“Good. Now get to bed.”
Mitch closed the door behind him then leaned against it, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He knew from experience most adolescent boys were filled with curiosity about the opposite sex. He just hadn’t realized his son would be one of them, and so soon.
Hoping to do better than he had with Tony, he moved on to Delana’s room, only to find her pulling things from her closet and her drawers and throwing them onto the floor in a fit of rage.
“Do you know what that woman has done? I can’t find a thing!” she yelled at him when he entered. “I hate her, Daddy! If you don’t fire her I’m going to run away! I can’t stand her touching my things and spying on me! She’s evil!”
Mitch hurried to her, throwing his arms around her and pulling her to him. “Now, Delana, aren’t you overreacting a bit? All Tassie has done is try to help you.”
Placing her hands on his chest, she angrily shoved him away. “Help me? She threw my things in the trash! Good shoes and good clothes I had barely worn. She even took them out to the Dumpster!”
Since he was reasonably sure Tassie had simply put his children’s items in one of the big empty boxes in the garage and not the Dumpster cart, he smiled to himself. “Come on now, I doubt she would throw those things away without good cause. Did she tell you why she was throwing them away?”
Delana sat down on the edge of her bed, her lower lip rolled down in a pout. “She said it was because she found them on the floor after she had warned—”
“Had you left them on the floor?” he asked, knowing full well she had. His daughter never put anything away.
A huff and a haughty toss of her head was his answer.
“She did the same thing to your brother’s and your sister’s rooms. She only did it to help you, Delana. Those clothing items cost money. Money I work hard for. I want you to have nice things but—”
“Then you should tell her to keep her hands off my stuff. She’s the one who threw them away. Not me!”
“But if you toss them haphazardly on the floor—”
The tip of Delana’s finger pointed angrily toward the door. “Are you saying it’s okay for that woman to throw my things away? Just because I’d rather leave them lying around on the floor than hang them up or put them in drawers? I happen to like a messy room!”
Mitch cleared his throat with agitation. There seemed to be no way to answer that would appease his daughter. “I’m saying, my dear daughter, if you have any respect for me and the hard-earned money I spend on you, you would take care of your things to make them last. Throwing clothing on the floor and then walking all over it has to be hard on those garments. Is it asking too much of you to expect you to be careful with them?”
Delana avoided his eyes by pinning her gaze to the floor. “I’m tired. I want to go to bed.”
“Did you finish your homework?”
“No, and I’m not going to. I’m sleepy.”
Mitch shot a glance toward her cell phone when it rang. “If you’re too tired to do your homework, you’re too tired talk on the phone. I suggest you tell whoever is calling you’ll see them tomorrow.” He stepped into the doorway and listened until she begrudgingly relayed his message to the person on the other end then hung up. “For your information, Delana, Tassie quit over you kids’ bad behavior. But she—”
“She quit? Good! I’m glad. I did everything I could to make her know she wasn’t wanted here.”
“She quit—but after she quit she changed her mind. She’s staying!”
The girl’s face took on an intense scowl. “She’s staying? Oh, terrific.”
“Yes, and I expect you to make sure she continues to stay. From now on things around here are going to be different. I’m going. . .”
The girl screwed up her face even more. “Yeah, sure they will. Don’t you ever get tired of singing that old song?”
Mitch released a breath of frustration. “Look, Delana, Tassie is the best thing that has happened to this family in a long time. We’re—”
“She’s nosy, Dad. She’s always into my stuff! Why are you yelling at me? I can’t believe you are taking that woman’s side when I’m your very own daughter.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side, Delana.”
“Oh no?”
“Look. Having to adjust to someone new living in our home was bound to put a strain on all of us, Tassie included. But we each need to put our hurt feelings and pettiness aside and try to live together in harmony.”
Remembering his resolve to be a better father, he smiled at his daughter. “Now go to bed, honey, and get a good night’s sleep. We’re all tired. Things will look better in the morning. Just promise you’ll try to work with Tassie. If you think she’s bad, try to imagine what the next nanny might be like. Take it from me, a good live-in nanny is hard to find. Especially one I can afford.” He blew her a kiss then gently backed out the door, closing it softly behind him before lingering in the hall.
He was worried about Delana. She had been such a good kid before her mother walked out on them. Since that day it was as if she was out to make as many people as possible as miserable as she could, and he had no idea what to do about it. His shoulders lifted and fell in a despondent shrug. After taking several deep cleansing breaths and pasting on a happy face, he headed for Babette’s room to read the story he had promised her.
But when he entered her room the child was already fast asleep, her bear cuddled in one arm, a book in the other.
As with so many things in his life, once again he was too late.
Six
Tassie was pulling a pan full of beautifully browned pancakes from the oven when Mitch entered the kitchen the next morning with a cheerful, “Hello.” She placed them on the table.
“Good morning, Mitch. I’ve been keeping your breakfast warm for you.”
“The kids up yet?”
“Not yet. Since it’s Saturday, I thought I’d let them sleep until you came up. I hope you slept well.”
“I’d like to say I did, but I didn’t. I. . .” He paused and cast his gaze to the floor, avoiding her eyes. “Everything you said about me was true, Tassie, but I should never have responded like I did. The truth is hard to face. I hadn’t cared to admit it until I heard it come from your lips. I—” Mitch lifted his face to hers, a faint smile of contrition tilting his lips. “I’m asking you to accept my apology and I’m begging you to stay.”
“Even if your children are doing everything they can to get rid of me?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You knew Delana was doing all she could to get you to leave?”
“Yes, both she and Tony. They had not only proved it by their actions since I’ve been here, I actually overheard them making plans on how to accomplish it right after I had given you my notice and you’d gone to bed. I’m sure they thought I was up in my room. That’s the reason I decided to stay. I couldn’t stand the idea of letting a thirteen- and a near sixteen-year-old run me off, especially since I had prayed about coming here even before I told you I would take the job. Did you tell her I’m staying?”
Mitch took hold of both her hands and smiled at her. He loved her fragrance. “I sure did. I made that part perfectly clear and I also reminded both her and Tony that I expect them to treat you with respect. I—I just wish I could guarantee they would do it.”
She lifted misty eyes to his. “I do, too. It would sure make things a lot less complicated.”
He freed one hand and pulled a paper napkin from the metal holder on the counter then gently blotted it to her eyes. “You have every right to be upset but please promise you’ll hang in there. Don’t let them get you down. I can’t bear the thought of losing you—as a nanny,” he hastened to add. “With your sweet smile and your desire to make things work. . .” He tacked on with a chuckle, “Not to mention your great cooking, they’re bound to come around eventually.”
“I’ll only be here three months. That’s not a lot of time.”
/> “I know, and I’m going to do my part, I promise you. I may not make it home for dinner every night but I’m going to give it a royal try, honest I am.”
She smiled up at him. “No one can take your place, Mitch. Only you can be their father.”
“I know, and I’m going to be here for them—and for you. I mean—I don’t want you to have to shoulder the responsibility alone.” What is that fragrance? Honeysuckle? Roses?
“I can’t tell you how much it means to know I have your support.”
“I’ll be here to back you up, Tassie, you can count on it. The kids need to see us as a united front.”
Feeling the need to break whatever spell her presence was casting over him, he sat down and watched as she busied herself with the hot syrup that was simmering on the range. “Want me to call the kids to breakfast?”
“Yes, everything is ready.”
To his surprise, even though all three children looked as if they had just crawled out of bed when they’d heard his voice, they came on the first call, but only Babette wore a smile.
Delana took one look at the plate containing the pancakes and sausage and crinkled up her face. “More fat and cholesterol? I’m not eating those things. Didn’t anyone ever tell you fat and cholesterol is bad for you?”
Tassie pointed to a clear plastic container on the counter. “I eliminated half of the egg yolks when I made the pancakes and I drained the sausage on paper towels.”
“But they’re fried. Can’t you fix anything that doesn’t have to be cooked in a frying pan?”
Mitch frowned at his daughter. “I will not have you talking to Tassie like that, young lady. Apparently you’ve forgotten the little talk we had last night. Apologize right now or go to your room and stay there until you’re ready to apologize.”
“Yeah, and what if I refuse to apologize?” Delana shot back with even more determination in her voice.
“Fine. Don’t do it. It’s your choice. I don’t care if you have to stay in there until the snow flies, and you’re not going to spend the day talking to your friends. Give me your cell phone.”
Reluctantly the girl pulled her cell phone from her pocket and handed it to him. “You’re being mean to me. I just might call Child Protective Services and file a complaint!”
“Look, Delana, I’ve let you get by with just about anything you’ve wanted since your mother left us because I felt sorry for you, but no more! Either apologize to Tassie or—”
“Never!” Her face filled with anger, she spun around and raced through the living room and back up the stairs.
❧
They all jumped in reflex when Delana’s door slammed with a bang, but Tassie had to smile when Babette held out her plate and calmly said, “Pancakes, please.” She placed one big lacy pancake on the girl’s plate then added some of the hot syrup and grinned at her. “There you go, sweetie.”
Tony picked up his plate. “I’ll take some, too. I don’t mind fat and cholesterol.” Although Tassie had to smile, not wanting to embarrass the boy, this time she kept it to a minimum.
Mitch nodded toward the platter then sat down in his chair. “Nothing is better for breakfast than a big plateful of sausage and homemade pancakes.”
Once breakfast was over and Tony had gone back to his room and Babette to the backyard to play with Goliath, Mitch poured both himself and Tassie another cup of coffee then scooted his chair closer to hers. “I have to work today, but I already told the guys down at the station that short of a national disaster, I’m not working tomorrow. You should have heard them hoot when I said it was because I was going to church.”
“You actually told them that?”
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I may not be as close to the Lord as I once was, but I am a Christian. I gave my heart to God when I was about Tony’s age, at our church’s summer camp. I wish I could say I’ve always been a good person like you, but I haven’t been.”
“What makes you think I’ve always been a good person? I’ve done things to separate myself from Him, too.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. Even though God had forgiven her for her sin, she hadn’t—and couldn’t—forgive herself.
“Come on. Don’t put yourself down to make me feel better. I’ll bet the worst sin you have ever committed was being late to church.”
Tassie felt her heartbeat quicken. “No, I’ve done something much worse than that, but I’d rather not talk about it.”
He took hold of her hand and cradled it in his. “Whatever it was, I know God has forgiven you.”
“Yes, He has.” Now if only I could forgive myself.
“I’m glad you’re going to be taking my kids to church.” He turned loose her hand then gave her a smile. “I just hope when I walk in the door with you, God doesn’t say, ‘Who are you?’ ”
“I’m sure God will remember you. Have you told the children yet? That you’re all going to church with me tomorrow?”
“I was going to tell them at the breakfast table, until Delana threw her little temper tantrum. I’ll do it later on when she comes out of her room. Or should I say if she comes out of her room? But right now I have to go up and have a little talk with Tony.”
She gave him a quizzical look.
“Nothing you need be concerned about. It’s a man-to-son thing.”
Man-to-son thing? What does that mean? Did something happen I don’t know about? But since he didn’t seem to want to elaborate, she decided to put his strange remark aside.
“Delana can be pretty stubborn. She may not want to go with us.”
He shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to pray that she will.”
She frowned. “We’ll have to pray that she will?”
He met her frown with a teasing chuckle. “Where’s your faith, woman? You do believe in answered prayer, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
Mitch rose then extended his hand and pulled her to her feet beside him. “Then I guess Delana will be going to church with the rest of us.”
Tassie rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”
He gave her a teasing smile. “And you’re beautiful, you smell nice, and you’re fun to have around.”
Not sure how to respond, she returned his smile then moved to the sink and began scraping out the frying pan. Finally, without turning to face him, she said in a soft low voice, “You’re fun to be around, too.”
His laughter rang throughout the kitchen. “Are you saying I’m not handsome and I don’t smell good? I used my best aftershave this morning.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m just not used to kind, handsome men giving me compliments.”
He sidled up close behind her. “You deserve those compliments and more. Want some help with the dishes?”
Tassie’s heart thundered against her chest as she stepped to one side and began to wipe the counter. When he backed away, she turned to look at him, not sure if she should laugh, say something witty, or just ignore what she didn’t understand.
He lifted his hand surrender style. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to crowd you. Ah, maybe I’d better be going.” As if embarrassed, he grabbed up his briefcase from where he had placed it on one of the chairs and moved quickly toward the living room.
“I’ll be home in time for dinner. I’d planned to have a talk with Tony this morning. . . .” He paused mid-sentence. “I’ll do it later.”
She eyed him suspiciously. Had something happened with Tony he hadn’t told her about?
“If Delana tries to leave her room without apologizing, call me.”
“I—I will.” Tassie remained standing by the counter, her heart racing. Father God, what is going on between the two of us? I’ve liked Mitch—a lot—since the day I met him and have had strange feelings every time I’m around him. Surely he’s not having strange feelings about me.
She fingered her hair. He said I was beautiful. Only one other man told me I was beautiful, and that man hurt me terribly. I can�
�t let Mitch hurt me, too. I’m sure his actions were nothing more than an attempt at being friendly.
❧
At exactly six o’clock that evening, just after her father entered the front door, Delana came out of her room and peered down over the railing at Mitch and Tassie. After placing his briefcase in the hall closet, Mitch strode up the stairs and stood before her. “Did you clean your room?”
She huffed. “Yes.”
“Everything is hung up or put away?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing on the floor that shouldn’t be?”
“No. If you’re through with your questions, I’d like to get something to eat. I’m hungry.”
Mitch smiled, then stood back and gave his arm a wide swing toward the stairway. “Sure, but don’t forget apologizing to Tassie is a part of this deal.”
“Da–ad!” she strung out, her lower lip turning down. “I cleaned my room. Isn’t that enough?”
“No, that’s not enough. Either apologize or go back into your room.”
Even from the bottom of the stairs Tassie could tell the girl’s face had turned red with anger.
“Can’t I get a sandwich and some pop first?” she whined. It was obvious the girl was used to having her way and this was a whole new experience for her.
Mitch shrugged. “Nope. Not even a bread crumb until you apologize.”
Rolling her eyes, Delana stormed past her father, down the stairs, and stopped directly in front of Tassie. “I’m sorry,” she spat out angrily.
He leaned over the handrail. “With a little more sincerity, please.”
Delana, her eyes filled with fire, visibly sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m sorry, Tassie,” she said, her voice dripping with an exaggerated sweetness that was almost sickening, her head turned so her father couldn’t see the vengeful expression on her face and the way her eyes narrowed as she spoke.
Tassie gladly accepted the girl’s apology. The last thing she wanted was to upset everyone so that none of them would go to church with her without Mitch having to drag them there.
He hurried down the stairs to join them. “That’s better. By the way, sweetie, we’re all going to church together in the morning. You included.”
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