Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set

by Claire McEwen

  His hand was warm as she pressed the key in his hand.

  Whatever else she might have said in that moment evaporated as Thea jumped into the kitchen. One minute they were alone; the next, Thea had landed in a crouch with a proud grin.

  Kids were all over the place, weren’t they?

  “I’m ready to shop!” Thea said loudly, some of the maturity rolling away in sparkling eyes and wild bounce, as if the excitement was too much for her body to contain.

  Wade raised an eyebrow at Brisa.

  “Thea, you don’t have a budget. Before we go anywhere, we’re going to review your list of necessary items against how much we can spend,” Wade said as he held out his hand for his phone. “Let me review your list.”

  “Five thousand should cover it, no problem,” Thea said.

  Brisa all but choked on the laugh she sputtered at his double take. “Five thousand dollars?” Wade exclaimed.

  Thea pointed. “The place is empty right now, Wade. We need furniture.”

  His befuddled expression as he ran a hand through his hair was honestly adorable.

  “Two hundred, not including furniture,” Wade said. “Take three things off this list now. A fish tank is a want, not a need, Thea. I’m walking Brisa out.”

  His daughter’s groan was loud, but she didn’t argue.

  Brisa walked ahead of him to the door. “Does every shopping trip always require a preset budget? This might be something I need to take into consideration when I’m setting you up.” It was cute, but dating anyone who required that much organizing before doing the simplest things could be…a lot.

  “I’ve missed out on so much time. I need to teach her about money,” Wade said as he checked on Thea from over his shoulder. “No one ever taught me how to plan for expenses when I was a kid, so I made every mistake a person can make.” She could tell that he’d worried about this and so many other things. “I want her to be smarter than I was. I want my daughter to have better choices.”

  His worry was sweet, but he was going to wear himself out. Parenting had to be a marathon, not a sprint. Wow. When she slipped and fell into sports analogies regarding a subject that she knew nothing about, it was time to go.

  Brisa ran a hand down his arm. “For this week where you’re moving in, you might throw caution to the wind. Have fun. Save teaching for another day.” That would have thrilled her when she was a little girl.

  Wade didn’t answer.

  “I’ll leave you to it, then. Welcome to Concord Court, Thea,” Brisa called out. “Wade.” Shaking his hand seemed different somehow. They’d become more than business acquaintances, and his skin against hers was another connection.

  It was definitely time to go. Wade McNally was handsome, smart and cared about his daughter.

  Any intelligent woman would be interested in the former Navy man. Brisa would find him a great match in no time because the last thing she needed while her father was watching was a failed romance with one of the veterans she was supposed to be helping.

  “I’ll check on you both in a couple of days to see if there’s anything you guys need.” As Brisa left, she put on her brightest smile, ignored the urge to stay and closed the door behind her.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ON THURSDAY EVENING, Wade answered the knock on his door with relief. He slumped dramatically against the door frame. “You’re finally here.” He waved a hand to invite his ex-wife and her husband in. “I was afraid she might do me in. We have argued over every single thing in the world that there is to argue about, and I keep losing.”

  Vanessa patted his shoulder while Steve offered his hand for a hearty shake. The chiropractor had the strongest grip Wade had ever encountered. Mustering enough strength to meet it took some effort. “We brought food.” Steve twirled the pizza box.

  “And a housewarming gift.” Vanessa held out the plant she was carrying. “We already said our goodbyes to this pothos, so if you kill it before we meet again, it will know it was loved.”

  Wade accepted the plant. “Ha ha.” He moved to set it in a place of honor on the island. “Kill one beloved African violet with too much water, never hear the end of it.” He opened the only cabinet that held anything and got his four plates, purchased on one of the countless shopping missions Thea had plotted. His budget idea? Smart but doomed.

  “Mom, Steve, you made it!” Thea said as she bounced up and down. Her energy? Endless.

  “Did you think we wouldn’t?” Steve asked as he joined her in jumping up and down. They might as well have both been kids. Wade wondered if he should have some kind of routine with his daughter by now, one that expressed how happy they were to be together again. Steve and Vanessa had dated for almost a year before they’d gotten married, so it made sense he and Thea had worked out their relationship.

  How long would it take before Wade and his daughter were as easy together?

  Vanessa swooped in to save the pizza. “If you drop this…” The threat dangled in the air as she handed the box over to Wade. “Give us the tour, Thea.”

  After Wade set the pizza next to the plates, he followed them and managed to pick up the tail end of Thea’s recitation. “…and the furniture will be delivered tomorrow, so by the time I come back, my room will be done.” He watched her spin in a circle in the dark room while Vanessa stared around with less enthusiasm. The afternoon sunlight was waning, so Thea’s room was shadowy.

  “Isn’t this kind of…depressing?” Vanessa asked. Wade was sure the question was aimed at him, but Thea answered. “No. Way! The stars are going to pop!”

  Since he’d asked the same in a variety of ways and she’d said the same thing at regular intervals over the three days they’d been together, Wade added, “If Thea wants to make changes later, it’s a coat of paint.” That’s what he’d been telling himself as he’d painted three coats to get the dark blue dark. Saying no would have been easier but watching his daughter light up with the new addition to her room was worth extra coats of paint in the long run. Their budgeting discussion hadn’t made it far, but Thea had been his assistant for every project. Hands-on DIY had to count somewhere for an important life skill.

  “Let’s get out of your dad’s hair. He’s exhausted.” Vanessa ran her hand through Thea’s messy hair. Wade had never passed his classes in braiding hair and Thea hadn’t quite mastered the trick of getting a ponytail to stay up. “He hasn’t been in the Thea McNally training program for as long as I have. He needs to build up his strength.”

  Wade wanted to argue but she was right.

  “Have some pizza before you go.” Wade pointed over his shoulder. “We can sit in a circle on the living room floor and pretend we’re camping.” The suggestion had worked like a charm with Thea, but he’d been concentrating on the blessed day when his furniture would be delivered every time he’d had to climb back up off the floor.

  “We’ve got another pizza in the car.” Steve bent down to roll up the glittery sleeping bag shaped like a mermaid tail that had taken up the center of the bedroom along with a stack of plush cushions in the loudest colors the store had. Wade had planned to take his daughter home each night, so she’d have a bed to sleep in, while he’d crash on the couch. On their first night together, Thea had gone along with that until it was time to say good-night. Then, Thea had insisted on staying here. With him.

  Finally, together, his daughter in his new home.

  His home. Thea had two homes now.

  Since that had made him feel at least ten feet tall and a puddle of goo at the same time, Wade had given in, and they’d made one more quick trip out and purchased temporary bedding. After that, his budget was officially history, not even a memory. His ability to say no had been vaporized, and Wade would remember the minute Thea had discovered the mermaid sleeping bag forever. There in the grim fluorescent light of the big-box store, her face had lit up with joy. Pink and purple an
d sequins had been more than she could have dreamed a sleeping bag would be. Making Thea happy was a high he’d be chasing for the rest of his life.

  The moment had also been bittersweet because while he’d loved it so much, he hated the reminder that he’d missed so many others.

  “Dad, don’t forget. The bed goes over there by the window. I want to be able to stare out at night. You won’t forget, will you?” Thea demanded. She bumped his side with her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist.

  Caught off guard by how easily Thea hugged him, Wade hesitated but knelt and ignored the creak in his knee. He wanted to see his daughter’s face. “I won’t forget, but if I do, there’s a drawing stuck to the refrigerator to remind me.” Thea had taken planning seriously. Everything had been drawn to scale: the bed this many paces in a room this many paces wide. Her brain amazed him.

  “Okay, the first thing we do when I get back is look at all my pictures of my vacation to Kennedy Space Center. Then we go swimming.” Thea put her hand on his shoulder. “You should get some rest this weekend.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Wade nodded seriously before his smile bled through. Her tone had changed. In the beginning, she’d been unimpressed, remote, ready to go home home. It was sweet to know she was already making plans for coming back to this home.

  It was easy to make his promise. Getting some rest was at the top of his list, as soon as his bed was delivered. Air mattresses might be better than hard floor but barely.

  Thea squeezed him hard and then ran to jump on Steve’s back, a move they’d perfected. Steve yelled, “Lift off!” before opening the door and running outside.

  “Steve has missed his best friend this week,” Vanessa said. “I’ve been forced to play horse every night Thea’s been gone so he didn’t wither away.”

  “I didn’t know Thea liked basketball,” Wade said and wondered how he’d ever learn all the bits and pieces of his daughter.

  “I’m not sure she does, but Steve hopes to change her mind. Thea enjoys laughing at Steve, so he does whatever he can to entertain her.” Her small smile was sweet, as if she found the duo exasperating but she loved them for it. “I hope she wasn’t too…” His ex-wife shrugged.

  It was nearly impossible to fill in the blank.

  He’d been lucky enough to spend long weekends here and there and at least one full week with Thea in the summers, but those days had been vacations, not everyday life. This week had felt similar but was so much more important. He wanted to make up for lost time, and so he and Thea had been running nonstop.

  “I loved every minute of it. I’ve missed so much,” Wade said as he rubbed the sore muscle in his arm. “But I am going to start taking vitamins. I should get the name of Steve’s brand.” Between the handshakes and the high energy, the guy was good for Thea and Vanessa, so Wade was going to do his best to appreciate that they all got along together.

  “Can you handle two full weeks of dad duty? This honeymoon, the one we’ve delayed until now, is too important for you to fall apart on us. Toughen up.” Vanessa bent down to stare up into his eyes. “Feeding the kid is the biggest hurdle right now. When school starts, things get interesting.”

  Wade saluted and watched her lips firm. She’d always hated when he treated her like a loudmouthed drill sergeant. “You’ll be back in time. I’ll pitch in any way I can. It was hard to do over the phone and with the time differences, but surely I can handle fifth grade reading and some math.” Wade had no idea what their school routine was like, so all he could do was volunteer. He’d do anything to have more time with Thea.

  “She’s so smart, Wade,” Vanessa said, beaming. “She doesn’t need much help with things like that. Where I have to push is the social side, going outside the house, away from the computer, to meet kids. She’s prematurely old for her age. If you have any ideas to help her make friends her own age as easily as she did the mailman, who has to be at least sixty and only happened to mention how much he enjoys hunting for shooting stars one time in passing and now hurries past our house in case Thea is waiting for him…” Vanessa sighed “…let me know.”

  “Of the two of us, I won’t be the one to unlock that, V.” Wade crossed his arms over his chest. This was another one of those arguments they’d had. She wanted a social life; he needed quiet. “I could check the library for a parenting book?” That was the best he had.

  “There’s a sleepover for the girls at my neighbor Kathy’s next week. She has a daughter going into the same grade as Thea.” Vanessa shook her finger at Wade. “I convinced Thea to accept the invitation. I expect you to keep her from wiggling out of it. Can you do that, McNally?”

  Wade saluted. “Sir, yes, sir. I will carry out your orders without fail. I will do my absolute best.”

  He hoped they were both clear that if Thea even hinted that she didn’t want to go to this sleepover that Wade would buckle like bad roads in the heat.

  Vanessa rolled her eyes. His best wasn’t very good. “I liked the hug. I expected her to be calling me to come get her this week, but you ironed that out.” She wrinkled her nose. “How bad are the fights?”

  “Discussions, not fights. She does not like being told no,” Wade explained.

  His ex raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything. He could read between the lines. Vanessa knew exactly where Thea had gotten that from. He made plans. Those plans made sense. Arguing was a waste of time. He could definitely see the resemblance between himself and his daughter.

  “As long as I agree to her ideas, no one shouts. I never imagined how much energy that takes, Vanessa. You’ve done a great job of raising our daughter without enough direct help from me.” Wade wanted to say more, but as she had other times, his ex-wife waved off his thanks.

  “You’ll come with me to meet her teacher and her next visit to the pediatrician,” Vanessa said. “She’s going to be so much better off, now that we’re all in the same city and we’ll be staying in the same city. After the divorce, moving both of us home to Gainesville made perfect sense. My parents could help with Thea. Then I fell in love with another man determined to move me away from home. Steve promised no more moves. Miami is it. We’re all putting down roots.” She didn’t demand any promises, just let him know what she expected.

  “Definitely. I’ll be here for whatever comes next.” They both wanted what was best for Thea. Wade shrugged. “I mean, I’ll be there unless the vitamins don’t work. My stamina is not up to the demands yet of a nine-year-old.”

  They laughed and some of the worry lightened. Vanessa stopped with her hand on the doorknob. “Have you met your new neighbor who’s moving in?” She waggled her eyebrows. “She’s pretty.” She drew the word out to emphasize how pretty.

  “I have not. I saw the truck when we came in from the hardware store, but no one was outside.” And it had been his third trip in three days. His daughter could take one thing and build like only one other person he’d ever known: his ex-wife. One idea led to another and all of them led to many home improvements. He now had a bathroom with a Milky Way shower curtain, although that had been a relatively easy battle to lose.

  “Go introduce yourself. You can’t expect every woman to chase you like I did,” Vanessa joked. They’d met at a conference. Wade had been presenting; Vanessa was a surgical nurse and had been there for training. She’d approached him in the hotel bar with a terrible chemistry joke, demanded his number, and he’d made sure she had no trouble catching him.

  Having that wife and the promise of kids had been the next steps for him and her timing had been perfect.

  Until he and Vanessa both learned that military life didn’t work for her. Leaving her and his daughter behind while he was stationed elsewhere had nearly destroyed him, and divorce had given them new life as friends and family.

  His next marriage would be completely different. It would be successful, for one thing. And for that to happen he wa
s sure he needed someone who was or had been in the military, so they knew what he knew, firsthand. “I’ve never been good at meeting women.” Wade gestured for her to step out on the small landing that led down to the sidewalk and the parking lot. “But advice to ‘get out and try’ from the woman who knows best what a bad bargain I am… Don’t know what to think about that.”

  Vanessa slammed to a stop and turned to him with her eyebrows raised. “You? A bad bargain? No way. Life as a Navy wife? Dealing with your job and the hours and the calls? The loneliness and fear of you being taken from us? All the time away from your home? Watching alcohol take over… Okay, that was no walk in the park. But the things you faced, still face, and how you used to handle that…” She held up a hand. “All bad, but you deserve to find someone good. Someone who suits you more than me. We tried as hard as we could and didn’t make it. I’ve seen how you’re trying new choices. She’s out there, Wade, and if she’s as beautiful as the woman carrying boxes outside, you’d be twice a fool to miss out.” Vanessa trotted back up the steps to hug him. “Don’t be a fool, ’mkay?”

  Before Wade could figure out how to answer any of the unexpected pep talk from his ex-wife, she’d made it to the car and slid in the passenger seat. All three of them waved as they backed out of the parking spot, and Thea turned around in the back seat to watch him until they left the complex.

  Inhale slowly. Hold it. Exhale.

  Wade closed his eyes and tried to regroup. Thea had taken over every minute, left him no time to worry about anything but the moment; here, from one second to the next, it was like his world dropped away. The empty present leaving too much bad history and fear that the future might hold failure.

  He was alone again. After almost a lifetime of being alone, that should get easier.

  The pain in his chest and the sting in his nose? Literal heartache.