Doctor Daddy

by Jacqueline Diamond

  “I’m the one who’s determined to help women one-on-one, and I do volunteer occasionally, but it never occurred to me to consider doing something like that.”

  “So you think there’s a need?” he persisted.

  “Orange County may be affluent, but there are pockets of poverty everywhere.” Idly, Jane rubbed her cheek across the little girl’s head. “There are several unused suites at the hospital. I’ll speak to Wendy Clark. She took over as hospital administrator a couple of years ago and she’s made a lot of improvements, like the new birthing center. She’s very forward thinking.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Luke assured her. “I didn’t mean to impose on you. Although I’d be thrilled to have you participate.”

  “Believe me, I’ll let you know if you’re imposing,” Jane answered. “As for Wendy, let me make the initial contact. If she’s interested, we’ll set up a meeting.”

  “Thanks,” he told her, “more than I can say.” In the quiet moment that followed, he heard a truck rumble along Central Avenue. “About last night. I hope you aren’t upset.”

  “I’m not going to run screaming into the woods just because you kissed me,” Jane said tartly.

  “Good,” he told her, “because if you did, I’d have to chase you down and use all my powers of persuasion to bring you back.”

  “Is that a threat or a promise?”

  “A promise. And I’m very persuasive.” So was she, Luke conceded silently. “Being around a baby brings a glow to your face. Did you know that?” Without thinking, he reached toward her…and received a fidgeting Tina in response.

  “And holding an infant makes a man irresistible,” she replied. “To any female from nineteen to ninety.”

  “I’m counting on that,” Luke admitted. “This is going to be a big adjustment for everyone.”

  “Guess you could use someone with nanny experience. I’ll stop by tonight.” She chuckled as the baby chewed on his lapel. “Might want to buy a pacifier, too.”

  “Or a teething ring,” Luke said. “Well, we’re off to the sitter.”

  “Good luck.”

  “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

  He set off, a little intimidated by the prospect of accommodating the afternoon’s full slate of patients and surviving an evening crammed with adjustments involving the girls. Somewhere along the line, he hoped he’d find the right rhythm to make everything work.

  He’d better do it fast. Because he had a notion the daddy two-step had just been transformed into a dance marathon.

  DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Jane spent most of her spare moments helping with Tina and Zoey. Luke might already be a dad, but he had a lot to learn about changing diapers, managing meals and calming temper tantrums.

  The whole neighborhood pitched in. Sherry agreed to watch both girls during Luke’s on-call nights. Brooke volunteered to handle his basic baby-supply shopping when she stocked up for Marlene, while Minnie began crocheting a crib blanket.

  Jane hoped nobody suspected how often, on arriving home from work, she stomped through the house and complained to her dog. She adored the girls, but how frustrating! While she yearned for a baby, all around her the little creatures turned up like dolls under everyone else’s Christmas trees. Brooke had gotten pregnant by accident, Sherry had become a stepmother to twins, and now, out of the blue, a social worker handed Luke this sweetheart.

  If only babies truly did grow in cabbage patches, Jane might have a chance, she mused the following Saturday as she and Bart rolled homeward with a load of compost-filled trash cans bumping in the bed of his pickup. Luke had run into some last-minute issues getting the kids ready and had promised to meet them at Jane’s house for the unloading.

  “Got your garden all planned?” Bart asked as they bounced down Central Avenue. His truck drove like a tank.

  “Yes. I’m going to rotate the tomatoes, as you recommended.” Jane liked taking a scientific approach to gardening. “And I’ll buy disease-resistant varieties.”

  He slowed as cyclists flocked past on racing bikes. “Throw in a few heirloom varieties for the taste.”

  “But they’re so vulnerable to wilt.”

  “What’s life without taking chances?” The shaggy gardener turned into Harmony Circle. “This year I’m planting a whole section of red corn. Maybe I’ll regret it, but I love the stuff.”

  “That’s you. A real adventurer.”

  “As long as I’m in my own backyard.” Bart laughed. He was such a nice fellow, Jane thought. Too bad he didn’t make her heart beat faster.

  They halted in front of her house. Her gaze flew to Luke, who was waiting and looked ready for action in close-fitting jeans and a black T-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders.

  Beside him, Zoey sat on the grass playing with Tina. With their hair similar shades of blond, the girls seemed like sisters already.

  They were joined by Carly Lorenz, who swung her camera toward the truck. Taking shots for the community scrapbook, no doubt.

  “That must be the baby I’ve been hearing about,” Bart commented, cutting the engine. “Sure is cute.”

  “I didn’t think you cared for children.” Jane hopped down from the cab, waved at the others and circled behind the truck while Bart lowered the tailgate. “I remember you saying once that you preferred plants.”

  “I used to think that.” He jumped into the bed and unhooked a stretch cord from around the cans. “Then I met Brooke’s little doll. Never realized kids were so fascinating.”

  Luke joined them in trundling cans to the rear yard, where they dumped the rich black compost onto Jane’s garden. Carly recorded every move and Zoey provided a running commentary for Tina’s benefit.

  Afterward, Luke accompanied Bart to unload the gardener’s share of their haul. Left with the youngsters, Jane raked compost into a thin layer across the plot.

  “My grandma used to grow tomatoes.” Sitting on a blanket beside Tina, Zoey rested her chin on uptilted knees.

  “Would you like to help me plant next weekend?” Jane asked.

  “Okay.”

  She detected a lack of enthusiasm. “You don’t have to.”

  “I want to,” Zoey protested. “Honest.”

  “Is something bothering you?”

  Carly knelt for a close-up of Tina, who was chewing on a teething toy. “They’re sad because they miss their moms.”

  That showed a lot of sensitivity for a thirteen-year-old, Jane reflected. “I’m sure they do.”

  “My mother called yesterday,” Zoey piped up. “She and the band are going to Vegas. Where’s that?”

  “About a five-hour drive from here. Or more, depending on traffic.” Since moving to Southern California, Jane had learned to calculate distances in driving time.

  “Maybe she’ll come visit.” The longing in Zoey’s voice tugged at Jane’s heart.

  “I only see my mom about twice a year since she moved to New York,” Carly said.

  Zoey gave her a puzzled look. “Your mom lives here.”

  “Diane’s my stepmother. My real mom’s kind of flaky. Maybe I shouldn’t say so, but it’s true.” She lowered the camera, and explained that she used to live with her father, Josh Lorenz. Then he’d fallen in love with their neighbor, Diane, and they’d married a little over a year ago. Now the newly formed family of four shared Number 12, Harmony Road. “Brittany and I are stepsisters, like you and Tina.”

  “I like having a sister,” Zoey said, although to Jane her enthusiasm sounded a bit forced.

  “I’ve got a brother, too. He’s nine months old.” Carly angled to shoot Jane, who was prying out weeds. “His name’s Wesley and he lives in New York. I hardly ever get to see him.”

  The girl’s openness impressed Jane. She hoped it would help Zoey accept her own situation.

  From inside the house, where she’d banished the dog to keep him from digging in the loose soil, arose a volley of barking. “That’s my brother,” Zoey announced. “Isn’t he,
Jane?”

  “He certainly thinks so.”

  Carly tucked her camera into its case. “Zoey, do you and Tina want to come back to my house? Brittany’s baking sweet rolls and I’m sure she’ll have plenty for us.” To Jane, she offered, “I’ll look after the baby, and I’ll walk them home when they’re ready.”

  “How kind of you. You’ll have to ask their father, though.”

  They didn’t have long to wait before Luke rejoined them, his T-shirt clinging to his torso and a sheen of sweat on his forehead. When Jane explained what Carly had suggested, he agreed and thanked the girl. “You have to keep an eye on Tina every minute,” he cautioned.

  “I know. I babysit a lot.” After retrieving the stroller, the teenager demonstrated her skills by tucking the baby inside and strapping her expertly into place.

  “You girls have fun,” Jane told them.

  Zoey gave her dad a hug, and then gave Jane one, too, and off they went.

  “She’s certainly taken to you. My daughter has good taste.” Luke stretched, a move that outlined his muscles with imposing definition. “Plus, you seem to have a green thumb. Bart sang your praises.”

  “Really? He’s usually not much for conversation.”

  Luke claimed the rake from where she’d leaned it against the fence and set to work breaking up clods of compost. “That’s funny. He hardly stopped talking about you.”

  “What on earth did he say? Aside from the part about my thumb, I mean.” Jane rubbed her shoulder where the muscles ached from all the lifting.

  “‘Some say Renée’s the prettiest lady in the neighborhood, but they’re wrong. It’s Jane,’” Luke quoted as he chopped a lump to smithereens.

  “Bart said that?” she asked, astonished.

  Luke whacked the soil again, harder than seemed necessary. “He likes your hair longer.”

  “He noticed my hair?”

  “What’s going on between you two?” Leaving off raking, Luke turned toward her. “Not that it’s any of my business.”

  The absurd notion crossed her mind that he might be jealous. Oh, right. “Nothing.”

  Retrieving the hose, he washed off the rake’s tines. “Well, whenever you’d like some heavy lifting, don’t hesitate to give me a call. Bart’s not the only guy in the neighborhood who can work the soil.”

  “You have your hands pretty full already.”

  “I have to admit, that’s true.” He turned the hose on his dirt-covered knees, sending up a fine spray that plastered his jeans and T-shirt against his taut frame. “Yesterday when I brought the kids home from day care, the Little Foxes were waiting on my porch with another baby. I thought seriously about hanging a U-turn and heading for the border.”

  “Was it Marlene?” Jane guessed.

  “Minnie’s granddaughter.” He studied her from beneath a sweep of damp hair. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Shoot.”

  He switched off the water and began coiling the hose. “Would you check my porch in the mornings? If you see a basket that’s squirming, would you please just take it and not tell me?”

  She burst out laughing. “Well, thank goodness.”

  “Thank goodness what?”

  “Thank goodness the hapless med student is still alive somewhere inside that take-charge man of the world.”

  “I have far more hapless-med-student moments than I’d like to admit,” Luke conceded.

  Jane wished she weren’t so acutely aware of how appealing he looked, hot and wet, or of the intensity with which he watched her. Memories flooded back, of his mouth on hers and his hand reaching to draw her to him.

  “Since the kids are gone, we could fix lunch together,” he said. “How about another cooking lesson? After I clean up, of course.”

  She fought the image of him stripping for the shower. And of her slipping beneath the spray beside him, letting the water sheet off their skin as they moved against each other…

  Too dangerous. She was not ready for that.

  Luke had matured a lot, and his proposal to establish a maternity clinic for teenagers showed how involved he was becoming with the community. The suggestion had met with enthusiasm from the administrator, who’d agreed to meet with them both next week. But getting close to him still didn’t seem like a wise idea. He’d been here less than a month. What was the rush?

  From indoors, Stopgap’s barking provided a welcome distraction. “I’ve been neglecting my faithful companion,” Jane said. “Another time, okay?”

  Luke ducked his head. “You’re right. I’ve got laundry and dishes piled up.” He looped the last bit of hose into place. “I’m sorry about next weekend.”

  She had no idea what he meant. “What about next weekend?”

  “Somebody mentioned that Friday’s your birthday. I’d like to take you out, but I drew on-call duty that night.”

  “That’s okay. I have plans,” she told him.

  “Well, good.” He looked far from pleased, though. “They don’t happen to involve—Never mind. Have a great time. And by the way, I like your hair longer, too.” With a wave, he strode off.

  Jane carried the rake to the garage. Luke was jealous. The discovery left her feeling deliciously desirable.

  But also grimy and disheveled. And her hair was a mess. With a start, she realized she’d forgotten all about Renée’s makeover offer. She hoped her friend still had an appointment available.

  Perhaps it was just as well that she wasn’t having lunch with Luke. But she couldn’t help wishing, just a little, that she could see the expression on his face when he glimpsed the new, improved Jane.

  Well, the effect should last for more than a day. So perhaps she’d get that pleasure, after all.

  Feeling energized, Jane whistled her way into the house.

  Chapter Ten

  “I can’t go to bed.” Zoey planted her feet firmly in the middle of the living room on Monday evening. “Mommy might come visit.”

  “What?” After a peaceful weekend, Luke’s daughter had nearly melted down over a missing hairclip this morning. According to Maryam, she’d been unusually cranky after school as well, and she’d hardly touched her supper. “Did she tell you that on the phone yesterday?” Pauline usually called on Sundays, and occasionally during the week.

  “No.” The little girl played with a bit of ribbon on her nightgown. “She said she’s in Vegas.”

  “I know.” His ex-wife had enthused about the band’s gig at a well-known lounge. “If she decides to drive out, it probably won’t be until they’re finished.”

  “They don’t play on Mondays,” his daughter responded. “Jane says it’s a five-hour drive. So she could come.”

  That explained Zoey’s restlessness. She assumed her mom would gladly drive that far to see her daughter on a free day. Luke certainly would have.

  “If she planned to come, she’d tell us,” he informed Zoey.

  “Not if it’s a surprise.”

  From his bedroom, where he’d put Tina’s crib, he heard the baby fussing. “Honey, it’s your bedtime, and I’ve got to feed the baby. I promise I’ll wake you if your mother arrives.”

  Zoey switched to another complaint. “We haven’t had a bedtime story for ages. You’re always too busy with Tina.”

  The grumbling in the bedroom rose to a wail. “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “Give me half an hour to take care of Tina. Then I’ll read to you.”

  “Just you and me? Without her?” Zoey asked petulantly.

  “I’ll put her back to bed,” he promised. Zoey had a right to private time with her father.

  “Well, okay.” Out she plodded, dragging her feet.

  He kept his promise. A short while later, they cuddled up on the couch with The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, about a little girl planting a garden during the Depression. Zoey had picked it out at the bookstore the previous day.

  Curled in his lap, Zoey asked, “Let’s plant our own garden.”

  He’d like to do that, but he co
uldn’t dig up the yard of a rental. “The house belongs to Sherry. How about if we plant vegetables in pots?” Luke proposed.

  That seemed to satisfy her. “What kind of vegetables?”

  “The small kind.” He supposed he could ask Bart for advice. On the other hand, Luke had mixed feelings about the fellow. All those compliments about Jane…and why had she looked so pleased? “Radishes are small. I think there’s a patio type of tomato. What else would you like?”

  “How about pumpkins?”

  “They’re kind of big.”

  “Not miniature pumpkins!”

  He sighed. “I’m guessing the plants are still large, but we’ll find out. Now it’s time for you to go to sleep.”

  “All right.” She burrowed into him, arms tightening around his neck, and planted a smooch on his cheek. “Night, Daddy.”

  “Night, sweetheart.” He scooped her up and launched himself to his feet. “Oops! What’s that lead weight in my arms?”

  She giggled. “It’s me.”

  “Me, who? I don’t see anybody.” As they headed toward her bedroom, he pretended to stare all around, playing a game they’d enjoyed when she was younger.

  “I’m here.” Zoey stuck her face in front of his.

  “Where’d you come from?” he asked in feigned astonishment.

  “You’re silly. Whoa!” She shrieked happily as he pretended to drop her on the bed, then swooped her to within a few inches before letting go.

  He should be soothing her to sleep, not getting her excited, Luke reflected, but Zoey deserved a little fun. “Guess I goofed.”

  She reached for another hug. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “And I love you, angel.”

  “Don’t forget to buy pots,” she said.

  “I’ll put ’em on my list.”

  That list, Luke reflected as he switched off the light, never seemed to get shorter, no matter how many things he bought. But he didn’t mind.

  In the living room, he checked his e-mail. As usual these days, scanning the messages saddened him, because of the reminder that there’d never be another of Annie’s cheerful communications. How fragile life was, and what a sacred trust she’d left him.