Their Surprise Daddy

by Ruth Logan Herne

  “I have no doubt.” He raised the take-out bags. “There’s plenty of food. I’d love for you to stay.”

  Steve bowed out. “I’ve got to get home to do premarital counseling for a betrothed couple, but I expect eating alone gets old, doesn’t it, Regina?”

  “It does, and I’d love to stay. But only if you’re sure.”

  “Positive and honored,” Cruz told her, and the sincerity in his words made the older woman smile.

  He had a knack, maybe one that hadn’t been used too often in his line of work. Or maybe it had, and Rory was fooling herself about his sincerity. Certainly she felt somewhat naive in his company, but that could be the dollar signs shrieking from his designer clothes.

  The kids wolfed their food down like starving pups, then begged to go to the creek.

  Regina took one hand in each of hers. “I’ll walk them down while you clean up.”

  “Deal.” The kids convinced her to go through the overgrown vineyard, and the tug of vines made for slow going, but by the time the kitchen was put to rights, their joyous voices rang out from the slow-flowing creek. “Sounds like they found the water, all right.”

  “It does.” Cruz opened the door, waited for her to pass through, then closed it. “Let’s go see some fish.”

  “Yes.”

  She started forward.

  He reached out and caught her hand. “Come this way. Let’s not fight the vines.” He led her to a double-wide space separating two kinds of grapes, still holding her hand.

  He could have let go, but he didn’t, and when they came to the more level ground and the thin creek leading to Canandaigua Lake, he squeezed her fingers lightly.

  Her heart did a flip-flop before she scolded it into submission. There was to be no falling for the rich guy going back to New York, and that was that. He lived a life she hated, with a money-is-everything mind-set.

  The kids dashed in and out of the cool, meandering stream, screeching and laughing. She focused on their innocence and joy. This was the kind of thing she embraced. Hometown goodness, family fun.

  A splash of fresh, cold water in her face made her suck in a breath. She screeched and swiped her sleeve on her face to dry it.

  And then she met Cruz’s gaze.

  He was laughing at her from a crouched position below. He splashed her again and she laughed with him. “So it’s war, is it?” She dashed into the shallow water and paddled water toward him with both hands. “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”

  Regina backed away, hands up. “I’ll let you guys have your water fight while I head home. Cruz, I’ll be here tomorrow morning, first thing.”

  “Thank you, Mrs.—” She scolded him with a look. “Regina. Thank you, Regina.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Within minutes they were soaked. The kids raced around, scaring fish and frogs and whatever else might have been sunning in the shallow waters.

  “I’m so wet!” Lily held her arms out, laughing and dripping from every inch of her hemmed dress. “I am the wettest person ever!”

  “I believe you are.” Cruz palmed her head with a gentle touch. He smiled down at her. Lily looked up at him and smiled back, and that silhouetted image made something crystal clear for Rory.

  Cruz should raise these children. It was right there before her in the two winning smiles, the warm emotions that passed from man to child.

  “I’m soaked, too!” Javi raced out of the water and shook himself as hard as he could, spraying droplets in a full circle. “Hey, wook! I’m a puppy! Woof! Woof!” He started chasing Lily up and down the narrowed rows between the grapes. She pretended to be a cat, so their combined voices mewed and barked from side to side.

  “They’ll dry off faster than we will,” Cruz remarked as he started up the nearest row. “Shall we try running through the grapes to speed the process?”

  She laughed as the kids darted in front of them again. “No, I just realized I’m winded from dancing in the creek. That means I better start jogging again. Or swimming. Or something non-sedentary.”

  “How about one-on-one basketball in the driveway after the kids are in bed?”

  She scoffed at the challenge. “Of course you’d pick that. The height difference alone would make you the clear winner.”

  “I’ll only use one hand. It’s a shame to waste that hoop, Rory.”

  “Except you appear to be ambidextrous, so I still claim a disadvantage.”

  He laughed, and it sounded so nice to hear him laugh like that. She hoped he found it pleasant, too, that he liked it enough to find more to laugh about in life. “All right, I’ll spot you five points.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Make it ten and you’ve got a game.”

  He held up a hand for a high five. “Ten it is.”

  * * *

  Rory Gallagher had fast feet and could bank a three-pointer like no other woman he’d ever known.

  He’d given her a gratuitous ten-point lead to be nice, but as she fought—and fought hard—to hold the four-point lead she still maintained, Cruz had to hand it to her.

  She played well, and played to win, which meant he’d better stop underestimating the petite woman or she’d be holding the upper hand in hoops, and who knew what else she had up her sleeve?

  She dodged right, went left and curled in under, faked a layup and stepped back to bank a backboard shot.

  Was it adrenaline? Competitiveness? Being flat-out stupid?

  Cruz wasn’t sure, but when that ball made a perfect arc toward the basket, he rose up, extended his arm and blocked the shot hard, bouncing that ball off Rory’s face.

  Her nose began bleeding instantly.

  She grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and brought it up to staunch the flow, but Cruz had dealt with basketball gushers before. He pulled his outer shirt off the bench, thrust it into her hands and said, “Here. Use this.” She accepted the wadded cotton and pressed it to her face while he ran to the kitchen for paper towels and ice.

  What had he done?

  He’d hurt her.

  He’d gotten caught up like the supercompetitive jerk he was and smacked that ball into her beautiful face.

  Her nose...

  He cringed, remembering, and rushed back out of the house. She’d taken a seat on the nearby garden bench. He slid in next to her, handed her a paper towel ice pack and dry paper towels for the nosebleed.

  “Thanks.” She accepted both without yelling at him, scolding him or giving him a dirty look. She let his shirt fall to the ground and replaced it with the folded paper towels. “Obviously you’ve had nosebleeds before.”

  “I played hoops in college. Elbows and balls to the face were a given. Listen, Rory, I’m sorry, I—”

  She scowled, not listening. “I had the perfect arc on that ball. Did you see it?”

  “Well, yes—”

  “I was that close to pulling back to a six-point lead and wham!”

  “I know, about that...”

  “One of the best blocks I’ve seen in a while. Cruz, you had great vertical, and you’re already tall, so that was impressive.”

  He paused, looking at her more closely. “Did I miss the part where you wanted to kill me?”

  “Because you blocked my shot?”

  “Because I knocked you in the face with a basketball. And I’m big and you’re not big.”

  “Yeah, but I had a ten-point differential. And I had no intention of losing,” she assured him. She pulled the toweling back. “I think it’s stopped, but I’m going to let the ice hang out for a while. Have they developed treatments for a broken nose yet?” she wondered out loud, her head tipped back, then answered her own question while his heart tried to stop beating. “No, it will probably just n
eed reconstructive surgery once the bones heal. And who has time for that?”

  Guilt wasn’t just rising inside him, it was erupting like a Pacific Rim volcano, ready to blow—until he saw her smile.

  “Gotcha.”

  She smiled with her head tilted back, keeping the ice on the left side of her face while the thick maple leaves rustled above them. “How is it?” He leaned forward to examine her face.

  Her very beautiful face.

  “Better,” she whispered, glancing at his eyes, then his mouth. “Much better.”

  “Rory.” He cupped a hand to her cheek. Soft. So soft. And not delicate like he’d supposed a few days before. Talk about looks being deceiving. He started to lean in, thinking how wonderful it would be to kiss those sweet lips, but Mags started going little-dog crazy. She darted across the yard, back and forth, yapping up a storm. She danced on two back legs, yapped again, then danced some more.

  A car pulled into the driveway. It rolled right up to the far side of the garage, backed into the turnaround and parked.

  Rory jumped up, excited.

  The dog was plenty excited, too, leaping and barking, spinning in circles until the car’s occupants climbed out.

  “Mom! Dad! You’re home!” Rory ran across the drive and hugged both of them. “This is the best surprise! Everyone’s going to be so excited to see you!”

  “Well, we heard there was a new baby, and a couple of cute kids staying at the house, and thought you guys might be able to use some extra hands on deck!” Kate Gallagher laughed in delight. “How on earth could we stay away?”

  “Cruz?” Pete Gallagher crossed the driveway. Cruz met him halfway. “Rory said you got called back here to help with Rosa’s problems, and I want you to know right off that we’re happy to do whatever it takes to help you and your mother.”

  Cruz couldn’t have heard right. Could he? “Excuse me, sir?”

  “With the vineyard and Casa Blanca. We’ve had our share of problems these past two years, but your parents were instrumental in helping Kate get her event-planning business off the ground thirty years ago. We owe them, and now that I’m feeling well again, we’re going to jump in and help you get things back in order. Once we get settled and see this new grandson—”

  “Little Dave!” Kate Gallagher sang out the name in her excitement.

  “—we can sit down and make a plan. I tend to work better with a plan, don’t you?”

  Cruz did work better with a plan, but the thought of others wanting to help hadn’t occurred to him. Why would they? “I’d be happy to work with you, sir. Possibly ecstatic, as a matter of fact.”

  “Good! Good!” Only then did the man notice the blood on Cruz’s T-shirt. “Son, you’re bleeding. Let’s get you inside.”

  “He’s not, I am.” Rory raised her hand. “Bloody nose, Dad, no biggie. Let’s head in, but remember the golden rule you taught me.” She blocked their way and lifted a hand. “If you wake the kids, you take care of the kids.”

  Kate laughed, then clapped a hand over her mouth. “We won’t. I promise! Oh, it’s so good to be home again!”

  “It sure is.” Pete started to follow them into the house, then turned. “Are you coming in?”

  Cruz shook his head. “Not this time. I’m going to grab a shower, jack up the AC and call it a night. Nice to see you again, sir.”

  “You, too. It’s been too long.” Pete started back toward the house, then turned again. “She’s got fast feet and a tough three-point arc, doesn’t she?”

  He meant Rory, of course.

  She had all that and more, and he’d been about to kiss her and would gladly take that opportunity when the chance came again, but he felt weird hoping for that in front of her father. “She took me by surprise.” Talk about an understatement. “Good night, sir. And welcome home.”

  “You, too!”

  He’d heard that phrase several times since he’d come back. Each time he heard it he wanted to argue the status, but after nearly kissing Rory?

  The term welcome home didn’t feel quite so foreign, after all.

  Chapter Ten

  Coffee and cinnamon teased Rory’s senses the next morning. She rolled over in bed, sure she was dreaming, then sat straight up, delighted. Her parents had come home, which meant food...and maybe a return to normal.

  She hurried downstairs, grabbed her mother in a hug and twirled her around the kitchen. “I am so glad you’re back.”

  “Me, too.” Kate kept her arm around Rory, and swept the kitchen a fond look. “Right now it seems like we’ve been away forever, and I needed to come home. Help you girls. Hold that baby. And your father agreed.”

  “It wasn’t like there was much choice in the matter.” Pete came in through the screen door and stretched. “I was hoping to see Cruz this morning, but he must still be sleeping.”

  “No, he’s been up for a while,” Rory assured him. “Try the diner. He’s been going over in the morning, sharing box scores with the guys.”

  “I’ll walk over.” He kissed Kate, then Rory, and walked out the door, whistling softly.

  “He looks good, Mom.”

  “He is good,” Kate assured her. “I was worried after the treatments, but he’s bounced back wonderfully. If I’m not careful he’s going to regret his retirement and want to get back on the job.”

  “Bouncing a new baby on his knee and following Callan and Amy on the baseball circuit will take up some of his time. And is he serious about offering to help at Casa Blanca? Because I’m sure Cruz would love it.”

  “Very serious.” Kate’s voice firmed. “Rosa had her faults, but her ambition helped develop a steady base of clientele for Kate & Company and many others in the Finger Lakes. We can’t ignore her in her hour of need. I’m sorry it’s gotten this bad, but with some hometown help, I expect we can help her turn things around.”

  “I don’t know if it’s that easy,” Rory started, but two overhead thumps meant two small children were about to join them. “But I’m happy to help, too.”

  The kids raced down the stairs, turned into the kitchen and stopped. They stared at Kate, then Rory, and gulped at about the same time.

  “Guys, come here. This is my mom. Her name is Kate and she’s come back home to help us with things. Mom, this is Lily and Javier Maldonado.”

  “Good morning to both of you.”

  Lily shrugged into Rory’s side and said nothing.

  Javi took Rory’s hand and stared up at Kate, then turned his attention to Rory. “It’s nice that your mommy came back, Miss Wory.”

  Such heartfelt words from a little fellow whose mother would never come back. Kate winced, then bent low and pointed to the table. “I made some special cinnamon rolls for you. I need taste testers. Do you know what those are?”

  Both children shook their heads.

  “They’re people who eat special foods and tell us if they’re good. Can I count on you two to do that for me?”

  Javi took her quite seriously and nodded. “I fink I can! But what if I don’t wike it? But maybe I will,” he added quickly so he wouldn’t cause offense.

  “Oh, you darling, thank you for being brave. And if you don’t like it,” Kate added, “you don’t have to eat it. We can start with a tiny piece for you to test. Okay?”

  “Okay! Come on, Wiwwy!”

  Lily moved forward with more caution, but one bite of the warm frosted cinnamon rolls won her over. “These are so good, Miss Kate! I think they’re like the best I ever had!”

  “Well, good, I’m glad you like them.” Kate poured two small glasses of milk and set them on the table in front of them, then faced Rory. “I called Emily, and I’m meeting her at the office once you guys are off to school. I want to help while Kimberly is out with the baby, but I don’t want it to look like I�
��m taking over.”

  “This is Emily we’re talking about,” Rory reminded her. “She won’t let you step on her toes, and she’ll love the help because we were trying to set up a workable schedule for August and kept coming up with blank spots. Mom, this is perfect timing.”

  “Speaking of perfect timing, I couldn’t help but notice the interesting proximity of Cruz Maldonado to my youngest daughter when we pulled into the driveway last night.”

  Rory was not about to go there, not yet, anyway. She hadn’t had a minute to figure this out herself, so talking about it with her mother was off the table. “He felt bad about my nose, which is actually still kind of tender.” She felt her nose gingerly. “But it doesn’t appear to be broken, so if I lay off contact sports for a few days, I should be fine. He does have a solid vertical, though.”

  “He looked pretty solid all around,” Kate deadpanned, then turned toward the door when a car pulled into the yard. “There’s Emily now, and she’s brought the twins to see their grandma!” She rushed out the door, and between Dolly and Timmy screeching, Mags’s yapping and the women’s voices, Rory was transported back to a time when her whole family was here, laughing, living and working together.

  She hadn’t known how blessed she’d been. But then her friend Millicent had come over to play one day, and she’d looked around the house, the yard, the assorted family and friends inside and out, and whispered, I wish I could live here, Rory.

  Rory hadn’t realized the true meaning. She’d laughed it off and said, But your mom would miss you, silly!

  A few years later she understood. And she discovered how foolish teenage choices could go on to haunt you for a long time to come.

  The twins rushed to the door. She swung it open and hugged one, then the other, and as Timmy started jabbering to Javier, the two little boys giggled and laughed. Lily watched more seriously. Dolly had to work harder to climb up onto a chair, but when she finally made it, the special needs little girl’s face shone with pride.

  Rory couldn’t go back and change the past. She knew that. But she could make a difference in the future and maybe that would atone for being a stuck-up twit all those years ago.