"Annie said you had every right to marry her and that we should try to love her. She said hating a person wasn't good. She said we could become a family. So…I guess she was right. She's been right about everything else she's told us. But it's hard to like Janet, Daddy. She ignores us most of the time."
He pulled his daughter against him. "I'm not marrying Janet. I don't love her."
Again, relief was in her eyes and Tanka almost felt sorry for his daughter. Dear little Annie had taught them not to hate. It warmed his heart, it elated him, that she could be so understanding and teach his children the same.
"But I do love someone…someone besides you and your sisters," he began.
"You do? Who?"
"Annie…" He sighed aloud, just saying her name felt like a prayer on his lips. He loved her so much, and hadn't said one word to her about it. She must think he was some kind of ogre.
Katie's eyes widened with wonder. "Oh Daddy, do you mean it?"
"Yes, but first I want your approval. I want to know how you really feel about it."
"How we feel? Why Daddy, we've been hoping this would happen. Annie never believed it for a minute. She was so sure about Janet and you."
"All of you like the idea, then?" He looked surprised and puzzled at the same time.
"We love Annie, Daddy. We thought no one could take Mama's place. That no one could love us, like she did. But Annie…from the start she loved us. Even in her letters to us, that's why we had to pick her. We felt some kind of connection, all of us. We voted, and there was only one round of votes. Annie won."
"I know what you mean…that's part of the reason I fell in love with her. She made me see things clearly. She made me feel again. And I love her so much. I'm not sure how it happened, but aside from you girls, she's the most loving and sweet person I know. And I've neglected telling her until I could put all the other problems behind me too. But I did want to include you guys in on this. I didn't want to make you unhappy. Annie would be your mother, officially, if she agrees to marry me. Are you sure, the other two feel the same as you?"
"Very sure, Daddy. Can I wake them up and tell them?"
"No…not yet. I haven't even spoken to Annie about it. I have no idea how she'll take all of this. I'm sure she's confused about a lot of things. I don't blame her. But I’m about to find out. Now go on to bed. And Katie…." he called her back to him. "I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy."
She scampered away as though completely content.
Now all he had to do was convince Annie he was head over heels in love with her. He hoped she felt the same. Her kisses said one thing, but not once did she remark of them or act as though they shook her up.
He went downstairs. He wondered if he should wake her up or not.
He stared down into her face and realized that real beauty was in the eye of the beholder and to him she was the most beautiful woman he'd seen since Gina.
Deep down he felt Gina would understand all of this, somehow. That Gina approved of this woman, because she knew that Annie loved her children and maybe him too.
He bent to pick her up and carry her to bed, but she woke.
"Oh…you're home. I'm sorry. I have your bed…" She realized he had her in his arms and she tried to escape, but when his lips captured hers, she couldn't do anything but respond in kind.
"It's time we talked," he whispered in her ear as he kissed the lobe.
She struggled for composure and to get out of his arms, but he was having none of that.
"Yes, we do need to talk…" she insisted, trying to come alive and be more forceful.
"Okay…you go first…"
"Let me get up, please?" she insisted.
He let her loose.
Moving to the far side of the couch she tucked her feet under her and she stared at him for a long moment. "Where's Janet?"
"On her way home, I'd imagine." He grinned.
"Home? But why, she just got here?" Annie insisted.
"She wasn't invited, if you noticed." He smiled again.
"You didn't tell her that, I hope," Annie protested.
"I did."
"You brute," she threw the name at him. Then scrambled to her feet and paced about the room, then came to sit on the couch once more, curling her feet under her.
"You can't treat people the way you do," she began.
"No?" he asked, his smile still totally in place.
"No. You said you'd take Chantel to the airport, and you didn't. You took Janet on a date, and put her on a plane for home. And then…there's our problem."
"We have a problem?"
"Of course we do. You cannot kiss me all the time whenever you feel like it. It's not proper. I'm your nanny. I work for you. I'm not here for your pleasure, to be used like some common…anyway, you can't treat me this way."
"Why didn't you slap my face then?" He smiled.
"I was in shock…I never thought you'd do that." She came back at him.
"Why not? You're very appealing and I like kissing you."
"If you continue to do this, I'll have to leave. I can't have you acting this way in front of the children. I never thought waking up from your depression would do this to you. Turn you into some Romeo."
"Gina approves of my actions…" he murmured.
"Gina approves?" Annie's face went serious as she mulled this information. "What are you saying?" She leaned toward him looking him in the eyes.
"I'm saying I'm hopelessly in love with you." He leaned toward her now.
They were nose to nose.
"Are you drunk?" she asked, still not making sense of his words.
"Cold sober." He smiled.
She looked into his eyes and he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again.
This time he didn't let up, his kisses drove her crazy for more and she had to push him away, to get things straight between them.
"You love me?" She backed away to stare deep into his eyes. Her voice weakened now. "You really love me?" she whispered, as his lips came down on hers once more.
"Why do you think I sent all the others away?"
It was a long time before there was any noise in the house. He cradled her against him.
"Marry me, Annie; put me out of my misery," he whispered once more.
"Me?" she cried. "You love me?"
He pulled away, taking her hands in his, folding his over hers. "I fought it from the first. And I'm sorry for that. But you opened my eyes, and you loved my children without regard. I've loved every minute of watching you with them."
She reached up and kissed him, tenderly. "And how do they feel about it?"
"I just talked to Katie; she couldn't be happier."
"Neither could I…oh Tanka, I love you too…I tried my best not to, and just about the time I had resolved to set you straight, I realized I couldn't. I'm shameless, I love you with all my heart, and I love the girls too," she cried and this time she wouldn't let him go.
When they heard snickers they turned to see three sets of eyes staring and laughing at them.
"Come here, you three." Tanka laughed and gathered them all to him. "Now we're going to be a family."
The kids laughed and piled on top of them both, hugging and kissing them.
Later, as they went to bed, Tanka held Annie on the couch by the fire, kissing her between their conversations.
"When I saw that car over the ridge, I can't tell you the emotions running through me. It was the first inkling that I was falling in love with you, Annie. I hadn't felt that desperate since Gina died. Just the thought of you being in that car scared me witless. And when I found you in the snow, my God, I was so happy. It's like sunshine coming into the heart. I realized then, that I cared for you more than I'd ever imagined.
"You're exactly what I've always wanted, Annie. A woman that loves her home, her children, and can't wait for me to come home. We're going to be so happy. And Chayton and Kasie will be happy too. I feel so whole again, so alive, and
it's all because of you, my sweet little Annie."
He kissed her endlessly and she enjoyed every moment of it.
"But…Tanka, you have to quit kissing me…" she insisted.
"Why, I’m going to marry you, silly," he protested, his hand going under her t-shirt to find her nipples.
She squirmed, looked into his eyes and began to melt once more. "Because I've waited this long, I would like to be a virgin bride. Does that sound old-fashioned? I promised my mother, I would be."
He stared into her eyes. "You ask a lot of a man, but for you I'd do anything. I'll stop this, he said moving her shirt back to normal, but don't ask me to stop kissing you."
"Just don't be so passionate. I can only stand so much," she protested with a smile.
"I never thought I could love again like this. I never thought I'd be this happy again. Do you realize I had to run off two women just so I could be alone with you?" He chuckled.
"You owe them an apology," she cried.
"Later, after the honeymoon. I want you all to myself for those few days we'll have. I'll be gentle with you, my sweet."
"You're a gentle man, considering how rugged your job is."
"And you have to realize that you are never going to be just a nanny again."
"I never really thought this would happen to me. To think this home will be mine, your children will be mine. It's almost like a fairy tale."
"Janet called you a Cinderella."
"I guess that makes you my prince."
"As long as I don't have to wear tights, I’m alright. Now, I want to kiss you silly, then take you to your bed and unfortunately leave you alone. But I want it understood, we will have a wedding as soon as possible; is that alright with you?"
"More than alright…" she said and he touched his lips to hers. She melted into him again and he groaned.
"Oh God, I hope I can wait that long. Chayton already promised they'd keep the girls. Hope you don't mind, you were the last to know how I really felt, but things kept getting in my way."
"I want more children, do you mind that?"
"Not in the least. We can fill this house up with them and if it's not big enough, we'll build on. That is if you want to live here."
"Want to? I've dreamed of it, Tanka. Being right here, in this valley, in this beautiful house, with kids I adore, and you coming home to me and the girls every night."
"You didn't even get upset when I asked you to babysit. I couldn't believe it."
"How could I? I love spending time with the girls. And we had a fantastic night, believe it or not. Tara won, and you should have seen her face. Even she couldn't believe it."
He kissed her on the nose. "You're priceless, Annie. I love how you love my girls. How you teach them the good things. You are so right for us all."
"From the first day I set foot in your home I tried to imagine what it might be like to live here, as my home too. I couldn't help it. And the first night I saw you, I fell a little in love with that scowling man that stood there in the doorway, determined to run me off."
"I had to be crazy!"
"Oh Tanka…I'm so happy."
"Good, we'll honeymoon wherever you want, and then in six months we'll take a family vacation and all go together. How does that sound?"
"It sounds like a little bit of heaven. I hope Gina is looking down on us and approving."
"I know she is, and I love you that much more for caring what she would want. There's no way anyone could live with you and not love you, Annie."
"Even when I wrecked your car?"
"Especially then. I'm just so glad you weren't in it. You are the most caring woman I know. You've got a heart bigger than Texas."
He kissed her again, and she moaned. "We better stop this…I’m always so weak when you kiss me."
"I know why I fell in love with you, but why did you fall for me?" he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
"You were a grouchy old bear when I met you, but I'd been there myself, I knew what it was like. I felt your pain. We've had a lot in common all this time. And then the first time you kissed me…I knew my life was changing. I was so afraid Chantel would spellbind you or Janet would try to control you into marrying her. I cried myself to sleep many a night. But you just kept kissing me, and I began to dream of us…"
"Sounds nice. Sorry I gave you such a rough time in the beginning."
"I was still depressed myself. You helped me recognize that. You made me feel again. Come alive.
***
Two weeks later, they walked into the restaurant where he had taken Chantel and Janet, and the old gentleman winked at them when they were leaving.
"The third one is always a charm." The old man grinned.
Tanka glanced at the old man with a smile. "You know, I think you are right!"
The End
About the Author:
Rita writes contemporary and historical romances. She also writes children's books and poetry. She's got a collection of short stories for your reading pleasure.
Find her on Amazon.com, Smashwords.com, B&N.com
Some of Rita's works are:
Nick's Baby
Pretend Mom
Runaway Bride
Strictly Business
Suspicions of the Heart
Meet the Travers Brothers series
Or the Amory's
And now the McKay's
Thanks for allowing me to entertain you for a while. Come back soon.
Rita Hestand
Mail Order Nanny (Book 3 of the Amory's) Page 16
