by Unknown
“About what?”
Matt took the phone from her hand and started entering his number. “The fact that I kiss so well I get put on speed dial automatically. Usually it takes a few dates before I get that honor.”
“Oh, so it’s not normal for you to pick women up at the zoo and have your way with them?”
“Is that what I did?” he asked, enjoying their banter.
“Well, I’d say you definitely got what you wanted.”
Matt flipped the cell phone back to the table and stared into her gleaming eyes. “That I did.” He leaned over and claimed her mouth again. She tasted faintly like the cupcakes they had for dessert. He moved his hand from her shoulder into her hair. It was just as soft as he expected. His fingers met with a sticky spot and he frowned as he broke their connection.
“Sorry. I think that’s cupcake batter.”
Matt smiled. “Madison strikes again.”
“You should see her stir.” Jesse shook her head as she attempted to extract the batter from her hair.”
Matt grabbed her hand and pulled it away. “Leave it. It’s cute.” She gave him a look that seared him to his seat. He needed to be careful with this woman. She would be his undoing. He took a deep breath and tried to cool down. “So tell me more about your job. Do you like being a nanny?”
“A nanny?” Confusion passed over Jesse’s features.
“Yeah, with Madison. I assumed you were her nanny.” Matt frowned.
“I’m a nurse.”
Matt’s eyebrows knit together. Jesse said she always wanted to be a nurse, just like he always wanted to be an architect. But she never said she actually was a nurse. His confusion grew. “Okay, back up a minute, what’s the deal with Madison, then?” He drew his arm from around her and scooted a few inches away so he could look at her while she explained. He knew she wasn’t Madison’s mother. The girl called her ‘Jesse’ and not mom.
“It’s complicated.”
Matt watched the exuberance over their connection fade as a sad expression settled into Jesse’s features.
“I would have told you the whole story eventually, but it’s a little heavy for a first date.”
So this was a date. Matt was excited by that idea, but he needed to know what he was getting into if there was to be a second.
“Madison’s father is my brother.”
She’s her aunt! That worked.
“Her mother passed away less than a year after she was born. It still breaks my heart to think about it. She had a rare form of cancer and refused treatment until after Madison was born. Had she started the treatment during the pregnancy, she might have lived, but Madison wouldn’t have made it to term. Since she waited so long to start treatment, the cancer progressed and took over her body. There was nothing they could really do, though the doctors tried everything possible. I don’t really like to talk about that phase, it was so awful watching such a loving person go through that agony.”
“She must have really been something.”
“She was. And what’s worst of all is that Madison hardly remembers her.”
Matt had Madison what her mommy looked like when he found her at the zoo. Madison said she didn’t remember. That made sense now.
“But she’s a sweet kid and her mother wanted nothing more than for her to have a full life. She gave her own life to ensure it.”
Matt shook his head. She was a brave woman. He didn’t know if he would have made the same sacrifice for a child. “So you babysit for your brother sometimes?” he asked.
Jesse cringed. “Not exactly. My brother’s in the military. They gave him a long leave when Madison was born and while they dealt with the cancer and her eventual death. But now that all of that is several years in the past, he’s back on active duty.”
“He’s deployed?”
“Yes. For a year.”
“What about your parents?” Matt was beginning to panic. He didn’t want to deal with children and he was the first to admit that.
“They’ve been gone for a long time. My brother and I have each other and that’s it.”
“So, you’re kind of like a stand in parent.” Matt stood.
“Madison knows I’m not her mother, but I’m the only female role model she has. I ask her to call me Jesse because I want to keep her mom’s memory alive. But it really feels like I’m more her mom than anything else. I know she feels that way too. She’s even asked to call me mom a few times.”
Matt’s eyes darted from Jesse to the door. “So what happens when your brother returns?”
“That’ll be quite a few more months, but I imagine we’ll pick up where we left off. I have a place about a mile away. I’ll stay there when he’s home and here when he’s working. It’s not an ideal schedule, but we make it happen…for Madison’s sake.”
“And what do you do when you have to work?” Matt asked. His temples were pounding. “There’s a nice retired woman who lives across the street. She watches Madison for me. As a nurse, my shifts vary. When I work overnights, the neighbor just sleeps over here and Madison never knows I’m gone.”
Matt nodded. He didn’t need to ask any more questions. He had the information he needed. The only reason he was still standing next to the couch was because of the electricity he felt being near Jesse. It was the first time he’d felt anything in that way since his ex-girlfriend left him down on one knee by the river. He’d proposed. She’d said no. End of story.
“I know this is a lot to take in.” Jesse stood next to Matt and put a hand on his arm.
“No, no, it’s fine.” Matt side stepped the couch and headed for the door. “I just realized I have an early meeting. I better get going.”
“Oh…okay.” Jesse followed him to the door.
“Thanks for dinner.”
“Thanks for helping with Madison at the zoo.”
“Not a problem,” Matt replied as he turned the knob and backed out of the house.
“Give me a call if you get the chance.” Jesse’s eyes showed resignation. They both knew this was goodbye.
Matt raised his hand and turned on his heel. He was out of there. He muttered to himself all the way down the driveway. Why had he even tried? He should have known better. Meet a woman at the zoo? With a child in tow, no less! And still allow himself to fall for her. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But if he’d gained one thing from the evening, it was that his emotions weren’t completely dead. There were women out there that could make him feel again. Now he just had to find one who didn’t have child-related obligations.
*
Jesse closed the door softly behind Matt. She wanted to slam it, but couldn’t risk waking Madison. Men were all the same. They said they wanted a relationship and wanted to find someone, but when they were met with something real, they walked away.
She fumed as she cleaned up the kitchen, taking her frustrations out on the dishes. And he’d seemed so perfect too. Kind, handsome, funny, sweet. Madison sure had taken to him. But apparently he hadn’t taken to Madison. Jesse stuffed the pots and pans back into place as quietly and insistently as possible. Forget him. She had Madison and no one else mattered. If Matt couldn’t learn to love that adorable little girl, he wasn’t worth her time.
She shook her head in triumph. She only wished she’d had the guts to say half of that to Matt. It wouldn’t have made him stay, but it would be a lesson he would never forget. Don’t mess with an aunt and her niece!
Jesse smiled as she changed into a t-shirt and knit shorts and climbed into bed. Men! Who needs them?
*
Jesse knew the call was coming before her phone rang. She’d turned the morning news off when Madison awoke. There was a huge accident pile up on the interstate with multiple wounded. She’d been glued to the screen, but when she heard the little girl’s feet hit the floor, she snapped off the TV.
“Morning, sweet girl!” Jesse tried to fake happiness. They would only have a few moments together. She wanted them to be bright.
Madison rubbed he
r eyes. “Where’s Matt?” she asked. “He was here when I left and now he’s not.”
Jesse smiled and prepared to explain the fact that Matt was just there for dinner and wasn’t coming back. Before she could start the process of endless questions, her phone rang.
Jesse recognized the number and answered immediately. “Jesse here.”
“We’re calling in every available hand. Have you heard about the accident?” the voice on the other end asked.
“Yeah, I saw the news.”
“We’ve got traumas of every type coming in and we’re sending teams out to the site as well. Can you get here fast?”
“I’m on it. Give me twenty minutes.” Jesse stuck her bottom lip out at Madison. The little girl would know what that meant. Jesse had to go to work. She hung up the phone and knelt before the little girl. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I have to go in.”
“Did people get hurt?” Madison asked.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Can you fix them?”
“I’m going to do my best.” Jesse stood and grabbed a bowl from the cupboard while she dialed the neighbor. The phone rang as she poured cereal and milk, grabbed a spoon and stuck it on the table before Madison.
“Hello?” a raspy voice croaked.
“Mrs. Roberts?” Jesse stopped in mid-motion.
“Hi, Jesse.”
“You don’t sound right, are you okay?” Jesse asked with concern.
“I don’t feel right. I have influenza, can you believe it? In the middle of the summer? I haven’t felt this bad since I was a young tyke.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear about that!”
“I felt it coming on two days ago and went to the doctor yesterday. I was going to call you today and make sure you kept Madison as far away from me as you can. I don’t want her getting this.” The woman stopped and coughed. “I hope you don’t need help today.”
“Well, I do have to go in to work, but I’ll figure it out. You take care of yourself, you hear?”
“Will do. I’ll give you a call in a few days and let you know when I’m back on track.” Mrs. Roberts sneezed.
“Deal.” Jesse hung up the phone and began to pace the kitchen.
“What’s the matter, Jesse?” Madison asked around a huge bite of cereal.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s nothing. I’m going to gather my stuff, sweetie. I’ll be right back.” She set her phone down on the kitchen table and disappeared down the hall.
*
Matt awoke to the distinct buzz of his phone. He groaned. Had he forgotten to put it into sleep mode again? Contractors had a knack for calling him first thing in the morning. Just because they worked at the crack of dawn didn’t mean he had to.
“Yeah?” he grunted when he answered.
“Hi Matt!” the cheery little voice answered.
Matt sat straight up in his bed. “Madison?”
“The one and only. Why aren’t you here?” she asked.
“Where?”
“At my house! When I went to bed you were here so I figured you’d be here when I got up. I miss you!”
Matt rubbed his eyes. “Where’s your…Jesse?” he asked.
“Oh, she went to get her stuff. Someone got hurt and she had to fix them. But Mrs. Roberts can’t come over so I guess I’m just going to stay here alone today.”
“Did Jesse tell you that?” Matt’s eyes widened. He didn’t know her well, but surely she wouldn’t leave a little girl alone all day, would she?
Matt waited for an answer. Maybe Madison shrugged or nodded or something, but he couldn’t see that over the phone. “Madison?” he said.
“Jesse said she’d work it out, but I have a better idea. I think I need to spend the day with you. How does that sound?”
How does that sound? Matt was speechless.
“We have a lot to discuss and all, with the wedding coming up. What kind of cake do you like best?”
“Cake?” Matt was wide awake now, but sleep still fogged his brain.
“Yeah, I want to smash cake in your face. That’ll be fun.”
Matt blinked and listened as another voice entered the room on the other side of the phone.
“Madison, who are you talking to?”
“It’s Matt!” Madison shouted. “He’s going to take me to the zoo all day. Is that okay?”
Matt pulled the phone away from his ear as a series of muffled noised rang through the receiver.
“Matt?” Jesse’s voice took over the line.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Madison said you called and offered to take her to the zoo. Are you for real?”
He heard the edge in her voice. What did Madison tell him? She’d said that people were hurt and Jesse needed to go fix them. And that Mrs. Roberts was sick. That must be the neighbor. He knew Jesse didn’t have any other family. Did she have back up for the little girl if she had to go to work?
“I’m as real as they come,” he said defensively. “And I do have to stop over at the zoo today. If Madison really wants to come along, I’m sure it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He didn’t want to have anything to do with children and yet he was offering to take one?
“Oh, Matt, you don’t know how much this means to me,” Jesse cried. “There was a big accident on the interstate and I really need to go into work. Our neighbor is sick and I had no idea what to do with Madison. You’re saving my life here.”
“Well, just this once.” Matt took a deep breath as the silence grew longer on the other end.
“I see.” Jesse’s voice was cold as ice. “Point taken, Matt. I understand completely. I’ll drop Madison by the zoo on my way in to work. Give me a couple of hours and I’m sure I can work out another plan for her. Is that agreeable to you?”
Matt cleared his throat, feeling shame creep up his body. “That works.”
“See you soon.”
Jesse hung up before he could say any more. He was fairly certain she was deleting his phone number from her phone at that very moment and he wouldn’t blame her. He was a first class jerk. But he was a jerk stuck with a kid for several hours. A kid who was on her way to the zoo immediately. He wiped his hand down his face. He needed to get ready and get on with the day. He could put Jesse and the tingly feeling she gave him behind her. After one short day with Madison.
*
Jesse’s blood pressure was through the roof. She could tell without any test. She packed Madison into the car without giving the day a second thought, but now that they were on their way to the zoo, she was having serious doubts. What did she really know about Matt? Hardly anything. She knew he didn’t want to be tied down to kids. That much was obvious. And here she’d agreed to let him take Madison for an unspecified amount of time. What was she thinking?
On the other hand, Madison was drawn to the man…as was Jesse in some ways. Perhaps gaining insight to Madison’s intuition would put her mind at ease.
“You really like Matt, don’t you?” she asked.
Madison shook her head causing her out of control curls to follow.
“You don’t like him?”
“Nope. Love him.” Madison giggled.
Jesse exhaled. That was a close one. “What is it you like…love about him?”
“He’s real soft.” Madison stared out the window.
“Soft?” Jesse wasn’t sure what that meant. She’d seen the man’s t-shirt straining over his biceps. She doubted that there were many areas on his body that were actually soft.
“Yeah. In here.”
Jesse glanced into the rearview mirror and smiled as Madison patted a hand to her chest over her heart. “How can you tell?”
Madison concentrated on the question and tapped her chin. “I don’t know. I just know.”
Jesse frowned. Perhaps Madison had woman’s intuition at the ripe old age of four. Truth be told, she felt the same thing about Matt until he abruptly left the ho
use after hearing that Madison was more her daughter than niece.
She spied Matt waiting at the front of the zoo under the overhang. He was back in the khaki shirt, which did a good job of hiding his stellar arms. But she could feel his warm eyes before she stopped the car. She put it into park and hopped out.
“Are you sure this is okay?” she asked. “I can take her with me if I have to.”
“And have her around the trauma patients?” Matt stuffed his hands into his pockets. “That’s probably not the best idea.”
Jesse crossed her arms over her chest. “No, you’re right. I’ll ask around as soon as I get there and see if I can come up with other arrangements in a few hours.” She startled when Matt took a step forward and put his hands on her shoulders.
“It’s fine. I’m the first to admit that kids aren’t my forte. But I’m an architect. I have a pretty vivid imagination. Today, I’ll imagine that I’m good with kids. Kids are my deal. I can’t make you a lot of promises right now, Jesse, but I promise you this. Nothing will happen to that little girl while she’s with me. She’ll be safe.”
Jesse stared into his eyes as her hand rose over her heart. Madison was right. He was soft in that area. “Okay.” She opened the back door and Madison fell out of the vehicle.
“What took you so long?” the little girl asked. “I was in there alone for like an hour.” She wasted no more time and threw herself into Matt’s waiting arms. “Matt!”
“Hey, squirt, are you ready to see a side to the zoo you’ve never seen before?” he asked.
“Am I ever!” Madison jumped up and down.
Matt took her hand and waved at Jesse. “Just give me a call,” he said. “But no worried in the meantime, okay?”
Jesse nodded and climbed into her vehicle. She watched Madison’s curls bounce animatedly as she bopped toward the zoo. Jesse had to admit, Matt looked more comfortable with her than he had the day before. Like an uncle taking his niece to the zoo. She put the car into gear and headed for the hospital. She had people to help and Madison was safe. She’d worry about explaining Matt’s disappearance from her life to her later.
*
Matt had never seen a child’s eyes grow so large. They were like saucers. He took Madison through the aquarium, but instead of walking the path that regular zoo visitors trod, they went in a back entrance and climbed several flights of stairs. This took them to the top of the tanks so they could look down on the animals. She even got to see zoo staff in scuba gear dive into the tanks for cleanings and feedings.
