Macy's Parade

by D. R. Grady

“Okay.” Brandt also managed to snag another piece of pie, and Macy frowned at him. This probably meant he was heading into a growth spurt. So he’d likely need new clothes soon.

  “An aunt sent over a couple garbage bags of clothes. You kids can go through them and see if there’s anything in there you like.”

  “What if we don’t like anything?” Starla’s husky voice inquired. She tilted her head and swept some curls from her eyes.

  “Then you don’t have to take anything.”

  Macy heard Savannah snort, but just then Bryce turned to her. “Rob said he might come over tonight.”

  “Oh, then we’d better save him a slice of pie, right?”

  “He said he likes cherry pie,” Bryce said.

  Macy grinned at him. “That might be an understatement. I’ve seen him eat an entire pie himself.”

  Bryce grinned back at her. She noticed it appeared awkward on him, but the very fact that he was starting to copy their facial expressions cheered her.

  The kids soon cleared out of the kitchen and Macy kept an eye on Brandt as he loaded the dishwasher. His efforts leaned toward the enthusiastic. She didn’t want more broken glasses or plates.

  “What do you mean telling Savannah it’s okay for her to be a vegetarian?” Nick jumped her when she stepped into the laundry room. And not in the delicious way she kept picturing.

  Shoving her disappointment aside, Macy stared at him a moment. “Nick, it’s common for girls Savannah’s age to take a dislike to meat.”

  He frowned. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m a girl, right?” Not that he’d caught on to that fact yet, but it didn’t hurt to help him along.

  “Right,” he sounded dubious.

  It was a good thing she had her hands full of wet, heavy clothes, because she’d have surely done something she might regret otherwise. And she didn’t stop to think more in depth as to whether she’d have chosen kicking him, smacking him, or shoving him against the washing machine and laying a satisfying kiss on his oblivious self.

  “But isn’t it a lot of extra work for you?”

  She blinked. “Oh no.” Kissing you wouldn’t be a chore. Then she realized he was talking about Savannah’s dip into vegetarianism, and not about her laying a hot one on him.

  “If you don’t mind catering to her... tastes,” he muttered, and shoved a hand through his hair. Macy wanted to help him. She wanted to press her fingers through those dark strands. Mmm, she wanted to taste him, too.

  But that was beside the point.

  “I don’t mind shopping for her, no. We need to encourage this,” Macy warned.

  His eyes widened. “Encourage her vegetarianism?” His voice said what he hadn’t. Are you nuts?

  “Nick, the teenage years are hard enough. Savannah doesn’t have a mother. She’s got hormones she’s never had before. And now likely, the scent of meat turns her off. It’s all a part of growing up.”

  “All girls are turned off by the scent of meat?”

  “I don’t know. But I remember I was.”

  “You were a vegetarian?” He looked like she’d just admitted to killing the neighbor and stuffing his body under the bed.

  “Yes.” She thought she sounded extremely patient. “I eventually grew out of it.”

  “So Savannah might also.” Hope was the dominant emotion she heard now.

  “Yep. There’s a good chance. We need to support her.”

  “Not eating meat won’t hurt her?”

  “No. We’ll just have to make certain she does eat protein, but it’s not too hard these days.”

  “It isn’t... fashionable, to be a vegetarian?”

  “I don’t know. But I doubt that’s Savannah’s reason. I honestly think the smell of meat just turns her off right now.”

  “And that’s okay?” Nick sounded scandalized.

  “It’s normal,” she refuted dryly.

  “All I can say, Macy, is I’m glad you’re here,” Nick said and patted her on the shoulder. Like a brother would.

  She refused to give in to poor spirits. He had meant the statement as a compliment. But she’d have preferred a long, passionate kiss.

  Wouldn’t most women? But then, all evidence pointed to the fact that Nick didn’t seem aware of the fact that she was a woman.

  Macy contemplated an infusion of hot fudge – right into her veins.

  ***

  Why couldn’t he think when he was in her vicinity? Did other men suffer like this? He couldn’t remember the courtship of his kids’ mother being this bad. Speaking to Melissa had not been that much of a problem. He’d been comfortable with her, after a time.

  Nick thought about that. Maybe there had been a bit of an adjustment period there. It wasn’t until after he had grown accustomed to Melissa’s beauty that he’d been able to actually carry on a conversation with her.

  But Macy didn’t wear skin tight skirts and flirty blouses. As far as he could tell, she didn’t even bother with makeup. Yet she stole any pertinent thoughts he had. He feared losing his most recent client because he couldn’t concentrate on designing the man’s new home.

  Melissa had never made him fear for his job.

  That made this situation all the more ridiculous. Macy was his kids’ nanny. She took care of them, him, and his house with an ease only their first nanny had exhibited, and that lady had left only because her arthritis had forced her to.

  “Dad?”

  Surprised to hear a voice behind him, Nick whirled to confront the child talking to him. Ah, Bryce. Now this was a switch.

  “Hello, Bryce. What can I help you with?” Nick sincerely hoped his son hadn’t witnessed his father with his tongue hanging out, panting after their nanny. Probably not the best way to go about this parenting business.

  “Rob is supposed to come tonight, but he’s not here yet,” Bryce said and shoved his glasses up his nose. He stared up at Nick like he was supposed to cure this problem.

  “I see. He’d normally be here by now?” Since he had no idea of Macy’s brother’s schedule, he thought maybe he’d better start there.

  “Yeah.” Bryce actually seemed concerned, so Nick didn’t want to dismiss this as nothing to worry about. It was good for Bryce to think of others.

  “Have you said anything to Macy?”

  “No, I didn’t want her to worry.”

  “Since you’re worried, maybe we should say something to her.”

  Bryce didn’t look convinced, but Nick turned on his heel, and tried to quell the sensations that hurtled at him. In two seconds he’d get to bask in all that was Macy again. Unfortunately, he had to fix the problem for Bryce before he could enjoy the time spent with her.

  “Hello, Macy?” He peered around the door into the laundry room. She wasn’t there.

  “Bryce, did you pass Macy in the hall?”

  “No,” his son shook his head, “But I think she waters the flowers outside around this time.”

  Nick’s eyebrows climbed toward his forehead. “How do you know that?”

  Bryce shrugged. “I help her sometimes. She knows a lot about flowers.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “She does. And she took Brandt on a nature walk.”

  More news to him. He lived here. Shouldn’t he know these things? “What happened?”

  Bryce crinkled his nose so his glasses would slide back into place. “I think she pointed out things he shouldn’t touch.”

  “Like animals with poison, venom, claws, and teeth?” Hope unfurled inside like a butterfly spreading her wings for the first time.

  “Yeah. Macy knows a lot about those kinds of creatures. But I’m not sure if Brandt caught on.”

  “Why do you say that?” Nick kept the hope alive as they made their way to the deck.

  “He still likes to find anything dangerous.”

  “But the question is does he bring them back?”

  Bryce’s face scrunched again, but this time he seemed deep in thought. “No, I don’t
think so.”

  “I consider their nature walk a success then,” he concluded. The fact that his second son hadn’t been seriously injured to date was a miracle. Before she’d broken her foot, his mom had kept a tight watch on him. But since she hadn’t been around, he was fearful of Brandt’s continued health.

  He slid the door open to the deck and caught sight of Macy as she took the stairs beside the house. She held a hose in her hand, and he saw water marks around the potted plants on the deck. Nick couldn’t remember buying the flowers in each of the pots, but he liked them.

  “Maybe we should wait until she’s done,” Bryce said and leaned over the railing to follow Macy’s movements. “She’s watering the snowflake flowers.”

  Whatever snowflake flowers were. But Nick decided that so long as Bryce was interested, he’d act accordingly.

  “I didn’t know you liked flowers and gardening.”

  His son sent him a knowing look. “I didn’t either. Not until Macy came along and asked if I wanted to help her.”

  Okay, well, that worked. Strange, but successful. “Macy seems to know a lot about plants, then.”

  “Yeah, she said she’d look for a Venus Fly Trap for Brandt and me. He likes those.”

  A Venus Fly Trap? Oh man, maybe he shouldn’t know everything that went on in his house.

  “I called a nursery nearby and he promised to get us one,” Macy said as she climbed the stairs toward them. Nick was grateful to see she had turned the hose off.

  Bryce’s expression went animated, at least for him. “When did he say it’ll be in?”

  “He wasn’t sure, but he said he’ll call. He thought he might order a few and he’ll let us have our pick.”

  “We get to pick one out?”

  Macy smiled at him and nodded. Nick’s heart lurched sideways and she had only smiled at his son. He definitely needed a new hobby. This Macy fetish was messing with his life. In addition to him losing touch with his work, he also seemed to have lost touch with his home.

  Macy now appeared to be the fount of all knowledge at the Nick Morrison homestead. Was that normal? Was the nanny supposed to be the end-all-be-all?

  “Macy, Rob was supposed to come tonight, but he’s not here yet,” Bryce said and pushed his glasses up his nose again.

  “It’s only seven. I imagine he’ll be here soon.” Macy leaned over and plucked Bryce’s glasses off his nose. She bent the ear pieces a bit and then handed them back. Bryce put them back on and Nick noticed they didn’t slide. Nice.

  “He’s usually here by now.” Bryce sounded like he fretted over Rob’s absence.

  “Yes, but he could have gotten stuck in traffic. He might have needed to stop and get gas. You know how he forgets to put gas in his car.” She slanted a knowing look at Bryce, which he returned.

  “I forgot about that.”

  “He might have left work late, too. Because he likes what he does.”

  “He doesn’t usually forget he’s coming here, though.”

  “No, but if his boss asked him to work late, he would and knowing Rob, he’ll forget to call us.”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s okay, Bryce. We’ll give him until 7:30 then we’ll call his cell phone, how’s that?”

  Bryce didn’t look like he wanted to wait that long. “I don’t know...”

  “Have you finished your homework?”

  “No, I wanted Rob to help me with some math problems.”

  “Your dad or I can help you with those,” Macy gently reminded him.

  “Yeah, you did help Savannah.”

  “I did. I can probably help you.” Her voice was dry and he liked the amused look she darted at him. He returned it, and hoped he didn’t look like a lecher.

  He checked to make certain his tongue wasn’t hanging out.

  “Macy, where’s Philippe?” Brandt called out to them from the family room.

  She frowned down at her midsection. “I passed him on to Savannah.”

  “Okay. I think it’s my turn to carry him.”

  “She’ll probably appreciate you taking him. Have you fed him lately?”

  Brandt looked guilty, so Nick assumed that was a no.

  “Make sure you feed him. He’s so old, if you forget, you could kill him,” she gently reminded him.

  “I’ll feed him now.”

  “Good. Do you need help?”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “All right, if you need me, yell.”

  Nick slanted a glance at her. “He’s been feeding Philippe by himself?”

  Her eyes widened at his question. Frowning, she turned to stare at him. “He’s been doing it since I’ve been here.”

  “Savannah and I showed him how, ‘cause he likes to watch,” Bryce said, staring earnestly between them.

  “Brandt’s definitely capable,” Macy agreed. “I assumed it was his job. I’ve actually got Philippe’s care under Brandt’s name on the jobs board.”

  He nodded. “I guess I need to take a closer look at that.”

  “That’s one job I don’t change. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on him,” Macy said and bit her lip.

  “Sounds like you let him know how dangerous it is to forget,” Nick said quickly, hoping to reassure her.

  “I think he takes pretty good care of Philippe,” Bryce said.

  Macy’s eyes warmed. “That’s because you’ve been picking up the slack when he forgets.”

  Bryce’s cheeks went pink, and he took a step back. “We did force Brandt to take care of Philippe.”

  “Thanks,” Macy said and turned around to wrap the hose back onto the reel. Nick thought it was strange that she didn’t say more, but he noticed Bryce looked about ready to disengage.

  Ah, maybe that was the secret. Read his body language and when he’s had enough, give him room. Because Macy definitely gave him room. She actually turned her back on him. That meant... he noticed Bryce take a deep breath and Nick tried to look busy, too.

  He did notice the patio furniture could use some maintenance, so he took himself off to the garage to find his tools.

  The first crank of the wrench on a rusty nail brought a bright blonde head peering upside down at him. “Daddy, you need my help,” Starla informed him. As she always did.

  Ever since she could crawl, he hadn’t been able to use a tool without her help.

  “I see. Why don’t you find me the next size wrench down? This one’s too big.”

  Starla looked over his tools with an expert eye before deftly extracting the correct wrench for the job. Not the one he’d asked for, either. Nick handed her the first one, which she neatly tucked away in his toolbox.

  Another blonde head joined Starla’s and Macy’s bright eyes took in the scene with the same enthusiasm Starla employed. “Oh good, you’re fixing these chairs. I’ve been meaning to do it.”

  Nick’s eyebrow rose. “You can fix patio furniture?”

  Her nose wrinkled. “I’ve never tried before, but it can’t be that hard, can it?”

  So much for impressing my girls, Nick thought and barely restrained the urge to roll his eyes. That meant he was pretty useless in his own house.

  “Macy, I could teach you how to fix things,” Starla said, her lips pouting perfectly.

  “You know how to fix things, poppet?” Macy asked and tussled Starla’s curls.

  “Yes,” Starla said, and turned knowing eyes on him. “Right, Daddy?”

  “Absolutely. I can’t pick up my toolbox without Starla showing up immediately after.”

  Starla turned serene eyes on Macy. “I like tools,” she said, as though betraying a deep, dark secret.

  “I see,” Macy answered and Nick could almost see the cogs turning in her brain. He was almost afraid to ask what she was thinking. Only brave men should do so. Nick went with the theory that most men would rather not know what a woman thought. Life was safer that way.

  “I help Daddy.” Starla smoothed hair away from her forehead.

  “
Yes, you do,” Nick agreed and gave the bolt one last wrench. It squealed, but when he tested the chair, the legs were stable again. Not a wobbly part on the entire piece. Perfect.

  “How is it that Starla is your mechanically inclined child?” Macy asked him.

  He shrugged. “Brandt is also a big help. Savannah and Bryce aren’t bad with tools but they’re actually my electronics experts. Between those two, they can program or fix just about anything.”

  “That’s useful information,” Macy said and nodded. Nick wondered how she planned to use the knowledge. He shoved the ensuing wicked thoughts out with expediency. “What about Brandt?”

  “What about him?” Nick asked absently as he tightened a bolt on the next chair. This one appeared to have rusted or something because it didn’t budge. Macy must have noticed because she leaned over and anchored the chair for him. “Thanks.” The bolt still wouldn’t move.

  Starla dug through his tool box and handed him a small chisel and hammer. He took them and worked the bolt free. Nick handed the tools back to his youngest and tightened the bolt with the wrench she offered in exchange.

  “What can Brandt do? If Starla is your mechanical child, Savannah and Bryce are your electronics experts, what about Brandt?”

  “We haven’t figured that out yet, Macy,” Starla answered for him. Her little hands were everywhere, holding onto a screwdriver here for him, sliding the chisel at him when he needed it, taking the wrench when he needed another tool. Starla’s brain melded perfectly with his when he had a home repair job to do. He wondered whether he could actually fix something now without her help.

  Macy bit her lip and Nick wanted to protest. She shouldn’t abuse such tender skin like that. If he was put in charge of her lips, he wouldn’t abuse them like she did. That was the wrong thing to think about at the wrong time because he nearly took his own head off with the chisel.

  Starla frowned at him. “You’re not supposed to use it like that, Daddy.” Her scold was unnecessary, but effective.

  “Right,” he agreed, and tried to keep the burning out of his cheeks. That’d make a good impression. A man pushing forty and father of four blushing. Not good.

  Nick cranked the bolt and it turned with his thrust.

  He and Starla both stared for a moment before she delved into his toolbox and came up with a box of nuts and bolts. With barely a glance at the bolt in question, his daughter’s nimble fingers extracted one from the box, which she handed to him. It fit perfectly.