Daddy By Default

by Nikki Benjamin

  She wasn’t going to allow one man’s opinion of her to drag her down. She was a decent human being—atways had been and always would be. She had just needed a little reminder. And she had gotten one in the nicest way possible.

  “Thanks, little buddy,” she murmured.

  Finally closing her eyes, she drifted slowly off to sleep.

  Chapter 5

  Late Thursday afternoon, Gabriel sat in his office at Nuestra Junior High School, drumming his fingers on the pile of papers spread across his desk as he gazed out the window at a patch of gray sky. There would be snow that night, but the weather was the last thing on his mind.

  Earlier in the day, Gloria Munoz, one of the hardestworking, not to mention all-but-irreplaceable teachers on his staff, had called to advise him that her doctor had ordered her to bed for the remainder of her pregnancy.

  Gabriel knew how much the baby meant to Gloria and her husband, and he wanted whatever was best for her, first and foremost. But having to find a teacher with the credentials necessary to take over her remedial math and basic science classes—classes she patiently taught in Spanish as well as English to further aid those students who had fallen behind because of language difficulties—had been a task he’d dreaded.

  He had sincerely doubted there was a qualified teacher on the substitute list who would also willingly commit to working until the end of the school year. Teachers with Gloria’s background were a rarity. In addition, most substitutes preferred to work only a few days or a week at a time. And with students like the ones in Gloria’s classes, a substitute teacher of any ability usually lasted no more than a day or two.

  Still, Gabriel had put in a call to the district office. He’d had no choice. There simply wasn’t anywhere else he could go to get the help he needed. Which he’d suspected would probably turn out to be whatever help was actually available.

  He had hated the idea of filling Gloria’s position with one less-than-enthusiastic warm body after another. But the teacher’s aide who had tried to supervise the morning classes had ended up in tears by lunchtime. In desperation, Gabriel had asked his vice principal, Eileen Duggan, to take over the afternoon classes. After a lot of drawer banging, door slamming and audible muttering in her office next door, she had left at the end of the day without speaking to him.

  As Eileen had stormed past his door, his fax machine had whirred to life, spewing out the district’s response to his request. The résumé now on his desk was that of a recent addition to the substitute list, a woman with several years’ experience teaching remedial math and basic science at the junior high school level who also happened to be fluent in Spanish. The perfect candidate....

  Unfortunately, there was one small problem—the woman happened to be Madelyn St. James.

  Granted, the problem was his, personally. Her credentials were impeccable. Had she been almost anyone else, he would have hired her on the spot.

  But Gabriel simply wasn’t sure how he would handle having her on his staff. She would be at the school five days a week, not only teaching Gloria’s classes, but attending meetings, as well. Meetings he supervised. She’d also have free run of the teachers’ lounge, and if she was willing, she could help out with any extracurricular activities she chose. Which meant that giving her a wide berth, as he had been determined to do after Tuesday night, would be impossible.

  As seemed to happen whenever they were together, she had unknowingly stirred up a welter of emotions deep inside him then. Finding out just how ill Ethan had been, Gabriel had run the gamut from pain and anger, to grief and disbelief. Then finally, most devastating of all, he had been overcome by a longing for something he could never have.

  He had even tried casting Madelyn in the role of evil woman in an effort to deny that she had done what he should have done—would have done if only Ethan had trusted him enough to come home. But she hadn’t let him get by with it.

  Instead, in her own quiet way, she had made sure he understood that she’d stayed with his brother until the end for no other reason than that she had truly cared for him. Cared enough to let him sell her photographs as his own while looking after him with what had to have been selfless devotion as he became more and more infirm.

  In the end, Gabriel had found himself wishing there were some way he could inspire that kind of loyalty from her. At the same time he acknowledged, yet again, that Ethan had been a hard act to follow once, and once was enough for him.

  So, he had made the decision to avoid her altogether. A decision he had stuck to yesterday, leaving the house with Brian early in the morning, then not returning until well into the evening, after treating his son to his favorite fast-food restaurant after his visit at Donny’s house. Even Henry Martin had cooperated. He’d agreed to see Madelyn as they’d arranged, thus making it unnecessary for Gabriel to relay a message to her when he finally did get home.

  But if he asked her to take Gloria’s job—

  The buzz of the telephone on his desk interrupted Gabriel’s reverie. Surprised that anyone would be calling the school so late, he sat forward in his chair, lifted the receiver and offered a brisk hello.

  “Gabe? Henry Martin.”

  “Hey, Henry, I was just thinking about you.”

  “Good thoughts, I hope.”

  “Always. What’s going on?”

  “I wanted to thank you for sending Madelyn St. James to see me. Her work is spectacular. I’ve already sold one of her black-and-white photos and have one of the market scenes on hold for another customer, and they’ve only been on display half a day.”

  “I had an idea you’d like her style,” Gabriel replied, pleased for both his friend and Madelyn.

  “That’s putting it mildly. I told her I’d take anything she has to offer.”

  “Thanks, Henry. I appreciate your helping her get started here in town.”

  “Well, thank you for making sure she didn’t go to the competition first.”

  “You have the best reputation in town, and I know you’ll be fair with her.”

  “That I will,” vowed his friend.

  They made plans to meet for lunch the following week—something they hadn’t done since the holiday season—exchanged a few more pleasantries, then said goodbye.

  Staring out the window again, watching as twilight drifted down, Gabriel now found himself wondering if Madelyn would even be interested in taking over Gloria Munoz’s classes. With money already coming in from her photographs, she might not want to be tied to a teaching job after all.

  He wasn’t sure if he was relieved by that possibility, or gravely disappointed. But he did know he was going to set aside his reservations and ask her to take the job, just as he’d known he would have to do all along.

  He owed it to the students to try to secure the best possible replacement for their teacher. And if that meant dealing with the emotional turmoil having her around on a daily basis might arouse in him, then he would find a way to do it.

  He would talk to her just as soon as he got home. Brian was already with her. His son probably wouldn’t appreciate having his father barge in on their visit. But if Madelyn wasn’t interested in the job, then Gabriel would have the rest of tonight to consider alternate arrangements.

  Or so Gabriel told himself as he gathered his papers together and stuffed them into a desk drawer. He was hurrying home to see her so he could discuss a job opening with her, not for his own gratification. Had duty not demanded it, he wouldn’t have gone anywhere near her.

  He arrived at the house just after five o’clock. He thought about changing clothes first, then reminded himself that he was approaching her with what amounted to a business proposition as he strode purposefully from the garage straight to the little cottage.

  Amazing how the place drew him, he mused. For years, he had rarely given it more than a glance whenever he came or went. Now it seemed to beckon him, whether early in the morning or late at night, whether it stood dark and still, or hummed with the hidden life of light
s in the windows and smoke swirling from the chimney, the sound of classical music playing on the radio and the scent of something wonderful baking in the oven as it did just then.

  Even more astonishing, he had also stopped thinking of it as Ethan’s cottage. Madelyn had transformed the place so completely that he found it almost impossible to conjure up painful memories while he was there. For that, if nothing else, he would always be grateful to her.

  Tonight she answered his knock on the door within a second or two, not bothering to turn off the radio. As she had previously, she greeted him with a warm, welcoming smile, albeit a little less so than on his previous visit.

  At the rate he was going, before too long she would be scowling at him whenever he came to the door, and he certainly didn’t want that to happen. He liked feeling that she was honestly glad to see him. In fact, he could get used to—

  From somewhere around his ankles, Gabriel heard a long, low, decidedly menacing growl. Glancing down, he caught sight of what had to be the ugliest little dog he had ever seen. Teeth bared, wiry coat bristling, the creature pressed close to Madelyn’s leg, eyeing him with obvious hostility.

  “Oh, sorry,” Madelyn said, bending to scoop the dog into her arms.

  Temporarily sidetracked, the animal licked her chin affectionately, then fixed its beady gaze on him again.

  “Who’s there?” Brian asked, sidling next to Madelyn in the doorway.

  “Your dad,” she replied, looking at Gabriel nervously.

  “Guess what, Dad? Madelyn found a little dog when she was out walking Tuesday night. He followed her home. And guess what else? We’re gonna call him Buddy.”

  Frowning, Gabriel glanced at his son as he stepped into the cottage. In addition to calling Madelyn by her first name, the boy had said a couple of things that gave him pause.

  He had indicated that she’d been out alone late Tuesday night, walking the streets—something he would have to warn her not to do again. While Santa Fe was reasonably safe, she had been taking a chance wandering around on her own after ten o’clock.

  Brian had also said they had decided to name the dog, which had to mean she was planning on keeping it He had no real objection to her having a pet—although he would have preferred one that didn’t dislike him on sight—but he would have appreciated her asking him first.

  However, seeing the excitement in Brian’s eyes, and the trepidation in Madelyn’s, Gabriel didn’t have the heart to reprimand either one of them, at least not as sternly as he probably should have.

  “Ms. St. James,” he said, emphasizing his point by meeting his son’s gaze directly.

  “She said it was all right if I called her Madelyn. So, can I, Dad? Can I, please?”

  “In that case, yes, you may. Now, about the dog—”

  “He really did follow me home the other night,” Madelyn cut in. “I spent all day yesterday trying to find his owner, but didn’t have any luck. I posted a note on the bulletin board at the library, and also put an ad in the weekend paper, but if no one claims him—”

  “You’re welcome to keep him as long as you want,” Gabriel assured her hastily.

  “That’s great, Dad,” Brian piped up. “Because I don’t think anybody else is gonna want him. He’s kinda weird.”

  Gabriel had to hide a smile at the injured look on Madelyn’s face. He agreed with his son. The mutt had a face, a body and a temperament only a mother could love—or a softhearted woman with an apparent penchant for picking up strays.

  But he didn’t dare say as much to her. She seemed quite attached to the creature, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Not when he was about to ask a favor of her. A favor he suddenly found himself wanting her to grant for the very reasons that had caused him to hesitate earlier.

  He didn’t want to go two days without seeing this woman again unless he had no other choice. Nothing had to come of it. Nothing probably would. But why deny himself the pleasure of her company just because Ethan had known her first? They could be friends, after all. Just friends...

  “Henry Martin called to tell me he’d sold one of your photographs and was holding another for a customer. Congratulations,” he commended her, steering the conversation to a less inflammatory topic.

  “I’m trying not to let it go to my head,” she admitted, smiling. “But thanks. And thanks for the recommendation, too.”

  “I guess you’re going to be pretty busy now.”

  “Since I have a place to sell my photographs, I really should get to work,” she admitted.

  “She was just showing me how to use one of her cameras. And on Saturday, we’re gonna take some pictures together,” Brian said, adding almost as an afterthought, “As long as it’s okay with you.”

  “Of course,” Gabriel replied.

  “Good.” Brian exchanged a pleased glance with Madelyn, then looked back at his father, frowning slightly when Gabriel moved toward the sofa. “It’s not five-thirty yet, and you said I could stay until then.”

  “I know.”

  He took off his overcoat, tossed it over the back of the sofa, sat down and started to loosen his tie.

  “You don’t have to stay, too,” Brian said as he and Madelyn—still holding the dog—paused in front of him. “I can find my way home.”

  “I know that, too.”

  Gabriel glanced at his son, then at Madelyn. Neither of them seemed all that happy to have him there, and the dog looked as if he were ready to tear him limb from limb. Normally, he would have taken the hint and made himself scarce. But he had a good reason for staying, so the three of them would just have to put up with him for a few minutes more.

  “Well, then why—?” Brian began.

  “I have something I’d like to discuss with Madelyn.”

  “What?” Brian asked, eyeing him with sudden concern.

  Madelyn said nothing, but her grip on the dog seemed to tighten and her expression grew wary.

  “Something to do with the junior high school,” Gabriel replied.

  “Oh.” Looking relieved, Brian turned his attention to Madelyn. “Do you think I could decorate the cookies while you talk to my dad?”

  “Sure.” She set the dog on the center cushion of the sofa, now covered with the afghan, then added for Gabriel’s benefit, “We’ve been baking gingerbread men.”

  “I was wondering what smelled so good.”

  “Let me get Brian set up with the icing and cinnamon hearts, and I’ll be right back.”

  Gabriel watched her cross to the kitchen with his son, then looked down at the dog. The mutt sat at attention, watching him, obviously waiting for him to make a wrong move.

  “Chill out, Buddy,” he muttered. “I’m one of the good guys.”

  Unimpressed, the animal growled low in his throat.

  “Buddy, be nice,” Madelyn admonished as she joined them once again.

  To Gabriel’s dismay, the dog whined pathetically, then crawled into her lap. Immediately, she began to coo over him, totally unaware of the sly look he sent Gabriel’s way.

  I’ve got your number, you little faker, Gabriel thought. And one of these days...

  “You wanted to talk to me about something to do with the school?” Madelyn prompted.

  Though she seemed guarded, she also appeared interested in whatever he had to tell her.

  Heartened, Gabriel explained the situation as concisely as he could, making sure she understood exactly what she would be getting into if she agreed to take Gloria Munoz’s place. At the same time, he also tried to let her know how much he would like her to join his staff.

  What he couldn’t bring himself to do was back her into a corner by laying a guilt trip on her.

  “I know your situation has changed somewhat since you put your name on the substitute list. I realize, too, there’s a good chance you’re no longer interested in teaching,” he said in closing.

  She had listened attentively to all he had to say, a thoughtful expression on her face as she petted the little
dog curled up in her lap. Now, seeming to consider his proposition, she looked away, focusing her gaze on the fire burning brightly in the fireplace.

  Aware that she might be feeling obligated in some way due to the fact that she was living on his property, he added, “I’ll understand if you’d rather not commit to a long-term assignment like this.”

  “What long-term assignment?” Brian asked, plopping down between them on the sofa.

  “Your dad has asked me to teach at his school,” Madelyn explained.

  “He has?” The boy looked up at her, wide-eyed, then grinned. “Cool. Are you gonna do it?”

  Mentally crossing his fingers, Gabriel gazed at her questioningly, as well.

  She hesitated a few moments more, then nodded decisively. “Yes, I am.”

  Gabriel was pleased with her response. For the space of a heartbeat, he wanted to grab her and hug her. Luckily, with his son and the dog between them, he was forced to limit himself to an appreciative smile.

  Brian, on the other hand, gave a boyish whoop, then sobered suddenly.

  “But what about us?” he demanded. “Will we still be able to do stuff together?”

  “Of course we will,” she assured him, reaching over to squeeze his hand.

  “And your photography,” Gabriel added. “Are you sure you’ll have enough time for that, too?”

  “I don’t see why not. I taught school, worked on my photography and helped out with my nieces and nephews when I lived in St. Louis,” she stated pragmatically. “In fact, I prefer to stay as busy as possible. Otherwise, I tend to get lazy and start feeling sorry for myself. The more I have to do, the more I seem to get done, and the better I feel.”

  “Well, then, by this time next week you should be on top of the world,” Gabriel teased.

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” she replied, her eyes twinkling merrily. Then, on a more serious note, she asked, “When would you like me to start?”

  “Tomorrow?” he suggested hopefully. “Unless you’ve already made other plans.”

  “Tomorrow will be fine. Where and when?”