She reigned in her emotions by reminding herself that she was only in Snow Valley for a few more months. She would enjoy this time, and then she would have to face reality and figure out where to go from here.
Part of her reality came in the form of an email from Emma, inquiring about Anastasia and if the puppies had been born yet. Knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer, she sat down and explained what had happened. After pushing send, she closed her laptop and told herself she could handle whatever the consequences were. Worst-case scenario, she would sell what she could to pay for her mistake. If she had to, she would ask her father for a loan. He’d offered to help her before, but she’d always been fiercely independent.
A knock sounded at her door. Since she wasn’t expecting anyone, she checked the peephole and was alarmed to find Doreen, the nanny to Gabe’s children, standing alone on the porch, her eyes filled with tears.
“May I help you?” Piper asked.
“I hope so.” The young girl sniffed. “I hate to bother you, but Lindsey’s been throwing up since she got home from school an hour ago and now Shane has started.” Her lower lip trembled. “I can’t take care of them anymore by myself and I can’t get a hold of Mr. Wesson. Lindsey has been crying for you. The kids told me you’re coming over to help train Rascal later on, but I was hoping you could come earlier to help me with them.”
“Of course.” Piper shivered as the cold air penetrated her flannel shirt. “Let me get my coat on and I’ll be over in a minute.”
“Oh, thank you so much.” The girl stepped back and wrinkled her nose. “You’re a lifesaver because I really don’t do well with throw up.”
Neither did Piper, but she couldn’t bear the thought of the children being sick without their father or mother to comfort them. She hoped she could ease their discomfort until Gabe got home, especially since Lindsey was asking for her.
Quickly, she donned her coat, slipped on her snow boots and hurried out the door, following the cleared pathway to her neighbor’s house. Without knocking, she twisted the doorknob and stepped inside the house.
Doreen glanced over at her, relief written all over her face. Lindsey stood in front of the nanny, her little face as pale as the white snow. “Miss Piper, I want my daddy.”
“I know, sweetie.” Piper had limited experience with children that were sick. There had always been a school nurse at the academy. She moved toward the child, hoping her presence could help make her feel a little better. Just before she reached the little girl, Lindsey’s eyes widened and she threw up on the floor.
“I’m gonna be sick,” Doreen said, covering her mouth as she raced toward the bathroom. Piper winced when she heard retching followed by violent vomiting.
“I’m sorry, Miss Piper,” Lindsey said on a sob. “I didn’t mean to throw up on the floor.”
“It’s okay, honey. I can clean it up.” Ignoring the pungent smell, Piper circled her arm around the child’s shoulders and moved her away from the mess on the floor. “Do you feel like you’re going to throw up again?” Piper asked as she guided her up the stairs.
“No, but my tummy still hurts.”
Piper went into the bathroom and found a washcloth. Wetting it with tepid water, she cleaned Lindsey’s face, noticing something foul crusted in her hair. “Warm baths always made my tummy feel better when I was a little girl. Would you like to take a bath?”
“Uh huh.”
Grateful Lindsey didn’t have a fever, Piper started the water, making sure the temperature wasn’t too hot before plugging the bathtub.
Once Lindsey was in the water, the child seemed to relax. Piper needed to check on Shane but didn’t want to leave until she could turn off the water. She opened the door and found the little boy lying on the carpet in the hallway.
“Hey, bud, how are you feeling?” She crouched down and brushed some of his hair away from his eyes. He felt a little warm, but nothing to be alarmed about.
“Sick,” he said. “I don’t want to throw up again.”
“I know, sweetie.” She stroked his hair again. “Do you feel like you need to right now?”
“No.” He looked up at Piper. “I already did a few minutes ago.”
Piper really hoped he’d made it to the toilet or she would have two messes to clean up. “Do I need to clean it up?” Piper asked softly.
“No, I used my dad’s toilet.”
“Good boy.”
“Miss Piper!” Lindsey hollered out.
Scrambling to her feet, Piper turned toward Lindsey. “What is it?” she asked, eyeing the proximity of the toilet to the tub.
“Can I have bubbles?”
Relief swept over Piper. “Sure.” She found the bubbles and poured a capful under the flow of water. The sweet scent of strawberries wafted on the air, chasing away the smell of sickness. She waited a minute longer and then turned off the water. When she turned back to Shane, he had gotten to his feet.
“Can I lay down in my dad’s bed?” Shane asked.
Wanting to keep the child in close proximity to a bathroom, she decided to say yes. Knowing the kind of dad Gabe was, she guessed he wouldn’t mind.
“Sure,” she said and then followed him down the hallway. She paused at the threshold to Gabe’s room, hesitant to enter his private quarters without him here. Not that she’d go into his bedroom if he were here. Her cheeks heated at the thought as her eyes took in the king-sized bed.
As Shane buried under the covers, Piper did a quick perusal of the room. Except for a few photographs of the kids on the dresser, the room was bare of any decorations. A blue dress shirt lay across the recliner with a tie draped across it, and a few pairs of socks littered the floor. Other than that, it was fairly tidy.
“I’m going to check on Lindsey,” she told Shane from the doorway. “Call me if you need me, okay?”
“Okay.”
Doreen appeared at the top of the stairs, looking haggard and defeated. “I’ve left a couple of messages for Mr. Wesson, but it keeps rolling over to voicemail. He hasn’t responded to any of my texts either.” Her eyes darted toward the bathroom. “I’m really sorry, Piper, but I don’t feel very good and need to go home.”
“No need to apologize. And I can stay.” Piper took a step forward. “What time does Mr. Wesson usually get home?”
“Tuesday’s are his late day, so it should be around six-thirty.” She gave Piper a watery smile. “I really appreciate you coming over to help. I… the throw up… it’s still on the floor.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. You just go home and feel better.”
“I will.” She pulled her keys from her pocket. “Thank you.”
Stepping back inside the bathroom, Piper noticed Lindsey had abandoned the Barbie and looked like she might fall asleep. “Hey, sweetie. How about we wash your hair and get you in a clean nightgown?”
“Can I get in my daddy’s bed too?”
“Does your daddy usually let you sleep in there?”
“Only when I’m sick or have a bad dream.”
Well, the child was definitely sick. “Sure, but first let me wash your hair.”
Selecting the strawberry-scented shampoo designated for kids, Piper washed Lindsey’s hair, careful not to get any of the soap in her eyes. The label claimed the product to be tear-free, but Piper didn’t want to chance it just in case it still stung. After following up with conditioner, Piper helped Lindsey out of the tub and wrapped her in a fluffy bath towel.
“I’m cold,” Lindsey said with a shiver.
“I’m sorry.” Piper used another towel to help dry the little girl’s long hair. Finding a wide-toothed comb in the drawer, Piper gently worked it through the wet hair. Although it had been years ago, she still remembered how tenderly her mother had combed her hair when she was a little girl. “Would you like me to braid your hair?” Piper asked a few minutes later.
“Okay.” Lindsey watched her in the mirror. “Daddy doesn’t know how to do braids.”
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“My daddy didn’t either,” Piper said with a smile.
As Piper plaited the thick, dark hair, Lindsey continued to watch her through the mirror. When she was almost done, the little girl said, “Mommy braided my hair before she moved away.”
Emotion clogged Piper’s throat at the sadness reflected in the child’s eyes. She wasn’t sure what to say. “I’ll bet you miss her,” she said softly.
The child considered this for a moment. “I love Daddy,” she said with a conviction beyond her six years. “He won’t ever leave me.”
“No he won’t.” Tears stung Piper’s eyes, but she refused to let any of them fall. Smiling, she gave the little girl a brief hug. “All done.”
They went into Lindsey’s room and found a clean nightgown and underwear. Before going into Gabe’s room, the little girl picked out a horse from among the plethora of stuffed animals scattered on the dresser and floor. Then Piper followed the child into Gabe’s room and helped her climb onto the bed. As Piper pulled the blanket over Lindsey, she noticed Shane was asleep. She hoped both of the children were done throwing up. Unlike the wood floor downstairs, this room was covered with light colored carpet.
“I’m going to go downstairs and clean up a little before your daddy gets home, okay?”
“Okay.”
Unable to resist, Piper leaned down and pressed a kiss to the little girl’s forehead. “If you need to throw up again, run to bathroom and call for me.”
Eyes already drooping with sleep, Lindsey nodded her head and turned to snuggle up to her stuffed horse.
Piper quietly descended the stairs and covered her nose with her shirt when she caught the foul scent of sickness. She could hear Rascal barking to come back inside, but wasn’t about to bring the unruly dog into the house until the mess was cleaned up.
Making her way into the kitchen, she looked inside the cabinet under the sink, locating paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaner. She grabbed the kitchen trashcan and took it with her into the living room. Most of the mess was on the wood floor, only a small amount hitting the edge of the plush area rug that covered most of the room. She made quick work of it, keeping her shirt over her nose so she didn’t gag. After depositing the soiled paper towels into the trashcan, she returned the cleaning products back under the sink, removed the trash bag and took it outside.
Rascal dashed into the house, barking wildly as if to scold her for leaving him outside for so long. “Quiet,” she commanded and wished she had a treat for the dog when he immediately obeyed. “Good boy,” she said, patting him atop his golden head before going back upstairs to check on the kids.
Shane was still sleeping, but Lindsey’s eyes popped open when Piper crept into the room. “Miss Piper, will you read me a story?”
“Of course. Do you have a favorite one?” she asked as she remembered seeing several books on Lindsey’s nightstand. Lindsey told her which book to get, and Piper returned a moment later with the book in hand.
She didn’t feel right about sitting on the bed to read the story. The recliner next to the bed would have to suffice. Scooting it a little closer to the bed, she picked up the blue dress shirt and tie and caught the spicy scent of Gabe’s cologne. She had the strongest urge to bring the fabric to her face so she could get a better whiff. She resisted the temptation and draped it on the end of the bed. Hanging it up in the man’s closet seemed far too intimate an act.
After settling into the chair, she started to read the story about a precocious kindergartner named Juni. As she turned the next page, Lindsey suddenly climbed off the bed and Piper was worried she needed to throw up again.
“Run for the bathroom,” Piper said, standing up.
Lindsey stood in front of her and tilted her head to the side. “I just want to sit on your lap.”
“Oh.” Piper took her seat again. “Okay.” Tentatively, she held out her arms. Sweet warmth filled her as Lindsey settled onto her lap and rested her head against Piper’s shoulder. The slight weight of the child stirred up motherly instincts. It also stirred new desires, like the possibility of holding this little girl on a permanent basis.
“Are you going to read?” Lindsey asked.
Piper cleared her throat and started reading. The storyline was engaging and made her chuckle a few times. When she finished the last line, she was just about to suggest getting the next book in the series when she glanced up and met the startling blue eyes of Gabe Wesson.
Chapter 8
Gabe stared at the sight before him, trying his best not to show any of the feelings rushing through his body. He’d known she was at the house— Doreen had texted him to let him know a few minutes earlier— he just hadn’t expected to find Piper in his bedroom tenderly holding his daughter.
“Hi.” She licked her lips. “I was just reading to Lindsey.”
“So I see.” He pushed off from the doorway and crossed the floor, eager to talk to his daughter. “Hey, baby girl, Daddy’s…” His words trailed off when he saw Lindsey was sleeping.
“Oh, she fell asleep,” Piper said. Her eyes darted down to the little girl and then back up to Gabe. “I wonder how long I’ve been reading to myself?”
A smile formed on Gabe’s mouth as he watched a blush color his pretty neighbor’s cheeks. “Don’t worry, I’ve done the same thing.”
“When did you get home?”
“About five minutes ago.”
Her eyes went wide. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, unwilling to admit he’d been too enthralled with the cozy scene before him and it had rendered him momentarily speechless.
“You looked like you were enjoying the story.” He smiled and lifted one shoulder up into a shrug. “Besides, last night I read that book to Linds so I knew you were almost to the end.”
Nodding, she glanced away, and he followed her gaze to his sleeping son. “I hope you don’t mind him sleeping in your bed.”
“I don’t mind.” He waited for her to look at him again. “Thank you for taking care of them. I’ve been in meetings all day and had left my phone in my briefcase or I would’ve come home sooner.”
Their eyes held, and Gabe wished he could express how grateful he was to her for volunteering to stay with the kids since his young nanny seemed to be a member of the sympathetic vomiter’s club. Gabe had once been a member of the same club, but single parenthood had forced him to develop a stronger constitution.
“You’re welcome.” Piper gave him a shy smile before she glanced down at Lindsey. “Where do you want her?”
She made a move to get out of the chair, but wasn’t very successful. “Let me get her.” Gabe slipped his hands under Lindsey’s body, feeling Piper stiffen as his fingers slid across the top of her thighs. Avoiding her gaze, he lifted his daughter and carried her to his bed.
“Hey, sweetie,” Gabe said when Lindsey’s eyes opened. “How are you feeling?”
“Good.” Her face lit up when she spied Piper. “I throwed up all over the floor and Miss Piper didn’t get mad. She let me have a bubble bath and washed my hair and it didn’t hurt when she combed it.”
Wow, he really owed Piper more than a thank you for all she had done. He should do something nice like send her flowers or maybe take her out to dinner.
Gabe smoothed a hand over Lindsey’s damp braid. “That’s good.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Go back to sleep, honey. Daddy’s home now.”
Glancing across the bed, he saw Shane was awake. “You feeling okay, bud?”
“No.” The little boy shot up off of the bed and bolted toward Gabe’s bathroom.
Gabe quickly followed his son and was grateful the kid made it to the toilet before he emptied his stomach. He felt so bad about not being here for his kids. His ex-wife may not have been the most sympathetic mother, but at least she’d been home for the kids if they got sick. Now he was the only parent his kids had. The weight of the responsibility pressed down on him. Turning, he c
aught sight of Piper hovering in the doorway. The concern expressed in her hazel eyes lifted his spirits. Thanks to her, he wasn’t alone right now.
The sound of the toilet flushing brought him back around to his son. “Feel better?” Gabe asked, handing him a washcloth.
“A little.” Shane wiped his mouth and dropped the cloth onto the floor. “But can I just lay down again?”
“Sure.” As soon as Shane was tucked back under the covers, Gabe sat on the edge of the bed. Worried the kid might have a fever, he touched the back of his hand against the child’s forehead and detected enough heat radiating there that he got up and found a thermometer. The digital numbers weren’t alarmingly high, which made Gabe feel a little better. “A little medicine will bring your temperature down. Think you can swallow a couple of tablets or should I give you the liquid kind?”
“I hate the pink stuff,” Shane said.
“I’ll see if we’ve got something else.” Gabe got up and came around the bed to check Lindsey’s temp. It was slightly above normal. “No fever,” he said, smoothing a hand over her hair. “I’ll go get both of you something to drink.”
“Do we have to go to school tomorrow?” Shane asked.
Gabe’s spirits sunk low again. Unless they made a remarkable recovery, both kids would be staying home tomorrow. Out of all the days for his kids to be sick, tomorrow was the worst day. He was scheduled to close a deal he’d been working on the past four months. One of the parties was flying in from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and the meeting couldn’t be rescheduled with such short notice.
“Probably not,” he finally answered.
Gabe expected his son to show a little enthusiasm about skipping school. Instead he watched as worry entered the intelligent blue eyes. “But who will stay home with us?”
The kids knew Doreen had morning classes at a nearby community college. But even if she didn’t, Gabe doubted she’d be any better equipped to care for sick children than she had been today. The Snow Valley daycare wasn’t an option with the kids being sick. Truthfully, he had no idea what he was going to do.
Destiny Came Knocking: A Snow Valley Romance Page 7
