Tina Leonard - Daddy's Little Darlings

by Tina Leonard

  “Danita,” she informed him. “I’m here to help. We can all work together if need be. But last I heard you and Daphne was getting a divorce. Don’t think much of ’em myself, but if that’s what you want to do, it ain’t none of my business. However, these babies are, and I won’t have you up set ting my daughter. Or my grandbabies.”

  “Mrs. Way!” Alex’s boot slid from the bed rail to the floor. The baby in his arms, who had been so nicely soothed, flailed her fists momentarily and peered at him.

  “Danita,” she reminded him.

  “Danita, the last thing I want is to upset your daughter. In fact, I don’t even want to divorce her. I want to stay married. The divorce is her idea. At this point, I’m going along with whatever Daphne thinks is best, but I’m definitely not trying to upset her, even though I intensely dislike the idea of not being married to her.”

  “He telling the truth?” Danita speared her daughter with a stare.

  Daphne stirred un com fort ably, holding a baby against her as if she were a shield. “It isn’t the way he makes it sound.”

  “So how is it?”

  Daphne shrugged helplessly, refusing to meet Alex’s gaze. “We can’t stay married.”

  “Why can’t we?” Alex demanded.

  “Because of the babies.” She could hardly bear to look at him, sitting in the rocker holding her child so gently. Why did he have to be so difficult? She couldn’t stand knowing that she couldn’t give him what he wanted. A woman wanted to be everything to her man. She couldn’t be his dream come true.

  “I was happy when I discovered we were having a child, Daphne. A bit sooner than we’d planned, and the fact that there were three did surprise me, but who can plan these things? I just always wanted you here with me.”

  “So what’s the problem, Daphne?” Her mother eyed her suspiciously. “The man sounds serious to me.”

  “You don’t under stand,” Daphne protested weakly. “He… Alexander Senior bought Daddy’s live stock at a highly inflated price to help him out financially. It was a dowry. An expensive, twentieth-century dowry. Alexander Senior thought he was getting a good deal, Mother. Genes, basically. I can’t bear staying married knowing it.”

  “Whoa, Daphne,” Alex protested. “You’ve got this all wrong.”

  She shook her head at him. “No, I don’t. I heard you talking to your father the day I came to tell you I was pregnant. You said then you weren’t sure if the marriage would last.”

  “Did you say that?” Danita demanded.

  “I don’t know,” Alex said slowly. “That’s been many months ago. Daphne, I think I only meant that we needed time to be together, time to get to know each other without having the passel of kids Dad wanted under foot.”

  “Well, it didn’t quite work out that way.” Daphne raised her eyebrows at him in an exasperated manner.

  “No, it didn’t. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work it out. Not all marriages start on a perfect foundation. We at least have good materials to start with.”

  She stared at him, wishing he weren’t everything she’d always wanted in a man. Completely aware that her mother watched her with eagle eyes, Daphne decided she couldn’t say what was bothering her the most. Sometime when she and Alex were alone, she would tell him exactly what had been the crowning blow in her decision to leave. But not right now. It hurt too much to say in front of another human being. Especially her mother, whose feelings would be hurt if she knew that Cos Way had been so under handed as to sell his worst live stock to Alexander Senior. Daphne hadn’t even been worth his good live stock. Cos had laughed himself silly over the “runt cows” he’d sold Alexander Banning. Over hearing her father’s celebration, Daphne had burned with shame. Her father was under handed, dishonest, a snake-oil salesman.

  Alex had been forced to marry her on this foundation. Shaky it was, indeed. He’d only done it for his father, who had been so ill at the time.

  Too bad they couldn’t have foreseen Alexander Senior’s rapid recovery. It could have saved them all a lot of heartache.

  “Sounds like a tempest in a teapot to me, Daphne,” her mother pronounced. “Alex has got his head on straight. He’s a fine man. You just make up yer mind to stay married and quit all this gibbering about him not understanding the problem.” As an aside, she said to Alex, “She may have baby blues. It’ll go off in time, but it’s darn wearing while you got ’em. Makes ya hysterical and overly weepy.”

  “Mother!” Daphne ex claimed. Her hope of support was vanishing right before her eyes as she watched her mother siding with the enemy. “I don’t have baby blues. I’m not hysterical nor weepy!” She burst into tears.

  “Oh, no, Daphne, don’t do that,” Alex said, getting to his feet instantly and shifting the sleeping baby in his arms to one of the cribs. “Honey, don’t cry.”

  She jerked away from the comforting arm he tried to put around her. “Don’t patronize me.” Sniffling, she wiped her nose on her gown sleeve.

  Alex quickly called for Nelly, who must have been hovering outside because she quickly popped into the room. “Yes, Mr. Alex?”

  “Can we have some handkerchiefs in here? I’m not sure this wing has been completely out fitted for—”

  “Handkerchiefs!” Daphne shot to her feet. “Is there anything wrong with toilet paper? Do I have to wipe my nose on linen just because I’m living under your roof? Do people have to hover just to wipe my nose? Alex, my mother is here to take care of me, and she’s all I want!” She eyed him defiantly, and he backed up a step. Nelly dutifully shuffled out of the room. Daphne hoped she hadn’t hurt Nelly’s feelings, but she’d sort that out later. For now, she wanted one less person in the room.

  “Why don’t you give her a chance to finish nursing, Alex?” Danita inquired kindly. “I’ll send for you when she’s more rested.”

  Daphne turned her back so he would leave.

  “Okay,” Alex agreed, though she could tell he was reluctant. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  A moment later, the door closed behind him and Daphne put the baby she’d been nursing in a crib and threw herself on the bed to cry.

  “There, there,” her mother said, patting her back. “It’s going to be all right, Daphne. You’re just trying to do too much.”

  “I only want some peace and quiet!” she wailed. “I don’t want to be upset, I want enough breast milk for my babies. Is that so much to ask?”

  “No, it’s not,” her mother soothed. “Get some rest.”

  “I have to feed the last baby!” Daphne broke into fresh weeping, completely over whelmed by her situation. It was Alex, it was the babies, it was her mother not understanding. But mostly it was Alex and the fact that her heart was breaking because she couldn’t give him what he needed. It was worse than not having enough breast milk, though that was terribly difficult. She wanted to be an earth mother, giving her children good nutrition. She wanted to be a perfect wife, but that wasn’t going to happen, either.

  “She’s gone to sleep already, Daphne. I honestly don’t believe that one was as hungry, or maybe rocking put her to sleep. Rest now. In another two hours, you can try again.”

  Daphne allowed herself to relax under her mother’s ministering hands. Unfortunately, as good as it felt to be com forted by her mother, she couldn’t help wishing for her husband.

  ALEX JUMPED as the door popped open. Danita stared at him. “I knew you’d be out here pacing. She’s asleep.”

  “Good.”

  “Well, come on. Show me where the kitchen is,” Danita told him. “I’m going to fix this baby a bottle, nursing or no. Daphne needs sleep, and sleep she’s gonna get. This one’s gonna get food, if she’ll take it.” She handed Alex a flailing body that smelled suspiciously like its diaper needed changing.

  “Don’t worry about the odor. I’ll show you how to change a diaper in a minute.” Danita bustled along behind him. “She’s just about to let out a good shout, and I didn’t want her waking Daphne up. That girl’
s determined to be everything to everybody, but she’s stretched herself too thin this time.”

  Alex commanded himself to ignore the smell, though if the truth were to be known, he was rather fascinated by the thought that his child had made its first bowel movement in his presence. “I have a lot to learn about this baby business.”

  “I know. Don’t we all.” She moved into the kitchen and began banging through cabinets. “I had eight and I’m still gettin’ educated. New gadgets, new thinking about a simple subject. Nowadays, folks have a baby and they gotta buy a library full of books to tell ’em how to talk to their kids and everything. Not as simple as it used ta be.”

  “Can I help you with some thing?” Nelly asked, somewhat timidly approaching Danita Way.

  “Formula. Show me where the formula is.”

  Nelly shook her head worriedly. “We don’t have any.”

  “Don’t be silly. The hospital always sends some home.”

  “According to Sinclair, Daphne left hers at the hospital. Said she wasn’t going to use it, and her share could be given to those less fortunate who needed extra.”

  Danita sighed in exasperation. “That’s my daughter. Flying with her face in the wind and never looking back. Okay.” She gave Alex a considering stare. “You’ve probably got a Mercedes or some such you drive around in, don’tcha?”

  “Yes, I have a car,” Alex replied, bewildered. If Daphne was “flying with her face in the wind,” then her mother was the proverbial whirl wind of motion.

  “Well, grab a car seat and let’s get to the store.” Danita hurried in the direction of the garage. “I’ll show you the secret of soothing a fussy baby. You put the car seat in, and I’ll fix this one’s stinkiness.” She took the baby from Alex and held it to her ample body. “And you sure know how to announce your presence, little lady. Reminds me of…never mind.”

  “Here’s a diaper, Mrs. Way,” Nelly said.

  “Danita,” she replied.

  “And some wipes. I wouldn’t mind doing that, if you’d let me,” Nelly offered.

  “And I wouldn’t mind lettin’ ya.” Danita surrendered the infant to a grateful Nelly, whom Alex knew had been itching to get her hands on the babies. Daphne had been like a ferocious mother bear, not allowing anyone near her cubs. “I’ve been fully responsible for eight babies’ clean back sides, and danged if I don’t mind letting someone else help me.”

  “Car seat’s in.” It had been a bit of a battle, and he’d nearly called Sinclair to explain how the contraption worked, but he had finally gotten it positioned properly.

  Danita took the freshened baby from Nelly and popped it into the car seat, then got in next to it. Alex started the engine as Nelly leaned in the window.

  “It’s up to you, Ms. Way, but Daphne insists only cloth diapers touch her babies’ skin. She says it’s healthier, and environmentally conscious.”

  “She’s right, my Daphne is,” Danita said. “I’ll pick up a case of plastic diapers while I’m in the store. Hurry, Alex. Get the car started so the baby’ll settle. I swear, Daphne’s got ears like a bat. She’ll hear this baby crying and there’ll be no keeping her down.”

  Alex backed the sports car down the driveway. As he hit the main road in front of the ranch and gathered speed, the baby miraculously quit crying. “Whew. That’s some thing, isn’t it?”

  “Not really. This ‘un’s got a stomachache. She’s not hungry, just gassy. She wouldn’t have nursed even if Daphne had tried to. She might as well be sleeping.”

  “I see.” Alex watched her in the mirror. “Do you think we’re smart to cir cum vent what Daphne wants for the babies? You did say we shouldn’t upset her.”

  Danita shrugged. “Daphne’s a great girl, a real go-getter. Determined as hell—heck,” she said in deference to the sleeping baby. “But she don’t know squat about babies. The first month these critters are gonna poop stuff that doesn’t even resemble poop, and they do it constantly. It’s really better if we handle this a little differently, at least for the first month.” She sighed as Alex pulled into the grocery store lot. “Parents are always over wrought with their first kiddos.”

  “She’s got a lot to deal with.” Alex searched for a parking spot.

  “Be better if she could do things the easy way, but not my Daph. All my children are stubborn. Like me.”

  “Probably a good trait.”

  “Yep. Your father’s stubborn, too.”

  “Like a mule.” Alex could agree with that.

  “’Course, only one of ya’s gonna be able to be stubborn all the way,” she said, “it’s either gonna be you or Daphne. Else the marriage doesn’t work out.”

  He shut off the car and turned to face her. “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Let her be the stubborn one,” Danita suggested. “Gonna be tough for you, ‘cause you got the old man’s personality, and he’s an ornery son of a gun. But let Daphne be the stubborn one, and you just might keep her.”

  “She’s determined to leave me.”

  “Nah. What’d I tell ya, Alex? She’s gotta do everything the hard way. Whether it’s breast-feeding, which most woman tire out feeding one, Daphne’s gotta do three. And diapers. She’s gotta be environmentally conscious. It’s the same in her marriage. She’s got a bug in her bonnet that she’s not perfect enough for ya. Dig in your heels and prove to her that you two are right for each other, all the while telling her she’s right.”

  “It sounds so under handed,” he murmured.

  “Yep. Runs in our family a bit. I call it learning to get along with folks.” Danita gave him a huge smile. “Now. You run in there and get some soybean formula. This one’s farting up a storm, and that tells me maybe her and cow’s milk ain’t gonna be a good thing. Get Daphne some roses while you’re at it. She likes big yellow ones that look like the sun. I can’t stand that damn dreary room, all those cribs crowded in there like buses. Your family’s rich as Croesus, she can have the help I could never afford, and by heaven, I’m gonna make her take advantage of it.”

  He grinned at her. “Why do I get the feeling you’re on my side?”

  “I’m on both your sides.” She pecked him with a gnarly finger. “It behooves me greatly not to have any of my children divorcing. It’s bad economy when there’s three newborns involved. Pick me up a box of chocolate Turtles while you’re in there,” she instructed. “I can tell I’m gonna be needed for a while.”

  DAPHNE AWAKENED to the sound of silence. She yawned, realizing she was sweating. Her gown was twisted between her legs, constricting her. Her breasts hurt, but she felt relaxed for the first time since the babies had been born.

  The babies! They needed to eat! She shot up in the bed and flew to the cribs. Every single one was empty.

  Throwing on a robe, she hurried down the hall. Stopping just in time before exposing herself to the whole con tin gent of people standing in the great room, she watched the lesson in progress.

  Nelly and Danita were patiently showing Alex how to diaper a baby. By the pile of plastic diapers beside him, he wasn’t any good at it. Sinclair stood nearby, holding one child who waited its turn at being a victim to Alex’s technique. Alexander Senior scowled in a corner, apparently disapproving of his son’s participation in child rearing.

  “I got it!” Alex cried triumphantly. Holding the baby up, he showed off his handiwork to an admiring group. The diaper promptly slid off, leaving the baby bare, which was cute, except then a trickle splattered to the table underneath. Nelly quickly clapped a wash cloth to the infant bottom.

  “Maybe a little more work,” she said kindly. “This one has a tiny waist. It’s hard to get it to fit properly.”

  Daphne slapped her hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh at Alex’s forlorn expression. Part of her was angry that they were putting plastic diapers on her babies, but if Alex was bent and determined to learn how to diaper, then plastic tabs were certainly safer than safety pins.

  The yearning inside her, t
he voice she was desperately trying to ignore, told her that he was the most wonderful man in the world for wanting to learn. The pile of diapers and torn tabs beside him was testament to his determination. These girls his father regarded as nice but not as important as boys appeared to have Alex’s complete interest—despite the fact that she couldn’t give him a son.

  If she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t be able to insist upon the divorce in two weeks. She’d tried putting three cribs in the room to distance Alex. It wasn’t working, she knew, her heart melting as he finally succeeded with a well-wrapped diaper and snuggled his daughter to him in masculine victory. She’d brought in her mother as a deterrent, but that didn’t seem to be working, either, as she watched Danita thump her son-in-law on the back in congratulations.

  Their marriage was based on lies. Her father had lied, cheating Alexander Senior. Alexander Senior had lied, cheating Alex out of a wife of his choosing. Alex was lying, really, by saying it didn’t matter that he didn’t have a son, that he’d married her because he loved her. He’d married her because his father wanted him to. Alexander Senior would really roar if he knew the over priced cattle he’d bought by way of a dowry hadn’t secured him what he’d thought he was really buying—male heirs.

  Even she wasn’t being truthful, insisting she wanted a divorce. It was the last thing in the world she wanted, and what she was most determined to get. One day Alex would look back regretfully upon his life with her. He would want more than she had given him. She’d be kidding herself to think it could work out differently.

  “Alex,” she said as she walked into the great room, “may I see you alone for a moment?”

  The whole room came to a stand still to stare at her.

  “The nap looks like it did you good,” Danita said.

  “I’m fine, Mother. Alex? Do you have a moment?” She refused to be turned from her purpose.

  “Sure.” He followed her down the hall to the bedroom full of cribs.

  “You have diapered my babies in disposable diapers. You have taken them from my room. I said I would raise my children without an army of staff, and I meant it. This isn’t Windsor Castle, and I am not a princess who wants to be waited on hand and foot.”