WHOSE CHILD?

by Susan Gable

  "Cute, very cute," he mumbled.

  "Welcome to the Pizza PlayPlace." The young hostess greeted them. "I just have to stamp your hands."

  "Why?" David asked, though he held out the back of his left hand for her.

  "Because we check the numbers when you leave to make sure you all match."

  "Oh. Good idea. Nobody takes out a kid that doesn't belong to them. I like that."

  Lexie cringed inwardly as the teenager pressed the stamp to her.

  "I don't want my hand marked," Sarah whispered.

  "It's okay, Sarah." Connor got his stamp. "Look how cool this is. You can't see it unless you put it under the special light."

  Lexie blessed the good-natured little boy when Sarah hesitantly held out her hand. The hostess smiled at Sarah, earning her a silent thanks, too.

  After ordering pepperoni pizza at the counter, they filled their cups with pop from the fountain. David carried the tray as they searched for an empty booth. "This place is really hopping for a Friday night."

  As they made their way through the place, he couldn't help but notice how people's gazes lingered over Sarah's face. Or how most people quickly looked away when he caught them. Sarah seemed oblivious to most of the stares, though she clung to Lexie, acting far more quiet and cautious than she did at home. He could sense Lexie bristle at some of the looks the little girl received.

  Throughout the course of the next hour, he watched Lexie and Sarah carefully, learning his daughter liked her pizza cut into small pieces, wouldn't eat the crust and preferred orange soda. He envied Lexie's easy way of dealing with his daughter. Would he ever be able to relate to her like that? How long would it take before she trusted him enough to let him take care of her?

  After the meal, David doled out game tokens to the children. Connor smiled. "Will you play a game with me?"

  "Sure. What do you want to play?"

  "That one." The boy pointed to a game that resembled a Jeep. A gruesome-looking T. Rex was painted on it.

  "All right. Let's go shoot some dinosaurs."

  Lexie shook her head. "Men. I think Sarah and I will find something a little more sedate to play."

  "We'll catch up to you as soon as we put Rex in his place," David said, climbing onto the bench seat.

  The girls wandered off. Connor slipped two tokens into the machine and laughed delightedly as it lurched to life beneath them. David smiled at the little boy and grabbed his mock gun from the holster.

  After getting sidetracked into a round of air hockey, pod-racing and shooting hoops, David gently redirected Connor toward Lexie and Sarah. After all, he'd come here intending to make some progress with his daughter. Sarah was playing alone in a big container filled with multicolored balls as Lexie looked on from a nearby table.

  "Cool, I love the ball pit!" Connor jumped into the play area and "swam" toward Sarah. "Watch this, Sarah!"

  David perched on the edge.

  Sarah hesitantly emulated Connor's submerging-beneath-the-balls trick, popping back up with a huge grin. "Momma, look at me!" She vanished again beneath the sea of purple, blue and red spheres.

  "That's awesome, baby."

  A pair of towheaded boys wearing SpongeBob SquarePants T-shirts leaped into the far end of the box, shouting to one another and laughing. Sarah scooted closer to Connor. The smaller of the two boys watched her, eyes wide. After a minute, he waded to her side. He pointed at her cheek. "Did somebody hurt you?" he asked.

  "It's just a birthmark. Leave her alone." Connor climbed to his feet and stood chest to chest with the curious little boy.

  "Easy there, buddy," David called to his daughter's protector. "He's not being mean. I think he just wants to know what happened to Sarah's cheek. Right?"

  The little boy nodded.

  "Well, if you come over here—" he let his voice drop to barely audible above the clanging and music of the place "—I'll tell you a secret."

  Balls churned in all directions as they came closer to him. Sarah hung back, letting the boys, Connor included, gather practically on his knees. "Well?" demanded the taller of the brothers, "What happened? What's the secret?"

  "Okay, just before Sarah was born, when she was up in heaven—"

  "Babies are in their moms' stomachs before they're born," scoffed the boy.

  "Before they get in their moms' stomachs they're in heaven, dummy," Connor said, folding his arms.

  "No name-calling," David said. "It's not nice." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, like I said, Sarah was still in heaven and about to come down here. The angels were sad that she was leaving because they all loved her so much."

  Sarah's eyes widened and she inched closer. David resisted the temptation to hold his breath, afraid to spook her with any type of a reaction at all. Instead, he looked at the smaller of the two boys. "They all kissed her goodbye on her cheek. So, now you know what that color is on her face."

  "What?" the older boy asked.

  "Angel lipstick." David nodded solemnly, thinking of the sticky lip-prints his aunt Sophie had bestowed on him as a child. "It's darn near impossible to get off."

  Sarah's eyes grew even bigger and she reverently brushed her fingertips over the birthmark. A slow smile tugged the corners of her mouth upward and dimples appeared in her cheeks.

  Dimples just like mine. The thought thrilled him beyond anything he could have ever imagined possible.

  His daughter was smiling at him. "Angels," she whispered.

  "Yeah, right," said the older boy, bounding away. "That's no secret. I knew it all along."

  "Cool." The younger one grinned at Sarah before rushing to follow his brother, scrambling over the side of the ball pit and disappearing into the maze of games and rides.

  "Angels kissed me?" Sarah asked. "Really?"

  "Absolutely." David X-ed his fingers across his chest. "Cross my heart." He leaned forward and reached for her, pulse hammering madly as he lightly caressed her cheek. "Angel lipstick."

  She turned her head toward his hand, and he fought the impulse to snatch it back. "Once bitten twice shy" definitely applied here. But the trust between them had to start somewhere—and since he was the grown-up…

  She pursed her lips and feathered a kiss so light across his fingertips he thought he'd imagined it. Then she giggled and threw herself down into the balls, leaving him staring at his hand.

  A warm tingling traveled up his arm and shot straight to the center of the X he'd drawn only seconds before.

  Who knew a nearly nonexistent kiss from a little girl could melt a grown man? He was on top of the world.

  Until he looked for Lexie to share the magical moment, and found her standing right behind him, mouth pressed together in a way that meant she was seriously ticked off.

  Not the reaction he'd expected.

  * * *

  Chapter 7

  « ^ »

  Kiss him.

  Or kick him. From one side of Montana to the other. Then back again.

  Lexie'd waffled between both impulses since David had come up with the angel-lipstick story back in the restaurant. First, she'd wanted to thank him for the incredibly sweet tale. Then she'd realized exactly what kind of impact it could have on Sarah. And ever since, the kick-him impulse had been winning.

  David peered in the rearview mirror. "Looks like they both finally gave out."

  "Mm-hmm."

  "That boy sure can talk."

  "Mm-hmm."

  "Unlike you, who hasn't said much of anything lately. What's the problem?"

  "No problem." She turned and glanced into the back. Sarah slumped against the edge of her car seat. Connor leaned against the same side. Both kids were sound asleep, which figured, given the fact that they were almost home.

  "Bull. You've been acting weird ever since Sarah kissed my hand. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous."

  "Jealous? Of what? Sarah kisses me all the time."

  He exhaled slowly. "Okay, so if it's not that, it must have been the
story. Did you think you're the only person with an imagination? Personally, I thought the story was inspired. A stroke of pure genius."

  "Yeah, great going, genius. Now how are you going to explain to her why she needs to go to the plastic surgeon and get the 'angel lipstick' removed from her face?"

  A long silence filled the Blazer before he cleared his throat. "Damn it. I hadn't thought of that."

  Lexie folded her arms. "Exactly. It was a pretty story, David. It made her happy, made her feel special, which is wonderful. But how do you reconcile the reality of the birthmark, needing to lighten it to make it easier on her in this world, and the dream of angel kisses?"

  "I don't know. Maybe I'll have you plant a lipstick kiss on my cheek and show her that I can't walk around like that no matter how special it makes me feel."

  A kiss from her made him feel special? A tingly sensation grew deep in her belly, and she fought to ignore it. David was a dream as well, a fairy-tale hero she'd longed for as a young woman. She needed to stay grounded in reality, just like she'd tried to be realistic and matter-of-fact with Sarah. She'd always told Sarah exactly what Kegan had said at her birth. The mark was just something that happened, and they dealt with it. "Well, you'd better figure it out, because she's going to ask, I can promise you that. A pretty fantasy isn't going to help her."

  The lights along Main Street

  illuminated him as he shook his head. "What happened to you, Lex? You were the biggest dreamer I ever knew."

  "Reality happened to me. Trying to take care of Sarah by myself, without benefit of my education or my identity. Hiding from you—from Angela. Realizing that life doesn't have the rosy ending I'd always imagined."

  He made a low, gurgling sort of sound deep in his throat, then said nothing more as they pulled in to the driveway of the bed-and-breakfast. When he shut off the engine, she reached for the door handle, but he stopped her by grasping her elbow. She turned back to him. "What?"

  For a moment, he just looked at her, then, puffing out his lips, he exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry, Lexie. This isn't how I imagined life would turn out, either."

  "No kidding."

  "No. No kidding." His lifted his hand, cupped her cheek. "I wouldn't have hurt you for anything, Lex. But I have to say, this has changed you. This new you seems so much stronger, so much more in control."

  She snorted. "I didn't have much choice. There wasn't anybody to help me like at home. Besides, Sarah needed me."

  His fingers slipped away. "Yeah. She did." He glanced into the back seat. "She still needs you."

  "And that bothers you?"

  "Yeah, it bothers me. I want her to need me. She does—she just doesn't know it. Or act it. Yet."

  Yet. That tiny word tore at Lexie. It made her feel as if she'd soon be discarded, like a book taken out of circulation. No longer necessary. Out of date.

  She moved again for the door, sliding from the vehicle. Climbing into the back seat, she unfastened Sarah's restraints. "Come on, baby." She nudged Connor. "Wake up, big guy. We're home."

  Sarah murmured sleepily, then latched her arms around Lexie's neck, her legs around her waist, clinging like a little monkey. Slamming the door, Lexie rounded the vehicle to find David assisting Connor out. "Sarah and I will just walk Connor home, then we'll be upstairs."

  David held out his arms. "I'll take Sarah and get her into bed."

  "But I wanted to show you my computer games," Connor said.

  "Not tonight, buddy. Maybe one day soon, okay?" David gripped Sarah's torso, just below the armpits, and pulled.

  "Want Momma." Sarah's tired muscles didn't have the strength to resist, and her arms slipped from Lexie's neck.

  David turned her around and hefted her against his shoulder.

  "Momma," she protested again.

  "It's okay, sport, Dad's got you." David nodded in Lexie's direction. "You go ahead and get Connor home. I can handle this."

  "Whatever you say, Dad." Lexie hoped he caught the sarcasm in her voice. How dare he?

  He dares because he is Sarah's father, nagged a voice in the back of Lexie's mind. That's what the DNA results will prove, and you already know it. You'll be left alone.

  Shut up. Lexie reached for Connor's hand as David headed for the porch. "You want to take the sidewalk, or should we cut through the backyard fence?"

  Connor grasped her fingers. "Sidewalk. It's too dark for the shortcut."

  They set off down the driveway. Once next door, Lexie had to confirm the little boy's recounting of the evening to Nola, including the story of the angel lipstick, which made both women roll their eyes. By the time she headed back home, a good half hour had passed.

  Opening the front door, expecting the quiet evening routine of the B&B, Lexie wasn't prepared for all the noise coming from upstairs. Pounding, raised voices—Pappy? What was he doing on the second floor? Lexie rushed up the staircase.

  Pappy, clad in his plaid bathrobe and slippers, banged on the door to Sarah's room. "Open this door now!"

  "What's going on?"

  "Ask him." The white head inclined toward the room.

  "David?" Lexie slapped her palm flat against the door. "Let me in."

  His muffled voice slipped through the cracks near the hinges. "I can handle this."

  Sarah's crying said otherwise.

  The young groom, red hair tousled, face flushed, stuck his head out the door at the far end of the corridor. "Is everything all right?"

  "Fine. Just a little family thing." Lexie offered what she hoped would pass as a reassuring smile, and waved him off. The young couple certainly had better things to do on their last night at the B&B than worry about her problems. "Sorry to disturb you."

  "Okay, ma'am." The honeymoon-suite door swung closed.

  Lexie grabbed the glass knob in front of her and rattled it. "David…"

  "Lex, I need to do this. Don't interfere." Footsteps moved away from the door.

  "Momma!"

  Lexie dashed into her own bedroom, Pappy one step behind her. "Tried that already. That one's locked, too."

  "Not a problem." She yanked open the top drawer on the tall chest of drawers, pushed aside some socks, grabbed the key. She brandished it like a weapon. "If he thinks he can keep me out, I've got news for him."

  "No! I don't want you! I want Momma!"

  Lexie's pulse kicked into high gear. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled with the key in the lock. She knew David would never hurt Sarah, not physically, but the man obviously didn't have a clue.

  Barging into the room, she found David perched on the edge of Sarah's bed, practically wrestling with the little girl, whose arms and legs flailed. "Just what are you trying to do?"

  "Momma!"

  David turned to look at her, his hands trying to contain the thrashing child on the bed. Sarah's sneaker-enclosed foot sliced through the air and connected with David's cheek.

  "Ow! Damn it!" He released Sarah, rubbing at his face.

  "Momma says don't swear!"

  He mumbled a few more things under his breath, fortunately below Sarah's ability to decipher them. But Lexie knew they were additional words on her "do not say" list. Arching an eyebrow and shooting her Montana winter glare—the below-zero-windchill one, the one designed to cause frostbite—at him, she moved to the bed.

  One sleeve of her shirt dangling empty at her side, Sarah clambered to her feet, the mattress rocking beneath her. Then she jumped into Lexie's arms. "Momma!" The little girl pressed her face into the crook of Lexie's neck.

  "Shh, it's okay." Lexie swayed back and forth, a motion she'd used to soothe her daughter since the day she'd brought her into the world.

  David stood and stared at her, challenge clear in his eyes. The boards beneath Lexie's feet squeaked as she shuffled in place, gently shaking Sarah in her arms.

  Slowly, the spark faded. He lifted his hands toward the ceiling, then let them drop. "Fine. I give up. You deal with it."

  David spun on his heel. He unlocked the doo
r and stormed across the hall to his own room. Not bothering with a light—plenty came in from the hallway and from Sarah's room—he flung himself down on the bed, making the springs protest. He draped his arm over his eyes and bit back a yelp as he pulled it off. Gingerly, he explored his cheek with his fingers.

  Of course, it figured Sarah had kicked him with the one shoe he hadn't managed to get off.

  All he'd wanted to do was get his daughter settled in bed. She'd been almost asleep, for God's sake. Until he'd started to undress her. Then the kid had come wide awake and protested with a vengeance.

  Okay, so maybe he hadn't been all that skillful about it. He sighed. He'd wager his entire company Lexie could undress the child and get her into pajamas without ever causing her to stir.

  He'd never master this daddy stuff.

  Maybe being an inept father was genetic. Something else to thank his old man for.

  Note to self: Daddy Lesson #1: Let sleeping children, like dogs, lie.

  #1B: And let them sleep in their clothes.

  The lyrical rise and fall of Lexie's voice filled his room. After a moment's pause, he realized the sound came from the baby monitor she'd given him. He'd left it on, plugged in and sitting on the night table.

  "Everything's all right, Pappy. I'll just get this munchkin into her pj's and bed. Do you need help getting back downstairs?"

  "No. Land's sakes, girl, what do you take me for, a feeble old woman?"

  Lexie chuckled. "Of course not. 'Night, Pappy."

  "'Night, Missy. Give me a kiss, squirt."

  David ignored the pain that shot across his chest as he listened to his daughter give another man a goodnight kiss.

  A kiss that should have been his.

  The streetlight cast a four-paned outline through the window onto the bed. He wiggled his fingers in the glow, glanced down at the hand where Sarah had brushed her lips earlier.

  He'd been that close … and had scared her off again.

  Damn.

  He lay there listening to Lexie speak calm, soothing words as she changed his little girl for bed and tucked her in. Despite the knot in his stomach and pain still lodged in the center of his chest, her soft, melodic singing lulled him into a peaceful state as well.