Instant Daddy

by Carol Voss

  She thought about the tension in his voice. About his relief that she and Jake were safely home. He cared about Jake…and her, too, as deeply and thoroughly as he did everything else.

  She sighed, refusing to get snagged on problems nibbling the edges of her mind. Her time in Madison with Peter had been unbelievable, wonderful, life-changing. She felt almost invincible. Almost free from the awful things that had held her down and kept her a victim since the accident. She wanted to shout from the rooftops. “Jessica Louise Chandler is back, baby!”

  She laughed at herself. Well, at least, maybe I’m getting there. Thanks to Peter.

  Pounding on the downstairs door startled her. Somebody was always dropping in, which is why she usually left it unlocked. But Peter had been on her mind so much tonight, she’d heeded his warning and locked it. She laid the paint roller in the tray and hurried down to open the door.

  “Since when do you keep the place locked up like a fortress?” Maggie pushed her way inside. “It’s raining cats and dogs out there. Good thing we cancelled our walk, but I had to find out how things went in Madison.”

  Of course she did. “Everything went great.”

  “Yeah?”

  Jessie nodded. “I’m painting.”

  “That’s what you said in your message. I wore old clothes so I can help you while you fill me in.” Maggie bounced up the steps. “Your bedroom?”

  “Yep.” Jessie trotted up the stairs behind her.

  Maggie rushed into the bedroom. “Where—never mind. I see your supply corner.”

  Jessie picked up her roller and continued painting where she’d left off.

  “We’ll have this room finished in no time.” Maggie grasped the paint can, poured paint into a tray, grabbed a roller and began painting. “Okay, spill everything.”

  “Where should I start?”

  “That good? No nightmares after seeing the accident scene, then?”

  “Actually, Peter turned off the interstate and took back roads before we got to the place the accident happened.”

  “Did you tell him it was coming up?”

  “Yes.”

  “He was that sensitive to how you felt?” Maggie sounded doubtful.

  “He’s won—” Jessie swallowed. “He’s a good man, Maggie. You’ve seen how he is with Jake.”

  “Yes, I have. I’ve seen how he is with you, too.”

  Jessie frowned over her shoulder at her friend. “What’s that mean?”

  “He likes you.”

  “I like him, too. We’re friends.” Jessie began painting the final wall.

  “You seem…different.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. Happy, I think.”

  Jessie laughed. “Maggie…I drove Jake and me home. I took back roads instead of the interstate, but I’m feeling pretty good about it, just the same.”

  “You said you’d take the bus. That’s a big deal, Jess. Congratulations.”

  She grinned. “Thanks.”

  “Was your driving Peter’s idea?” Maggie asked.

  “The whole trip was his idea. If he hadn’t convinced me to help him figure out what to do with his new condo, I would never have gone. I’m so glad I did.”

  “So the condo thing went okay?”

  “We ended up buying quite a few pieces of furniture.”

  Maggie rolled on paint, apparently lost in thought for several minutes. “You know…Peter’s beginning to sound like he might be good for you. Maybe I was a tad hasty in judging him. Maybe he’ll help you finally get over Neil.”

  Neil was part of that awful time in her life she was putting behind her. A part of the reason she’d felt like such a victim. “I’m over him.” Saying the words gave her a sense of relief.

  “Are you, Jess?”

  “Most definitely,” she said with conviction.

  “About time.” Maggie heaved a disgusted sigh. “Then I can tell you, he wasted no time in moving on. Wife, baby, the whole nine yards.”

  “His parents told my parents that he had a baby. I hope he’s very happy. I really do.” She shot a slant-eyed look at Maggie. “But you should talk about finally moving on. You’re still pining away for a guy you haven’t seen for how many years?”

  “Hey, do I look like I’m pining away?”

  “Just proves you’ve had a lot of practice hiding your feelings, that’s all.”

  “Hey, we’re talking about you.”

  Jessie stopped painting and turned to her friend. “I vote we talk about you.”

  “No way. Your life is a lot more interesting.” Maggie went right on painting. “Will asked me what I know about Peter. I think he’s feeling protective. And threatened.”

  Maggie in determined mode was tough to ignore. Jessie went back to rolling on paint. “You know very well Will’s a good friend. And I’ve always been straight with him.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Maggie sighed again. “It’s too bad we can’t always control who we fall in love with, isn’t it?”

  Jessie gave her friend a sympathetic look. Maggie would swear she wasn’t in love with Tony, but Jessie knew better. A sliver of apprehension shivered through her. Of course she wasn’t falling in love with Peter.

  Was she?

  She shook her head. That couldn’t be what was happening to her. Falling in love with him would be irresponsible. Even masochistic. He wanted babies she couldn’t give him. Falling in love with him would make their arrangement with Jake impossible.

  She could never let that happen.

  If only she could share her thoughts and feelings with Maggie like she used to before the accident. It would be so good to be able to talk this through and get her no-nonsense advice.

  But to do that, she’d have to tell Maggie the extent of her injuries. What good would that do? Maggie was feeling happy for her for the first time in so long. Telling her would only make Jessie a victim all over again.

  Organ music swelled in grandeur. Peter watched bridesmaids in blue slowly make their way up the flower-lined aisle in the packed church on Noah’s Crossing’s Main Street.

  All dressed up in a dark blue outfit with short pants, Jake sat on Peter’s lap, wide-eyed and curious. Suddenly, he pointed. “Mama!”

  Jessie’s parents and several relatives around them murmured in amusement.

  Peter spotted Jessie strolling up the aisle in an off-the-shoulder dress that flowed over her soft curves like spun silk. She’d swept her hair off her neck and pinned a white flower in it. She was stunning. A rush of pride poured through him.

  Walking past their pew, Jessie smiled at Jake, her face soft with love.

  Peter’s breath caught even when he knew all that love was directed at Jake, not him. He couldn’t remember anybody ever looking at him that way.

  “Mama!” Jake’s tiny arms shot into the air. “Hole me, ’kay?”

  Jessie’s parents chuckled along with others around them.

  Peter grinned proudly. Jake was, obviously, a big hit with Jessie’s entire family.

  “Mama!”

  Jessie caught Peter’s eye with a meaningful look that said, “You’re in charge, so handle this.”

  Whoops. Obviously, not a good time for Jake to steal the show. He gave her a nod. Now all he had to do was to live up to the responsibility. Dragging his gaze from her, he remembered the trains in his tux pocket. He dug one out and showed the tiny, green engine to Jake.

  “No train. Mama.”

  “Later,” Peter whispered in his small ear.

  Jake shook his head, his bottom lip protruding. “Now, Daddy Pedo.”

  Peter couldn’t help chuckling every time the little guy called him Daddy. And Daddy Peter cracked him up. But his chuckle died the moment he remembered the storm Jake’s protruding bottom lip usually signaled. Hurriedly, he dragged another engine out of his pocket and ran it along Jake’s arm to distract him.

  “No.” Jake shook his head, his little face scrunching as if he was seriously working himself into
tears. “No, no, no, no,” he chanted in time to his shaking head.

  Beside him, Mrs. Chandler laid her hand on Jake’s knee and lifted one finger to her lips.

  “No,” Jake said loudly. “Wan’ Mama.”

  Mrs. Chandler stroked Jake’s leg and smiled at Peter.

  Smile or not, he got the same message Jessie’s look had conveyed. Handle it.

  Oh, boy. Neither Jessie nor her parents nor anybody else in the church would be impressed if Jake ruined the wedding by having a meltdown. Going for broke, Peter pulled the last train out of his pocket and held it up for Jake to see.

  “Tomut.” Jake took the little Thomas engine and scrambled to get down to play.

  Peter started to set him on the floor, then had second thoughts. Jake running loose in the church? Probably not such a good idea. He turned the little guy to stand in his lap.

  “Down, Daddy Pedo.”

  Thankfully, the organ shifted into full volume.

  Jake looked around as everybody stood and turned toward the aisle.

  Peter lifted Jake and climbed to his feet, catching a glimpse of the bride strolling up the aisle on Harold’s arm.

  Making a low chugging sound, Jake ran the train along Peter’s shoulder, up his neck and across his forehead.

  Peter turned to look for Jessie.

  Six bridesmaids stood in a line at the front of the flower-laden church. All were in medium blue dresses, blond tresses swept up and adorned with a single white blossom. He recognized Lisa from the diner, her slim figure thickening with her pregnancy. But his gaze homed in on Jessie.

  She met his eyes and gave him a nervous little smile.

  Peering around Jake’s busy hands running his train over his face, Peter grinned as if she’d granted him the highest possible honor. Hadn’t she acknowledged him in a church filled with relatives and people she’d known her entire life? He couldn’t take his eyes off her even when she turned as the bride and groom moved in front of the altar and the congregation sat down.

  He sat, too, alternating between watching Jessie and doing his best to keep Jake quietly amused while the ceremony spun out. He listened to the solos and the minister’s short sermon about the sacredness of marriage, then they got to the vows. “Promise to love…honor…cherish…in sickness and health…’til death do us part.”

  What an extraordinary commitment. One he’d never been tempted to make, had wondered if he ever would.

  But Jessie was all about love and deep commitment. She was about family, too, one with lots of kids and love and time for each other. The kind of family he’d realized he wanted since knowing Jake and Jessie.

  Applause erupted, startling him.

  The organ jolted to life with celebratory music. The bride and groom practically ran down the aisle, laughing and exuberant.

  “Mama!” Jake pointed.

  Smiling at Jake, Jessie hurried by on some guy’s arm, her eyes glistening with tears.

  Peter’s heart clenched. He wanted to wipe away her tears. And he wanted her on his arm. Not some other guy’s.

  A vision of her all in white popped into his mind’s eye. He mulled over the thought of Jessie as a bride. Not just anybody’s bride.

  His bride. His wife.

  Of her not only Jake’s mother, but the mother of children they’d have together. Children they could share from the beginning. The thought of Jessie’s body swollen with his baby growing inside her made him smile.

  He liked the idea. He liked it a lot.

  Because when all was said and done, his accomplishments and contributions were only part of his worth, weren’t they? They weren’t his entire reason for being.

  He was beginning to see Jessie and Jake were meant to be in his life.

  Which went way beyond the friendship Jessie insisted she wanted. He had to find a way to calm her fears and convince her that if she took a chance on him, he’d never let her down. What better time to get through to her than when her thoughts were on weddings?

  Problem was he’d need to get her alone, which was not easy with relatives swarming everywhere. But he’d find a way. And when he did, he knew just the secluded spot he wanted to take her.

  The wedding dinner seemed to drag on forever with Jessie at the head table and Peter struggling with a tired Jake at a table with her parents and relatives. Finally, Peter took him back to the house and left him with the sitter Jessie had arranged. Luckily, he returned to the community hall in time to get a piece of the amazing strawberry-cream wedding cake Jessie had made for her cousin.

  Now, he stood beside her, watching many of her relatives and friends dancing an enthusiastic hop polka. Jessie had told him that the Buttons and Banjo band played great dancing music. The noise level was deafening right now, though. Concertina, banjo, tuba and drums competed with most of the residents of Noah’s Crossing talking and laughing. He wondered how long it would be before he’d find the opportunity he needed to be alone with Jessie.

  “Welcome to a wedding dance, Noah’s Crossing style,” she yelled so he could hear her above the din.

  He bent his head closer to her ear. “Looks like fun. Do you think you can teach me how to do that?” He motioned to the dancers on the floor.

  She shook her head. “Too dangerous out there.”

  He grinned. “I hear danger can sometimes be fun.”

  She pointed to her feet in their strappy, towering heels. “Killing me.”

  “Those look lethal. Why don’t you take them off?” He motioned to the girls and women dancing in their bare or stocking feet.

  She shook her head. “These are the first heels I’ve bought since the accident. Probably not the sanest thing I’ve ever done. I’ll probably be paying for my mistake for days, but aren’t they gorgeous?”

  He laughed. “I never figured you for a beauty-at-all-costs kind of girl.”

  “I couldn’t spoil the outfit, now, could I?”

  “There you are, Peter.” Jessie’s mother clasped his hand. “I want you to meet my brother Stan.”

  Peter gave Liz a warm smile. She and Max had been busy introducing him to one relative after another all day. Sure was great to be on their good side. He turned and shook Stan’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I assume you saw Jessie’s cake?”

  Jessie rolled her eyes at Peter. “I’m pleased you liked my cake, but bringing it up to everybody you meet is getting a little embarrassing.”

  “I can’t help it.” He cocked an eyebrow. “It was the most beautiful, best-tasting cake I’ve ever eaten.”

  Stan gave her an a-ok sign. “He’s right, Jess. Don’t tell Delores I had two pieces.”

  Jessie put her finger to her lips.

  Stan turned to Jessie’s mom. “Would you like to dance, little sis?”

  “Absolutely.” Liz led the way.

  Stan followed. “Nice meeting you, Peter.”

  “Same here.” Peter glanced around. No impending relatives in sight. As good a time as any to steal Jessie away.

  “Are you enjoying the dance, Peter?”

  Foiled again. Peter almost groaned, but Maggie looked at him as if she might want to be friends. A pleasant surprise. “Good to see you, Maggie. How about Jessie’s cake? Amazing, wasn’t it?”

  Jessie groaned. “You’re impossible.”

  “She has many talents.” Maggie smiled. “Speaking of one of her talents, are you enjoying your new furniture?”

  “Very much.”

  “Uh-oh. Heads up, Jess.” With a giggle, Maggie grabbed Jessie’s arm. “Lou’s heading straight for us. You know what that means.”

  “Oh, no. The dreaded bouquet toss.” Jessie looked around as if she wanted to run away.

  Peter would be more than happy to go with her.

  “Sorry, kiddo. I’m opting out of this one. You’re on your own.” Maggie took off as if she’d been shot from a cannon.

  “Where’s Maggie off to?” Lou asked. “Mary’s about ready to throw her bouquet.”

  “That’s for the
younger women, Aunt Lou.”

  “Fiddlesticks,” Lou yelled over the racket. “Donna Cleveland is seventy-four and she’s always out there.”

  “If you have your way, you’ll have me trying to catch the bouquet when I’m seventy-four, too.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t take that long, dear.” Glancing at Peter, Lou projected her voice over the noise. “Sorry, Peter. I need to borrow Jess for a few minutes.”

  Borrow? Jessie’s aunt thought she needed to borrow Jessie from him? As if they were a couple? He’d always liked Lou.

  “Jess, this time, at least try to catch it,” Lou admonished.

  “Listen up, folks,” the tuba player announced. “The bride’s mother has asked me to announce that the bride is ready to throw her bouquet to one of you lucky single ladies out there. So if you’re hoping to be next to waltz down that aisle, make your way to the front of the room as fast as you can.”

  Peter liked the tradition behind catching the bouquet. But Jessie looked as if she needed rescuing. Anyway, she didn’t need to catch that bouquet. He had a better idea. He draped a possessive arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Lou, but Jessie and I were just going to take a little stroll.”

  Jessie gave him a surprised look.

  “Oh?” Lou’s eyebrows shot up.

  “I’m sure you understand,” Peter said. “With all the festivities today, I haven’t seen much of her.”

  Lou smiled. “You just take your time on that stroll, Peter.”

  A woman after his own heart. “Thank you. We will.” Peter’s arm firmly around Jessie, he escorted her through the crowd.

  Jessie laughed up at him. “Thank you, I think. But you do know that Aunt Lou is telling everybody what you said, don’t you?”

  He was counting on it. He pushed through the door and out into the cool night air.

  “Ahh, freedom.” Jessie took a breath and rubbed her bare arms as if she was chilled.

  Peter shrugged off his tux jacket and gently draped it around her shoulders.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.” He bent and swept her off her feet.