Daddy Next Door

by Judy Christenberry

  He paused, debating his answer. Which one of his careers did he choose? Remembering his agent’s stern warning, he chose the less interesting one. “I’m a teacher.”

  “So you’re only here for the summer?”

  “Maybe. I’d been thinking about moving to Dallas for a while. I’m going to see what’s available.”

  “You realize if you try to renew the lease next year, the rent will go up, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought I should tell you since I know teachers don’t make a lot of money.”

  “Like unknown photographers?”

  She stiffened. “I told you I had help from my grandmother.”

  “Sorry, that was out of line, anyway. If you’ll make me a map, I’ll get out of your hair.”

  “Of course. I’ll get pen and paper,” she said, still stiff, showing she hadn’t forgiven him. Rising, she left the room.

  Nick cleaned off the table and loaded the dishwasher.

  “What are you doing?” Jennifer asked as she returned.

  “Hoping to get you to forgive me,” he told her, offering his best smile.

  “There’s nothing to forgive,” she assured him, not meeting his gaze.

  “Yes, there is. You’ve taken me in and fed me twice, and I’ve repaid you by being rude.”

  “Please,” she said, pushing her chin-length hair behind her ear, “it doesn’t matter.”

  “Jennifer,” Missy called out and they both heard the patter of her little feet. Before they could turn around to look, she was in the kitchen with them. “Don’t I look beautiful?” Missy demanded, glowing.

  Jennifer laughed, a sound full of joy. “You absolutely do, but you should wait for me to tell you, instead of asking.”

  “But what if you forget?” Missy asked, puzzled by that social rule.

  “Well, then I think you could ask.” Jennifer reached out to hug the little girl. “Where are your sisters?”

  “They’re still getting dressed. They had lots of buttons,” Missy assured her.

  “Okay, maybe I should go help them. And we have to brush your hair.”

  “Oh.” Missy didn’t look very happy about that chore. “Sometimes it hurts.”

  “Bring me the hairbrush and I’ll be gentle,” Nick promised, smiling at Missy.

  “No, I’ll take care of it, as soon as I help the others finish dressing,” Jennifer assured him, and jumped up from the table to go to the little girls’ bedroom.

  Nick sat there for a minute, knowing he hadn’t gotten his map, but he’d gotten so much more. Just as he started to stand and leave, Missy returned with the hairbrush.

  “Don’t pull!” she ordered sternly, at least as sternly as a three-year-old could be.

  “I won’t. Let’s move in here,” he said, leading the child to the living room. He sat down and pulled Missy onto his lap. “Okay, now, I’m going to be gentle, but if it hurts, tell me.”

  “Okay!” Missy agreed. She was holding herself stiffly, reminding him of her new mommy. But as he worked on her hair, as he once had his little sisters’ hair, she gradually relaxed.

  “There, you’re all done. Do you have a bow or a barrette to put in your hair?”

  “Yes, I have a bow. I’ll go get it.” She hurried out of the room.

  Nick hoped she returned before Jennifer did. When she came running down the hall, he thought he’d be able to finish his job before Jennifer appeared. But she called for Missy just before she reached Nick.

  “Missy? Where are you? I need to brush your hair, too.”

  “Nick did it, Jennifer!” Missy called out and kept running to Nick. She handed him her bow. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  “Definitely beautiful.” He gently pulled the long hair back and put the bow in place. “Perfect,” he said, and bent forward to kiss her on the cheek.

  To his surprise, the little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I love you.”

  “Missy!” Jennifer said sharply over Nick’s shoulder.

  The child, with no fear, jumped down and ran to Jennifer. “Don’t I look beautiful?” she demanded with a big smile, using what appeared to be her favorite word.

  “Yes, sweetheart, you do. I hope you thanked Nick for his hard work.”

  “I did. Can he come with us?”

  “No, we’re going to be shopping for clothes, and men don’t like to do that. Besides, he needs to go to the grocery store.”

  “I could do my grocery shopping later,” he offered, watching her.

  “No. It would be absurd to drag you along on our shopping trip. You’d hate every minute of it.”

  “Actually, as the oldest child, I had three little sisters, and my mother put me in charge of them often. I would enjoy the shopping trip and you might need help with three of them.”

  “Please, Mommy?” Missy said, surprising both him and Jennifer.

  “That’s the first time you’ve called me Mommy,” Jennifer said, looking teary-eyed.

  “Is that okay?” Missy asked.

  “Of course it is, sweetie,” she said, scooping the child up into her arms.

  “If you let him come with us, I would hold Nick’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost,” Missy said, her arms around Jennifer’s neck. “And he can tell me I look beautiful!”

  The other two little girls came down the hall, all neat and tidy, and Nick took the opportunity to praise their appearances also.

  “I don’t— This is ridiculous!” Jennifer said under her breath.

  Nick, however, had an angle he didn’t think she would refuse. “Have you ever thought that it might be good therapy for…someone, to know a man who isn’t bad?”

  “How do I know you aren’t bad?” Jennifer demanded.

  “I’m just a teacher who helped raise his three sisters. I’m used to girls. Besides, I’m Grace’s nephew.”

  “Don’t you have something better to do with your time?”

  “Actually, I don’t. This way I’ll get to see lots of Dallas and find out where things are.”

  “Please!” Missy added to his cause.

  “Oh, all right, but don’t blame me if you get bored!” Jennifer said. She picked up her purse from a nearby table. “Are we ready, girls?”

  “Yes,” Steffi said, taking Annie’s hand. Missy struggled out of Jennifer’s hold to come collect Nick. “I’ll take care of you, Nick.”

  “Thank you, Missy,” he said, trying to sound like he needed a three-year-old’s watchful eye.

  Jennifer rolled her eyes and headed for the door.

  TWO HOURS LATER, NICK was impressed with Jennifer’s endurance. She still seemed to be enjoying herself. Missy, however, was worn out. She sat curled in his lap while the other girls continued to try on clothes in a nearby dressing room.

  “I’m hungry,” she complained.

  “Me, too. How about I take us all to lunch?”

  “Yeah! Can we go to McDonald’s?”

  “I’m not sure Jennifer would like McDonald’s. We’ll see.”

  Just then Jennifer and the other two girls came out of the dressing room.

  “Mommy, Nick said he would take us to McDonald’s!” Missy said, scooting out of Nick’s lap to reach for Jennifer.

  “I’ll buy you lunch when it gets—” She stopped to look at her watch. “Oh, I had no idea it was almost two o’clock. We’d better take a lunch break, girls.”

  “Do you have more shopping to do?” Nick asked.

  “Yes, but—”

  “Then why don’t we go to the food court? I’m sure they’ll have things the girls will like, and maybe something we can tolerate, too.”

  “Yes, that’s a good idea. Come on, girls. We’ll go have lunch. Then we’ll shop some more.”

  When they reached the food court, Nick noticed the McDonald’s nearby. “Do you mind if the girls have McDonald’s?”

  “No, that’ll be fine. If you’ll stay here with the girls, I’ll go get their food.”

  “You st
ay with them and I’ll go get the food. This meal’s on me. It’s definitely my turn.”

  In no time he was back with three Happy Meals and drinks. Then he looked at Jennifer. “Now, what would you like?”

  “I’d like a grilled chicken salad and a diet Coke.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll be right back.”

  He returned with two salads and two drinks.

  “I didn’t mean you had to get a salad,” Jennifer protested as she saw he’d gotten himself the same thing.

  “I like salads, too. Though I don’t eat a steady diet of them,” he assured her with a smile.

  “How old are your sisters?” she suddenly asked.

  He grinned. “Seven years younger than me.”

  “All three of them?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yeah. My mom had trouble getting pregnant after I was born, so she took fertility drugs and ended up with triplets.”

  “Oh, my. I guess you do have experience,” she said in amazement.

  “Yeah. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I got to do much of anything by myself.”

  “What’s triplets?” Missy asked.

  “It’s when your mommy has three babies at the same time,” Jennifer said.

  Missy nodded, but Steffi looked puzzled. “You mean like us only all the same age?”

  “That’s right. It makes everything much more difficult. With you being older, you can help your sisters. But Nick had to help all three of his sisters.” Jennifer grinned at him. “If you’d told me that earlier, I would’ve been easier about your helping with the girls.”

  “I didn’t want to brag,” Nick said, trying to look modest.

  “Yeah, right!” Jennifer said with a laugh.

  “How’s your hamburger, Annie?” Nick asked. The little girl had yet to speak to him. He wasn’t sure she would speak to him now.

  “Good,” she replied very softly.

  “I’m glad. And yours, Steffi?”

  “I like it. And I got a car as my toy.”

  “Lucky you,” Nick said. “And, Missy? What did you get?”

  “I got a cat, I think.” She held up a plastic figure.

  “That’s Sylvester the cat. I think they’re bringing out a new movie about Sylvester the cat,” he said.

  “Can we go?” Missy immediately asked.

  Her suggestion put a pleasant thought in Nick’s head. He and Jennifer in a darkened movie theater—with the girls, of course. Still, he looked straight at Jennifer when he said, “I promise we will.”

  Chapter Three

  “I don’t think you have the right to promise that, Nick,” Jennifer said, her voice starchy.

  “I didn’t think a movie would hurt.”

  Jennifer, however, was more focused on the girls. “Have any of you ever been to the movies?”

  Steffi shook her head. Annie just stared at Jennifer, wide-eyed. But Missy nodded.

  “When did you go to the movies, Missy?” Jennifer asked suspiciously.

  “Once, my old mommy took four of us to the movies and we had popcorn and candy and a Coke!”

  “What did you see?” Jennifer asked, watching Missy closely.

  “A movie. And we had to be real quiet!”

  “Do you remember what happened in the movie?” Nick asked, hoping to help Jennifer.

  Missy hung her head.

  “Missy?”

  She finally looked at Nick and confessed, “I threw up and my old mommy was mad because she didn’t get to see all the movie.”

  “Missy, if it made you sick, why do you want to go again?” Jennifer asked.

  “’Cause it was fun. It’s real dark and—”

  “Never mind. We’ll discuss going to the movies when that movie comes out and I can decide if it’s appropriate for you.”

  “What’s appropriate?” Missy asked.

  Nick answered that question. “If it’s a show that’s good for you to see. Some of the movies are made for adults and you wouldn’t enjoy them.”

  “Will you let me sit next to you, Nick, if we go to the movies?”

  “Sure. We can even hold hands,” he told the little girl with a smile.

  “We can’t expect Nick to come with us, Missy,” Jennifer said sternly. “So far, we’ve managed to take all his time since he arrived. I’m sure he has lots to do. He probably can’t come to the movies with us.”

  Missy turned to Nick, her brown eyes wide, “Please, Nick?”

  “I’ll try, Missy. But you know how it is. My schedule might get crowded.” He stared at Jennifer as he lied to Missy. He thought that was what she wanted.

  “Okay. Has everyone finished eating?” Jennifer asked in a cheery voice. When the girls all nodded, she suggested a trip to the bathroom. “Nick, can you guard our bags?”

  “I can, but if you’ll give me your keys, I could carry them all to the car and put them in the trunk. Then we can load up again when you buy other things.”

  “Would you mind?” Jennifer asked. “That would be wonderful. We’ll be in the children’s department again.”

  “I’ll see you there.”

  He stood there watching as Jennifer led her three little girls to the bathroom. It reminded him so much of his childhood. When the triplets were four and he was eleven, their father had died, and he’d been responsible for the girls in the summer while his mother worked.

  It had been hard on all of them, but they’d survived and forged a bond that kept them close. Two of them were married now and the third was living in New York City. He kept up with them, though; after all, it was what his mother asked of him before she succumbed to cancer a couple of years ago.

  He shook off thoughts of his family and gathered up the shopping bags. He hoped Jennifer could afford all she was buying. Children were expensive in more ways than clothes.

  When he got back to the children’s department in the store in which they’d been shopping, he didn’t see any of them. But as he drew closer to the dressing room, he heard their voices.

  “I want to go outside with Nick,” Missy complained.

  “Nick is putting our bags in the car. I need you to try on this outfit, Missy. I think it will look very nice on you.”

  “But—”

  “Missy, try on these clothes. Then we’ll go see if Nick is back and you can sit with him. Or maybe he can help you find some Sunday shoes and some sandals.”

  “I get two new pairs of shoes?” Missy asked in astonishment. “But I already have these.”

  He could picture Missy sticking out her feet to show Jennifer her tennis shoes.

  “Just try on the clothes. Here, let me help you.”

  He didn’t hear much until Missy spoke up again after a few minutes. “Now can I go see if Nick is back?”

  “Yes, I’ll take you out there. Steffi, you and Annie stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’m here, Jennifer,” Nick called. “Just send Missy out. I’ll take care of her.”

  Instead, Jennifer came out with Missy. “Would you mind taking her just across the aisle to find Sunday shoes and sandals?”

  “Sure. About what would you like to spend?”

  She looked at him blankly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t know what little girls’ shoes cost. Probably something under fifty. I’ll come pay for them in a minute.”

  Nick shook his head as Jennifer went back into the dressing room. He guessed she didn’t have to worry about money. Fifty dollars for kids’ shoes? He could do better than that.

  In fifteen minutes, he had chosen black patent leather shoes and white sandals for Missy. She was so excited, he had trouble keeping her from charging across the aisle to show Jennifer before he paid for them.

  When they got back to the dressing room, he sent Missy in to find Jennifer.

  Jennifer came out at once. “Did you tell them I’d be there in a minute to pay for them? I didn’t think—”

  “I paid for them, but I kept the receipt so you can pay me back. It was just easie
r that way.”

  “Oh. I shouldn’t— I didn’t think— Thank you. I’ll write you a check when we get a moment.”

  “Good. Now, are you ready for me to take one of the others shoe shopping?”

  Jennifer frowned. “Annie is ready, but…”

  “I’ll be very gentle with her and bring her back at once if she gets uneasy, I promise.”

  “I’ll go ask her.”

  In a minute, Jennifer came back out, holding Annie’s hand. “See, Annie? The shoes are just over there. Nick will take you to try some on. Then you can come right back here if I haven’t gotten over there yet.”

  “Okay,” Annie whispered.

  Nick thought it was a big step for Annie to trust him. He smiled warmly and offered his hand. It would be the first time he had touched her. Her big brown eyes held a lot of fear and hurt, but she slowly put her hand in his.

  “Same shoes for her?” Nick asked softly.

  Jennifer nodded. “I liked your choices for Missy, by the way. I don’t think she intends to take the sandals off even when she goes to bed tonight.”

  Nick grinned. “She did seem to like them. We’ll try to find shoes that will make Annie smile, too. Right, Annie?”

  She just stared at him.

  He led her over to the shoe section and they looked at what was available in her size. Nick patiently waited for her to make her selection, but she kept watching him, as if afraid she’d anger him if she made the wrong choice.

  “Annie, all these shoes are what Jennifer wants you to wear, so you can choose whichever you want to try on. There aren’t any bad choices. Just pick the ones you like most.”

  More silence.

  He waited patiently.

  Finally Annie pointed to a pair of the dress shoes.

  “Good. Are there any others that you want to try on?”

  She shook her head. Her hand was trembling in Nick’s. He knew this was a big step for Annie. He settled her in a chair and got the saleswoman to bring her size. He also asked for three pairs of sandals to be brought out, all in styles different from Missy’s. He’d learned with the triplets to get everyone something different, something that suited their unique personalities.

  Annie was quite different from Missy. She showed her enthusiasm with a quiet smile, by touching the shoes in a way akin to a caress. In no time she approved the shoes and picked out a pair of sandals.