by D. R. Grady
“How does she do that?” Macy asked under her breath.
Nick grinned. “Don’t know, but I’m always grateful for Starla’s help.” He reached out and tussled her hair, which she gracefully accepted with a happy grin.
“I like helping, Daddy.”
“Me, too,” Macy said while Nick’s heart slid painfully to the side.
He’d like to show her other ways she could help him.
And every one of those ways incorporated her lips.
Chapter 8
Friday evening Macy slotted the last plate in the dishwasher, added soap and started the machine. When she turned, she found four sets of eyes watching her. With a silent, longsuffering sigh, she placed a hand on her hip and stared dubiously back at the four kids lined up along the island.
“The pool might not even be open tonight,” she repeated for what seemed like the thirtieth time.
“We don’t have to go to the pool, we can just go to the creek,” Starla said serenely. She patted her perfect curls and sent Macy a look that dared her to argue.
Not that Macy had a problem with arguing. “I understand it’s May, and it’s hot, and you don’t have to go to school tomorrow.”
“Macy, we can do our homework later,” Savannah wheedled.
“I know. I’m just tired, and I really don’t feel like going to the pool, which is probably not open yet, anyway.”
“It’s not. It doesn’t open until Memorial Day,” Nick yelled from his office off the kitchen.
“There, you see,” Macy said and flung a hand in the general vicinity.
“We can go to the creek,” Brandt inserted.
Four hopeful sets of eyes stared her down.
“Okay, we can go for a little while. I’m assuming you four all have bathing suits,” she said, finally giving in only because it was obvious how this scenario would end. Her mother always said you had to pick your battles with kids.
“We have bathing suits,” Savannah said and the four kids disappeared like vapor on a window.
Macy wiped down the countertops before trailing over to Nick’s office door. “Thanks for nothing,” she said with sass in her voice.
He turned in his chair to grin at her. “Better you than me.”
She curled her lip to the side. “I don’t like you.”
“I know. But if you take the kids to the creek, I’ll get more uninterrupted time to work. Since I am the breadwinner here.”
“Don’t think that excuse is going to get you out of these creek trips,” she warned as the first kid, Brandt, tumbled back into the kitchen.
His swimming trunks looked... wrong. Macy frowned as she stared at them. “Brandt, honey, are those trunks on the right way?”
Nick leaned back in his chair to look at his son. Macy moved out of the doorway so he’d have a clear line of vision.
“Those look right,” Nick said.
Brandt looked down at himself and shrugged. “They’re okay,” he said with a bob of his head. He opened the snack cupboard and helped himself to a packet of crackers. The boy ate like a teenager. It was then she finally figured out what was wrong with his shorts. They had cartoon characters on them. But these characters were long since forgotten. His swim trunks had to be close to ten years old, if not older. How could that be?
Bryce soon slinked through the door, and Macy noticed his trunks literally appeared to be swimming on him.
“Um, Bryce, how do you intend to keep those trunks on?” she tried to keep her voice level, but it was hard. Not that Bryce would likely care if he lost his shorts, but she’d rather not find out.
Again, Nick leaned over in his chair and peered at his son. “They do look a little big.”
“Thanks, Einstein,” she muttered under her breath. Nick grinned again before he returned to his drawing.
Starla and Savannah sauntered through the door finally. Well, Starla sauntered, Savannah more or less hunched in on herself, and tried to not be noticed. This was impossible. Her two piece bathing suit was so tiny, it barely covered the necessary areas. The fabric was faded and looked like it was sized for a pre-teen.
“Savannah, your bathing suit is cute, but I think you’ll be a little self-conscious in it. Do you have another one you can wear? That way you’ll have fun and won’t have to worry about losing your suit,” Macy said, trying to sound diplomatic.
Savannah shrugged and her cheeks glowed pink. She mumbled something before turning on her heel and quietly exited the room. Macy took a moment to survey Starla. She hadn’t noticed the problem with the youngest child’s bathing suit because Starla tended to wear her clothing. But this suit might have been owned by Marilyn Monroe at Starla’s age. The bottom drooped and the elastic around the legs had long since given up the ghost. The straps were frayed and the color, now indistinguishable, had to be left to the imagination.
Macy frowned at the three remaining children. “We have a problem,” she announced. They all stared at her, and she thought they figured she was about to rain on their parade. It was all too true.
“Macy, we want to go to the creek,” Brandt said slowly, as though to a three-year-old.
“I know, but I think we have a problem.”
Savannah reentered the room and Macy saw the one piece she wore now was of a similar quality and age to Starla’s. “What’s the problem?” Savannah asked. At least in this suit she didn’t look totally uncomfortable. Her shoulders were straighter and Macy was pleased to see it would be a lot harder for the girl to lose this suit.
Nick left his chair and sauntered to the doorway. He looked over his children, and with a quizzical glance in her direction said, “I don’t see a problem. What’s wrong, Macy?”
“Nick, your children are dressed in clothing older than they are. Bryce is about to lose his shorts, you probably wore Brandt’s, and your mother probably wore the suits Savannah and Starla have on.”
He frowned and moved closer to the kids. “Are you saying they need new bathing suits?”
“Yes.” Macy made sure to make her voice emphatic.
She thought about the clothing the kids had been wearing now the weather was nicer. “Actually, there’s been a change of plans, kids. I want all of you to go back to your rooms, and dig out all your summer clothes.”
As she had anticipated, the boys groaned and were on the verge of rebellion. The girls both looked intrigued.
“Macy, we want to go to the creek,” Bryce now took his turn to remind her.
“Yes, I know. But sweetie, there’s no way you can go to the creek in those clothes.”
“Why not?” Starla asked and cocked her head.
“I need to see your summer clothes. You can put them on for me and we’re going to go through and toss what’s old, including all four of the suits you have on right now, and we’ll go tomorrow and buy new suits.”
“Macy, Bryce and I are going fishing with Granddad and Granna,” Brandt told her quickly.
She remembered that now he reminded her. “That’s right. I’ll pick up clothes for you two. Savannah and Starla can go along, though.”
“We’re getting new swimsuits?” Savannah’s voice betrayed her disbelief and angst.
“Yes.”
“You think they need new ones?” Nick was so oblivious, Macy had to resist the urge to pop him upside the head.
“Yes. They likely need all new summer wardrobes. I’ve never seen such poorly dressed kids before in my life. You can afford to clothe your children,” she scolded him. Nick wisely shut his mouth and slunk back to his desk.
Good, that kept him out of their hair. Now... she turned to shoo all four kids upstairs to their rooms. She met with lots of complaining from the boys. Neither girl complained, but Macy noticed they both held themselves in check. It was a shame. A shopping trip should be fun and anticipated.
“Savannah, where did you all get your swimsuits?”
Savannah swallowed before she turned to Macy. She’d pulled some shorts and t-shirts from her dresser
that could kindly be described as “vintage” but Macy considered them candidates for the rag bin.
“From the garbage bags from the family.” Her cheeks turned pink again.
Why hadn’t anyone noticed that Nick’s kids were running around in ill fitting, old clothing?
“Did you find anything in those bags this time around?”
She gave a jerky nod and pointed to a couple of stained t-shirts and a pair of badly frayed jean shorts.
Macy sighed. She picked up most of the clothes Savannah laid out on her bed and tossed them into the trash. “Will you try on what’s left and let me see them?”
Savannah, her eyes wide, nodded. Macy thought she caught some hope in the blue depths. These kids were definitely getting decent clothes. Tomorrow.
She went round to each of their rooms and ended up tossing eighty percent of their clothing before having each child try on the clothing she left. The few sets of shorts and t-shirts remaining would suffice for tomorrow and as rough and tumble clothing, but they all needed better garments.
“Okay, since we’re not going to get to the creek tonight, why don’t we hook up the sprinkler system?” she suggested when they all reconvened in the hall.
That got the reaction she wanted. Happiness and glee followed her down the stairs as she and the kids hooked up the system. Macy knew where the super soakers were kept in the garage.
She doled out the toys to each kid, who ran off to fill it. Grinning, she filled her own, performed a test squirt on Nick, who chased her out of the house and then she was ducking streams of spray from four different directions.
What a happy day. Soon, lulled by their shrieks of laughter, Nick entered the fray, sporting his own weapon. Rob showed up halfway through the game and Bryce found him a super soaker. He also joined the fun, spraying anyone who ventured too close. The kids teamed up against her and Nick, which was fine by her. Rob chose sides according to who he felt needed help.
They were worthy opponents and soon all of them were dripping wet and Brandt and Starla both appeared to have a hard time stifling yawns. When it grew too dark to see, Macy and Nick shepherded them into the house and to the bathrooms. She tucked the two youngest in bed while Nick helped, and directed the older two. When Starla’s eyelashes crept over her cheeks and sleep overcame her, she and Nick slipped out of her room.
Nick turned to her with a grin. His blue eyes sparkled and a dimple peeped out of one cheek. “That was fun.”
She returned his grin, barely. It was hard to grin when your knees went weak. An interesting occurrence. “Yes, I agree.”
“Looks like both kids will stay asleep all night,” Nick commented.
She nodded. “I think so.”
“One thing is pretty clear,” Nick said and tilted his head in a really engaging manner, not unlike Starla.
“Oh?” She couldn’t think of what he was talking about.
“We make an excellent team.”
Not what she’d expected to hear and now her heart knocked painfully against her ribs. Why did romance have to be so hard? Why did Nick Morrison have to be so gorgeous?
“Right,” she answered in a tight voice, “we do make a good team.”
We’d make a much better team if you kissed me now, big guy.
***
“Macy, are you sure this is a good idea?” Savannah asked for at least the fourth time as she, Starla, and Macy drove out of the driveway.
“Yes, you all need new clothes, Savannah.” Macy kept her voice firm, as she had the other four times. Both girls seemed eager, but worried, as well.
“Are you sure Daddy doesn’t mind us getting new clothes?” Starla piped up from the back seat. She leaned forward as far as the booster seat would allow.
“I’m sure.”
“Dad didn’t say anything this morning?” Savannah’s forehead pleated.
Macy grinned. “He told me his credit limit and to not exceed it.”
Savannah and Starla’s eyes both went wide as they stared in bemusement at her. “Honestly, you two, quit worrying. Your dad can afford to clothe you properly and we’re not going to buy the store.”
“But you said all four of us need clothes,” Savannah pointed out.
“You do. We’re just going to start today. Throughout the summer we’ll add to your wardrobes as we see things on sale.”
“We can buy more?” Starla looked intrigued by that prospect.
“Absolutely. Today we’re just going to buy you swim suits and some shorts and t-shirts.”
“But we need more?” Starla’s curls bobbed into her eyes and she impatiently swiped at them.
“You all need Sunday clothes, too. But those aren’t as dire as just regular playwear.”
“That’ll cost a lot of money.”
Macy glanced at Savannah, who sounded worried. “Honestly, ladies, your dad is not in the least bit upset by our shopping trip. After seeing you in your suits yesterday, he realized none of you have had new clothes since your long term nanny retired.”
“That was two years ago,” Savannah whispered.
“Yes, and even then she only bought clothing for you as she felt you needed it.”
“Savannah said she was... stringy, right Savannah?” Starla asked.
“Stingy, Starla,” Savannah corrected, but Macy didn’t think Starla had her sister’s full attention.
“Right. I’m surprised your grandmother and aunts didn’t step in.”
Savannah shrugged. “I think Aunt Tia has told Dad repeatedly to take us shopping.”
“Why hasn’t she taken you shopping?”
“Aunt Tia doesn’t like to shop. Granna buys her clothes.” Starla made that fact sound like a crime.
“Some people don’t like to shop,” Macy confirmed.
“I like to shop,” Savannah said.
Macy laughed. “Me too. And since we’re spending your dad’s money today, it should be even more fun!”
“But we have to be careful,” Starla cautioned.
“Of course. Where we’re going, we should be able to buy good quality things inexpensively, and we’ll hit several of those stores.”
Fortunately, Savannah and Starla both seemed to deflate a bit and breathe easier. Both girls’ eyes sparkled with anticipation. In a way that irritated Macy. If they’d have had a good mother, this situation wouldn’t have occurred. But at least she could make a difference.
She needed to educate Nick so he’d know when to toss and buy clothing for his children. Slanting a look at Savannah, Macy rethought that. Actually, it might be more effective if she put Savannah in charge of that detail. Nick seemed a bit hopeless.
He’d actually thought the kid’s swimsuits were fine. Not an opinion to rely upon. That meant she had to employ someone capable. “Savannah, next time you guys need clothing so badly, you need to tell your father.”
She sent a hasty glance a Macy. “You saw how oblivious Dad is last evening, Macy. He’d never follow through.”
“This is why we’re going to train him.”
“We can train him?” Savannah sounded shocked.
“Yes. You and I are going to coach him to listen to us. Hopefully by the time I leave, you’ll have him educated so you only have to mention you need something, and he’ll give you the means to buy what you need.”
Savannah frowned. “Do you really think it’ll work?”
“Well, it better. You’re thirteen now, but you’ll be fourteen in the fall, right?”
“Yes. I’m going into the eighth grade this year.”
“Right. You’re at an age where you can figure these things out. You have definite fashion sense, and you know when clothes are worn out.”
“She is a girl,” Starla said from the back.
“Yes, she is. She also has good sense. Your father missed that gene somewhere along the lines.”
“He is hopeless at these female things, just as most men are,” Savannah said, sounding far too wise for her meager years.
“But he’s good at fixing things,” Starla stated loyally.
Macy laughed as she stopped for a traffic light in the shopping district of choice. Here they’d find plenty of stores with decent clothing at what she hoped would be decent prices.
“Dad’s good at some things, Starla, but he’s not so good at other things.”
“He’s had tremendous responsibility lately,” Macy reminded them.
“But he’s doing better now, right?” Starla asked.
Macy peeked at her in the rear view mirror. “Yes, he’s doing better now. Think about all he had to do before I came. I’m busy from the time I wake up in morning until I go to bed at night. And I’m not trying to hold down a thriving business like he does.”
“We put a lot of pressure on him, didn’t we?” Savannah questioned in a small voice.
“Yes,” Macy answered. She wasn’t going to sugar coat the situation. Nick had been close to collapse. “But now that you all know you need to be nicer to the help, I think life has improved for him.”
Savannah chewed on her lip. “I suppose he wouldn’t have had much chance to notice how bad our clothes were becoming when he had to struggle to keep up with the laundry.”
“Did he manage to fold and put it away for you?”
“No, we just took what we needed out of the baskets in the laundry room,” Starla said. She kicked her feet, and looked for all the world like a tiny ballerina rather than a typical six-year-old.
“I know you helped a lot, Savannah,” Macy said as she braked for another traffic light. She waited until the car came to a stop before turning to the girl. Whose cheeks were tinged with pink.
“Someone had to,” she mumbled and Macy nodded.
“You’re right. Someone had to, but that someone didn’t have to be you.”
“Who else could it be? Bryce lives in his own world most of the time, Brandt is as clueless as Dad, and Starla is still too young.”
“What about your grandmother, or aunt, or another adult?”
“Granna does help whenever she can.”