Unexpected Father

by Carolyne Aarsen

  Because of his poor choice, Olivia had had to move from her home.

  “I thought you had some lady helping you out,” Olivia said.

  “I can’t keep asking her to come. She has her own business to run.” And he knew that in spite of the havoc and turmoil in his own life, he was growing too attached to Evangeline. That moment in his kitchen when he had impulsively reached out and touched her had lingered long after she’d left. He couldn’t afford to be distracted.

  Carrying Ella, he walked around to the other side of the truck and pulled out the diaper bag Evangeline had readied for him yesterday when she’d brought Ella to the ranch. Last week he’d come to church completely unprepared. This week he didn’t want to look like a poor father.

  “I’ll come as soon as I’m done with this job,” Olivia promised. “Next week.”

  He’d simply have to be satisfied with that. “I’ll see you by the end of next week, Livvy,” he warned her.

  “Looking forward to meeting my little niece.”

  “I hope so.” He was nearing the front doors of the church. “I gotta go. Send me a text when you know when you’re coming.”

  “Roger that.” She signed off, leaving Denny in the lurch once again.

  Denny sighed, turned his phone to silent and slipped it into his shirt pocket. Sisters. Never there when he needed them, only there when they wanted something from him. Now he would have to ask Evangeline to continue to help him.

  That thought frightened him and sent anticipation singing through him at the same time. As he pulled open the door of the church the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee assaulted his nostrils. He’d missed his morning coffee and his breakfast.

  While he’d fed Ella he’d been on the phone going over final details with Carlos, then arranging for more feed for the cows. Taking care of everyone but himself.

  And trying not to remember Evangeline sitting across from him last night as she ate supper with him as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

  As she listened to him talk about his faith. After she’d left he’d felt as if he had come on a bit strong. He’d only wanted her to know that God cared for her.

  Because you’re starting to care about her.

  It was as if the boundaries he had placed around his heart were slowly being erased by Evangeline’s continued presence.

  “Hey, Denny, good to see you.” Carter Beck stopped to say hi, waggling his fingers at Ella. “And you, little girl. You’re a cute one.”

  “That she is,” Denny agreed, the diaper bag starting to dig into his shoulder. What had Evangeline put in the thing? An iron to smooth out any wrinkles in Ella’s clothes?

  “If you need a place to sit, you can join us,” Carter said. “I know how hard it can be to come to a new church.”

  “Sure. Thanks,” Denny returned. “I’ll just take Ella to the nursery.”

  “You know where it is?”

  “Someone showed me last week,” he said. He turned to walk down the hall and then, suddenly, Ella clapped her hands.

  “Mama. Mama,” she called out, netting a few smiles from some of the other people gathered in the foyer.

  Denny looked up and there was Evangeline.

  She wore the same white-and-gold dress she’d worn to show him around the ranch. A flower clip held her hair to one side, letting the rest wave over her shoulder.

  Cute as a button. Pretty as a picture.

  The clichéd words sprang unbidden to his mind and Denny felt his cheeks warm as their eyes met. Then she smiled.

  “Mama. Mama,” Ella repeated, leaning away from him, making him lose his balance.

  Evangeline hurried over to his side and took Ella from him, shushing her, her cheeks even redder than Denny’s felt. “Sorry about that,” she muttered, pressing one perfectly manicured finger to Ella’s lips. “Shh, honey,” she whispered.

  Ella giggled, reaching for the flower in Evangeline’s hair.

  “Good to see you here” was all Denny could say.

  Evangeline gave him a shy smile. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said. So I thought I would come back.”

  And why did that create this surge of well-being?

  “I better let you take her,” Evangeline said.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” Denny blurted out, holding up the bag she had put together. “Maybe you can explain to the attendants what all’s in this thing? I didn’t have time to look through it.”

  She chuckled and as they walked to the church nursery he let his lonely, foolish heart imagine they were a family.

  But no sooner had that thought formulated than he shook it off. He couldn’t afford to go there. He had too many obligations and too little to give her.

  Evangeline handed Ella to the attendant while Denny filled out the instruction sheet and took a number that corresponded to the number clipped to Ella’s shirt.

  As the young girl walked away with Ella, his daughter looked over the girl’s shoulder and her lip began to quiver. She held out one arm to him and Denny hesitated.

  “We should go before she starts crying,” Evangeline warned, placing her hand on his arm and applying a gentle pressure.

  Denny nodded. In spite of feeling as though he was abandoning Ella, he was far too aware of Evangeline’s hand, warm on his arm.

  They walked together back to the foyer and through the double doors into the sanctuary. The usher smiled at them, then beckoned for them to follow him.

  Denny was about to correct his assumption that they were together but then he glanced at Evangeline. She shrugged, then followed the young man to the seat he had found for them.

  Denny took the bulletin from the well-meaning usher and slipped onto the pew, beside Evangeline. He nodded at Carter, who was one pew up and across the aisle from him, then ducked his head and pretended to read the paper he clutched. A few minutes later the service began and filled the awkward silence.

  But the whole time he sat there he was completely aware of Evangeline. For a moment he regretted encouraging her to come back to church.

  Because during the service she was a complete distraction to him. And while he was happy she had come, he wasn’t sure what to do about his reaction to her.

  Chapter Nine

  Evangeline clung to the pew in front of her, her head bowed as the pastor pronounced the benediction.

  “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

  Evangeline let the words from Numbers soak into her soul like water on parched and thirsty ground.

  She looked sidelong at Denny, thankful he had encouraged her to come.

  He turned at that moment and gave her a smile that made her suddenly blush. This was getting out of hand, she thought, turning away. Last night, as she’d lain in bed, he was all she could think about.

  During the service, her attention was divided between the pastor’s message and Denny’s presence beside her. Every time he shifted and his shoulder brushed hers, she felt a trembling awareness.

  Thank goodness his sister was coming tomorrow. She could get back to her life.

  What life? Working in a store that doesn’t belong to you? Waiting for Prince Charming to come swooping into the store to rescue you?

  She dismissed the snide thoughts that rang too close to the truth as she forced herself to turn away from Denny. Church was over. Time to leave.

  But just as she was about to exit the pew, he touched her shoulder, catching her attention. She turned, her heart leaping in her chest.

  “I just got a call from Olivia,” Denny said, looking apologetic. “She can’t come tomorrow.”

  “Oh. I see.” Evangeline blinked as the implications of what he was sayin
g settled in.

  “I hate to ask—”

  “You need help with Ella,” Evangeline finished for him, surprised at the rush of joy his news gave her.

  “I’m sorry—”

  She held her hand up to stop him. “I don’t mind. I’ve gotten used to having that little munchkin in my store. She’s good for business.”

  Denny looked so relieved, Evangeline had to resist the urge to pat his shoulder.

  “I’m easing Carlos into the managing of the trucks,” he said. “So, eventually I’ll have more time, but for now I could use the help. I know I’m asking a lot.”

  She gave him a quick smile, relief and a curious mixture of anticipation singing through her.

  She could still see Ella.

  And Denny.

  “I told you I don’t mind. Stop apologizing.”

  He gave her a grin and then stepped aside so she could walk out. As she met his eyes, her heart trembled in her chest.

  Be careful, she warned herself.

  But as they walked out of the church side by side she felt as if she was in exactly the right place.

  * * *

  “Did you run all the way here from wherever you were?” Mia asked as Evangeline let her, Renee and Sophie into the bookstore. “You look glowing.”

  It was book club night and Evangeline was running late. She had taken Ella to the ranch precisely at six—just as Denny had pulled up in his truck. He’d looked so weary and tired she had helped him feed Ella and then lingered to heat up the supper she had brought for him and to talk.

  It was the talking that had put her behind schedule. But it was also the talking that had put a flush on her cheeks. She hadn’t meant for the conversation to go so long but she’d wanted to thank him for encouraging her to go to church, and one topic of conversation had led to another.

  “Sorry I’m late,” she said as she walked ahead of the group to the back room. A few toys still lay on the floor, left over from Ella’s wanderings around the store this afternoon. She dropped them into a basket tucked in one corner of the room.

  “You still taking care of that little girl?” Mia asked as she set a tray of cookies and bars she had made on the table by the coffee urn. “I thought you were done last week.”

  “His sister was supposed to come but she ditched him last minute.”

  “And you offered to help poor Denny out. How sweet. How unselfish. How romantic.”

  Evangeline chose to ignore Mia’s teasing comment. “Do you mind filling up the coffee urn?” she asked Renee.

  “I will gladly help out my busy, busy friend,” Renee said, giving her friend a knowing look.

  It was going to be a long book club meeting.

  Angie came later, Jeff walking alongside, teasing her. Angie would only give him a vague nod in response, and Evangeline felt sorry for the guy. He seemed pretty crazy about Angie but she seemed oblivious to his attention. Evangeline wondered if she looked the same way when talking to Denny.

  But while Angie seemed unaware of Jeff, Evangeline vividly remembered how Denny smiled at her, held her eyes. How his face had lit up when he’d seen her getting out of her car.

  Evangeline tried not to think about Denny. However, now and again, as Angie and Jeff went head-to-head about a part of the book they disagreed on, her mind wandered off to a ranch and a house with a little girl and a man with coffee-brown eyes.

  * * *

  Denny glanced at the clock on the dash of his truck. Half an hour late. Again. He downshifted as he turned down the road running alongside the fields of the ranch. Brown cows dotted the green pasture, carpeting the hills, their calves racing around, tails up, enjoying the waning warmth of the day.

  The sight made him smile but what really put a grin on his lips was coming around the corner and seeing a familiar little silver car pulled up beside the house.

  Evangeline was waiting.

  It was that thought that made him hurry, hit the brakes, park and jump out of his truck. He jogged up the walkway. Once inside the house he toed off his boots and declared, “Hey, Evangeline. I’m home.”

  All he heard was the sound of Ella crying. He followed it to the living room, where Evangeline sat in one of the recliners they had moved from her father’s apartment to the house.

  She was holding Ella, who lay against her chest, crying, her cheeks red, her curls damp.

  Evangeline looked up when Denny entered the living room, then struggled to stand.

  “Just stay there,” he said, motioning for her to stay down. He perched on the edge of the love seat across from her. He finger-combed his hair, suddenly aware of his grimy pants and shirt, and pulled his hand over his stubbled chin. He must look a mess. “What’s wrong with Ella?”

  “She’s running a fever,” Evangeline said, stroking Ella’s rosy cheeks. “Mia gave me some children’s medication to bring it down, but it isn’t helping much.”

  “Should we take her to the hospital?”

  “Mia thought it might be teeth,” Evangeline said, giving him a reassuring look. “Ella’s cheeks are red and she’s been digging at her ears. According to Mia, both are sure signs of teeth coming through.”

  “You’re sure about that?” he said, his sudden anxiety easing.

  “I’m no mother, but I’ll go with what Mia told me. She does have four kids, after all.”

  “That’s a lot of responsibility. I figure one is more than enough,” he said, blowing out a relieved breath. He got up and crouched beside Evangeline, laying his hand on Ella’s head. She was burning up. “Poor kid. Are you sure there’s not anything else we can do?”

  Evangeline shook her head, keeping her eyes lowered.

  Denny looked from Ella to Evangeline, a surprising feeling of rightness washing over him. For the past week he had arrived home at the same time Evangeline had. She would bring Ella into the house and get her ready for bed while Denny washed up. They would spend a few moments talking together as Evangeline told him what Ella did that day.

  And each evening when she drove off the yard he felt a sense of loss. He couldn’t expect her to stay, but after that evening, when they’d shared a meal, loneliness gripped him each time she left.

  Now she was still here, holding his little girl. And when she looked over at him, their eyes locking, he felt a pang of expectation. Of hovering on the edge of an uncharted path.

  He only knew that for the first time in a long time he wanted to take that next step.

  “Why don’t you clean up and I can give her to you,” Evangeline said, her practical voice breaking into his daydream.

  “Okay. Sure.” He pushed himself to his feet and strode to the bathroom.

  He washed his hands and face, and as the greasy dust swirled down the drain he looked at his reflection in the mirror. A rough-looking character stared back.

  Who did he think he was kidding, letting thoughts of Evangeline and him even enter his mind? His life was a mishmash of half-baked schemes and plans complicated by Ella. Even if Olivia came to take care of her, it would only be temporary. What could he offer someone like Evangeline? Someone who, Andy had always told him, was looking for a hero.

  Well, that wasn’t him. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face, then with a quick breath, turned and walked back to the living room.

  Ella was still crying, Evangeline still holding her. Denny reached for Ella. “You probably want to get back home.”

  “I suppose I should,” Evangeline said. “Though the place always seems pretty quiet without Ella.”

  The wistful tone in her voice launched the cautious dreams of only a few moments ago.

  “I imagine you’re getting attached to her,” Denny said as Evangeline got up out of the chair.

  “When is your sister coming?” she asked, prying Ella’s one ar
m from around her neck.

  “She claims the end of this week. I’m sorry about all this.”

  Evangeline gave him a careful smile. “It’s okay. I really don’t mind.” She tried to hand Ella to Denny, but the little girl’s whimpers grew into sobs.

  “No. No. Mama.” She clung to Evangeline.

  Evangeline lifted one eyebrow. “And that’s probably another reason your sister should come.”

  Denny was about to apologize again but caught himself. There was nothing he could do about what was happening. Evangeline had volunteered to help him. And he was glad she had.

  For many reasons.

  But he still tried to take Ella from her.

  Her sobs escalated to shrieks.

  “Why don’t you eat some supper,” Evangeline said. “I got some soup and pasta for you from Mug Shots. It’s in the kitchen.”

  “What about you?”

  “I ate some of it while I was waiting.” She held her hand up. “And don’t even think about apologizing.”

  Denny hesitated but Evangeline waved her hand in a shooing motion. With a grin her way, he went to the kitchen and found the food she was talking about. Borscht with a chicken and provolone pasta dish. The soup was still warm. He left the soup in the plastic container, put the pasta on a plate and took everything into the living room.

  He sat on the love seat and made quick work of his supper, listening as Ella’s cries rose and fell. His heart broke for her.

  “I think her fever is going down,” Evangeline said, laying her hand on Ella’s forehead. “She’s not as hot as she was.”

  Denny wiped his mouth, balled up the napkin and shoved it into the soup container. “I’ll take this away, then I can take her.”

  When he came back Ella was still clinging to Evangeline’s neck, but this time Denny managed to pry her loose.

  “Mama, Mama,” she cried.

  “It’s okay, honey,” Denny said. “Daddy’s here.”

  “Daddy.” She hiccupped.

  Denny’s mouth fell open and he shot Evangeline a shocked look. “Did you hear that? She said ‘Daddy.’”

  “That’s so precious.”