by Tina Leonard
A light knock on the door arrested Alex’s reply, but he most certainly intended to get the answer he wanted to hear out of her. With a meaningful look her way, he called, “Yes?”
“Break fast, sir?” Nelly’s voice came through the door.
“Are you hungry?” he whispered so Nelly wouldn’t hear. He wasn’t sure if Daphne wanted her presence announced yet.
She nodded eagerly.
“Say it was your husband’s love making that brought you such good slumber,” he commanded.
She grinned saucily at him. “Oh, it most definitely was.”
“Yes, I would like break fast, Nelly,” he called loudly.
“I’ll leave it outside your door, then.”
“Thank you.” Wrapping the bed spread around his midsection so he wouldn’t startle anyone in the hall, he opened the door to get the tray. He brought it inside and said, “Well, I hope you weren’t trying to keep your visit a secret. Nelly and Sinclair brought you break fast, too, or else they think I’m really hungry.”
Two glasses of orange juice, two plates with eggs, bacon and aromatic biscuits graced the tray, as well as a lovely rose in a crystal vase.
“Oh, how nice!” Daphne sat up. “I love being served for a change.” She took a plate and a glass and began eating with gusto. “I’m glad they knew I was here and brought extra. I’d hate to have made you go without break fast.”
“You eat like your daddy.” Alex smiled at her. “I see now where Sabrina and Danielle get their appetites.”
“Do they ever. I wish Alexis would eat more.” Daphne paused, her eyes losing some of their sparkling pleasure.
“She will one day. She’s just fine, Daph. Don’t go borrowing trouble.” He dug into his break fast, too, after he’d pulled on jeans.
Daphne remembered she wanted to talk to her husband about some thing. “Alex?”
“Yeah?” He bit into a biscuit and waited.
“There really was a reason I came over last night.”
He put the biscuit down. “Yes?”
She took a deep breath. “You know I have my stained-glass artwork in a boutique in town, as well as several other places.”
“Yes.”
“Well, a collector from the north west came through and saw my things. She wanted a bunch of pieces for a store she has up there. What she paid me came to about ten thousand dollars.”
“That’s great, Daph!” Alex couldn’t believe she’d waited so long to tell him. “Didn’t I tell you your work was different? Original? Fabulous?”
He had always believed in her, Daphne acknowledged silently. “I want you to take the money she paid me, Alex, and I want you to use it to pay part of what you owe Uncle Herman.”
“No, Daph. I appreciate it, I do, but—”
The wistful look in her green eyes stopped him. There was some thing else, maybe hurt, that caught Alex’s attention and made him reassess what he was saying. “I mean, the bill will be paid, honey, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She pushed her break fast away. “No. I know you have plenty of money, Alex. That’s what Beatrice came all the way down here for, after all.”
“Well, sweet heart, then what’s the problem? You don’t have to give me your money. You worked hard for it.”
“I know.”
She crossed her arms, a gesture that brought her full breasts to prominence through the sheet she’d pulled up under her arms. He tried very hard to keep his mind on what his wife was trying to say, in spite of the splendid view.
“But you work hard, too. If we’re going to be partners, we’re going to be full partners. I don’t want a marriage where you do all the giving.” She stared at him, her heart in her throat. “I’m very serious about this, Alex. I can under stand why you wouldn’t want to go into business with my dad, but there’s no reason you can’t take a little help from your wife.”
“It’s not your fault the cattle ran off, Daphne. That was Beatrice’s doing. I haven’t talked to the insurance company, but I’m sure they’ll pay a claim for animals that were delivered to—”
“I don’t care about that, Alex! I care about being equal partners. And I know it’s not a lot of money, that it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what you’ve got. But if the marriage is always going to be based on unequal footing where you never let me give anything, well, then…” Her eyelashes swept down in disappointment. “Then it’s not really a marriage.”
He thought about that for a few minutes. His wife felt less than equal to him. She’d said that when she’d left him. For some reason, she didn’t realize she gave him so much more than he could ever give her. But it didn’t really matter anymore who was right and who was wrong. If they were going to put the pattern of one-upping behind them, then it had to start now. He admired his wife for her perception and sensitivity—and her desire to make their marriage work. It was what he had wanted, after all, and if it meant doing this her way, then he would.
Suddenly, he under stood what Danita had been trying to tell him. It wasn’t doing everything Daphne’s way. It was considering her feelings that counted most to her.
He lifted her hand to kiss it. Then he said, “Daphne, I really, really need to borrow some money to pay Uncle Herman. Do you think you could loan me some?”
A slow smile spread over her face. Her eyes lit up with happiness and pride in her accomplishment. “Why, husband,” she said, “I just happen to have some you could borrow—for the rest of our lives.”
ALEX’S REALIZATION of Daphne’s feelings caused him to be generous in ways he would never have suspected he might be—all because his wife and their three daughters were moving under his roof the next day.
“Do you mind if I invite Phillip and Gloria to stay at Green Forks for a while?” he asked Daphne as she put away baby linens.
“I was trying to think of how I could ask you the same question.”
“Really?” That startled him, considering she’d once been envious of Gloria.
“Yes. I think Phillip could learn a lot from you.” She smiled luminously at her husband.
“There’s a small house on the out skirts of Banning land they could move into. Nothing like what they’re used to, I’m sure. But Phillip indicated some interest in learning ranching—”
“No, he didn’t,” Daphne said, laughing.
“I think he meant taking pictures of it, actually.” Alex picked up the baby suit cases she’d packed. “Did you know my cousin is a decent photographer? He wanted to pursue a career in it, but Beatrice didn’t think he should work at that menial job, as she put it. He’s ready to try his hand at it.”
“Good.” She went to get another bag. “Gloria will need lots of sun screen to keep her skin looking the way it does.”
“Neiman Marcus is but a trip into Dallas.” He eyed his wife as she competently packed. “I think she’s hoping you’ll show her the ropes about breast-feeding.”
Daphne stopped what she was doing to stare at him. “Did she say that?”
“Yeah.” He felt a blush rising up the back of his neck. “It’s not going too well in the hospital. She says if you can nurse more than one, she ought to be able to breast-feed the one she’s got.”
“I’m so surprised. I thought she’d rather not do anything that would be…messy.”
Alex grinned at her. “Surprised me, too. Maybe it’s all this good Texas air causing the changes they’re considering.”
“Are you sure you can trust them?” Daphne couldn’t help asking.
“Yeah. The estate is secure, Daphne. It goes to our three little girls without conditions.”
She nodded. “I’m glad you got all that worked out. That entailment business scared me. I never want to hear that word again.”
Cos and Danita came in, eyeing the last of the baby things as they were being stacked to be carried to the Chevy. Cos held out his hand. “Well, it’d be harder to get rid of my little girl if I hadn’t gotten me a new business partner.�
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“Business partner?” Daphne asked, her eyes going straight to Alex.
“Yep. Me and Alex shook on it this morning.” Cos beamed from ear to ear as Alex shook his hand again.
“Did you really?” she asked, her voice trembling with hope.
“We did.” Alex nodded, delighted he’d surprised her. “I’ve been needing a strong, savvy business partner for a long time. This breeding business interests me, and your father is just the ticket.”
“Oh, Alex!” Daphne glowed at him, her eyes promising his just reward later on when they were alone in the Banning mansion. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“No,” Alex said, smiling at his babies as they lay on a pallet nearby, “congratulations to all of us.”
By the happy smile on his wife’s face, Alex knew he’d scored big-time. He’d been more than happy to agree to Cos’s plan for great gain. After all, there was plenty to be gained in this venture for both of them.
More important, he wanted to prove to Daphne that he considered her family equal to his.
And that he loved her.
Cos threw an arm around his daughter’s shoulder and one around Alex’s. “Let’s drink on it, and to a wonderful future between the Bannings and the Ways.”
“I could stand a glass of champagne,” Alex agreed. His gaze held Daphne’s with the promise of many wonderful years ahead of them.
“I got sumpin’ better than champagne,” Cos said with a grin. He took his arms down and pushed Alex and Daphne together. ‘Ya’ll stand right here. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
He was back a second later with two jelly jars full of a clear, sparkling liquid. He handed one to each of them.
Alex raised his glass, pausing when he realized Cos wasn’t holding a glass. “Aren’t you having any?”
Cos grinned, his face wreathed with playful delight. “Naw, I’ve drunk my share of that.”
Alex shrugged and raised his glass to Daphne. “To a profitable future with my new business partner—and many days of happiness with my lovely wife.”
“Thank you,” Daphne softly replied. “Cheers.”
At the same time, they drank the crystal line liquid, which shimmered with gently effervescent bubbles.
“This is delicious,” Alex said, his gaze never leaving Daphne’s. “It is better than champagne. What is it, Cos?”
The wiry old man chuckled before slapping Alex on the back and kissing his daughter on the cheek. “Well water! The secret to my success. And I’m passing it on to you.”
Alex glanced at him. “Well water?”
“That’s right.” He leaned close to whisper, “You didn’t think Danita and I had all those big, healthy boys without help, did ya? Look at me, skinny as a rail. But not my boys,” he stated proudly. He nodded at Daphne. “Nor my girl.”
Daphne shook her head at her father. “Dad’s giving you a line of bull,” she told Alex. “He’s been talking about that silly well of his for years. It’s just a plain old artesian well. Nothing special about it. If there was, he could have bottled it and been a millionaire by now.”
Cos chuckled. As he and Danita left the room, he called, “I’ve been rich all my life by the only measure that counts, Daphne Way.”
Her eyes glowed as Alex kissed her fingertips. “He’s right, you know. His family has been his yard stick of success.”
“I know.” She inhaled a quick, excited breath as her husband moved closer, his eyes shining with intent. “But he makes me crazy when he talks about his magic under ground well.”
“You know, my father said your dad had to have some secret to getting all those male children.”
“Well, he did.” Daphne moved willingly into Alex’s arms. “My mother loved him with all her heart. The same way I love you.”
“I love you, Daphne.” He kissed her forehead before making his way down to her cheek. “Maybe we should finish our water, just in case. Your dad seems to think it does something for virility.”
“Do you need help?” she asked with a provocative smile. “You never have before.”
“No, but your father’s such a good salesman, I’d be crazy not to trust him. We are partners now, you know.”
“Then bottoms up,” she said, finishing her water and putting down her glass.
Alex drained his glass and set it down, then pulled Daphne tight against him. “It’s starting to work already,” he told her. “I can feel it.”
She giggled as his hands cupped her bottom and pressed her to him. “I can feel it, too.”
“Shall we go test the cause and effect of magic well water?” he asked.
“Immediately,” she agreed, slowly sliding her arms around his neck, “but I should warn you that, for the sake of accuracy, testing must be done many times to be conclusive.”
“Thank heavens,” he said, scooping his wife into his arms to carry her over the thresh old of their temporary bedroom. “I never told you this, but I find your scientific side very appealing.”
“I am an artist,” she said with a laugh.
“No,” he corrected, setting her on the bed and joining her, “you are a scientific, artistic, un de finable woman.”
“Can you live with that?”
“I can.” He kissed her neck. “And if our three little daughters grow up to be anything like you, I’ll consider myself as lucky as old Cos.”
“You will?” Her eyes shone.
“I will.” He pulled her to him, and she gladly surrendered to his touch. “I already do. I got the woman of my dreams and three special daughters.”
She sighed with happiness. “I got the man of my dreams and three special daughters.”
“Is there anything else needed for a happy ending?”
“Nothing,” she murmured, melting into his arms. “Nothing at all.”
Epilogue
One year later, on the very date on which Alexander Senior had passed away, Alex and Daphne discovered they were expecting another child. They knew, without a doubt, that a miracle had happened and that some where in heaven, Alexander was, indeed, rejoicing. A son was born to them nine months later, his lusty cries so demanding that the happy parents immediately knew he would make his Banning ancestors proud.
In due time, the baby girls grew into adorable young ladies, secure in the love of their parents. Little brother was cherished by his sisters, who toted him from room to room like a favorite puppy. They cuddled and spoiled him—and let him know that, even if he was the only male child in the home, they ruled the roost. Which was just fine with him.
The girls came into their own with fiery independence and brilliance and made their mother proud. Danielle Constance became a rocket scientist, which amused her doting father, since Daphne had nick named her Yoda. Miss Magoo, or Sabrina Caroline, grew lashes of such length, and artistic ability of such renown, that she went on to create her own line of cosmetics. And tiny—some might say runty—Alexis Abigail, the ugliest baby her father had ever laid eyes on, grew up to win the Miss Universe crown before graduating magna cum laude from Harvard. It was her dream to study fertility treatments and open a practice where she could help all women who wanted to have a baby.
Alexander Junior was another matter. His early adult hood was spent in such pursuits as playing handball in Nassau and fire walking in Tibet, much to his father’s dismay. There was the summer he spent selling used cars with Uncle Bob, a job he took to with amazing aptitude, even to the point of thinking about going into the family business. For his father’s birthday one year, Alexander announced he had been accepted to Harvard, a monumental feat that Daphne had helped him accomplish. Alex cried tears of joy when his son graduated, smiling a little when Alexander tapped the dean on the head with the sheep skin.
After graduating from law school—and on a lark—Alexander decided to go into politics. After years of using his abilities to get along with many different personality types—a benefit of having three older, opinionated sisters—he became governor of Texas.
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And so, finally, the tradition of male ancestral portraits could carry on. An oil painting of Alexander Junior, revered and respected, was hung in the great hall of Green Forks, right next to the oil paintings of Sabrina, Danielle and Alexis Abigail—and their father.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7551-9
DADDY’S LITTLE DARLINGS
Copyright © 1998 by Tina Leonard
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