Danielle looked at him for a moment and said, “Is that true what you said? That Natta wouldn’t let you talk to me except on Sundays?”
“That doesn’t matter now,” Jake said.
Danielle stamped her foot. “Yes, it does matter! It matters to me.”
“Come with me,” Jake said, taking her by the hand and leading her back into the living room.
He motioned for Danielle to sit down on the sofa, then took a seat beside her. Refusing to be left out, Kiwi jumped up onto the sofa with them and climbed onto Danielle’s lap.
Jake looked at the daughter he loved with all his heart and said, “The last thing I ever wanted for you, Danielle, was for you to grow up without parents the way I did. I can’t tell you how ashamed I am that I let that happen to you.”
She blinked back tears, but she didn’t say a word.
Jake said, “I told you a minute ago that it didn’t matter if Ranatta only allowed me to call you on Sundays, because using whatever Ranatta has done in the past as an excuse for why I haven’t been more involved in your life is a cowardly thing to do. No excuse would ever be a good enough reason for why I’ve failed you as a father. All I can do is make you a promise that I’ll do my best to never fail you as a father again.”
She reached up and quickly wiped a tear away. “What happened to your parents? And don’t say that doesn’t matter, because it does. Carla never would talk about you at all. And Natta only had bad things to say about you. How can I get to know you, if all I know about you is what I’ve read in the tabloids?”
Jake didn’t hold anything back.
He told her he was only ten years old when his mother left him with their next-door neighbor. The neighbor had no choice but to turn him over to social services when a week went by and his mother still hadn’t come back for him.
He told her by the time he was twelve, he had lived with four different foster families. And he told her that though his mother would show up in his life occasionally, she never made any effort to take responsibility for raising him again.
Jake told her his luck changed when he was placed with a foster family the year he turned thirteen. Mary and Gordon Wilson were good people, he told Danielle, and Gordon was a high school baseball coach. When Gordon discovered Jake’s talent for baseball, he fought to keep Jake over the next five years, and was instrumental in Jake being picked up by the minor league. Gordon was deceased now, but Jake told her he still kept in touch with his foster mother, Mary.
When he got to the part about his real father, Jake had trouble holding back the tears himself. He got his emotions under control by excusing himself, going into his office, and bringing back a photo album. He and Danielle sat on the sofa for over an hour, looking at the pictures.
There were pictures of his dad, holding Danielle when she was only a week old. Jake told her how much her grandfather had loved her, and how proud Daniel Sims had been when Jake had named his granddaughter Danielle after him.
There were pictures of his dad’s farm, which Jake still owned, but currently rented out to a farmer and his family. There were also pictures of the cabin Jake built on the lower end of the property by the lake. Jake told her he’d wanted a place of his own on the farm so he could go there when he wanted to take a break from the city.
When they finished looking through the album, Danielle sat there looking at him for a long time. She surprised Jake when she leaned forward and gave him a hug.
It was a brief hug.
But Jake would take that for now.
It was after five when Alicia drove up Owls Roost Road on Tuesday evening. She’d had Jake and Dani on her mind all day. She’d hoped Jake might call her at her office and let her know how the visit with the social worker went, but he hadn’t called. It made her worry the visit hadn’t gone well, and that Dani had done her grandmother’s bidding, instead of following her own heart.
Not that anyone could blame the child.
Dani had been under her grandmother’s influence her entire life. It only made sense Dani would choose Ranatta over Jake when she was put in such a difficult situation.
However, Alicia’s mental claws came out thinking how she’d love to get Ranatta behind closed doors, just once, and give the woman a huge piece of her mind for caring more about herself and what she wanted than she did about Dani. And that thought made Alicia decide it was probably a blessing that Jake hadn’t called her with an update. She might have found herself on a plane to LA, instead of driving home after work.
Besides, she and Jake didn’t need to get into the habit of talking to each other except for their nightly how-was-your-day phone calls during the week. The one phone call every night kept the distance between them, and kept things in perspective for her. Reading anything into their relationship that would leave her with a broken heart later wasn’t on Alicia’s agenda.
As she’d mentioned to the girls at coffee that morning, Jake wouldn’t always have the custody suit hanging over his head. And Dani was already making new friends. It was only a matter of time until Dani had her own social life, and Jake would have plenty of free nights to do as he pleased.
Alicia knew there was a good possibility doing as he pleased wouldn’t involve her at all. And not because she still viewed Jake as some playboy, she was beyond that. But they’d fallen into their current routine only because it suited their lifestyles at the moment. What part, if any, they would play in each other’s lives after the custody suit ended was still up in the air.
She’d stood at her bedroom window once, watching everyone else in the cul-de-sac come and go in their happy, fulfilled lives. And she’d let herself get so depressed, she thought she would die. Her own survival was why Alicia knew she needed to keep things in perspective. Handing her heart over on a silver platter wasn’t an option at this point—not even to Jake—and maybe it never would be.
When Alicia reached her driveway, she was surprised to see that Jake and Dani were just arriving home from somewhere themselves. Dani jumped out of the van and waved. Alicia waved back, but she turned into her driveway without stopping, deciding Dani’s happy wave meant everything was all right. By the time she drove into her garage and got out of the car, however, Dani was walking toward her, a huge grin on her pretty teenage face.
“Here,” Dani said, handing over Alicia’s favorite brand of bottled water. “I told Jake I needed to pay you back for when I came over to visit yesterday, but I really just wanted an excuse to come see you for a minute.”
They walked through the back gate together. When Dani plopped down onto a chair at the patio table, Alicia put her purse and her keys on the table. She took a seat herself and unscrewed the top of the water bottle, eager to hear what was responsible for Dani’s big grin.
“First,” Dani said, “I didn’t lie to the social worker.”
“Good for you, Dani,” Alicia said. “I’m proud of you for doing the right thing.”
She laughed. “But you should have seen Jake’s face when Ms. Brown asked me how things were going and I said they were going good. He looked like he was going to pass out from the shock.”
She barely paused to take a breath before she said, “And then after the social worker left, my grandmother called. And you aren’t going to believe this, but Jake told her I wanted to stay with him until I could figure out what I did want to do. And the best part is, Jake told her not to make me feel guilty about it.”
Dani frowned and said, “Of course, that isn’t going to happen. Guilt is my grandmother’s middle name. She’ll pout about this for a long time. Maybe forever. But I can’t help it.”
She brightened again and said, “But then Jake and I had this really, really, really long talk. And he told me all about his life, and he showed me pictures of my Grandpa Sims and the farm Grandpa Sims left Jake when he died.”
Dani stopped talking for a second, waving her hands in front of her eyes. “Sorry, this part might make me cry.” She took a deep breath and said, “Jake named me
after my grandfather, and I didn’t even know that. His name was Daniel.”
Now, Alicia was on the verge of tears herself.
Dani thought for a minute and said, “I just thought of something. That’s why Jake always calls me Danielle instead of Dani. He told me once that he’d named me Danielle, and that’s what he intended to call me. Now I realize Jake calls me Danielle because it makes him think of his dad.”
She smiled slightly, then shrugged and said, “Anyway, Jake’s renting the farm out right now, but he built a cabin on the property so he could go there and stay sometimes. And Jake said if I decided I really was interested in horses, we could keep horses there on the farm and we could go down on the weekends and stay in the cabin and ride horses together.”
Dani paused, took a really deep breath, and said, “And then we went by and picked Katie up at her house, and she went to the tack shop with us to show me all the stuff I’d need for the equestrian team. And then Jake took us to lunch at this coolest cool restaurant called Logan’s, where they put big buckets of peanuts on all of the tables and you can crack the peanuts open and just throw the shells right on the floor. Can you believe that?”
Alicia laughed. “Which part? You’ve been talking nonstop for two full minutes.”
Dani rolled her eyes and said, “Oh, and I forgot to tell you this part. I was right. Jake really isn’t going to do those underwear commercials anymore. He’s going to be some spokesperson or something against steroids and other drugs that aren’t good for young athletes. Isn’t that awetastical?”
“Yes,” Alicia agreed, taking a sip of water. “That is awetastical, Dani. I’m sure Jake will do a good job.”
“Believe me,” Dani said, “I am way so stoked over that decision. You have no idea how all the kids used to tease me about those underwear commercials. Especially the girls.”
She sent Alicia a puzzled look just as Alicia brought the water bottle to her lips again. “Do you think Jake’s sexy, Alicia?”
Alicia choked, spewing water everywhere.
“Sorry,” Dani said. “I guess that question was too personal. I was just thinking about all the comments the girls used to make. About the huge bulge in Jake’s pants. And them calling me Super Sperm because I was his daughter. You know, making fun of the Super Firm underwear brand?”
All Alicia could think to say to that was, “I doubt you’ll have to worry about anyone teasing you about Jake here, Dani. Chicagoans take their baseball seriously. Jake is a hero in Chicago.”
She looked surprised. “A hero? Are you one hundred percent milk about that?”
Alicia blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“One hundred percent milk,” Dani repeated. “Absolutely certain.”
Alicia laughed. “Yes. I’d say Jake being a hero in Chicago is one hundred percent milk.”
“Sweet,” Dani said and grinned.
She got up from her chair, signaling their conversation was over. Alicia stood up with her.
“Oh,” Dani said, “one more thing.”
Alicia braced herself, praying the “one more thing” had nothing to do with Jake’s sperm and the huge bulge in his pants.
Dani said, “Jake might have to go out of town when he starts his new job. I was hoping if he did have to be gone overnight Kiwi and I could stay with you.” She added quickly, “I mean, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble or anything.”
“I’d love to have you and Kiwi stay with me,” Alicia assured her.
The next thing Alicia knew, Dani’s arms were around her neck, hugging her tight. Alicia hugged her back just as tightly.
“Thanks,” Dani said when she let go.
She started across the patio, but when she reached the gate, Dani looked back at her. “I’m really glad you’re my friend, Alicia.”
“Likewise,” Alicia told her, hoping with all her heart that Dani would always feel that way about her.
Chapter 25
After the social worker’s visit, Jake’s life had shifted into turbo-drive, the days turning into weeks and the weeks speeding by so fast he couldn’t keep up with them. The change in Danielle had been amazing. Instead of ignoring him and basically walking out of a room the minute he walked into it, he couldn’t get Danielle out of his face.
And Jake loved every minute of it.
They’d started taking trips to the farm, only an hour’s drive away. Jake had already worked out an arrangement with his tenants—they would care for the horses he intended to buy and keep at the farm for a monthly fee. Dani had been searching the Internet constantly, checking out every available horse for sale in the entire state of Illinois.
At Danielle’s request, he’d also taken her to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. She’d seemed impressed by the warm reception he got from his old teammates and his coaches, and she’d seemed thrilled that they got to sit in the dugout with the players. But she’d seemed a little embarrassed when more than a few fans in the stadium recognized him and had asked for his autograph.
This week, Jake realized with a smile, had been nothing but the Danielle and Katie show. They’d dragged him from one store to the other in the mall, him sitting patiently on a bench outside each store waiting for what seemed to him like hours—the girls reminding him how important it was that they each find the perfect outfit for Katie’s birthday party, which included a stay-up-all-night girls only sleepover after the party.
Danielle happened to be at Katie’s sleepover party right now, in fact, leaving him free for the first time on Saturday night in ages. And what had Alicia done? She’d picked this night to go out to dinner with her brother and his girlfriend.
And, yes, he was a little jealous that Alicia had chosen dinner with her brother over family night with him. With Danielle at Katie’s birthday party, they could have talked to each other openly and enjoyed the company of their neighborhood friends without being on guard and pretending they were only friends for Danielle’s benefit.
Out of sheer boredom, he and Kiwi had gone to family night at Tish and Joe’s by themselves, but also out of boredom with no Danielle or Alicia in attendance, he’d left around ten. Jake checked his watch again—eleven-thirty, and Alicia still wasn’t back from dinner. And yes, now he was getting a little pissed that Alicia also seemed in no hurry to get back home.
Did she forget it’s Saturday night? Jake wondered with a frown. It’s fantasy night, dammit! Saving Saturday nights for their fantasy night had been her idea, not his! Maybe when she did get home, he wouldn’t even call her.
That’s exactly what I’ll do! Jake vowed. He’d go on to bed. He’d get a good night’s rest. And if Alicia asked later why he hadn’t called on their designated fantasy night, he’d say “Oops” he forgot all about it.
Jake smiled at the thought.
Yet, what was he doing?
He was still sitting on his porch steps, a beer in his hand, waiting for Alicia to come home. Jake took a long swig from his beer bottle, thoroughly disgusted with himself. He and Alicia had known each other what? Going on three months now? Hardly enough time for him to feel the way he did about her, but he did.
Or was it just the situation?
Everything in his life had changed so quickly. He’d gone from a bachelor pad to a house in the suburbs. From a carefree single guy to a father with a teenage daughter and responsibilities. Wasn’t the next natural step going from casually dating a lot of women to being madly in love with one woman in particular?
Jake stood up from the porch steps when his one woman in particular slowed down and stopped her Mercedes in front of his house. Her passenger side window slid down when he walked up to the car. Jake leaned down and looked in through the window.
“Hey you,” she said, smiling at him. “What are you doing sitting outside at this hour?”
“Waiting for you,” Jake admitted. “How was dinner?”
“You don’t want to know,” she said and laughed.
Jake opened the door and got into the car. “Why don’t
I want to know?” He turned sideways in the seat to face her. “Did something go wrong at dinner?”
“Three words,” she said. “Surprise blind date.”
Blind date! Jake took the fast ball right between the eyes.
She said, “I should have known something was up when Alfie kept calling all week to make sure I wasn’t backing out of dinner. He always tries to fix me up when he’s going through one of his madly-in-love phases.”
Madly in love. Her curveball clipped Jake behind the knee.
She said, “Don was a nice guy, though.”
Don! Spitball! Right in the stomach.
“At least the whole night wasn’t a total waste,” she said happily. “Don’s in the market for a house. He’s going to give me a call next week and see if I have anything listed that he might be interested in buying.”
Call next week! Knuckleball—right on the chin.
BALL FOUR! Jake thought. Batter takes the walk.
Jake took the walk, all right. He walked out of madly in love and straight into madder than hell.
“Bullshit that your Don Juan is in the market for a house, Alicia!” Jake yelled. “In the market for playing house, maybe, after he took his first look at you.”
“Excuse me?” she gasped, but her eyes were already narrowing to tiny slits.
Jake glared back at her. “Maybe if you told your brother about us, he’d stop trying to fix you up.”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “I can’t tell Alfie about you,” she said. “I told you. He’d flip completely out.”
“And how do you think that makes me feel?” Jake said. “Knowing that your brother would flip out if he thought you were seeing me?”
“I know exactly how that makes you feel!” she exclaimed. “The same way it makes me feel that you can’t tell Dani about me.”
“Forget it,” Jake said. “I’m done here.”
He reached for the door handle.
Alicia clicked, the door locked.
“Done here?” she repeated when he looked back at her. “Done here!” she shouted. She was shaking with so much anger, Jake feared she might elevate out of her seat. “What you’ve done here is act like a complete jerk!”
Dinner First, Me Later? Page 19
