When she pulled the sheets from Sarah Ann’s bed so they could be washed, Patches the bear tumbled to the floor.
“Oh, great,” Patty said aloud, snatching up the shabby toy.
She plunked down on the edge of Tucker’s bed and stared at the bear that still boasted a bandage of duct tape.
Sarah Ann was already upset about leaving here, she thought. When bedtime came and it was discovered that Patches was not there, the little miss would no doubt bring down the roof.
Oh, what to do, what to do? She could, she supposed, protect her own fragile emotions and mail the bear to Sarah Ann tomorrow. No, that would be rotten. The image in her mind of that sweet child crying herself to sleep because Patches had been left behind was grim, very bad. Patty sighed, then narrowed her eyes and told herself to get a plan.
“Got it,” she said, a few moments later.
She was not prepared to see David so soon after discovering that she was in love with him. Oh, no. No way. Must not happen. So. She’d put Patches in a plastic bag from the grocery store, sneak up to the Montgomery front door and tie the bag on the knob. Upon returning home she’d have Tucker telephone Sarah Ann and tell her where precious Patches was.
And why could Tucker not get out of the car and visit his bestis friend? His crummy mother would lie through her teeth and tell him that Sarah Ann was napping and polite people did not disturb those who were sleeping.
“Not bad,” Patty said, nodding decisively. “My nose will grow, but that’s the way it goes.”
When Tucker appeared after his snooze, Patty explained that she had found Patches in the bedclothes. Yes, they must return Sarah Ann’s favorite toy to her immediately, but, my, my, look at the time. Sarah Ann was napping. The grocery bag was produced, the plan laid out, and before Tucker could complain, Sophia was retrieved from her crib and they were off on their mission.
The closer they came to David’s house, the bigger the knot in Patty’s stomach grew. She was so furious with herself for having lost her heart to David, and she needed time, time, time to deal with the hopelessness of it all, to begin somehow to push the memories of him from her mind and heart. She certainly wasn’t prepared to see him just hours after he had left her home, that was for sure.
At David’s house, Patty turned off the ignition, then whispered to Tucker that she would be right back. She snatched up the plastic bag and ran to the front door. Bending over as though that would make her closer to invisible, Patty leaned forward and began to tie the bag onto the knob. She had nearly completed the task when the front door swung open.
Patty was so startled she toppled over, landing on all fours in front of David. She cringed, then looked up and up and farther up to see his frowning face.
“Well, hi,” she said, forcing a smile to materialize.
“What are you doing?” David said. “Are you suddenly into peeping through keyholes?”
“Don’t be silly,” Patty said, getting to her feet with less than graceful form. “Patches got left behind and I was returning it without disturbing Sarah Ann’s nap by ringing the doorbell.”
“Sarah Ann isn’t napping.”
“She could have been,” Patty said, planting her hands on her hips.
“Is that your story and you’re sticking to it?” David said. “Or could it be that you’re attempting to avoid seeing me?”
“Why would I do that?” Patty said, concentrating on straightening her T-shirt over the waistband of her jeans. “Gotta go. Kids in the car.”
“Tucker,” Sarah Ann yelled, appearing in the doorway. She zoomed out the door and headed for the car. “Tucker, Tucker, you came to visit.”
“No, Sarah Ann,” Patty called after her. “We didn’t come to visit. We just wanted to bring Patches to you so that… Darn it.”
“If you drive off now I’ll have to go through another tantrum thing with Sarah Ann,” David said wearily. “You’d better come in for a few minutes.”
“Gosh,” Patty said dryly, “how could I refuse such a gracious invitation.”
David sighed. “I’m sorry. That sounded rude. The truth of the matter is, Patty, that it’s going to take some time to adjust to being here. You know, just me and Sarah Ann. We…she…okay…we will miss you. And Tucker and Sophia.”
“We’ll miss you, too, David,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Very much. You…you and Sarah Ann.”
They continued to look into each other’s eyes, each ticking second bringing a memory of precious sharing to the fronts of their minds. And with the memories came the desire and the heat. And the secrets kept of their love for each other that couldn’t, wouldn’t, be spoken in words.
Patty finally tore her gaze from David’s, ignoring her racing heart and the heat pulsing low in her body.
“Would you like a glass of lemonade?” David said, his voice gritty. “A quick snack might satisfy the kids as far as being an official visit.”
“Yes, all right,” Patty said. “I’ll go get Tucker and Sophia out of the car. I have the baby locks in place and Tucker can’t open the back door.”
A short time later the group was at the large kitchen table with glasses of lemonade and a plate of rather stale store-bought cookies. Sophia was on the table in her carrier.
“I have three interviews set up for housekeepers tomorrow,” David said. “I’ll keep Sarah Ann home from the Fuzzy Bunny because I want to see how these women interact with her.”
Patty nodded.
“Before I forget,” he went on, “I want to thank you for making the effort to bring Patches over here. Bedtime would have been a disaster without that bear.”
Patty nodded.
“Let’s go to my room, Tucker,” Sarah Ann said, sliding off of her chair.
“’Kay,” Tucker said.
“Ten minutes. That’s it,” David said. “And there will be no fussing when it’s time for Tucker to go home. Right, Patty?”
Patty nodded.
The pair ran from the room and Patty stared at Sophia’s foot that was waving in the air as though it was the most fascinating foot Patty had ever seen.
“Is there some reason why you aren’t speaking?” David said.
Because she was a breath away from crying, that’s why, Patty thought frantically. She could feel the achy sensation in her throat and the tears stinging the back of her eyes. She was sitting across the table from the man she’d fallen in love with, and he’d never know how she felt. She had nothing to offer him, nothing.
Oh, sure, she could be a terrific mother to his daughter but so would the woman he hired as a housekeeper. He’d pay someone to be there to hug and hold Sarah Ann. But the role of wife was far, far different.
She was also assuming that David had deep feelings for her and would even want her to be his wife, which was probably ridiculous. Oh, yes, she was about to cry and she wanted to go home.
Patty sniffled. “My allergies are acting up. That’s why I’m not saying much. Talking aggravates my allergies. Unusual, but true. Yep, my allergies are very strange.”
“You never mentioned that you’re bothered by allergies.”
“Didn’t I? Well, I am. Sometimes. I just never know when they’re going to give me fits.” Patty got to her feet. “Well, we must go. Thank you for the snack. Good luck tomorrow with the interviews. I’m sure you’ll find someone who is perfect for the job. Someone who loves children, who will realize there’s more to do here than cook and clean. Someone who will meet Sarah Ann’s emotional needs as well as the basic physical ones.”
“The way you did,” David said, looking directly at her.
“That was different, David. You’re now talking about paying someone to do what I did from my heart. Sarah Ann will know if the woman is sincere. It’s so important that… I’m sorry. I’m lecturing you and it’s none of my business. It’s just that I love your daughter…” And you. “…and I want her…” And you. “…to be happy.”
And I love you, Patty Clark, David thought as he rose and
came around the table. She wasn’t having an allergy attack. That trembling in her voice, the shimmering in her eyes, was caused by tears. She was crying and he didn’t know why and he hated to see her upset and… Oh, hell.
David closed the distance between them, gripped Patty’s shoulders, lowered his head and kissed her so intensely that Patty was convinced she was going to faint dead away. Then the kiss gentled and she leaned into it, savoring it and every wondrous sensation sweeping through her body.
Oh, David, David, David, her mind hummed.
Patty, David’s mind thundered.
He broke the kiss and released her, slowly and so very reluctantly.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, hearing the raspy quality to his voice. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” Patty said dreamily, then blinked. “I mean, I… I accept your apology and… Oh, forget it.” She went to the side of the table and lifted Sophia’s carrier. “Would you call the kids downstairs, please? We really must go. Oh, and don’t forget to retrieve Patches from the doorknob.
“Patty…”
“I can’t talk anymore. Allergies.”
Patty hurried from the room and went to the front door where she counted down the seconds until she could escape from this house, knowing she still didn’t have a clue how to retrieve her heart from David Montgomery.
The exit was a blur and Tucker pouted all the way home because he wanted to play longer with his bestis friend. Patty just sniffled and decided she just didn’t have the energy to attempt to do her cheerleader-mother routine to bring a smile to her son’s face.
The remainder of the day dragged by, and with a grateful sigh Patty finally read a story to Tucker and kissed him good-night. She fed Sophia, then shortly afterward went to bed herself where she was finally able to give way to the tears that had been threatening for hours.
She cried until she was exhausted, then finally slept, only to wake at dawn and realize that she’d dreamed of David.
The next day David hired the second woman he interviewed for the job of housekeeper. Rosa was a plump Italian woman in her mid-forties with sparkling dark eyes and a hearty laugh. She was widowed, and her children and grandchildren were scattered across the country.
When she invited Sarah Ann to sit on her lap, the little girl hesitated only a moment, then extended her arms to Rosa to be lifted up and snuggled. Sarah Ann proceeded to tell Rosa that Tucker was Sarah Ann’s bestis friend, she missed him, and she missed Patty and Sophia, and so did her daddy because his eyes didn’t smile anymore.
“Oh?” Rosa said, then looked at David questioningly.
“Long story,” David said, then cleared his throat. “Let’s settle on the hours you’ll work. Okay?”
It was agreed that Rosa would arrive after lunch, tend to the house and laundry, then pick Sarah Ann up at the Fuzzy Bunny about four o’clock. Rosa would prepare dinner, serve it, then clean the kitchen before going home.
“I’ll be out looking for office space, then setting up my new law practice once I find what I want,” David said. “Down the road, when I have some clients, I might have to work late occasionally but I don’t intend to make a habit of it. Sarah Ann comes first with me.”
“And this Tucker, Patty and Sophia?” Rosa said. “Will they be visiting? Having dinner with you sometimes? I don’t mind cooking extra because it reminds me of when I had my family around me.”
“I… Um…” David said.
“Daddy?” Sarah Ann said, sliding off Rosa’s lap and staring at her father. “Aren’t they going to come to visit and eat dinner and do stuff and everything? I miss them and I know you do, too. I know, I know, I know. You like them lots ’cause you hug them and kiss them and stuff. You give Patty mommy-kisses. Those are different from kid-kisses.”
“What?” David said, his eyes widening.
“We sawed you. Me and Tucker. You and Patty were doing a mommy-and-daddy kiss in the kitchen.”
Rosa laughed in delight as David felt a warm flush creep up his neck.
“Not to worry,” Rosa said. “There’s always extra food on Rosa’s stove for company.”
“Good,” Sarah Ann said decisively. “Then Tucker and Patty and Sophia can come lots of times to eat with us.”
“I’m not taking part in this discussion,” David said, rolling his eyes heavenward.
It was agreed that Rosa would start work at the Montgomery home the following Monday, giving David the remainder of the week to finish unpacking the boxes still scattered through the house.
By Thursday afternoon David admitted defeat. Sarah Ann had whined and fussed since Rosa had left the house on Tuesday. She had nothing to do and no one to play with, Sarah Ann moaned dramatically. Why couldn’t Tucker come over and play? Why couldn’t Daddy quit doing stuff with those boxes and push her on the swings? Why couldn’t she go to Tucker’s house for a play date?
David called the Fuzzy Bunny and informed them that Sarah Ann Montgomery would be attending the day-care center on a daily basis again, beginning tomorrow. He anticipated, however, he told the woman he spoke to, that Sarah Ann might have a rocky readjustment due to the fact that her “bestis” friend Tucker Clark would not be there to play with her.
“We’re accustomed to handling situations like that, Mr. Montgomery,” the woman said. “Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll see you and Sarah Ann in the morning.”
In the middle of the next morning, David carried a kicking and screaming Sarah Ann into the Fuzzy Bunny and set her on her feet. She immediately dissolved into a heap on the floor and wailed.
“Sarah Ann,” David said. “Stop it right this minute.”
“I wants Tucker,” she yelled. “Tucker, Tucker, Tucker.”
Susan hurried to greet the pair.
“Hi, Sarah Ann,” she said cheerfully. “How’s things down there on the floor?” She looked at David. “She’ll be fine. She’ll connect with another child and won’t miss Tucker so much once she gets involved in play.” She paused. “So, how’s Patty?”
“Patty?” David said.
“Patty Clark?” Susan said. “Who rushed to your rescue and played Florence Nightingale because you had amnesia? Took you home and nursed you back to memory and health? That Patty? My cousin is a nurse at the hospital.”
“Oh,” David said, nodding. “I see. Well, um, Patty and her children are fine, and I’m very, very grateful for all that she did for me and Sarah Ann, believe me. My memory returned, I have this manageable walking cast, and Sarah Ann and I are back in our own home.”
Susan sighed. “And Patty’s raising those two little ones alone. I’d like to give that ex-husband of hers a piece of my mind. The thing that really disturbs me, though, is that Patty is determined never to marry again. She plans to devote herself to her children and that is that. I’ve argued the point with her until I’m blue in the face and she won’t budge.”
“What?” David said, leaning forward slightly.
Susan moved closer to him to be heard over Sarah Ann, who was setting time records for hollering.
“It’s true,” Susan said. “She’s going to be both mother and father to those kids and won’t even entertain the idea that a wonderful man might come into her life and wish to marry her. She doesn’t want any part of that scene again. No way. It’s such a shame. She’s only thirty years old and has so much to offer a man and… Enough of this. Sarah Ann isn’t going to stop this racket until you leave. See you later, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Yes. Fine,” David said, frowning as his mind echoed with the words that Susan had just spoken. He looked at Sarah Ann. “Are you sure you want me to leave when she’s acting like that?”
“Oh, yes. Go.” Susan flapped her hands at him. “She’ll stop before you get out of the parking lot.”
David nodded and left the building, later only vaguely able to remember the drive home. In his kitchen he sat down at the table with a glass of orange juice and mentally replayed yet again what Susan had said.
Patty is determined never to marry again…doesn’t want any part of that scene…she’s going to be both mother and father to those kids.
Was it feasible, David thought, his mind racing, that his doubts about Patty were unfounded? He’d automatically questioned her motives for being so kind to him and to his daughter, wondering if her real agenda was to snag a money-machine-man who would make it possible for her to stay home to raise her children as she had always planned to do.
Had he transferred the lingering pain of Marsha’s betrayal and deceit onto Patty and declared her to be a carbon copy of his wife simply because she was a woman? He’d convinced himself that he had a major flaw, couldn’t determine whether a woman, any woman ever, was who she presented herself to be.
Maybe…maybe?…that wasn’t true? He had made one horrific mistake in believing in Marsha, but that didn’t necessarily mean that every member of the female species was cut from the same cloth, for heaven’s sake. Perhaps he’d been too hard on himself and had, therefore, slam-dunked Patty due to his own lack of confidence.
She didn’t want his money or his muscles, David thought, feeling the color drain from his face, or his extra set of hands to help carry the load of raising children. Patty didn’t want anything from him at all but the short-term sharing of the gift they had agreed upon. He was now probably out of sight, out of mind as far as Patty Clark was concerned. And to reinforce that attitude of hers, big-mouth him had put her under a bare lightbulb and demanded to know what she was truly after.
“Ohhh, no,” David said with a groan, as he dragged both hands down his face. “What have I done? I love that woman. I’m in love with Patty, damn it.”
Patty is determined never to marry again.
“We’ll see about that,” David said, getting to his feet.
Accidental Family (The Baby Bet: MacAllisters Gifts #14) Page 16
