“Fantastic,” David said, then let out a pent-up breath.
Sarah Ann nodded slowly. “I could do that. ’Kay.”
The meal was finished, then the children were excused with permission to watch one Blue’s Clues video. Patty began to clear the table.
“Thanks for bailing me out on the dragon story,” David said, stacking the dishes within his reach. “I wonder what I named the poor drab brown creature.”
“Sarah Ann will tell us,” Patty said, smiling.
“We make a good team, Patty,” David said, looking directly at her. “I fumbled the ball, you picked it up and slam-dunked it. Yep, a very good team.”
“For a little while,” Patty said softly, then turned and walked to the counter with more dishes.
“Yeah,” David said, then frowned as he fiddled with a spoon, lost in his own thoughts.
At bedtime Sarah Ann told the story of the dragon, whose named turned out to be Max and was able to turn red by finding a magic garden of strawberries and eating every one. Tucker was enchanted by the tale, but David told Patty that he didn’t think he should quit his day job to become a writer of children’s stories.
On the late news there was another segment of the series dealing with high automobile accident areas in California. The focus that evening was on Orange County.
“I hope this report helps the situation,” Patty said, “because it’s rather depressing to watch.” She paused. “Well, I’m going to get ready for bed.”
Per their usual routine, Patty used the bathroom off the master bedroom while David was still in the living room. Once she was finished and in the nursery, David would make his clumsy way down the hall.
Standing before the bathroom mirror above the sink in her full-length cotton nightgown, Patty stared at her reflection.
She didn’t look any different, she thought. There was her dark hair and her nice but rather ordinary features. But she felt different, more aware of her own body, her breasts, the feminine slope of her hips, the softness of her skin.
Because of David.
People, her family included, would no doubt highly disapprove of her wanton decision to have a short-term affair with David Montgomery. No, no, not an affair. It was a gift they were giving themselves and no one around them would ever know, or be in a position to pass judgment.
She would have no regrets about what she had done when it was over. None. She would savor the memories and once again function only in the role of mother in the years ahead. The lonely years ahead. Without David.
Patty shook her head sharply in self-disgust at where her thoughts had taken her, then left the bathroom to find David already sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Oh, you startled me,” she said.
“I wanted to say a proper good night to you.” David patted the space next to him. “Would you sit next to me here?”
Patty settled on the bed next to David, shifting slightly so she could look directly at him.
“Ah, Patty,” he said, taking her left hand in both of his. “When Sarah Ann was telling the story about Max the dragon it really hit me hard that I’m a lousy father at the moment. I can’t even remember a special story I made up for my daughter.
“Is she due for a dental checkup or a yearly physical at the doctor? Are there vitamins somewhere in my house that she should be taking? Do we have something special we do together on the weekends when it’s just the two of us living under the same roof? Maybe I make her pancakes for breakfast, or take her to the park, or—”
“David, don’t do this to yourself,” Patty interrupted. “I know it’s frustrating not to be able to remember the kind of things you’re talking about, but your memory is coming back. You know it is. You have to be patient.”
“Ignore me.” David sighed. “I’m feeling sorry for myself as well as being so terrified that I’m going to let Sarah Ann down somehow. I would have tonight if you hadn’t bailed me out about the story. Can you imagine the look on her face if I had said I didn’t remember anything about Max the dragon?”
“But that didn’t happen.”
“Thanks to you.”
Patty smiled. “Well, you did say we’re a good team. I’m getting very spoiled having such lovely extra time to hold Sophia, and being able to fix dinner without Tucker’s help because you’re keeping him entertained.”
“You’re right,” he said, releasing her hand and framing her face with his hands. “We are a good team. A very…” He lowered his head slowly toward Patty’s. “…good…” He brushed his lips over hers, causing a shiver to course through her. “…team.”
David’s mouth melted over Patty’s as she leaned into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his back. The heat of desire suffused them instantly, burning with an intensity that seemed to steal the very breath from their bodies. When they ended the kiss their breathing was labored and their hearts were racing.
“Whew,” David said. “You are turning me inside out, lady.”
“You’re rather overwhelming yourself, sir.” Patty drew a much-needed breath. “Gracious.” She got to her feet. “Good night, David.”
“Good night, Chet.”
She laughed in delight at his silliness, then her smile softened.
“Sleep well,” she said, then left the room.
“Right,” David said dryly, to the empty room. “I need a cold shower, but I have to settle for a cold sponge bath. Hell.”
In the middle of the night David woke suddenly and sat bolt upward in bed, his heart pounding, sweat running down his chest.
Whoa, he thought. Calm down, Montgomery. He’d had a nightmare, that’s all, but it had been so vivid, so real, so… There had been a woman with blond hair whose face he couldn’t discern. Even though he couldn’t see her clearly he knew she was angry, raging with fury, and she was walking away, carrying Sarah Ann. But it was a younger Sarah Ann, maybe a year or so old.
He had been frantic, reaching for his daughter, but the woman kept going and he couldn’t keep up. It didn’t matter if the woman left, but he had to get his precious baby away from her. Then the woman had stopped, put Sarah Ann down, then disappeared. He’d been moving toward Sarah Ann, feeling as though he was losing ground with every step he took. Sarah Ann was crying, holding up her arms to him, as he struggled to get to her and…
“God,” David said, dragging shaking hands down his face.
He flopped back onto the pillow, his arms landing with a thud next to him on the bed.
Who was that woman in the dream? he thought frantically. His wife? Sarah Ann’s mother? Where had she been going and why didn’t he care if she went as long as she didn’t take the baby? What had Marsha been so angry about and…
“Marsha?” he said aloud. “Marsha. Marsha Welsh Montgomery. My…my wife.”
Chapter Eight
In the middle of the next afternoon, David managed to produce yet another smile, realizing that they were beginning to feel as phony as a three-dollar bill.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jessica,” he said. “I have, in fact, met quite a few members of the MacAllister family today.”
Jessica laughed as she sat down in an easy chair across the room from David.
“What can I say?” she said, still smiling. “Word is out that you’re bunked in here with Patty and we could only hold ourselves back for so long.”
“I understand,” David said. “Let’s see. Jessica. You’re one of the triplets, right?”
“Right,” she said. “I’m married to Daniel who is a police detective and we have Tessa and our newest addition, Danny, who was born in May. The kiddies are home with Daddy at the moment.” She paused. “Patty, how’s Sophia?”
“Growing like a weed,” Patty said from where she sat on the opposite end of the sofa from David. “Time is passing too quickly. I’m hoping to get a teaching job in January, but the thought of leaving Tucker and Sophia all day is so hard to deal with.”
“I’m sure it is,” Jessica said, nodding.
“You’ve always loved staying home with Tucker and, well, life sometimes brings sad changes that we just have to go with.”
“That’s true,” Patty said quietly.
“Well, I’d better head home,” Jessica said, getting to her feet. “I have some groceries in the car. I hope you get your memory back soon, David. It must be awful not remembering the past.”
“Mmm,” he said. He knew his wife’s name now and the fact that she had been very angry about something. He hadn’t had an opportunity to tell Patty yet because the visitors had started arriving right after breakfast. “I’m just taking things a day at a time. This is Sunday and I’m meeting a whole bunch of MacAllisters.”
Jessica laughed. “Aren’t we awful? Who has been here today so far?”
“Well, I met your grandparents, Margaret and Robert,” David said. “Then your sister Emily stopped by with a baby girl in tow. She didn’t stay long because she and her husband were going to go watch their son in a swimming competition at the high school. Who else? Oh, yes, a pretty pregnant lady named Carolyn. She’s married to…wait a minute…oh, yeah, Patty’s brother, who is out of town.”
“This is getting embarrassing,” Jessica said, laughing merrily. “We should have just rented a truck and pounced on you all at once.”
“I’m surviving this, I think, although I’m sure my ears should be buzzing from all the talk about me once the guests leave.”
“You’d better believe it,” Jessica said. “But I’ll go home and report to Daniel that you’re a very nice man who has a sweetie pie for a daughter. She is so cute. Sarah Ann and Tucker look enough alike to be brother and sister.”
“You’re not the first to say that,” Patty said. “They have the same coloring.”
“So do you and David,” Jessica said. “No one would guess you’re not the parents of this brood because even Sophia has dark hair. Well, I’m off. ’Bye for now.”
Patty saw Jessica to the door, then returned to sit on the sofa.
“I’m sorry about this, David,” she said, turning her head to look at him. “You must feel like a bug under a microscope.” She paused. “I’d better go check on Tucker and Sarah Ann. Putting them down for a nap right after Jessica arrived might mean they’re still wired up and getting into mischief in there.”
“Okay,” David said. “Do you think that’s the end of the company for today?”
“Heaven only knows,” Patty said, laughing as she left the room.
David watched her go, shifted his leg to a more comfortable position on the pillow, then stared into space.
How should he say this to Patty? he thought. Hey, guess what, my wife’s name was Marsha and I don’t think she was thrilled to be with me.
David dragged a restless hand through his hair.
He should be pleased, he knew, that he’d remembered something as momentous as his wife’s name, but he couldn’t shake off the disturbing dream he’d had about how angry she’d been.
Of course, dreams were often images mixed together and making little sense. It wasn’t etched in stone as gospel truth that Marsha had been upset just because he’d dreamed that she was.
But he sensed, just somehow knew, that before Marsha had died, things had not been going well in their marriage. What had been wrong, he didn’t know at this point.
“Tucker and Sarah Ann are snoozing like little angels,” Patty said, coming back into the room carrying Sophia. “I snatched up this miss just as she was beginning to fuss for something to eat so she wouldn’t wake the other two.”
“Why don’t you let me hold her while you warm her bottle?” David said.
“Really?”
“Sure. I know you’re a whiz at preparing a bottle while juggling an infant because I’ve seen you do it, but make it easier on yourself. Hey, Sophia, truck on over here.”
Patty laughed. “She comes complete with delivery service.” She crossed the room and placed Sophia in David’s arms. “Back in a flash.”
David stared at the baby tucked in the crook of his arm. Sophia stared right back at him.
“Hi,” David said. “You sure are cute. No, you’re pretty, just like your mommy. Very, very pretty. So. How’s life?”
Sophia puckered up, blew a tiny bubble, then stuck her tongue out at David, who laughed in delight.
“Oh, yeah?” he said, chuckling. “And just what are your complaints, madam? From where I’m sitting you’ve got it extremely cushy around here. You have your mom trained very well already.”
“Here we go,” Patty said, returning with a bottle in hand. “I’ll take her now, David.”
“Could I feed her?” he said.
“Well, I… Yes. Why not?”
Patty handed David the bottle, then turned and went to sit in the easy chair where Jessica had been. She smiled as David poked the bottle in Sophia’s mouth.
“You look like a pro at that,” she said.
“Maybe I fed Sarah Ann a lot,” he said. “I feel very comfortable doing this.” He paused and looked over at Patty. “I… I had a dream last night, woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep for hours.”
“A dream about what?” Patty said, frowning.
“My wife. Her name was Marsha. Marsha Welsh Montgomery.”
“Oh. Well. That’s great, David, that you remembered something of such importance.” Patty attempted to produce a smile that failed to materialize. “Really…terrific.”
“You don’t sound thrilled, Patty.”
“I’m just surprised, that’s all,” she said. “Your wife has been sort of a cloudy figure but now she has a name. I believe you’re very close to remembering everything, David.”
“Maybe. When do I burp this kiddo?”
“Not yet.”
“Patty, in the dream Marsha was very angry. She was walking away from me carrying Sarah Ann, a younger Sarah Ann, then suddenly she put the baby down and disappeared. I was trying to get to Sarah Ann but… I’ve had flashes of a woman before and she was always furious, upset. I think perhaps Marsha and I were having problems in our marriage before she died. I don’t know.”
“Or maybe she was angry in the dream,” Patty said, “because you were very happy together and she didn’t want to leave you but knew she was going to because of an illness or whatever. Dreams can be interpreted many ways.”
“Your theory is interesting, but I don’t think it’s on the mark,” he said. “I get very unsettling vibes, for the lack of a better word, when I center on Marsha. I don’t want her here, in this home, where there’s sunshine and happiness and… Ah, I’m not making any sense.”
“Yes, you are,” Patty said quietly, “because as wrong and selfish as it is, I don’t want her here, either. We have this gift we agreed to share together and there’s no room for Marsha, for the truth of your reality. Oh, I sound like a terrible person. We should be cheering about the fact that you remembered her.”
“Hooray,” David said dryly.
“Shame on you,” Patty said, smiling. “That came across like ‘Hooray, I’m going to have a root canal.’”
“Because seeing her in the dream, feeling that anger coming from her in waves made me uncomfortable, as if a dark cloud was hanging over my head. Damn, this is all so confusing.” David looked at Sophia. “You didn’t hear me say damn.”
“Was Marsha…beautiful in your dream?”
“I couldn’t see her face clearly enough to know,” he said, looking at Patty again. “She had blond hair though.”
“Yet Sarah Ann has dark hair like you.”
“Everyone in this house has dark hair,” David said, “and it’s been pointed out more than once that we look like a family with the same coloring. Marsha doesn’t fit in.”
“Don’t say that, David. She was your wife. She was Sarah Ann’s mother. The three of you were a family.”
“A family where the wife and mother was very, very angry about something.”
“You don’t know that for certain,” Patty said. “It was a dr
eam, David. I think it would be best not to dwell on that anger you sensed, saw, and wait until you remember more.” She paused. “Sophia needs to be burped now.”
David set the bottle on the end table, then lifted the baby to his shoulder and patted her back. Sophia produced a very unladylike burp.
“Definitely a pro,” Patty said, smiling at him. “You’re a good daddy.”
“Yeah, but what kind of husband was I?”
Probably far, far better in that role than she had been in her role as a wife, Patty thought. David didn’t know for certain that Marsha’s anger in the dream was directed at him. But there was no erasing the stark fact that Peter had left her because she had failed him as a wife.
“Don’t torture yourself with guessing games,” she said, getting to her feet. “Be patient. Wait for your memory to come back completely. You’ll know the truths soon enough.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” David settled Sophia back down, then offered her the bottle again. “Look at her go. You’re a little piggy, Sophia. That’s good stuff, huh? Your mom is a great cook.”
“Who is going to go put a chicken in the oven if you don’t mind finishing feeding her.”
“Take your time,” David said. “I’m enjoying every minute of this.”
Patty started toward the kitchen, then stopped and looked back at the pair on the sofa.
What a lovely picture they made, she thought. Father and daughter sharing a special time together. The big strong man holding the fragile baby who was so safe in his arms and… Oh, Patty, shut up.
She spun around and hurried out of the room.
“Tucker, Sarah Ann,” Patty said, the next morning at breakfast. “Grandma Hannah is coming over to take care of you and Sophia in a little while. Grandpa Ted is going to take David to the doctor to have a checkup on his leg, and I’m going to my doctor to have a checkup on me.”
“Did you break yourself like my daddy broke his leg?” Sarah Ann said.
“No,” Patty said, laughing. “I’m sure you’ve had check-ups, Sarah Ann, just to be sure everything was all right.”
“Did I, Daddy?” Sarah Ann said. “Get checked up?”
Accidental Family (The Baby Bet: MacAllisters Gifts #14) Page 10
