Sweet Daddy: The Complete Collection

by Rachel Burns

  No man would be.

  Jonah was the man in her life, and he’d remain the only man in her life.

  Jonah shifted from one foot to the other. He was getting tired. “Mom, can I go change? Dad will be here soon.”

  “Umm –. I’m not sure.”

  Adam smiled at Jonah and nodded. “Go ahead, pal. I’ll work on your mom’s face while you’re gone.” Adam was glad to have a chance to stare at Samantha.

  Samantha’s face was starting to hurt. “I haven’t offered you anything to drink. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. What can I get you?”

  “Could I have a cup of coffee?” He’d love to share a cup of coffee with her. He longed to get to know her.

  “Sure, how do you like your coffee?”

  “However, you like it is fine. I’m not picky about coffee.”

  “Really? Because I am. I have one of those amazing machines that can make any kind of coffee. The only reason I got it after the divorce was because my ex-husband had no idea how to work the machine.”

  “He sounds very greedy,” Adam commented, looking at the drawing of her worried face.

  “With some things, yes. With others, no.”

  “What does that mean?” Adam asked.

  “Never mind. I was being a little bitter. I don’t need or want anything from him. My only wish is that he’d take more interest in Jonah. I fear he sees him as a chore.”

  “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. If I had a son, I bugged him to spend time with me.”

  “I believe you.” She gave him her coffee specialty and waited for him to take a sip.

  “This is, hands down, the best coffee I’ve ever had.”

  “It’s my favorite: chocolate vanilla.”

  “That fits. I thought of chocolate when I first saw you.”

  “That’s the artist in you. You make everything poetic and beautiful.”

  No, that wasn’t it. She was just yummy looking.

  Jonah came out and saw that they were drinking coffee. He asked Adam if he could see the picture.

  “It’s just a drawing. Later, I’ll transfer this drawing to a canvas and compare it to the picture I took with my cell and then add color.”

  “I’m good at coloring. My teacher said so.” Jonah took off to get one of his coloring books. He brought it to Adam and proudly showed him.

  Adam admired each picture and commented about them.

  Samantha was amazed at how nice Adam was being to her son.

  “Can you teach me how to draw?” Jonah asked Adam.

  “Sure,” Adam answered before Samantha could rescue him. Adam didn’t need rescuing. He wished that he could stay with them all day. “We can work until your dad gets here.”

  Samantha didn’t know what to say. Her ex-husband didn’t like having to come up to her apartment to get Jonah. He wanted them to wait in the lobby. She had butterflies in her tummy. Richard would never want her back if she made him mad.

  Still, this was a once in a lifetime chance for her son. A famous artist was sitting at her table teaching her son how to draw. She stood behind them and watched.

  Adam was not only talented at drawing he was also talented at teaching.

  Jonah made several pictures.

  Adam was trying hard not to glance at the clock. The father was supposed to pick up his son at two in the afternoon. It was almost four.

  Neither mother nor son seemed surprised that he was late.

  Samantha told Adam that h didn't need to stay.

  Adam was more determined than before to stick around until he did show up. He wanted to get a look at this loser and point out how rude he was being.

  When the bell rang, Samantha jumped to answer the door. “Hello, Richard. Come in and see what Jonah can do.”

  “I really don’t have time,” he protested.

  “It will only take a minute. Adam Clark is here.”

  “Is that why you’re so dolled up? You’re going on a date?” It was clear that Richard didn’t like that idea.

  “No, there was a contest, and we won,” she told him with excitement in her eyes. “Adam Clark is going to paint our portrait. Isn’t that fantastic?”

  “Sure. Whatever. Jonah, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, Dad. Thank you for teaching me how to draw, Adam.”

  “I was glad to do it, Jonah. Shortly before two, I told him I’d stay and teach until his dad got here.” Adam wanted Richard to know that he knew what a jerk Richard was being,

  “You could have left sooner.” Richard was first now truly understanding who was standing in front of him. “Someone like you is probably very busy.”

  “Yes, I am, but I gave Jonah my word. He has to learn that it means something when a man gives his word.”

  Richard nodded and stared at the tall man in front of him. He was wondering what Mr. Clark was worth. “Do you dabble in the stock market?” He pulled out his card and held it out to Adam. “Whatever money you’d entrust to me, I’d double it.”

  “I’d never give you my money. You don’t even keep your word to your son, who should be the most important person in the world to you.” Adam turned to Samantha. “It’s been a great pleasure meeting you Mrs. Beaumont. I’ll work on your portrait and deliver it when I’m finished.”

  “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” Samantha was slowly gaining her composure after what Mr. Clark had said to her husband. She wished he hadn’t. Because of his words, Richard would never let her hang the picture up in their apartment when they got back together. That was such a pity.

  Adam bent down to Jonah. “And it was a great pleasure meeting you too. It’s always nice to meet a fellow artist. Take good care of your mother.” Adam straightened up and looked at Samantha again. “I’ll call you to make sure you’re home before I deliver the portrait.”

  “Thank you again, Mr. Clark. It was an honor meeting you.” Samantha tried to be polite, but she knew that she would have to answer to her ex-husband as soon as they were alone.

  Richard stayed standing where he was. He wanted to make sure the Mr. Clark left.

  Jonah followed Adam to the door. “Do I have homework?” he asked assuming that Adam was a teacher, and they always gave homework.

  “Yes, I almost forgot. You need to practice. Make as many drawings as you can so you can show me when I deliver your portrait.”

  “I will,” Jonah promised.

  “But playing tag is important too. A good artist remembers to take breaks.”

  Jonah agreed. He stayed by the door watching Mr. Clark leave, wishing that he could stay.

  Samantha frowned to herself. A man who had been a complete stranger this morning knew more about what was going on in Jonah’s life than his father did.

  “What plans do you two have this weekend?” she asked Richard after Adam was gone.

  “I need to get some work done, and there are a couple of games on TV that we want to catch.”

  Samantha knew what that meant. It meant that Richard wanted to catch them, and Jonah would be forced to be quiet while his dad watched TV and worked.

  “He’s finished with his homework, I hope. I hate doing flashcards with him.”

  Samantha had to bite her tongue not to say anything mean. Jonah needed to work on those flashcards. He needed to stay on the ball, or he’d forget everything again, like he did after each weekend at his father’s apartment.

  Mentioning that would only cause a fight, and Richard would scold Jonah, telling him that he needed to be smart for school and later to get a good job.

  Talk like that scared Jonah. It gave him the feeling that he wasn’t smart enough. Jonah always quit things when he felt the others were better than he was.

  Unfortunately, Richard scolded him and called Jonah lazy. He’d then scolded Samantha too, telling her that Jonah had to apply himself if he was ever going to make something out of himself one day.

  Richard made it sound like Jonah was making mistakes now that would haunt hi
m later in life.

  “Yes, he’s finished with his homework.” Not mentioning that Jonah should study was easier than fighting with Richard.

  Chapter 4

  Adam went directly to work the second he got home. He painted until late in the night. When the painting was finished, he stared at it.

  He didn’t want to give it up.

  He made a copy and first went to bed at seven in the morning.

  On Monday morning, he had an idea. He called Samantha.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Samantha. Here’s Adam Clark.”

  “Is the portrait already finished, Mr. Clark?” she asked surprised.

  “No, I’m afraid not,” he lied. “I was working on it, but I’m having a problem with the eyes. They turned out red on the picture I took. I was wondering if I could stop by again and take a couple more pictures to be on the save side.”

  “Of course. We have time this afternoon. We’ll be home. You can come by whenever you can fit it in.”

  “I’ll see you two then.”

  “Bye.”

  Adam turned off his phone and stared at the picture of Samantha and Jonah.

  Why had he lied to her? The painting was not only finished, but it also had a twin.

  Yesterday he’d made the painting of her worrying that she wouldn’t be a part of Jonah’s life when he was older.

  He stared at all three portraits. In fact, his eyes had been locked on them while he spoke with Samantha.

  Adam heard footsteps behind him. His aunt was entering his rooms.

  “This one is good. It’s more realistic than the other one, unless you’re making a statement with them. The one picture is what she shows to the outside world, and this one is what goes on inside of her head. What I don’t understand is why you painted the same picture twice?”

  She could guess why he’d done it. It was clear that the plan was working.

  “This is the woman who won the contest that you rigged me into. It turns out that she’s rather fascinating. She and her son make wonderful models.”

  “Yes, they do. Was it a terrible bother to do me that little favor?”

  “Not at all. In fact, I think it did me good to talk to normal people with normal problems.”

  “Oh how sad. This beautiful woman has problems?”

  “Yes, her husband left her, and he plays games with her. He said that he’d pick up their son at two in the afternoon. Guess what time he walked through the door.” Adam was sounding off. He hadn’t like Samantha’s ex-husband at all.

  “Two-thirty?” Aunt Ruth shrugged her shoulders.

  “It was after four. I could tell that neither mother nor son were surprised that he was late. What a jerk. And then to top it off, he tries to win me over as a customer. He’s a broker. I let him know that if his own kid can’t depend on him, that I wouldn’t trust him.”

  Aunt Ruth grinned as he sounded off. He was very excited as he talked. It was clear that the people in the portrait meant a lot to him.

  Mr. Romano was quite the matchmaker. He had impeccable manners. That was something that older ladies valued. He had a way of making a lady feel like a woman.

  “Are you taking the portraits over to her this afternoon?”

  “No, not yet. She doesn’t know about this one. I don’t have permission to use it. I felt compelled to capture the moment.”

  “You have an artist’s eye. I think it’s your best work. Sign it and date it.” Aunt Ruth left the room. She had a phone call to make.

  Chapter 5

  Adam took a cab to Samantha’s apartment again. Her address flowed easily from his lips.

  It would be a wonderful feeling to come home to her every day. She had a face that made him feel welcomed. It was so warm and kind looking.

  She’d never yell at him and tell him that he wasn’t man enough to give her a child, even if it was the truth.

  A woman like Samantha would want to have more children. Jonah was great. He was the type of child that made a woman want to have more.

  He felt a little ashamed that he was lying to her. But it was a lie that wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  There was a chance that he’d see her again, and whatever he’d thought he felt would be gone.

  He’d been in an odd mood before he’d met her.

  The last thing he wanted was to project feelings onto her that he didn’t really feel. That wouldn’t be fair.

  The door opened the second he approached.

  “It’s nice to see you here again, Mr. Clark. Are you here to see Mrs. Beaumont again.” Mr. Johnson had expected him sooner. It had already come down the grapevine that the portraits were finished.

  Apparently, Mr. Clark had spent all weekend making them. He’d even made two just for himself. This plan was working out beautifully.

  “Yes, I need to get another look at her eyes. Jonah’s too. They have especially interesting eyes, a mix of colors.”

  “Yes, now that you mention it, they do have nice eyes. I heard that little Jonah was a perfect angel for you, but then again he always is.”

  “I know. He stood still for so long. He’s a wonderful looking boy.”

  Mr. Johnson nodded, agreeing with Mr. Clark. “She’s so lucky to have him. I just wish she’d have a private life too. She just lives for him.”

  “She such a nice lady. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I offer to babysit all the time. Everyone on our staff has. Sadly, she always says no. I think she’d feel guilty about leaving him.”

  “I’ll bet that ex-husband of hers has no problem going out and painting the town red.” Adam shook his head in disgust, as he thought about Richard.

  Mr. Johnson sighed and nodded along. “She’s such a beautiful woman. She could do so much better than him.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. She’s a lovely person.”

  Adam realized what he was doing. He’d practically admitted that he was in love with Samantha. He glanced away from the doorman so it would appear like a casual conversation. Then he saw his sketch hanging up in the lobby. “That was fast.” He pointed at it.

  “We were very honored to received an original Clark of our building. Everyone has commented on it. “Mrs. Beaumont stared at it for hours while she was waiting for her husband to bring Jonah back.”

  That got his attention. “She waited down here?” Adam asked.

  “Her ex-husband insists that she does. He can’t be bothered to go up to her apartment. He was mad about having to go up on Saturday. If she tries to stand up for herself, he threatens to have Jonah taken away from her. He can’t do that of course, but still, he likes to yell at her.”

  Mr. Johnson laid his hand over his heart. “Forgive me for going on like this. I’m giving you a very bad impression. I never talk badly about the people in the building. They’re all wonderful people, and if I said something bad about them, it would be a lie. Mr. Beaumont, however, does not live in the building.”

  “I know what you mean. He rubbed me the wrong way too. It’s very rare that I meet someone and feel an instant dislike for them, but with him it was the case.”

  Mr. Johnson nodded. “I felt the same way.” Secretly, he was thinking what a great person Mr. Clark was. Not everyone was willing to stop and chat with the doorman.

  “I’ll go up and get the pictures I need. I might be up a while. Jonah has some pictures that he wants to show me.”

  “I heard he has talent. Have a nice evening, sir.”

  “Thank you, –?” Adam wanted to know his name. He figured that they would be seeing each other quite often if he could get Samantha to go out with him.

  “I’m Mr. Johnson. If you ever need anything, let me know.” He gave him his card.

  “Thank you. I’ll let you know.” Mr. Clark felt a little moved that this man was being so kind to him.

  Sebastian waited for Mr. Clark to leave to make his presents known. He was just closing up his practice for the evening when he’d overheard them talking.
>
  “Mr. Johnson, I applaud you. That was very slick.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Kennedy.” Mr. Johnson couldn’t hide his pride.

  “I have one question I’d like to ask you. It’s more of a statement. You’re this elusive owner that none of us ever meets, aren’t you?”

  Mr. Johnson raised his pointer finger to his lips as a sign that Dr. Kennedy shouldn’t tell anyone. “I’m not the sole owner,” he admitted.

  Joshua came out of his office and smiled at the other two. “Finally, I don’t have bear the burden of being the only ones who knows.”

  “You knew?” Sebastian asked him.

  “Before I even moved in, I knew. I take care of the insurance for the building. Mr. Johnson and his friends take care of everything else.”

  “But you could be enjoying life at a beach, drinking cocktails and eating shrimps?” Sebastian asked Mr. Johnson, perplexed that he would stand on his feet for hours on end when he didn't have to.

  “I have it on good authority that I’m fit as a horse. As long as I can, I’ll stay by the people I love.”

  The elevator doors opened up and Gina came out with her husband and son.

  “The babies are coming.” Panic was written on Alexander’s face.

  “Come with me.” Sebastian unlocked his office.

  “I’ll call Mrs. Kennedy and explain for you, Doctor.” Mr. Johnson was already getting his cell out.

  “Thank you.” Sebastian was worried because Gina was crying, and she looked like she was in pain.

  “Why is mommy crying?” Sean asked.

  “They’re happy tears, baby,” Gina told him.

  “I’ll take him up to Mr. Schmidt. I believe the two of them have a date to bake a birthday cake for his little sisters.” Joshua lifted the little boy up into his arms. Everyone in the building was close. The love that they received from the owners rubbed off, and everyone felt like family. “Wave goodbye to your Mommy and Daddy.”

  Sean waved and sent his mother a hand kiss. “The cake has to be pink because my sisters are girls,” he informed his Uncle Joshua.

  “Cassie is a girl, and she wears pink all the time too.” He took him to the elevator and talked to him until they reached the penthouse.