, neither Jane nor Luke felt very optimistic. He called Pauline but she reported the police hadn’t made any progress, either.

  “She could be anywhere.” Discouragement dulled Luke’s tone.

  “Let’s assume she didn’t act randomly.” What other destination might have occurred to Zoey? Jane remembered the books at Hetty’s house. “Eloise!”

  “Excuse me?”

  “She has two of those Kay Thompson books about Eloise, the girl who lives at a hotel.”

  “Zoey asked for them for Christmas,” Luke explained.

  “There are lots of hotels around here. Maybe one of them reminded her of the hotel in the book, the Plaza.”

  Luke regarded her with a spark of hope. “Maybe the Disneyland Hotel or…Wait! I took her to lunch a few months ago, right over there.” He pointed toward a cluster of tall buildings bordering the Anaheim Convention Center a few blocks away. “She loves escalators and I’d noticed a really great one while I was attending a medical conference there. She and I rode up and down on it for half an hour.”

  “If she could find her way to Disneyland, I’ll bet she could find that escalator again.” Jane prayed that she was right.

  They headed back to the car. Jane noticed the sky was growing dark. Please, not another dead end. She hated to think of his daughter lost and alone at night.

  “No wonder Zoey identifies with Eloise. She’s lived so much in motels,” Luke said as they rounded a corner.

  “You’re a very perceptive father.”

  “Really? I’m always learning,” he admitted. “Just when I think I’ve got a handle on her, I discover something new.”

  “I can tell you from my nanny days that not only are kids individuals, but they change right in front of your eyes.” Jane had been astounded at how quickly her two small charges, an infant and a toddler, developed new skills and interests. And mischief-making abilities.

  They zoomed through a yellow light, parked in the hotel garage and ran into the building. Jane stared around the grand lobby. Everywhere, guests strolled through gift and clothing shops, lined up at broad counters and, on the open mezzanine, buzzed around the restaurant and bar. How did you find one little person?

  Luke stiffened. “There!”

  On the huge escalator, a forlorn figure sat atop a step, riding downward. Blond hair wisped around a heart-shaped face and, even at this distance, Jane thought she perceived tear tracks on those cute cheeks. Her heart twisted for the drooping child.

  “Zoey!” Luke’s cry rang through the space.

  The girl blinked. Her gaze swept the lobby and brightened as she fixed on the man at Jane’s side. Although Jane couldn’t hear the small voice, there was no mistaking the word formed by her lips. Daddy!

  Luke raced across the carpet and, as her step reached the bottom of the escalator, his daughter sprang into his arms. He caught her in midair and they whirled, laughing and crying, lost in each other.

  At that moment, Jane felt a surge of pure joy for them both. And a tug of something beyond admiration for the loving man Luke had become.

  Chapter Six

  “I didn’t mean to be gone so long.” From the back of the car, a seat-belted Zoey spoke apologetically. “I ’spected you and M
ommy to find me.”

  Luke didn’t have the heart to scold her. Besides, what would be the point? Her gloomy expression on the escalator had shown how much she regretted running away.

  He had spent a busy quarter of an hour notifying Pauline and the police that they’d found Zoey, and snuggling his daughter. She’d bubbled with stories about her adventure, admitting the security guards had frightened her but adding she was thrilled to have met costumed cartoon characters in the Disney shopping area. She’d also treated herself to a couple of ice cream cones along the way.

  “Thank goodness you’re safe.” He’d barely introduced Jane so thought he should now explain who she was. “Jane’s my new medical partner. I told you about her, remember? She walked all over Anaheim with me, hunting for you.”

  “I remember. She’s your friend from school.” To Jane, Zoey said, “Do your feet hurt?”

  Luke chuckled at the question. Beside him, Jane managed to keep a straight face. “Yes. Thank you for asking. It’s a good thing I already gave my dog his walk today, because I’m certainly not going to take him out when I get home.”

  “You have a dog?” Wistfulness underscored the question. “Is he like Weenie?”

  “Who’s Weenie?” Luke asked.

  “That’s Eloise’s dog, Daddy,” Zoey said. “He’s a pug. What’s a pug, exactly?”

  “A lap dog.” Not very precise terminology, he conceded, but the only small types he could picture were dachshunds and Chihuahuas.

  Jane came to the rescue, as usual. “It’s a Chinese breed with a cute wrinkled face. Stopgap is much larger. He’s a spaniel mix.”

  “Can I meet him?”

  “You bet. I live next door to your daddy.”

  Zoey fell silent. The rearview mirror showed traces of exhaustion on her small face. At least they’d found her. Thank goodness for Jane. Without her, Luke figured they’d still be looking.

  She certainly had a gift for understanding a child’s mind. If she really had a baby, he had no doubt she’d cope far better than most single parents. Including him and Pauline.

  Not until they arrived at Hetty’s house, its lights ablaze in the early darkness, did he remember about his ex-mother-in-law’s heart condition. Much as he hated to drag Jane and Zoey into this, he couldn’t allow the situation to continue.

  First, however, he watched the blissful reunion as Pauline and Hetty hugged Zoey and the little girl apologized to them both. Finally they trundled her off to bed, where she fell asleep almost before Luke finished pulling up the covers.

  Hetty, although pale, asked the other adults to join her in the living room. “You might as well hear this together.” Her voice quavered. “I’m sorry to say I can’t take care of Zoey any longer. It’s not because of what happened today. I’d already made the decision—in fact, that’s what the argument was about.”

  Now he understood what had upset Zoey. Hearing her mom and grandma squabble over her future would upset any child.

  Pauline shifted irritably on the couch. “Mom, there’s only a month left on our tour. Zoey can’t afford to skip that much school, and I can’t just cancel without notice. I already missed tonight’s performance—well, never mind about that. By the end of April, I’ll be back. I’m sure you can handle her till then.”

  Luke noticed Jane studying Hetty with obvious unease. She apparently didn’t consider the older woman in any shape to supervise a child, and neither did he.

  The solution was obvious. “Zoey will stay with me. It’s what I’ve wanted all along,” Luke said.

  “You’re the one who made a fuss about putting her in school, and now you want to yank her out while she’s still catching up with her lessons?” Pauline protested. “If you understood anything about parenting, Luke, you wouldn’t even suggest it.”

  How unfair and unreasonable. Catching Jane’s warning glance, however, Luke moderated his words. “You’re right about one thing,” he told Pauline. “Our daughter deserves stability. Transferring to a new school won’t be a problem if she can stay there long-term. So I want to make this clear. She should live with me permanently, not just for the remainder of the school year.”

  “You? The doctor who’s never there?” she scoffed.

  “I’ll be there,” Luke said. “If necessary, I’ll fight you in court. And this time, I won’t give up.”

  WITH THIS DECLARATION, any last hint of Luke’s old self-indulgent carelessness had vanished. To Jane, he resembled a deceptively lazy lion that had come roaring into his full power.

  Still, she recognized the struggle evident on his ex-wife’s face. What mother would choose to relinquish control of her child, even when circumstances made that the best choice?

  “I have a house in a wonderful neighborhood, with lots of children around,” Luke went on. “And I’m working fairly regular hours.”

  “How long will that last?” Pauline challenged.

  “At least a year. I won’t accept another position unless it will accommodate my responsibilities to Zoey.”

  “Being a parent isn’t something you can master overnight.”

  “And you’re such a great example?” He halted and regained control. “I realize I have a lot to learn, but I’ve been spending as much time as I can with her.”

  “I won’t give her up!” Folding her arms, Pauline flounced back against the cushions.

  Hetty released a long breath. “Luke, I think it’s a lovely solution. Please promise you’ll bring her to visit me often.”

  “Mom!” Pauline protested.

  “Of course.” Luke exchanged a warm glance with the elderly woman.

  Pauline’s eyes narrowed. “Zoey needs mothering. Okay, I’ve screwed up occasionally, but you have too high an opinion of yourself, Doc. You can’t be all things to all people.”

  Jane wondered if she could help relieve Pauline’s concerns. Gently, she said, “I live right next door, and I used to work as a nanny in college. That’s not the same as being a mom, but I’ll be there to help.”

  As soon as she finished speaking, she wondered what she’d just let herself in for. Despite her growing respect for Luke, or perhaps because of it, Jane needed to keep space between them. She could too easily fall in love with him, as she’d very nearly done in med school.

  “Thanks, Jane.” Emotion roughened his voice. “Pauline, please don’t see this situation as negative. While we were married, you gave me the chance to pursue my career. Now it’s your turn.”

  Her mouth twitched. “I suppose it is fair for you to take more responsibility,” she conceded grudgingly. “But only until June. Once school ends for the summer, we’ll have to see.”

  Luke sat braced as if for battle, but he simply nodded. “We’ll revisit this issue then. I appreciate your flexibility, Pauline.”

  She eyed him skeptically. “I can come see her whenever it suits my schedule, right?”

  “Certainly.” He turned to the older woman. “Hetty, is it okay if I pick her up tomorrow morning around ten?”

  The woman agreed, and Luke and Jane stood to leave. In the car, she asked, “Do you want me to come with you in the morning?” He might need a buffer, should his ex-wife suffer last-minute doubts.

  And she had volunteered to help. For the little girl’s sake, Jane meant to stay involved at least long enough to ease her move to Brea.

  “I’d be grateful. I might even grovel at your feet,” Luke teased.

  “Don’t do that. Stopgap will get jealous,” Jane shot back. “So, what are your plans for fixing up Zoey’s bedroom?”

  “Er, right. Plans. Let’s start with sheets on the bed—I saw a pink set in the linen closet.” He navigated between the bright lights along Harbor. “I should get some groceries, too.” Ruefully, he added, “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Thanks for prompting me, and for everything.”

  “Happy to help.” The next few days ought to be interesting, Jane mused, and settled back for the rest of the ride.

  ON SUNDAY MORNING, Luke awoke
at six o’clock, his brain abuzz with projects for the coming week. Registering Zoey at school. Arranging a sitter for his on-call nights. Cooking and what else?

  A few minutes later, he sat in the living room, staring at his list with the sense that he’d probably overlooked a lot. He hated to keep bothering Jane. If only he had family members to consult, but while his elder brother Quent had two kids, he and his wife lived almost four hundred miles away in San Francisco and always seemed absorbed in their own busy schedules.

  Their middle brother, Kris, had already burned through two engagements and, as far as Luke knew, had zero experience with kids. Although he lived in L.A., he and Luke rarely spoke, partly because Kris often jetted around the globe putting together financial deals, and partly because, since childhood, the pair had always been competitive.

  Setting the list aside, Luke got down to business, making Zoey’s bed and assessing the contents of the pantry. On the Internet, he searched for “Food Kids Like” and stared dubiously at the results. Cheese, yogurt and eggs, okay, and certainly peanut butter, but what wild dreamer had added broccoli? He opted for a range of fruits and vegetables.

  After showering and shaving, he drove to the supermarket and filled his cart with much more than he’d planned. He could hardly deprive his daughter of ice cream, and spaghetti sauce was on sale.

  Passing the bakery section, he saw Minnie selecting pastries. She waved. “Is everything all right? You and Jane sure ran out of the potluck in a hurry.”

  “Family emergency.” Luke filled her in.

  “I can’t wait to meet your daughter,” the older woman responded. “Suzy Ching has a little sister about that age. She could help Zoey fit in at school.”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  “I’ll give them a call to let them know she’s coming.” Minnie set a package of Danish in her cart. “By the way, please don’t tell Brittany you saw me buying this. It’s for church. I’d have ordered something from her if I’d thought of it in time.”

  “They look delicious.” Luke added a package to his growing pile. “Glad I bumped into you.”