Daddy Patrol

by Sharon De Vita

  “Yes, dear,” Maureen said quietly, leaning forward to study her niece intently. “But what about when they’re grown and you suddenly find yourself all alone?”

  “You’re alone,” Mattie pointed out, not wanting to think about that time when her boys would be grown and on their own. And she would indeed be all alone. “And you love your life.”

  Maureen looked away for a moment. “Yes, that’s true,” she admitted carefully. “But don’t think there aren’t times I wish I would have married and had a companion of my own.” She glanced at Mattie. “It does tend to get lonely, dear, especially now that I’m finally old enough and successful enough to have the time and money to do whatever I want. It would be nice to have someone to do it with and then of course there is the advantage of having a nice warm body to cuddle up with during a long, cold winter night.”

  “You could always get a dog,” Mattie suggested, making her aunt laugh.

  “I’d prefer something that’s perhaps trained enough not to have to be walked or fed during the night. And I do think there might be a man or two around who actually fits the bill.” Maureen thought of Clancy and almost blushed. For twenty-five years he’d been hinting at his feelings for her. She almost sighed in frustration. Now if the dang man would only stop hinting and do something, maybe they’d get somewhere!

  “Are you unhappy, Aunt Maureen?” Concern etched Mattie’s forehead as she studied her aunt carefully.

  “Unhappy?” Maureen thought about it for a moment, then her face brightened into a beautiful smile. “No, not at all, dear. I’m quite content, really. I have my work, my friends, and now you and the boys…” Her voice trailed off. “It’s just that at times, I’d like to have someone to share my life with, that’s all,” she added with a shrug.

  “Well, you know, it’s not too late. You’re still a beautiful, vibrant woman, and I know for a fact you have a lot of admirers.”

  “True, all of it,” Maureen said with a laugh, taking a sip of her coffee. “And something I promise to give serious consideration to as soon as I have a moment of time.” And as soon as Clancy worked up enough nerve to actually tell her how he felt about her. How a man could express himself so brilliantly in his work, but then be a complete and utter mute about his feelings never failed to frustrate her. She smiled brightly at Mattie. “Now, tell me what happened at the gallery today. Anything I should know about?”

  “I sold the Calhoun.” Pride lit Mattie’s eyes. “And the buyer didn’t even bother to haggle over the price.”

  “He paid full price?” Astonished, Maureen’s eye’s widened.

  “Full price,” Mattie confirmed. “In cash yet. I shipped it out myself this afternoon”

  “Man must have been drunk,” Maureen decided, then laughed and picked up her coffee cup. “Here’s to another sale.” She toasted Mattie’s cup with her own. “And another bountiful commission. For both of us.” Maureen sipped her coffee. “Did you notify Calhoun? I’m sure he’ll be pleased.”

  “I called and left a message with his maid.” Mattie hesitated a moment. “But Clancy was in the gallery at the time. Working.” She laughed suddenly. “He was quite put out that you’d hung a Calhoun right next to his latest masterpiece as he called it.”

  “I’m sure he was. And he must have given you an earful,” Maureen said knowingly, eyes twinkling in amusement. Her heart warmed just at the mention of Clancy’s name, but she, too, had been hiding her feelings for the man for so long it had become second nature. “It’s a good thing I love…those two mischievous men—and make a fortune on their work.” She added with a knowing look, “Or I swear I’d be tempted to toss their quarreling butts out of my gallery and my life.”

  “Yeah, but think how boring life would be then,” Mattie said, draining her cup and pushing back from the table. “Aunt Maureen, I hate to run, but if I don’t I’ll be late for the parents’ meeting.”

  “I know, dear.” Maureen hesitated. “But there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you since you got home today.”

  “What?”

  “Last night, while I was staying with the boys, Evelyn Maguire called for you.”

  Mattie froze and a chill raced over her. “My former mother-in-law called last night?”

  “Such an unpleasant woman,” Maureen said with a barely concealed shudder. “She was almost downright rude when I told her you weren’t available. She insisted on knowing where you and the boys were.”

  “And did you tell her?”

  Maureen’s chin lifted regally. “I most certainly did not. I informed her that I was not the hired help, nor did I take orders from anyone, let alone her.” Maureen’s eyes chilled. “I told her I’d be happy to relay any message to you, but her interrogation of me was over.” Feeling guilty, Maureen glanced up at Mattie. “Then I hung up on her, dear. I’m sorry, Mattie, perhaps it was rude, but that woman does try my patience. She doesn’t have a civil word for—”

  “No, no, it’s perfectly all right, Aunt Maureen.” Temper was simmering low in Mattie’s gut. She’d been far too busy today to even think about phoning her in-laws to have a talk with them about their comments to the boys.

  Now that she knew that Evelyn Maguire had phoned last night—and been less than pleasant to her aunt—whom they unfairly blamed for her and the twins leaving Chicago and them—Mattie knew she couldn’t put that call off much longer. It was time to have a serious discussion with her former in-laws, something Mattie was not in the least looking forward to.

  “I’m sorry Evelyn was rude to you, Aunt Maureen. I promise you it won’t happen again.”

  “Oh, Mattie, please.” Maureen waved her hand in the air to dismiss Mattie’s concerns. “Don’t even bother wasting a moment worrying yourself about her or me. Besides, others much more experienced than her have tried to insult me and failed.” Maureen smiled and held out a bejeweled hand to Mattie. “I’m made of stronger stuff than that. Just remember, dear, she can only upset you if you let her.” She gave Mattie’s hand a squeeze. “Now, run along before you’re late. I’ll get the boys bathed and put to bed right on time, so please don’t worry.”

  Maureen stood up, then picked up her coffee cup and saucer to put in the sink. She paused at the window to watch the boys playing for a moment. She did love them so. All of them. She turned back to Mattie with a smile. “We’ll be just fine. I promised they could watch a movie if they got into the tub and their jammies without a fuss. And a bowl of buttered popcorn for each afterward if they helped me clean the kitchen.”

  “You don’t have to clean up, Aunt Maureen, I can do it when I get home.”

  “Nonsense, dear. I don’t mind. Besides, it’s good for the boys to know their way around a kitchen.” Maureen winked at her. “A helping hand now and again is not a bad thing, Mattie.” Mattie’s fierce streak of independence, of insisting on doing everything on her own was a constant sense of worry.

  “Okay, but just make sure they’re in bed by eight.” Mattie bent and kissed her aunt’s softly lined cheek. “I love you.”

  Maureen enfolded Mattie in a hug. “And I love you, too, dear.” She drew back amidst a cloud of French perfume. “Now, run along before you miss your parents’ meeting.”

  “There can be several hundred fans in the stands all shouting and cheering, and six assistant coaches on the field, all shouting directives, but I guarantee you the only voice your child will here is…” With a smile, Joe waited a beat, glancing around the crowded town hall. “His mother’s or father’s.”

  Standing in front of the room, with his assistant coaches seated behind him, Joe waited for the laughter to subside. He gave the same speech every year and knew no matter what, half of what he said tonight would be forgotten with the first crack of the bat.

  “So it’s imperative, parents, that if you’re at the games, or in the stands, you don’t give any direction to your child during the game. So, let’s make it easy on the kids, and let the coaches coach the game. Fair enough?”

>   Sitting in the back of the room, Mattie applauded with the rest of the crowd as she watched Joe, amazed at how comfortable he seemed standing in front of a crowd speaking.

  Although she’d been incredibly nervous about seeing him after this afternoon, and the kiss they’d shared, when she walked in, he’d been busy talking to one of the other parents and had merely given her a nod and a wave, much to her relief.

  He was dressed casually tonight, and she realized it was the first time she’d seen him out of uniform. She had to stifle a laugh when she thought of her aunt Maureen’s comment about getting him out of his clothes.

  Tonight, his jeans were well worn and threadbare in spots, hugging his long, muscled legs like a second skin. His black, short-sleeved T-shirt outlined the muscles of his chest and shoulders in a way that almost had her—and every other woman in the audience, mother or not—gaping. He wore battered tennis shoes on his feet, well worn, and obviously well loved, judging from the condition of them.

  “Remember, parents, you are an integral part of our team. Positive reinforcement, regardless of errors or mistakes, is the name of the game. Winning or losing is not the most important objective. We’re striving to give kids a sense of pride and self-esteem, and the ability to know that they can learn and do well.” Forcing a smile, Joe tried hard to remember his prescribed speech, and tried just as hard not to stare at Mattie. Looking at her did something to his insides, made them shift, and soften.

  Since that wildly incredible kiss they’d shared this afternoon, he’d been unable to think of anything but her.

  Until today, he was certain he knew his speech by heart, after all, he’d given the same blasted speech every year for the past dozen years.

  But by the time he got back to his office this afternoon, after Angie’s doctor’s appointment, the impact of Mattie’s kiss had knocked every tangible, sensible thought, every word of his speech right out of his head.

  All that filled his mind was her.

  He’d sat at his desk, kicked back in his chair and merely stared into space, daydreaming away most of the afternoon. On more than one occasion Clarence had come in, scratching his head, asking him if he was ill.

  No, insane was what he was. Why on earth had he kissed her? He’d been asking himself that all afternoon. But then again, maybe he wouldn’t have if he’d have known the kind of wallop one kiss of hers would pack.

  He hadn’t had a clue. He’d been knocked for a loop and left dangling somewhere in no-man’s-land. A place he had to admit, he’d never, ever been before.

  But he also had to admit he’d never kissed anyone like Mattie. Kissed a woman and then found himself as desperate as a dying man for more.

  When she’d walked in tonight, his heart had done a belly flop in his chest, and his throat had gone so dry, he couldn’t even find his voice, so he’d merely waved to her, fearing he’d sound like a frog if he tried to speak.

  His gaze had followed her as she walked down the aisle to her seat, hips swaying seductively in those slim-fitting jeans she favored. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to concentrate if he looked at her.

  So, deliberately, he’d focused his attention on the big black-and-white clock at the back of the room. But his gaze kept idly shifting to Mattie.

  She was seated in the aisle, near the back of the room, but as far as he was concerned there was no one else in the room.

  Just Mattie.

  His gaze had been hovering on her or near her from the moment she’d walked in tonight. The town hall held almost two hundred and was filled to near capacity tonight, and it was a good thing, too, he thought, or he’d be tempted to simply march right down the aisle, haul Mattie to her feet and kiss her senseless. Again.

  Instead, he forced himself to concentrate on his speech.

  “Any questions?” Joe waited, but no one raised a hand. “Okay, one final matter to take care of, then I’ll let you go home. You all know my sister Annie. She’s here somewhere. She’ll be coordinating the volunteers for each game.” Joe craned his neck to look for his sister. “Annie, raise your hand so everyone can see where you’re sitting. Especially me,” he added, making everyone laugh.

  When the woman next to Mattie raised her hand, Mattie’s eyes widened. Another of Joe’s sisters, she thought, looking at the woman. Like Gina, she was petite and dark-haired, but rather than a flowing, wild gypsy mane of curls, Annie had a sleek, sophisticated cap of hair the color of midnight with a fringe of spiky bangs covering her forehead. Rail thin, she wore up-to-the minute designer clothes and was absolutely stunning. Mattie put her age at no more than perhaps twenty-two or twenty-three.

  Obviously, good looks ran in the family, Mattie thought.

  “Okay, everyone knows where Annie is. She has a sign-up sheet for volunteers for each game. Please make sure before you leave you sign up to volunteer your time for at least two games. That’s mandatory. Now, any other questions?” Joe waited a moment, then smiled as the crowd shifted restlessly. “Then I guess that’s it. Thank you all for coming tonight.”

  Joe waited for the applause to stop, then mingled with a few of the parents, shaking hands, or speaking to someone here or there, occasionally letting his gaze search the crowd for Mattie. He hoped to see her for a few moments before she left.

  “Hi, I’m Annie. Joe’s sister. You must be Mattie Maguire.” The young woman seated next to Mattie extended her hand with a smile.

  Mattie laughed as she took the woman’s hand. “With all these people here, how on earth did you know who I was?”

  “Easy,” Annie said with a laugh of her own, glancing around. “I know everyone else in town. Besides, I’ve seen you around school.”

  “So you’re attending the university?” Mattie said with a smile, picking her purse up and slinging it over her shoulder. “What are you studying?”

  “Culinary arts,” Annie said with a grin.

  “Ah, so you want to be a chef like your sister Gina?”

  Annie wrinkled her pert nose. “Yes, and no. What I’d really like to do is open a bona fide catering firm with full, commercial kitchens and an experienced staff that can handle everything from school banquets to full-scale weddings.”

  “Sounds very ambitious. And tiring,” Mattie added with a chuckle, wondering why she hadn’t spotted Annie at school, then realized she could have, but wouldn’t have known she was Joe’s sister.

  Sensing the crowd moving toward them, Mattie decided she’d better get the ball rolling before Annie was surrounded by a mob of people. “Well, as long as you’re sitting right here, Annie, I guess I’d better sign up before you get mobbed.”

  “Good idea.” Annie reached beneath her seat and pulled out a clipboard. “You can volunteer to either work the concession stands for a game, bring after-game refreshments for the team or just sign up and let the coaches decide what they need most that day.”

  “I think that’s what I’d like to do, since I have absolutely no experience at this.”

  “Just relax,” Annie said, filling out the sheet for Mattie with a pleasant smile. “My brother makes it all sound very official and complicated, but it’s not really. It’s just a great time and something fun to do with your kids.” Annie grinned. “As long as you don’t take it too seriously.”

  “Thanks,” Mattie said.

  “Hey, what are you two whispering about?” Joe asked with a grin. He enfolded his sister in a bear hug as she stood to greet him and accepted the kiss on the cheek she gave him, all the while letting his gaze drink in Mattie. He was afraid she’d leave before he had a chance to talk to her.

  “The town’s most eligible bachelor,” Annie teased, glancing at a now standing Mattie.

  He laughed. “Warning Mattie already?”

  “You bet,” Annie said saucily. “We single women have to stick together.” Another parent came up to sign up for the volunteer sheet, so Annie grabbed her clipboard off the chair. “Duty calls, Joe,” she said, giving him another kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see
you later.” She waved at Mattie. “It was nice meeting you, Mattie.”

  “You too, Annie,” Mattie said, turning to Joe. He was standing close enough to her that she could smell his scent. It was familiar now, an earthy, woodsy scent that was distinctively, disturbingly male. “Are all your sisters so sweet?” Mattie asked, figuring it was a safe subject. Now that she was face-to-face with him again, she felt a bit nervous, wondering what—if anything—to say about this afternoon.

  “Usually,” he confirmed, rubbing a spot of tension that had settled in the back of his neck. “Except for Angie.” He grinned at her, and she realized how exhausted he looked. “She’s a tad…cranky right now.”

  “And with good reason,” Mattie said, grateful that conversation with him still seemed easy and comfortable. “How far along is she?”

  Joe was thoughtful for a moment. “Well, the baby’s due the first week in July. This is the first week in April, so—”

  “So, she’s in her last trimester, and probably as big as a house and uncomfortable to boot. No wonder she’s cranky. She has every right to be,” Mattie said in sympathy. “She probably feels like someone’s playing the bongos on her kidneys, and sticking pongee stakes in her back.”

  Shuddering at the thought, Joe cocked his head and looked at her. “That’s just about the same sentiments she expressed this afternoon at the doctor’s office,” he admitted with a grin, cocking his head to look at her. “How did you know?”

  She laughed. “I’ve been through it, remember?”

  “Yeah,” he said quietly, touching her elbow. “I remember.” He had to touch her, he realized. He couldn’t simply stand here, with her so close, and not touch her. It was as if her touch would fuel his soul. “I’m glad you came tonight,” he said softly, not wanting to add that after this afternoon he’d worried that he might have scared her off.

  “Seems to me someone told me this meeting was mandatory, remember? If I want the boys to play and I do, then I had to come to the meeting.”