Daddy By Default

by Nikki Benjamin

  “You do,” she purred, her hand trailing down his chest and across his belly. “My undivided attention...”

  “Maddy,” he chastised her gently, catching her hand and holding it still before she could sidetrack him yet again. “I’m serious.”

  She heaved an exaggeratedly exasperated sigh. “Okay. I’m listening.”

  Now that the moment had come for him to say his piece, Gabriel hesitated. He hadn’t any doubt that Madelyn would accept his proposal of marriage. She had made no secret of her feelings for him or his son, and from little things she’d said, she seemed to believe their relationship would be a long-term one. But all the same, he was about to lay himself open to her in a way he hadn’t with any woman since Lily walked out on him.

  Of course, he wasn’t going to declare his undying love for her, he reminded himself. He wasn’t capable of such profound emotion anymore. As pragmatically as possible, he was going to express his admiration and affection for her, then suggest that marriage would simplify their lives, provide Brian with a two-parent family and be the ideal solution to the problem of their co-ownership of what he considered his home.

  Thus prompted, Gabriel took a deep breath and began, his voice matter-of-fact.

  “You know you mean a great deal to me, Madelyn, and to Brian, as well. Over the past few weeks, you’ve become like one of the family. We’re almost always together, and we enjoy a lot of the same things. So, I was thinking that we should get married. Then we could share a bed without worrying about gossip. You could be a real mother to Brian, too. And best of all, each of us owning half the house would no longer be a problem.”

  Having stated his case concisely, Gabriel paused, waiting for Madelyn to reply, but only silence greeted his ears. After several long moments, he looked down at her with sudden concern.

  Though she still lay close to him, he sensed a slight stiffening of her body, and she stared at the fire as if she were a million miles away. Not exactly the response he’d been anticipating.

  “So, what do you say, Maddy?” he prodded softly, brushing his lips against her tousled hair. “Will you marry me?”

  “Gabriel, I...” Her expression unreadable, she shifted away from him, putting a little distance between them. “I wasn’t expecting...” She hesitated again, took several rapid breaths, then continued, “I’d really like a little time to think. Marriage is a...a big commitment. I wouldn’t want to rush—”

  “No, of course not,” he agreed hastily, his relief almost palpable.

  For a while there, he had been afraid she was going to refuse him outright, but she just needed a day or two to get used to the idea. That was understandable. He had sprung his proposal on her out of the blue. And he was asking a lot of her. He did want her to be sure, absolutely sure.

  “I don’t think it will take me long to decide,” she added in a barely audible voice.

  “Take as much time as you need,” he urged, drawing her close again.

  He would spend the next few days doing everything he could to convince her to accept his proposal, he decided. He knew they could be happy together, and he wanted her to know it, too.

  “I will.”

  He hugged her again, then yawned sleepily.

  “Boy, am I bushed,” he muttered, closing his eyes.

  “You’re going to have a busy day tomorrow. You’d better get some sleep.”

  “Yeah, I’d better. G’night, Maddy.”

  “Good night, Gabriel,” Madelyn replied quietly, a tear trickling down her cheek.

  She swiped at it as surreptitiously as she could, though she doubted Gabriel would notice. He was already sound asleep, snoring softly as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

  And he hadn’t, she thought. Not now that he had found the ultimate solution to his biggest problem—her halfownership of the house.

  No wonder he had never said he loved her. He hadn’t. He’d simply wanted what he believed to be his, and he’d found the ideal way to get it back without incurring a major debt.

  Of course, she had gone right along with his little plan. She had fallen into his arms like the lonely, love-starved woman she was. And for reasons of her own, she hadn’t mentioned the money he owed her.

  Now she realized that for reasons of his own, Gabriel hadn’t, either. Not in weeks—weeks during which he had subtly begun to pursue her.

  She had been so sure that he was courting her because he loved her. Truly, deeply, completely. But in reality, she had only meant a “great deal” to him.

  Great deal, indeed.

  Were she foolish enough to accept his proposal, he would certainly be getting one. An eager bedmate, a mother for his son, and best of all—his words, not hers— the one prize only she had to offer: full ownership of his house.

  He could find a bedmate for himself, as well as a mother for his son, almost anywhere. As for the house, he wouldn’t have had to marry her to get that, either. Only he hadn’t known that.

  Along with telling Gabriel about Ethan’s death, Madelyn had also intended to tell him she didn’t want the money he owed her. But she hadn’t had a chance that Sunday night, and she hadn’t really thought about it again in the weeks since.

  The subject hadn’t come up in any of their conversations until tonight, and then, only as part of Gabriel’s proposal. A proposal she now realized he wouldn’t have made if he’d been aware of her plan to relinquish Ethan’s bequest.

  Granted, she could awaken him now, and inform him of her decision. But she’d probably blubber like a baby the whole time, and end up looking even more foolish.

  It would be much easier on her to wait until tomorrow, call Cullen Birney, tell him and let him pass on the good news to Gabriel.

  Tomorrow, too, she would move out of the cottage and start looking for an apartment as she’d originally planned. Gabriel and Brian were going to be gone all day, so getting away without a major confrontation would be possible.

  Gabriel was supposed to pick up his son at eight in the morning. Then the two of them, along with Donny Murphy and his father, were going straight to a father-son jamboree hosted by the regional Scouting association. They wouldn’t be home again until four or five o’clock.

  She’d prefer to leave Santa Fe altogether. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible just yet. She had made a commitment to teach until the end of May, and she wasn’t about to go back on her word.

  Granted, seeing Gabriel at the junior high school would be painful. But as long as she had a place of her own to go to each afternoon, she would be able to tolerate the situation for the few months remaining in the school year.

  Slowly easing away from Gabriel so as not to disturb him, Madelyn wiped the last of her tears from her eyes. She couldn’t stay with him any longer, knowing that he didn’t love her, after all. She’d rather go back to the cottage and start getting her things together.

  She could only hope he wouldn’t realize she’d left his bed and decide to come after her. The thought of facing him in her current state was beyond bearing. Running into him at school after Spring Break ended would be difficult enough. But perhaps, by then, she would be capable of facing him without falling apart.

  Somehow she managed to gather her clothes and dress. Then she crept down the hall, opened the door to Brian’s room, scooped Buddy into her arms and hurried to the kitchen. There, she grabbed her coat, let herself out through the French door and ran across to the cottage, hugging the little dog close.

  Tears blurring her vision again, Madelyn tried not to think about Brian. The boy wouldn’t understand why she’d run off without saying goodbye. No matter how Gabriel chose to explain the situation, he would be hurt and confused. And he wouldn’t have Buddy to keep him company.

  Right now, however, the dog was all she had. She just wasn’t strong enough to leave him behind along with all her hopes and dreams.

  “Well, Ms. St. James, what can I do for you?” Cullen Birney asked, standing as Madelyn entered his office at ten o’clock Saturday m
orning.

  She had called him just after eight from the hotel room she had checked into around midnight after paying a premium so Buddy could stay with her. Like a woman possessed, she had thrown clothes, camera equipment, photographs, schoolbooks and papers into her car. Then she had grabbed the dog and driven to one of the big, expensive hotels where the desk clerks were used to guests arriving at all hours of the day or night.

  The rest of her things—the bed linens, towels, rugs and other odds and ends—she had decided to leave behind until she found an apartment. She didn’t think Gabriel would toss the stuff out. But if he did, then so be it. Getting away without being caught by him had been more important to her than just about anything else.

  At the hotel, she hadn’t even tried to sleep. Instead, she had sat in a chair by the window, watching as the sky faded from black to gray, lightened to orange and gold, then burst into a brilliant blue as the sun crept over the horizon.

  Schooling herself to be patient, she had waited as long as common courtesy dictated, then finally called the lawyer, all but begging him to meet with her on what she had termed a matter of urgent business.

  “I would like you to draw up papers for me to sign relinquishing Ethan’s bequest,” she stated simply. “Then I want you to see that Gabriel Serrano gets a copy as soon as possible.”

  Cullen eyed her quietly for what seemed like forever. Madelyn could only imagine what must be going through his mind. She had no doubt she looked as bad as she felt. And no matter how she tried, she couldn’t seem to keep her voice from wavering.

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked at last.

  “Absolutely sure,” she replied, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

  “This seems rather sudden to me.” He paused, his expression thoughtful, then added, “Maybe we should discuss your decision with Gabe—”

  “No,” she cut in fearfully. “There’s nothing to discuss. My mind is made up. Just draw up the papers, let me sign them, then see that he gets a copy.”

  “Have you discussed this with him at all?” Cullen prodded, frowning.

  “No.”

  “Then he’ll want to know why—”

  “Tell him...” She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears pooling in her eyes as she dragged in a steadying breath. “Tell him I finally realized how important the house is to him. That I know he’d do anything to hang on to it, but what he had in mind won’t be necessary, after all.”

  “You know, Ms. St. James, giving up such a large sum of money seemingly on the spur of the moment is highly irregular. I’m not sure—”

  “Please, Mr. Birney,” she pleaded. “Draw up the papers. I know what I’m doing.”

  While she sat in the chair by his desk, clutching her hands in her lap, trying not to cry, the lawyer pulled up what appeared to be a standard document on his computer. He made several additions and deletions, printed three copies and gave them to her to look over.

  Satisfied that the property at 15 Alameda Road would now belong solely to Gabriel Serrano, Madelyn signed all three copies, witnessed by two of the real-estate agents from the office across the hallway. After they had gone, she took the copy that was hers to keep, folded it and stuck it in her purse, then stood to leave.

  “Thank you, Mr. Birney.”

  “You’re welcome, Ms. St. James.” He shook her proffered hand. Then, as he walked with her to the door, he asked, “Will you be leaving Santa Fe now?”

  “Oh, no,” she replied. “At least not until school’s out. I’m teaching at the junior high school.”

  “Does that mean you’ll still be living in the cottage, as well?”

  “I’ve decided to move into an apartment of my own as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’m staying in a hotel.”

  “I see.” He halted at the doorway, and once again eyed her thoughtfully. “Would you mind telling me which one, in case something else comes up regarding Ethan’s estate? I’d really like to know where to get in touch with you.”

  Without thinking, she named the hotel where she was staying. Then, suddenly wary, she added, “But I’d rather you not tell anyone else.”

  “Certainly,” he agreed. “I’ll treat that information with the utmost discretion.”

  “Thanks.” She offered him a slight smile, then started out the door.

  “Take care, Ms. St. James.”

  “You, too, Mr. Birney.”

  Outside, the sun blazed in the bright blue sky and the air carried more than a hint of warmth. A lovely day—so lovely it brought tears to Madelyn’s eyes. Tears she shed all the way back to her room at the hotel.

  There, she curled up on the bed with her scraggly little mutt, telling herself enough was enough. She had made a mistake where Gabriel Serrano was concerned. But she was a smart woman—a woman who had always learned from her mistakes. She only wished this one hadn’t been quite so devastating.

  Still, she would get over it eventually, and be a better person for it.

  “At least that’s some consolation,” she muttered.

  Beside her, Buddy whined softly, then licked her chin, offering what commiseration he could.

  Gratefully, Madelyn hugged him close.

  Then, her new resolve apparently not as firm as she’d hoped, somehow she found herself weeping once again.

  Chapter 11

  “Madelyn’s car is gone,” Brian said as Gabriel opened the garage door late Saturday afternoon.

  “Yes, it is,” he agreed, frowning as he eyed the empty space where her sporty little compact should have been.

  “Where did she go?” his son asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “When will she be back?”

  “I don’t know that, either,” Gabriel admitted uneasily.

  “Maybe she left a message for us.”

  “Yeah, maybe she did.”

  Under normal circumstances, there wouldn’t have been any maybe about it. As a matter of course, Madelyn would have made sure he knew where she was going and when she planned to return. But there had been nothing normal about the way she had left his bed sometime during the night, then just disappeared.

  Gabriel remembered awakening sometime after midnight and vaguely realizing she wasn’t there with him. But he had assumed she was in the bathroom or checking on the dog, and would be right back. He had rolled over and, worn-out from the long hours he’d put in at the regional meeting that week, he had immediately fallen asleep again.

  When he awoke a second time to find himself alone in bed, it had been almost seven o’clock in the morning. A quick check of the house had revealed that Madelyn had dressed, taken the dog and, he assumed, gone back to the cottage. He had been confused by her absence, but not unduly upset.

  As he had hurried to shower and dress so he wouldn’t be late arriving at the Murphys’ house, he had convinced himself that she’d just wanted a little time alone to consider his proposal. Time, he acknowledged, that she more than deserved when he took into account the kind of commitment he had asked her to make. She’d been footloose and fancy-free for a long time. When she married him, she would be acquiring a ready-made family.

  When, not if, he had thought that morning, certain of what her answer would be. But his confidence had waned somewhat when he’d stopped at the cottage to see her on his way out.

  She hadn’t answered his knock on the door, nor had the dog barked as was his habit. Gabriel had thought about going back to the house to get the spare key so he could let himself in. But he had already been running late, and he’d figured she and the mutt were probably just sleeping more soundly than usual.

  Until he walked into the garage to get his truck and saw that her car was gone. Then he had suffered his first faint pang of apprehension.

  She had known about his plans for the day because he’d told her. Yet she hadn’t mentioned any plans of her own at any time that he could recall. And he was sure he would have. Finding her car gone would have jolted his memory, if nothing el
se.

  The father-son Scout jamboree had diverted Gabriel’s attention most of the day. Still, at odd moments, he had found himself wondering where Madelyn had gone. Maybe out to breakfast with one of the teachers she’d become friendly with. Or maybe off to the outskirts of town, taking photographs. Nothing out of the ordinary, and surely nothing to worry about.

  Only, he grew more and more concerned as the day progressed. She had been so quiet after he’d mentioned marriage. Had he scared her away?

  She hadn’t seemed frightened by the prospect of becoming his lawfully wedded wife. Nor had she seemed overwhelmed in any noticeable way. She had just been...quiet. Very quiet, and thoughtful. But that wasn’t out of character. In fact, her response had been about what he’d expected, although, in all honesty, he had thought she might display a tad more enthusiasm.

  Now, arriving home and finding her either still gone, or gone again, Gabriel had to admit her absence seriously troubled him. Frowning, he glanced at the darkened windows of the cottage, then followed Brian across the courtyard.

  “Hey, Dad, there is a message for you,” his son called out as he halted in front of the French doors.

  With a surge of relief, Gabriel spied the small white envelope taped to one of the glass panels. However, his relief faded almost immediately when he saw that the handwriting spelling out his name wasn’t Madelyn’s, but rather someone else’s he didn’t recognize.

  He yanked the envelope off the door, ripped it open and withdrew a single sheet of yellow legal paper. Unfolding it, he scanned down to Cullen’s signature, then read what the lawyer had written.

  Gabe:

  An answering machine is a good investment. Saves lots of time for people—like your lawyer—who are trying to get in touch with you. Anyway, call me just as soon as you get back. I’ll be home all evening. I have some good news for you that I’d like to pass on.

  Cullen

  “Is the note from Madelyn?” Brian asked hopefully.

  “No, it’s from Mr. Birney.”

  Gabriel unlocked the door and walked into the house with his son.