Wife. She had been a pseudo-wife to David for this brief interlude they’d had together. They’d been a family, the five of them, doing all the things together that families engaged in. In the role of wife-for-the-moment, the mama bear, she should be standing ready to see the husband, the father bear, through this trying and difficult time he was facing.
But was she doing that? No, not Patty Sharpe Clark. She was, instead, wallowing in self-pity because her fantasy world was about to return to the reality that she was a single mother raising two young children. Alone. Which was par for the course, she supposed, because she had failed Peter.
And tonight she had failed David.
David was convinced that he had a major flaw—the inability to see women as they really were instead of what he believed them to be. It was obvious from what he had related that Marsha had not shown her true colors until she had gotten pregnant.
David shouldn’t blame himself for choosing a vivacious, outgoing woman to be his wife, someone who added excitement and fun to his existence.
There was no way he could have known how self-centered and selfish Marsha was because that part of her hadn’t surfaced until she was carrying his child. David was standing in harsh judgment of himself, which he didn’t deserve.
The same would hold true if history had been different. If David Montgomery had met, fallen in love with and married her, Patty Clark, in the distant past, he would have learned through no fault of his own that she was not capable of meeting his needs in the role of his wife.
That glaring truth had been very evident again tonight as she’d left him alone to deal with his demons and retreated to her bedroom where she could sniffle into her pillow and think only of herself and what she would no longer have when David returned home.
Oh, Patty, go to sleep, she ordered herself. She didn’t feel like spending any more time in her own company. Tomorrow morning she would once again mesh the woman with the mother, focusing on Tucker and Sophia, ignoring the woman within her until she was eclipsed by the mother who was very, very good at what she did. She was a wonderful mother and she would hold fast to that truth like a lifeline.
Patty pulled her hand slowly back from where it was splayed on David’s space in the bed, then turned over and faced the other way. She centered her thoughts on what she would do in the light of the new day to bring smiles to the faces of her children, ignoring the tears that slid down her cheeks.
At breakfast the next morning Patty kept up a nearly non-stop chatter directed at the children about what a nice sunny day it was, and how if they finished their eggs they could watch an hour of Saturday cartoons, then informing a babbling Sophia that she was getting to be such a big girl, just growing so fast, and on and on.
When Tucker and Sarah Ann had cleared their plates, Patty found the proper television channel for them, then placed Sophia in her carrier next to the pair on the floor.
“There you go,” Patty said brightly. “One hour of cartoons, no more, then I’ll get you dressed. Okay? Enjoy.”
She zoomed back into the kitchen, throwing a glance in David’s direction where he still sat at the table. He had his elbows propped on the placemat and his coffee mug nestled in his hands as he watched her begin to clean the kitchen.
“You’re chipper this morning,” he finally said quietly.
“It’s Saturday,” Patty said, concentrating on wiping off a counter that was already sparkling clean. “It’s silly when you realize that I’m home every day anyway, but there’s something different about Saturdays, a sense of freedom and fun, chores put on hold so there’s more time to be with my children.” She attempted a laugh that didn’t quite materialize. “I told you it was silly.”
“Patty, could you come sit down over here? Please?”
“Well, I’d really like to get this kitchen shipshape while the kids are occupied with their rationed cartoon time and—”
“Please?”
Patty stilled, sighed, then rinsed out the cloth and hung it over the faucet. She walked slowly to the table and sat opposite David, immediately beginning to trace the outline of the fire truck on Tucker’s placemat with one fingertip.
“Patty,” David said, “look at me. I’m not in the mood to play second fiddle to a picture of a fire truck.”
Patty clutched her hands in her lap and met David’s frowning gaze.
“Yes?” she said, her voice not quite steady.
“We both know,” he said, fatigue evident on his face and in his voice, “that there is no longer any reason for me to stay here in your home. We were waiting for my memory to return and it has. It’s time for me and Sarah Ann to leave.”
“But you don’t have the housekeeper you spoke of last night,” Patty said, an edge to her voice. “You can’t possibly prepare proper meals for Sarah Ann because you’re a terrible cook. Wouldn’t it be best for Sarah Ann if you interviewed women for the position of the part-time housekeeper while you’re still here? It would make the transition so much easier for your daughter, David.”
“I—”
“For that month or so that you were getting settled and brought Sarah Ann to the Fuzzy Bunny,” Patty rushed on, “what did you do about dinner after you picked her up?”
David shrugged. “I took her to a family restaurant or a fast-food place, or had take-out delivered to the house. I made her toast, cereal, fruit for breakfast. A temporary diet of dinners that don’t contain all the major food groups or whatever isn’t going to do permanent damage to a healthy little kid.”
“No, but it isn’t necessary for her to eat meals like that because you can stay right here until you find the perfect housekeeper to prepare your dinners and keep your home spick-and-span.”
David narrowed his eyes. “Why are you doing this? Why are you pushing for us to stay when we both know the agreement was that I would leave when my memory came out of mothballs?”
“Because it would be best for Sarah Ann,” Patty said, leaning forward slightly.
“Oh? Or maybe there’s more to it than that,” he said, his voice sharp. “Like, oh, let’s see here. My entertaining the kids while you cook dinner without little fingers in the way? Or my willingness to give Sophia her bottle while riding herd on the others so you could have some private time at the mall or wherever? And there’s my helping with bedtime stories, and hauling groceries and pitching in a buck or two to pay my share.”
Patty felt the color drain from her face. “What are you saying?”
“Wait, wait,” David said. “I’m not finished with my list. Let us not forget, Ms. Clark, that dynamite sex is very much in this mix. Night after night of good, ol’ lusty sex. My point is, Patty, that I can’t help wondering if you want us to stay on here now for reasons other than it being best for Sarah Ann.”
“You don’t mean that,” Patty said, shaking her head. “You can’t believe I’m using you to make my life easier with the children and to satisfy my sexual urges and…
“David, you’re obviously tired, and I’m assuming you didn’t sleep well last night because you had so much to deal with, so many memories to deal with. Let’s just forget this nasty conversation took place, shall we? You can scoot into my bedroom and take a nap.”
“You’re treating me like a child again,” David said, none too quietly. He glanced quickly at the kitchen doorway, then lowered his volume when he spoke again. “You’re really in your mother mode this morning, huh? I thought you’d become comfortable as a woman around me. Obviously I was wrong. But that should come as no surprise to me because I have a heavy-duty history of being wrong about what I believe about a woman.”
Patty’s eyes widened. “Is that what this is all about? You’re suddenly looking at me through the eyes of the man who saw what he wanted to see in Marsha? You’re doing that to me after all we’ve shared? Our gift, our special and beautiful gift? Oh, David, don’t do this.
“I’m me— Patty,” she went on, splaying one hand on her breasts. “How can you question my
motives like this? What’s next? You wonder if I’m trying to snag you as my next husband because I like the size of your bank account?
“I mean, hey, I’ve made it clear that I don’t want to return to teaching or leave my children in day care. What better way to be able to stay home than to latch on to a money machine, a guy with deep pockets? Is that scenario on your mind, too, David?”
David didn’t speak. His face was suddenly void of any readable expression as he stared at Patty.
“David?” Patty whispered. “You can’t believe that. Not that or any of the other hateful things you said. Oh, please, David, you know who and what I am. You do.”
“No,” he said, his voice gritty with emotion. “I know who I want you to be, who I’ve convinced myself that you are. But the truth of the matter, Patty? Now that I know who I am, I have to face the truth, the fact that I really don’t know you at all.”
Chapter Eleven
Patty had to tell herself to breathe, to inhale, then exhale, and to ignore the searing pain from what David had said that was slicing through her.
Do not cry, she ordered herself. She would not allow this man to shred her pride as well as her…as well as her heart. No, forget that. Her heart wasn’t involved in this, not one iota. But then again, oh, dear heaven, she was going to fall apart, just dissolve into a weeping mess.
“I…” she said, pushing herself to her feet. “I’d better go check on the children. Yes. I need to do that.”
Before Patty could escape from the kitchen and from David, Tucker came running into the room.
“Mommy, Sarah Ann throwed up all over Sophia and the floor and it’s really yucky and gross.”
“What?” Patty said, staring at him with wide eyes. “Oh, good heavens.”
Patty ran from the room with David hobbling right behind her and found the scene in front of the television in the living room exactly as Tucker had described it. With the arrival of the adults, Sarah Ann burst into tears. Patty dropped to her knees beside her.
“It’s all right, sweetie,” she said, placing one hand on Sarah Ann’s forehead. “You’ve got a little tummy bug, that’s all.”
“She was fine at breakfast,” David said.
“This is how quickly kids can get sick,” Patty said, not looking up at him. “Come on, Sarah Ann, let’s get you into a warm tub to clean you up, then tuck you back into bed.”
“What do you want me to do?” David said.
Patty got to her feet and spun around to face him.
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, a definite edge to her voice. “One of the reasons I’ve urged you to stay here is to be available to help me with the children. Well, fine. Get the baby’s bathtub and some clean clothes for her and tend to her in the kitchen. Or you can give Sarah Ann her bath.”
“No,” Sarah Ann said, sniffling. “I want you, Patty. My tummy hurts. It does.”
“Daddy will take care of you, Sarah Ann,” David said.
“No,” she said. “I want my mommy. I want Patty.”
“But…” David said.
“This isn’t the time to argue the point,” Patty said. “Come on, Sarah Ann. David, give Sophia a bath. Tucker, stay put in front of the television for now, but stay away from where Sarah Ann was sick, sweetheart.”
“’Kay,” Tucker said, plunking back down on the floor.
“Whatever,” David said, starting across the room. “I’ll get Sophia’s bathtub. But I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my own daughter and—”
“No, no, no,” Sarah Ann said, then fresh tears started.
Close to an hour later, David sank onto the sofa with a freshly bathed and dressed Sophia in his arms. He poked a bottle in her mouth and she ate with gusto as she stared at him.
“You’re as good as new,” he said, looking at the baby. “The kitchen is a disaster, but it will have to wait for now. You’re a trooper, Sophia. I don’t think I would have been as pleasant as you if a kid threw up breakfast on me. You’re a sweet girl and…and I’m going to miss you, munchkin.”
Tucker turned from where he was still watching cartoons while sitting on the floor.
“How comes you’re going to miss Sophia?” he said. “She can’t go on a trip or something without all of us ’cause she doesn’t even know how to walk or anything like that. She has to stay right here, so you don’t have to miss her, David.”
“Tucker,” he said quietly, “you have to remember that Sarah Ann and I don’t really live here. We’ve just been visiting until…until my leg was a bit better, which it is. It’s time Sarah Ann and I went to our own house to sleep.”
Tucker jumped to his feet and came to where David was sitting, flinging himself across one of David’s thighs.
“I don’t want you to leave,” Tucker said. “Your leg isn’t all better ’cause you still gots that thing on it. You should stay here longer, David. Sarah Ann is my bestis friend and we have fun and stuff. And you have fun ’cause you laugh a lot. You like it here, don’t you? Sure.” His bottom lip began to tremble. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Oh, man,” David said. “Tucker, don’t cry. Okay, buddy? Come on, show me a big smile.”
Tucker levered himself upward and folded his arms over his little chest.
“No,” he said, tears filling his eyes. “I won’t smile for you ever again, ever. I want my mommy.”
Tucker ran down the hall, and David’s shoulders slumped. He pulled the bottle from Sophia’s mouth, set it on the end table, then lifted her to his shoulder where he patted her gently on the back. Sophia began to fuss.
“You’re unhappy, too?” he said, lowering her again and offering the bottle which she refused to accept. “I’m batting a thousand here. Shh. Don’t cry. That’s it. Close your eyes. Nappy time. That’s my girl. Shh.”
Sophia’s eyes drifted closed.
That’s my girl? David mentally repeated. No, Sophia wasn’t his. She belonged to Patty, just as Tucker did. And at the moment his own daughter preferred Patty over him.
Patty.
God, he’d ripped into her, couldn’t seem to stop the hateful words that had poured out of his mouth, one after another. He’d ignored the pain he’d seen on her face, in her beautiful dark eyes, and just kept flinging accusations at her.
All of which could very well be true.
All of which could very well be false.
He didn’t know what the truth was, he thought miserably, and that was his flaw, the thing he had to protect himself against. Each cutting word he’d said to Patty was a brick in the wall he was building around his heart to keep it safe from her, to be certain she didn’t stake a claim on it.
But, oh, God, he’d hurt her so badly. What kind of a man did something like that? She’d opened her home to him and his daughter, strangers really, who needed help through a crisis. She’d treated Sarah Ann with loving care, as though she were her own daughter and she’d given the very essence of herself to him in the form of the gift, their incredibly wondrous lovemaking.
But why had Patty done all those things? David thought. Because she was the sweet, honest, caring woman she presented herself to be, or because she was setting him up to achieve the goals of her own selfish agenda? He didn’t know what the answer to that question was, didn’t possess the ability to tell fact from fiction in regard to who a woman really was.
And so he had to go, leave this home and Tucker and Sophia. Leave Patty. He had to do that to be assured that he didn’t make another major mistake in his life the way he had when he’d believed in Marsha. He had no choice in the matter. None. Ah, hell, what a mess.
David was pulled from his tormenting thoughts by Patty coming into the living room carrying Tucker, who had his arms wrapped around her neck and his face buried in her shoulder.
“Was it really necessary, David,” Patty said tightly, “to announce that you’re leaving and taking Sarah Ann with you while we’re in the midst of an upset around here? Your timing leaves a lot to be desired, mist
er.”
“I’m sorry,” David said, struggling himself to his feet. “You’re right, and I apologize. Hey, Tucker, come on, buddy, we’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“No,” came the muffled reply.
“Dandy,” David said. “I’ll go put Sophia in her crib. How’s Sarah Ann?”
“She’s sleeping,” Patty said, rubbing Tucker’s back in a circular motion. “She has a slight temperature and I gave her some baby aspirin. I’ll have a better idea of what is going on with her when she wakes up. Tucker, honey, I have to scrub the carpet by the television so you sit on the sofa for now.”
“No,” Tucker mumbled.
“I’ll clean the carpet,” David said, “after I put Sophia down.”
“Fine,” Patty said coolly, sinking onto a chair with Tucker. “That’s part of the reason I’ve kept you around. Good old manual labor. Yep. Feed you a meal or two and put you to work. Can’t beat that plan.”
“Patty, look,” David said. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you the way I did. I was so harsh. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t given Sarah Ann and me a place to stay while I was waiting for my…” He glanced at Tucker. “You know, for things to return to normal so I could tend to my daughter properly. I’m very grateful to you for what you’ve done for us.”
“But you’re questioning my motives for doing it,” Patty said, not meeting his gaze. She shook her head. “I don’t wish to discuss this further. Come on, Tucker, I’ll push you on the swing while David scrubs the carpet so you won’t be in his way.”
“’Kay,” Tucker said, then wiggled to get down.
Patty set him on his feet and he took off at a run for the back door, with his mother following slowly behind him. David watched them go, then went down the hallway and settled Sophia in her crib. He checked on Sarah Ann, sitting on the end of the bed and watching her sleep for a while, frowning as he saw the unnatural flush on her cheeks. With a sigh, he returned to the living room to scrub the carpet.
Accidental Family (The Baby Bet: MacAllisters Gifts #14) Page 14
