NICK FELT ALONE.
He was actually getting some writing done, though, in spite of the worry that Jennifer would shut him out of her little family. He was giving her a little time, hoping that she might miss him.
When a knock disturbed his work, he eagerly hurried to answer it, hoping, dreaming it was Jennifer.
But the vision before him was more like a nightmare. It was Jennifer’s mother.
“Where is my daughter?” the haughty woman demanded without any greeting.
“You’re knocking on the wrong door. That’s her door over there.”
“I know that!” the woman spat out. “But she’s not there!”
He looked at his watch. “Oh, she’s probably at the girls’ ballet class.”
“She put them in ballet class? That’s ridiculous! They don’t know anything about ballet.”
“That would be the reason for the classes, wouldn’t it?” He leaned against the door, finding this interruption very interesting.
“When will she be home?”
“I don’t know, Mrs. Carpenter. I’m not her gatekeeper.”
“What a difficult young man!”
He ignored her nasty remark. “Would you like to leave a note for Jen?”
“Jen? Her name is Jennifer. Don’t call her Jen!”
He shrugged. “She’s never objected.”
“Well, I do. It’s…common!”
He nearly laughed in her face. “I think that’s Jen’s decision,” he said, intentionally using his pet name for her daughter.
“I need a pen and paper. I’m trying to help Jennifer, but it’s hard to do that when I can’t even find her.”
“Come right this way.” Once he led her into his apartment and got her the supplies, she sat down on his sofa and wrote her a note. Then she carefully folded it.
“Please give this to Jennifer when she returns.”
“I’ll be happy to.”
She wagged a finger in his face. “And don’t read it!”
Nick just smiled and took the note. Then he escorted the woman out the door. Mrs. Carpenter didn’t realize she’d actually done him a favor: she’d given him a reason to contact Jennifer.
But Jennifer didn’t come home. Not when ballet should have been over, nor an hour later, or two. Nick began to worry about her and the three little ones. What if they’d had an accident? She would call him, wouldn’t she? He began to pace, trying to imagine what they could be doing.
He kept checking his watch. She could be doing any number of things, but he didn’t know what. It would be ridiculous to demand her schedule each day, but how could he get any work done if he thought she or the girls were in danger?
When her car finally pulled into the lot, he was outside to let the girls out.
“Daddy!” Missy called out, forgetting herself.
“Hi, sweetheart. Where have y’all been? I thought you’d be here an hour ago.”
“We bought swimsuits,” Annie said with a big smile.
He ushered all three girls to the sidewalk. “Swimsuits? But we don’t have a swimming pool.”
“Mommy said we need to learn so we’ll be safe around water,” Steffi explained.
Jennifer got out of her car and joined them on the sidewalk. “What are you doing out here, Nick? You should be inside writing!”
“Jen, I can’t write all the time. I need to be around other people, do things, not stay locked up in my apartment.”
“You do? Are you sure?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“But you didn’t say anything about that.”
“You didn’t give me a chance. You just hustled me out of your apartment before I could even explain.”
“I’m sorry.” She looked around, puzzled. “Have you been waiting for us to return just so you can tell me that?”
“Uh, no. I had a message to give you.”
“A message? From whom?”
“Your mother. She came in and wrote you a note when she couldn’t find you at home. That seemed to upset her.”
“Yes, she expects everyone to be at her beck and call,” Jennifer said, a touch of sarcasm in her voice. “So where’s the all-important message?”
“It’s inside. I’ll get it and bring it to your apartment.”
“Okay. I’m fixing sandwiches for lunch. Have you eaten?”
“No, but you don’t need—”
“It’s not a problem to fix an extra sandwich, Nick, and the girls have been complaining about not seeing you. Unless you need to get back to the computer, we’d love to have you join us.”
“Then I’ll gladly accept.”
He rejoined them in Jen’s kitchen, note in hand. “Here it is, Jen.”
She put down the food she was getting out for lunch and opened the note. After reading it, she crumpled the paper and threw it in the trash and continued making lunch.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Did you read it?”
“No. It wasn’t written to me.”
“You can be glad it wasn’t written to you.” She began putting the sandwiches together.
“Why?”
“Because it’s not her showing concern or offering to be a part of my new family. It’s an attempt to set me up with a man she thinks is perfect for me. As long as I get rid of—of complications,” she said, after a quick look at the girls.
“She’s still playing that old song?” Nick asked.
“She never changes.”
“What are you talking about?” Steffi asked.
“Nothing that needs to concern you, sweetie,” Jennifer said. “Have you told Nick about your ballet class?”
“Was it fun, Steffi?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, we learned some steps. Want me to show you?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Me, too,” Missy said, jumping down from her chair. Both girls moved their feet to first position.
“Well done. You’re on your way, aren’t you?”
“Yes. We’re going twice a week,” Steffi told him.
“I want to show Nick my swimsuit,” Annie said, looking at Jennifer for approval.
“You can show him, but don’t try them on now. Lunch is almost ready.”
“Come on, Nick,” Annie said, taking his hand.
Nick followed Annie back to the living room where they’d left some packages. She dug through a big sack and pulled out a bright red swimsuit with blue, green and yellow stripes across the chest.
“My, that’s very pretty, Annie. I wouldn’t have thought you’d choose those colors.”
“Mommy said we needed bright colors so someone could see us in the water.”
“That’s good thinking. Once you learn to swim, maybe we’ll find a place with a swimming pool where you can show me. When do you start swimming lessons?”
“In the morning. We’re going to swim on the days we don’t go to ballet.”
“That’s very good. You’ll get a lot of exercise.”
Missy, who had followed them, added, “And we play with Blondie every day, too.”
“Where is Blondie?”
“In the backyard. She has her own doghouse and everything.”
“She has her doghouse and you have your swing set. Are you swinging a lot?”
Annie nodded. “Yep.”
“I like to climb up on the slide,” Missy said. “But Steffi makes me slide down.”
When Jennifer called, they all went to the table and enjoyed a good lunch together. Afterward, Jennifer sent the girls to their room to rest.
“You’ve done a lot since I was over here,” Nick commented.
“Not really. I just arranged swimming lessons for the girls.”
“And got a doghouse for Blondie.”
“I only bought one and had it delivered.”
“I just assumed Blondie would be an inside dog.”
“She can come in, but the girls like to go outside and play with her.”
&
nbsp; “Okay,” he said as he gathered up the dishes and carried them to her at the sink.
“Oh, and I’m interviewing a lady to do the housekeeping.”
“Should I sit in on the interview?”
“You can if you want. I’m going to hire her for all four apartments. You’ll each have her for one day a week and I’ll have her for two days. It will be a hundred dollars for each day.”
“You talked to the others and they agreed?”
“Yes. Have you changed your mind?”
“No, not at all.”
The doorbell rang and Jennifer looked at her watch. “She’s a little early,” she said as she hurried to the door.
Nick wiped off the table before he joined Jennifer in the living room. But it wasn’t the housekeeper interviewee that was talking to Jennifer. It was her mother.
“Did you give her the note?” Mrs. Carpenter demanded as he strolled in.
“Sure did.”
“Jennifer, I thought I made it plain in the letter that you need to get rid of those children!”
“Mother, you have no right to make that kind of a demand. I am an adult and I won’t have you upsetting my children.”
“They aren’t your children,” her mother pointed out.
“For the last time, Mother, yes, they are. Those girls are mine and nothing you can do will change that.”
As if she hadn’t heard Jennifer, the woman continued her demands. “Get rid of them, Jennifer, or I’ll never speak to you again.”
“Fine. It makes—” Just then she noticed Steffi in the room. “Steffi? What’s wrong?”
The little girl turned and ran back down the hall.
“Go away, Mother! I’ve got to go take care of my children!”
Jennifer ran from the room. Nick remained, glaring at the woman in front of him. How could anyone be so cold?
“You’re staring, young man!”
“Yeah, I am. I can’t believe that you would shut yourself off from the only daughter you have just because she doesn’t do exactly what you want her to do.”
“You know nothing about anything. Jennifer is a blueblood who can marry whomever she wants. Unless she sabotages her life by getting all sentimental over someone else’s children!”
“I think you’d better leave before Jennifer comes back. She’s not going to be happy with you for upsetting the girls.”
“You have no right to throw me out of my daughter’s house.”
“No, but I do,” Jennifer said as she walked into the room. “And I don’t want you to come back here unless you’re willing to accept my choices in life.”
“Really, Jennifer, I see no need for such rudeness,” the woman said, her nose in the air.
“Those are my terms, Mother. Take them or leave them. But they are not negotiable. I don’t want you doing any more damage to my children.”
“Oh!” The woman stamped her foot in frustration and then turned to leave. Before she opened the door she said, “Call me if you come to your senses.”
“Goodbye, Mother.”
After the door closed behind the woman, Jennifer slumped down onto the sofa.
“Are the girls all right?” Nick asked.
“Yes, I think so. I tried to reassure them that I love them and they’re not going to be taken from me.”
“Did they believe you?”
“I hope so.”
“Mind if I go say goodbye?”
“Of course not. I’m going to finish cleaning the kitchen.”
Nick went to the girls’ room and knocked softly on the door. Then he opened it.
All three girls were sitting on the lower bed, crying.
Chapter Ten
Nick stepped into the room. “What’s wrong, girls?”
“You know,” Steffi said. “Mommy’s mother wants us to go away.”
Nick sat down beside her and carefully wiped the tears away. “That’s true, but Jennifer doesn’t want that.”
“But it’s not fair for her to lose her mommy,” Annie said. “We know how hard that is. Steffi says we should run away so Jennifer’s mommy will come back.”
“That’s very giving of you, Annie, but it would be terrible for Jennifer. You know, I lost my mother, too, and I know how hard it is. But Jennifer is all grown up and she can decide whether she wants her mommy in her life. You know, Jennifer loves you three very much.”
“She does?” Steffi asked.
“She does. She’s planning on being your mommy for the rest of her life. If you leave, she’ll be all alone. She would cry a lot.”
“Then we can’t leave,” Missy said with a sniff. “I don’t want Jennifer to cry.”
Annie looked at Nick. “Does that mean we get to stay? We won’t have to run away?”
Before Nick could hug the little girl and assure her she shouldn’t run away, Jennifer came in.
“What’s going on?”
Nick gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m explaining to the girls that they shouldn’t run away because you would miss them.”
Jennifer almost fell over. “What? Of course I would miss them.” She turned to the girls. “Why would you even think about running away?”
“So your mommy won’t be mad at you,” Steffi explained.
Jennifer closed her eyes for a minute. Then she sank onto the mattress with the rest of them. “Steffi, my mother is not— She’s not like your mommy. She doesn’t really care what happens to me if I don’t do exactly what she says. But I’m an adult, and I get to make choices about my life. When you grow up, you’ll get to make choices about your life. I always want you to love me, but I know you’ll make the decisions. That’s the way life is. But my mother doesn’t play by the rules.”
“What does that mean?” Missy asked.
“It’s too hard to explain, sweetheart, but don’t run away. I would miss you so much. Okay?”
“We don’t want to,” Annie said, “but we want you to be happy.”
“I am, as long as I have you three. We’re a family.”
Nick leaned toward the girls. “And, as the, uh, neighbor of this family, I expect to be notified before you do anything that risky. Got it?” The girls nodded. “Then how about a group hug? That’s what we always did in my house.”
The girls threw themselves at both Jennifer and Nick, giving them big hugs and wet kisses. Eventually, they began to giggle, which brought joyful laughter to Jennifer. Nick laughed, too, glad to bring a happy ending to such a deserving family.
To celebrate, he kissed Jennifer, right there in front of the girls. Then he walked to the door. “I’ll see you later.”
“I LIKE NICK,” MISSY SAID with a big smile. “And I think he likes you, too.”
“Yes, we all like Nick,” Jennifer said hurriedly, willing away the blush from her cheeks. “But—but let’s talk about you. You don’t have to tell Nick when you’re upset. You should tell me. I’ll fix it if I can. Okay?”
Once she had the assurances from her three charges, she told them to lie down and rest before they went out to play with Blondie.
Jennifer went to her own bedroom, where she sank down on the bed. Warnings ping-ponged in her brain. Warnings to back off from Nick. He was getting too involved with her and the girls, but his career path wouldn’t lead to domesticity. If they were making a film from his book, he was destined for bigger things. He’d probably be moving to Hollywood.
That wasn’t a place for her or her daughters. She didn’t want any of them to have their hearts broken by Nick’s departure. And she was already falling in love with him. Just a little bit.
The doorbell rang and this time she was sure it was the housekeeping interview. She’d called an agency and they said they had a perfect candidate who loved kids.
Jennifer opened the door and invited in a smiling, middle-aged woman.
Her smile was a good start.
They discussed the setup. The only one that caused concern was the six stewardesses in one apartment, but Jennifer reassured
her about the group. When they were both satisfied with the interview, Jennifer went to the girls’ room and invited them to come meet the lady who would be taking care of the apartment.
They lined up in front of the woman, and she bubbled over with excitement. “They are so darling!”
“Girls, this is Mrs. Carroll. She will come clean two days a week. You must be sure to have your dirty clothes in the laundry basket before she comes and all your toys put away. Okay?”
They nodded. Then Missy leaned close to Mrs. Carroll. “I’m the messiest one, but I’ll try really hard to put my dirty clothes in the basket.”
“Good. And I’ll help you,” she said, stifling a smile.
“I’m very pleased, Mrs. Carroll,” Jennifer said. “You’ll start here on Monday and I’ll make a schedule for the other apartments.”
Jennifer escorted the woman out. When she turned around, she nearly bumped into Missy.
“Does that mean we need to tell Nick?” Missy asked.
“Well, yes, but I’ll just call him.”
“But I want to ask him to come out and play.”
“No! No, we can’t do that, sweetie. He’s busy.”
“Can’t we just ask?”
“Not today. Go play with Blondie. I think she misses you.”
That convinced Missy, who ran for the backyard.
WHEN THE WEEKEND CAME, Nick wanted to take a break. He’d been writing steadily for several days. He strolled across the hall and knocked on Jennifer’s door.
There was no answer. With a frown he returned to his apartment and went to the back bedroom, which had a view of the backyard. He didn’t see anyone outside.
Probably because it was too hot. Why was he looking for Jennifer and her girls, anyway? Getting back to work had reminded him of the kind of life he’d planned for himself here in Dallas. He was going to be alone, productive, focused, not lose his chance at the limelight.
He was attracted to Jennifer. Hell, he was attracted to all of them. But did he want the difficulty of a family? He thought about that for a minute. Why not? He wanted a family…one day.
He moved back to the front of his apartment to see if Jennifer’s car was in the parking lot. For right now, he wanted to see her and the girls.
Daddy Next Door Page 11