Suddenly a Father

by Michelle Major

  “That’s all,” she agreed then turned and fled back to the safety of her bedroom.

  Chapter Nine

  Millie popped a chip into her mouth and took a long sip from her margarita.

  “Nothing cures what’s ailing you quite like tequila,” Natalie said and poked her gently in the ribs.

  “I wish it were that easy.” Millie scooped more salsa onto a chip.

  She’d met Natalie, Olivia and Katie at the local Mexican restaurant for a girls’ dinner. Sara had flown to California for a night to attend some fancy Hollywood party, so she was the only one missing from the group of friends.

  Friends.

  Millie rolled the word over in her mind, liking the sound of it. Usually she dealt with issues privately, or she called her mother. Her mom wasn’t much on listening, but she always had enough going on to distract Millie from her own problems.

  When Olivia had called earlier, Millie hadn’t meant to share everything, from Brooke’s grandparents arriving early to Jake’s none-too-subtle suggestion that she get a life of her own. But it had all come spilling out. To her surprise, Olivia had immediately suggested that a girls’ night out was just what Millie needed.

  Jake had seemed shocked that Millie was actually leaving for the night. As shocked as Millie that the women she was getting to know in Crimson would make time for her.

  But they were here, and Millie felt the comforting arms of new friendship wrap around her. She blinked against the tears that pricked at the backs of her eyes.

  “Too spicy?” Katie asked from across the table, a knowing look in her green eyes.

  “Something like that.”

  “So tell us all about Dr. Easy-On-The-Eyes and the trouble he’s causing.” Natalie nudged her again.

  “No trouble,” Millie said quickly. “I love being with Brooke, and Jake’s very helpful in his own way.”

  “For a guy who doesn’t know the first thing about being a father,” Olivia suggested.

  “Exactly.”

  “And when he kissed you...” Natalie prompted.

  “It was...” Millie broke off, realizing that she hadn’t mentioned their kiss to anyone, not even her sister. Mortified, she thumped the palm of her hand against her head. “It was nothing. It didn’t happen. I’m a total idiot.”

  “There’s no use denying anything with Natalie,” Olivia told her. “She’s like a mind reader.” She shook a chip at Natalie. “Your time will come and we’ll all be here to witness it.”

  “Oh, no,” Natalie argued. “My time has come and gone. I want nothing to do with men. Been there, done that. Got the amazing kid to prove it. Back to you, Millie.”

  “It was really nothing. Less than...”

  “A kiss from Jake Travers is less than nothing?”

  The food was delivered to the table at that moment, allowing Millie to collect her thoughts before answering. “It was lovely, as you might imagine.”

  “Lovely,” Katie repeated with a sigh.

  Natalie snorted. Olivia smiled across the table.

  “It meant nothing and we agreed it wouldn’t...couldn’t happen again. I work for him. His priority is Brooke.”

  “Doesn’t stop either of you from being human,” Natalie commented as she forked up a bite of taco salad.

  “It stops me from acting on it.” Millie picked up her fish taco.

  “Logan and Josh want him to stay in Crimson, even after he’s fully recovered.” Olivia’s gaze was kind. “You could stay here, too.”

  “It’s a wonderful place,” Millie agreed, “but I don’t want to impose on your life any more than I already have.”

  “You’re my sister, not an imposition.”

  “And Jake isn’t...”

  “You like him?” Olivia formed the words as a question, but Millie knew her feelings were obvious to each of these women.

  “He’s not for me.” She wiped her fingers on her napkin. “There’s a woman working at the hospital he knew from his residency. I think they dated or something. She brought dinner over the other night.”

  “Competition. Nice.” Natalie tapped her fork on her plate. “What’s she like, this harpy who’s after your man?”

  Millie nearly choked on her taco. “She’s a doctor—smart, beautiful and totally different from me. But he’s not my man. She’s not competition. It isn’t—”

  “Just know we’ve got your back if you ever need it,” Natalie said.

  The words brought another wave of emotion cresting in Millie’s chest. No one ever had her back. “I’m not looking for a relationship.”

  Olivia tilted her head. “But if the right person comes along, it’s a shame to ignore it.”

  “Olivia tried to ignore Logan,” Natalie said. “We were witnesses.”

  “Whatever happens,” Katie offered, “it’s nice that Jake has you in his life right now. I never imagined him as a father, so having someone to help ease this transition has to be a big deal for him.”

  Easing the transition. That was exactly what she was doing. Nothing more. But as she laughed and talked with these women, Millie realized how much she wanted to have a life that included friends and a community like Crimson. It was difficult to miss something you’d never had. Now that she’d experienced this kind of support, how could she go back to her solitary life?

  * * *

  Brooke’s grandparents arrived two days early. It shouldn’t have surprised Jake. He was fairly certain they were trying to catch him unaware, probably hoping to find Brooke and him living in chaotic squalor filled with empty pizza boxes and dirty clothes.

  That might have been the case if it hadn’t been for Millie. He hadn’t lied when he told Olivia that her sister was the most ruthlessly organized person he knew. Millie’s demeanor might be all rainbows and sunshine but she ran the house with the precision of a military sergeant.

  Thanks to that, Janis and John Smith seemed shocked to find Brooke happily ensconced in a homemade Play-Doh project at the kitchen table.

  Her hair was done up in one of the intricate braids that she begged Millie for each morning. Her ballet getup was clean, her face scrubbed after lunch, and she hummed along with the kids’ channel playing from the speakers attached to the computer.

  She took the arrival of her grandparents in typical stride. “Nana, Papa, do you want some pizza?” she asked, holding up her colorful creation.

  Janis dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, sweetie, I’ve missed you so much. Come over here and give your nana a kiss.”

  Brooke dutifully got up from the table and dusted off her palms. She let Janis wrap her in a tight embrace then gave John a hug, as well.

  The front door opened at that moment. He heard Millie’s voice. “I brought cookies from Life Is Sweet.”

  Jake watched as she stopped in the middle of the family room.

  “Brooke’s grandparents are here,” he told her as if that wasn’t obvious.

  “Fairy Poppins is home,” Brooke told her grandparents. “She’s my nanny. She’s nice and she likes blueberry muffins the best.”

  “A nanny?” One of Janis’s brows rose. “Is that really necessary?”

  “I’m in the leg brace for at least another week, Janis. I can’t drive, and I have to get to my appointments. What would you propose as an alternative?”

  “I thought you came to Crimson because your family is here. Can’t they help you?”

  He wasn’t going to explain that he didn’t want or deserve his brothers’ help. “This works best.”

  She shook her head. “Stacy was a hands-on mother.”

  “Stacy traveled quite a lot for her work,” Jake argued. “She told me as much.”

  “She had us,” Janis countered.

  “And a good day care so if—”
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br />   “Stop.” Millie’s voice interrupted their argument. “This isn’t helping.”

  Jake’s gaze moved to his daughter, who had inched her way over to the table to grab Bunny. He knew what that meant.

  “The nanny’s right,” John said. He held out his hand. “I’m Brooke’s grandfather, John Smith. I’d guess you don’t always go by Fairy Poppins.”

  “Millie Spencer.” Millie shook John’s hand, giving him a sweet smile. “I’m so sorry for your loss, but I’m happy to meet you both. Brooke should be surrounded with all the people who love her.”

  “My point exactly.” Janis sniffed. “Which is why we want her back in Atlanta, where she can be with family.”

  “She has family in Crimson, too.” Jake knew he was being baited but couldn’t seem to help his response.

  “Where are they?” Janis hitched her chin as if making an important point. “Why is she being cared for by a s-t-r-a-n-g-e-r?” She spelled the final word.

  Jake wanted to growl with frustration. “She’s being cared for by me. Her father. The way Stacy wanted.”

  Millie stepped forward. “My sister is married to Jake’s youngest brother, Logan,” she said, gently leading Brooke back to the table. “I’m in town for a few months and I have experience working with children, so I offered to help Jake for a bit. His family is involved. I know he wants both of you to be involved, as well.” She gave him a pointed look.

  “That’s true. I don’t want to make things more difficult for Brooke.” He took a breath then continued, “I’m glad you’re here, Janis. We need to make an effort with each other. It’s the only way this is going to work.”

  Janis didn’t look convinced, but John took her arm. “Have a piece of your granddaughter’s pizza, hon.” Millie moved out a chair so Janis could sit next to Brooke.

  “Can Nana have a cookie?”

  “Of course,” Millie answered. “Can I get either of you something to drink?”

  “A glass of water, I suppose. I bake my cookies from scratch, but I’ll try a bite of one if it makes you happy, sweetie.”

  “I bake cookies, Nana.” Brooke spread her arms wide. “Katie—she owns the bakery—has a mixer this big that I can use. Millie makes her pancakes and Frenchy toast from scratch. Daddy can only do eggs.”

  Janis sniffed then began to roll tiny pieces of Play-Doh between her fingers. “Your mother spent hours as a girl making Play-Doh creations. Remember how many colors we have back at Nana and Papa’s house?” She refused to make eye contact with Jake.

  John tipped his head toward the front of the house and Jake followed the older man to the office. “This is difficult for Janis,” John said once they were out of earshot.

  “It’s hard for all of us.” Jake wasn’t feeling particularly sympathetic at the moment.

  “That little girl is all we have left of our daughter.”

  The anger went out of Jake like a deflated balloon. Of course these two people were hurting. By all accounts, Stacy’s parents were wonderful people. They’d been devastated by their daughter’s death. Then Jake had come in and taken their granddaughter from them. “I’m sorry, John. I don’t want to hurt you and Janis.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m doing my best to honor Stacy’s wishes.”

  “When this all started, you agreed it would be best for Brooke to live with us in Georgia.”

  A dull ache settled in Jake’s chest. “I want to get to know my daughter. Even if... When she comes to live with you, I will still be a part of her life.”

  The older man nodded slowly. “I’m glad to hear you say that, son. I wasn’t sure you felt that way when we first met.”

  “It was a lot to digest.” Jake didn’t try to mask the bitterness in his voice.

  “I loved my daughter.” John’s voice broke off and he cleared his throat then continued, “She was the best part of our lives. Janis and I still can’t believe she’s gone. But I never agreed with her keeping Brooke a secret from you. I know she had her reasons, but that doesn’t make it right.”

  “She had her reasons,” Jake repeated. Stacy had practically spit them at him the night he’d found out about Brooke. Everything had centered on her belief that he was unable to commit, that he wouldn’t make the changes she thought necessary to be a true father to his daughter. “Then why, John? Why did she find me like she did? Why did she ask me to take care of Brooke with her last breath? What changed? Why now?”

  “I don’t know. I wish I did. Janis and I were shocked when she left to go to you. She wouldn’t talk about it, only told us it was best for Brooke. Her first priority was always Brooke. Ours is, too. You have to know that Janis only means well.”

  “But she doesn’t believe that I do? What happens if I share custody with you? Is Janis going to let me be involved?”

  “Will you want to be involved?” He pointed to Jake’s arm. “If you’re able to take up where you left off with your agency, how involved will you really be? I know you’re doing your best here, Jake. Is that enough?”

  He’d thought the same thing only weeks ago. His plan had been to come to Crimson, fulfill a mother’s dying wish that he get to know his daughter, then move on from there. As cold as it sounded, getting to know Brooke had been one more thing to check off his list. One thing to fill the time while his body healed before he returned to regular life. No wonder Janis seemed so shocked at his attitude now.

  Something had changed in him. His feelings for his daughter had changed him. And Millie. Her belief that he could become a decent father was a powerful influence on his intentions. He wanted to believe she was right.

  “You can’t believe it’s best for Brooke to have her grandmother and her father at odds. Janis isn’t going to listen to me, but you have to convince her that we need peace between us. For Brooke’s sake.”

  John nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s all any of us can do.” Jake held out hope that his best would be good enough.

  * * *

  The Labor Day Festival was in full swing by the time Jake, Millie and Brooke caught up with Jake’s brothers and their wives. They were seated at two tables set up off to the side of the main food-tent area. The sun had just ducked behind the mountain peak, leaving the evening light tinged in a soft shade of pink. Millie loved the energy of the event.

  Residents laughed and talked, greeting each other by name under the glow of hanging lights while families in town for vacation appeared to soak up the gold rush–themed activities. Millie held the bag of gems and “fool’s gold” Brooke had panned for earlier and tipped back the straw cowboy hat Jake had bought for both her and Brooke at one of the booths. A bluegrass trio played from the stage nearby, the music filling the air along with the scents of carnival food. An older couple danced together in front of the stage, and Millie wondered if she’d ever experienced a more perfect night.

  “I love cotton candy,” Brooke announced to the group, licking her fingers. The spun sugar seemed to be a four-year-old version of perfection.

  “You polished that off in record time,” Jake said as he dipped the corner of a napkin into his water cup. “But no more sweets or you’ll end up with a tummy ache tonight.” He gently wiped the napkin across Brooke’s cheek, cleaning off a spot of dried cotton candy.

  Millie’s heart swelled at his unconscious movements and the way he smiled at his daughter as he worked.

  “Except maybe a funnel cake,” Brooke said, her tone serious. “Uncle Josh said I haven’t lived until I tried a funnel cake. I want to live.”

  Jake threw a look to his brother who shrugged. “At least she gets her sweet tooth honestly,” Josh offered. “It’s a Travers tradition.”

  “Remember the year Beth was sick all the way home?” Logan laughed. “That girl loved candy like no other.”

  Brooke tugged on Jake’s
plaid shirt. “Who’s Beth, Daddy?”

  All eyes went to Jake. “She was my sister, sweetie. Your uncle Logan’s twin. But she died when she was in high school. It was very sad for all of us.”

  Brooke gave him a knowing smile. “It’s sad when someone dies. But maybe Aunt Beth is friends with Mommy in heaven.”

  Millie thought it was a testament to how far Jake had come in his relationship with Brooke that he didn’t look shocked at her observation. “I bet they are good friends, Cookie,” he answered.

  Logan gave Olivia’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, making Millie’s heart melt a tiny bit. He took his wife’s hand in his, kissed her knuckles and stood. “Let’s go track down the funnel-cake booth, Brooke. I could use more dessert myself.”

  “We’ll come, too,” Josh said, wrapping his arm around Sara’s waist. “Claire is here with a group of friends and I want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “You mean you want to stare down any boy who comes within twenty feet of her,” Sara said with a laugh.

  “That, too,” he agreed then turned to Jake and Millie. “We’ll be back in a bit. Do you two need anything?”

  Millie shook her head.

  “I’ll bring you some funnel cake,” Brooke promised.

  “Have fun, sweetie.” Jake pointed a finger at his two brothers. “One funnel cake and that’s the end of her sweets for the night.”

  “Spoken like a true parent.” Logan swung Brooke onto his shoulders while she laughed, turning to wave to Jake and Millie as the group walked away.

  “This has been a wonderful evening,” Millie said when they were alone at the table. “Thanks for including me in it.”

  “The Labor Day celebration is a big deal in Crimson. Always has been.” After a moment he reached across the table and laced his fingers with hers. “I’m glad you’re here, Millie. I couldn’t imagine doing any of this without you.”

  She didn’t know how to respond without revealing how quickly her feelings for him had grown. They sat in a comfortable silence for several minutes, listening to the band and people watching. A group of kids, clearly siblings, walked by them, herded by an older brother who was trying to keep his young charges under control. She saw Jake’s mouth harden into a thin line as they passed.