Читать книгу Accidental Family - Joan Elliott Pickart - Страница 9

Patty Clark maneuvered her eight-year-old compact car through Ventura’s heavy going-to-work traffic. It was a picture-perfect September day, and the glowing California sun in a brilliant blue sky dotted with puffy clouds promised to warm the chilly morning.

In the back seat, three-week-old Sophia slept peacefully in her secured carrier despite the fact that her three-year-old brother Tucker was chanting with the volume set on high.

“Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann,” Tucker yelled happily. “I’m gonna see my bestis friend Sarah Ann. Right, Mommy? We gets to go to Fuzzy Bunny and I can play with Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann.”

“Yes, that’s right, Tucker,” Patty said, laughing. “We’re going to the day-care center today, but remember it’s just this one time because Mommy doesn’t work there anymore. They need my help because they don’t have enough caregivers right now to take care of you busy bees.”

“And I gets to play with Sarah Ann,” Tucker shouted.

“Hush, sweetheart,” Patty said. “You’ll wake Sophia and she’ll probably cry all the way to the Fuzzy Bunny. We don’t want that to happen.” She paused. “Tucker, it’s been a little more than three weeks since we went to the center every day. We don’t know for certain that Sarah Ann still goes there. I don’t want you to be disappointed if you can’t play with her.”

“She’ll be there,” Tucker said, bouncing his hands on his booster seat. “Her daddy bringed her all the time. Remember?”

“Yes, that’s true,” Patty said, “but Sarah Ann started coming to the center only two weeks before we stopped going. Maybe her daddy doesn’t bring her anymore.”

“Yes, he does,” Tucker said, frowning. “I know he does. Sarah Ann likes being at the Fuzzy Bunny and her daddy smiled at her ’cause she likes it. I’m going to play with Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann.”

Patty tuned out Tucker’s excited mantra, realizing that her son was not going to accept the fact that his “bestis friend” might not be at the Fuzzy Bunny that morning.

Her daddy smiled at her.

Tucker’s words echoed in Patty’s mind as her thoughts drifted back to the two weeks that David Montgomery had brought his daughter to the center before Patty had left to give birth to Sophia.

Oh, yes, she mused, the handsome-beyond-belief Mr. Montgomery had, indeed, smiled at his daughter before leaving her in the morning and when he picked her up at precisely 5:45 p.m. He did not, however, share that smile with any of the caregivers, nor take a moment to say the standard “Have a nice day” to the staff. His focus had been on Sarah Ann and that was that.

Except… Well, yes, there had been that very brief exchange between herself and David Montgomery on her last day at the center.

It had all started when Susan, one of the other caregivers who was delightful to work with, had rushed up to Patty before David Montgomery arrived with his daughter.

“Today is the day,” the attractive Susan had said. “I can feel it in my bones. This morning when David Montgomery delivers little Sarah Ann, he is going to smile at me. I’ve done everything but stand on my head to get that handsome hunk of a man to acknowledge my existence with more than a quick nod and a frown. But I have these vibes, Patty. I do. Today he will smile…at me.”

Patty had laughed. “You’re positive about that, Susan?”

“Yes, I am,” she said, nodding decisively. “We know he’s a single daddy because there was no Mrs. Montgomery listed on the application blank he filled out for Sarah Ann. I am a single mommy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that gorgeous David should get to know gorgeous me, which would go much more smoothly if the darn guy would smile at someone other than his daughter.”

“Like you, for example,” Patty said.

“Exactly,” Susan said. “He’s been bringing Sarah Ann here for two weeks now. Enough of this grumpy stuff.” She paused. “Oh, there they are now, coming in the front door. This is it. Today is the day. Watch me in action.”

Patty followed slowly behind Susan, deciding that if the determined Susan actually managed to get David Montgomery to smile at her it was worth witnessing. He was, indeed, an extremely good-looking man.

He was tall, had black hair like her own, wide shoulders, long, muscular legs that were outlined to perfection in the faded jeans he wore, and the most incredible blue eyes she had ever seen. It was no wonder that Susan was all a-twitter over the I-only-smile-at-my-daughter David Montgomery.

“Good morning, Sarah Ann,” Susan said brightly, stopping in front of the pair. “And good morning to you, Mr. Montgomery.” Susan beamed.

David Montgomery nodded, then turned his attention to Sarah Ann.

“Have fun, sweetheart,” he said, smiling. “I’ll see you later. I love you.”

“Love you,” the little girl said, then dashed off to join in the fun, her short black curls bouncing.

David’s frown slid back into place as he watched Sarah Ann go without a backward glance at her daddy. Susan turned, rolled her eyes heavenward as she saw Patty standing there, then stomped off.

“Mr. Montgomery?” Patty said.

“Yes?” He switched his gaze slowly to Patty.

“I’m Patty Clark,” she said. “This is my last day here and I just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sarah Ann. She’s a bright, happy little girl.”

“Thank you,” David said, smiling. “I appreciate you saying that. I think she’s very special, but I’d be the first to admit that I’m very prejudiced when it comes to my daughter. But please call me David and I’ll call you Patty.”

“All right, and I feel the same prejudiced way about my son,” Patty said, laughing. “And I’m sure I’ll do the same when this little girl arrives.” She patted her stomach.

“You and your husband must be excited about having another child,” David said.

“I’m… I’m not married,” Patty said. “I’m divorced. But, yes, I’m certainly anticipating holding my daughter for the first time in just a few weeks. I…”

“Mommy,” Tucker said, running to Patty’s side.

“What can I do for you, sir?” Patty said, tousling Tucker’s dark silky hair.

“Can Sarah Ann come to our house to play on another day?” Tucker said. “Sarah Ann is my bestis friend.”

“We’ll see, Tucker,” Patty said. “But I can’t promise.”

“’Kay,” he said, then ran off.

“So that’s Tucker,” David said. “Sarah Ann talks about him at home a great deal.” He chuckled. “She says he’s her bestis friend the same way Tucker said bestis.”

“Picking your bestis friend is very important when you’re three,” Patty said. “Well, I must round up my group. Have a nice day, Mr. Montgomery… David. It was a pleasure chatting with you.”

“I enjoyed talking with you, too, Patty,” he said. “Goodbye.”

As David turned and left the building moments later, Susan rushed to Patty’s side.

“I don’t believe it,” Susan said, planting her hands on her hips. “He smiled at you, Patty. He even carried on an I’m-a-human-being conversation. That rotten so-and-so. What have you got that I don’t?”

Patty laughed. “A fat stomach. I’m what you would call safe, Susan. Women who resemble beached whales are not generally known to be on the make, so to speak. You, my dear, are just too pretty. Hence, you’re a potential nuisance to a man who no doubt has women fainting dead out at his handsome-beyond-belief feet.

“The fact that David Montgomery hasn’t even smiled at anyone except me, the blimp, says he’s focusing entirely on his daughter at this point in time. Get it?”

“I guess so,” Susan said, scowling. “But I sure don’t like it. What a sad waste of machismo.” She smiled again. “Well, there’s hope. The man can’t stay grumpy forever, for crying out loud. Did you see that smile, Patty? It just lit up his face and…” Susan flapped one hand in front of her face. “I’m over-heating.”

“Well, cool down and gather your wee ones,” Patty said, laughing. “It’s time to get organized here. With Marjorie at the dentist I’m in charge of this place for the moment and heaven forbid we don’t stay on schedule. Shoo David Montgomery out of your mind.”

“Easier said than done,” Susan said. “Okay. I’m off to do my thing with nary a thought of hunky David. Today…ta-da…we finger-paint. Oh, ugh. I’m not in the mood for that mess.”

Patty splayed her hands on her lower back, then shifted her gaze to the door David had disappeared through.

There was a time long, long ago, she mused, when she would have daydreamed about a man like David Montgomery just as Susan was. But those days were over. Forever.

“Green light, green light, green light,” Tucker yelled from the back seat, bringing Patty back to the present with a thud. “Go, go, go.”

The driver of the car behind Patty honked the horn as though thoroughly agreeing with Tucker that Patty should get a move on. She pressed on the gas pedal while ignoring the warm flush on her cheeks.

That had been a ridiculous trip down memory lane, she thought with a mental shake of her head. Why she had relived that conversation with David Montgomery she didn’t know. Well, enough of this nonsense.

Minutes later Patty was entering the Fuzzy Bunny, her arms full of Sophia in her carrier, her purse and a packed-to-the-brim diaper bag. Two caregivers waved from across the room. Tucker made a beeline for his favorite corner of the large sunny area where brightly colored, chunky wooden blocks waited to be turned into magical creations. Susan hurried to Patty and took the carrier containing a still-sleeping Sophia.

“Hello, pretty girl,” Susan cooed at the baby, then shifted her attention to Patty. “Oh, cripe, look at you. You’re skinny as a post already. Not a lump or a bump in those slacks you’re wearing. How did you do that? Do you know that a woman asked me when my baby was due and I was standing there holding a newborn Theresa in my arms? Talk about depressing. Even worse is that was seven years ago and I still haven’t shed the last ten pounds I gained during that pregnancy. Grim.”

“You have a…lush figure, Susan,” Patty said, smiling. “Very womanly.”

“You’d make a good politician,” Susan said, laughing. “Tell ’em what they want to hear.”

“What I want to hear,” Patty said, “is that David Montgomery is still bringing Sarah Ann here. Tucker is so excited about seeing his ‘bestis friend’ again and will no doubt pitch a royal fit if she doesn’t show up.”

“Oh, sexy David will be here with daughter in tow,” Susan said, “and frown in place. The man has not smiled at anyone except his kiddo since he had that chitchat with you. Do you think it would help if I tore off my clothes when he arrives? No, forget that. The extra ten pounds I spoke of is not an inspiring sight to behold. Anyway, it’s great to have you here today, Patty. Where do you want me to put Miss Sophia?”

“I’ll use Marjorie’s office for a nursery today since she’s away on vacation. Sophia can camp out on the owner’s turf.”

“Okay, I’ll carry her… Oops. Jeffery, the wheels stay on the truck. Do not… Too late. That kid kills a truck a day, I swear.”

“Go play mechanic,” Patty said, taking the carrier from Susan.

“Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann, Sarah Ann,” Tucker yelled, racing across the room. “You came. I told my mommy you would.”

Patty slid the heavy diaper bag and her purse onto one of the small child-size tables, then turned to see the front doors of the center swishing closed behind Sarah Ann and David Montgomery.

Oh, good grief, Patty thought. David Montgomery was even more ruggedly handsome than she remembered him being. He just oozed blatant masculinity, moved with a fluid male grace that said he was comfortable in his own body—a body that was so perfectly proportioned it was sinful.

Was that a sensual shiver slithering down her spine? No, it was not. Patty Sharpe Clark, don’t be absurd.

In the next moment her eyes widened as Tucker and Sarah Ann threw their arms around each other in a hug. Patty hurried forward, aware that while the pair were the same age Tucker was a stocky little boy while Sarah Ann was small-boned and delicate. An exuberant hug from Tucker Clark could result in Sarah Ann being squished to tears.

“Tucker, honey,” Patty said when she reached the children. “I know how happy you are to see Sarah Ann but you’re going to squeeze the stuffing out of her. Let her go, Tucker.”

“’Kay,” Tucker said. “Are you still my bestis friend, Sarah Ann?”

Sarah Ann nodded. “You’re my most bestis friend in the whole wide world, Tucker.”

“Come play blocks,” Tucker said, taking Sarah Ann’s hand.

“’Kay.”

“Goodbye, Sarah Ann,” David said. “I love you.”

“Love you,” she said, not looking at him.

The dynamic duo ran toward the far corner of the room.

“Well,” David said, chuckling, “I’d say that was quite a reunion.” He shifted his gaze to Patty. “You’ve been busy since you were here last.” He looked at Sophia, then back at Patty. “You have a beautiful daughter, Patty.

“I remember holding Sarah Ann when she was a newborn and thinking she was an honest-to-goodness miracle. I always thought I’d be the father to three or four kids, live in a home overflowing with love and laughter and…” He cleared his throat. “Does Tucker like his role of big brother?”

“He’s not overly impressed,” Patty said, laughing. “He wants Sophia to do something, not just eat and sleep.”

“She’ll get busy soon enough. They grow so fast. I’ve already been replaced as Sarah Ann’s bestis friend.”

“Oh, not really,” Patty said. “Sarah Ann dashes off when she gets here because she’s secure in the knowledge that you’ll be back to get her later. You’re her bestis daddy and she trusts you with such pure and awesome innocence.”

“I hope I can live up to that trust,” David said, looking directly at Patty.

“I… I’m sure you will,” she said, meeting his intense gaze.

Those eyes, she thought, rather hazily. They put a Ventura summer sky to shame. So blue, so… Goodness, it was warm in here. There was a strange heat consuming her, churning and swirling and… David Montgomery was pinning her in place with those incredible blue eyes.

“Well, I’d better be on my way,” David said, his voice sounding slightly strangled. “I assume you’re reporting back to work here?”

“Oh, no, not really,” Patty said, then drew a wobbly breath. “I’m just substituting today because they’re short on caregivers.”

“I see. Yes. Have a nice day. I’ll be back to collect Sarah Ann at the usual time. Goodbye.”

David spun around and strode toward the doors, soon disappearing from view.

“Goodbye,” Patty said quietly, watching him go.

Sophia squeaked, stirred and opened her eyes.

“Hello, sleepy girl,” Patty said. “Your silly mommy just got thrown off-kilter by a very handsome man, but there will be no more of that malarkey. I’m wearing my mommy hat and it’s staying firmly in place.”

Outside in the parking lot, David started the engine of his SUV, then hesitated before backing out, his gaze riveted on the door of the building.

Patty Clark was a very attractive woman, he thought. She appeared to be about thirty, had black, shiny hair that fell to just above her shoulders and dark, expressive eyes.

Even when she had been pregnant there was something about her that would definitely catch a man’s appreciative eye. And now? Whew. He’d felt the heat coiling low in his body when he’d looked into the dark depths of her eyes.

Man, Patty had a rough road to go. Divorced, the mother of a busy little boy and a newborn daughter? Her husband must have been a real scumball to make taking on what Patty was facing seem a better choice than to stay married to the jerk.

The next time he felt overwhelmed by the single-parent role he’d think of Patty Clark and what she was dealing with. Pretty Patty. He hoped she had family to lend her a hand, both physically and emotionally, a support group. Even still, that wouldn’t erase the fact that each night when Patty locked the door of her home against the world, she was alone to cope with the needs of those two children. Damn, that was a lot to handle and…

“Montgomery,” David said, shaking his head. “Why are you sitting here like a dolt mentally minding someone else’s business? Someone you don’t even know, and will probably never see again after today?”

David put the vehicle in reverse, checked his mirror, then backed out of the parking place. But before he drove from the lot, he looked at the doors to the Fuzzy Bunny Day Care Center one more time, the image of pretty Patty Clark flickering in his mind’s eye in crystal clarity.

It was a typical busy day at the Fuzzy Bunny. With twenty energy-filled children there were the usual squabbles, lots of laughter, a skinned knee that needed a special Bugs Bunny Band-Aid and a hug for the wounded warrior.

After lunch the children collapsed on tiny cots and took much-needed naps, allowing the caregivers to eat their own lunches and get a second breath. Patty ate quickly, then went into Marjorie’s office to give Sophia a bottle. She settled onto the soft leather chair behind the desk and fed her hungry daughter.

Patty’s mind drifted back to the conversation she’d had with David that morning.

He’d sounded so wistful when he’d spoken of having wanted a large family, she mused. Wistful and resigned to the fact that it wasn’t going to happen. Where was Sarah Ann’s mother, the woman who would have given David more children? David was probably wondering where in the world Tucker and Sophia’s father was. But, of course, one did not ask such personal questions of a person one hardly knew.

Patty sighed.

Her tale of woe would sound like a badly written soap opera, yet it was her reality and she’d been dealing with it inch by emotional inch over the past months, gaining at least a modicum of inner peace.

But would she ever totally forget the devastating pain she’d gone through when Peter had moved out of their home and into his secretary’s apartment the day after Thanksgiving, just before Patty had discovered she was pregnant with their second child? And as a Christmas gift? Peter Clark had served her with divorce papers one week before the special holiday.

She’d tried so hard to talk to him, to make him understand how sorry she was that she hadn’t been an adequate wife, that she’d do much better in the future if he’d only give her another chance. But no, his mind was made up. Their marriage was over, he was in love with his secretary and that was that.

She had failed.

She’d done her very best to keep the house clean and picked up despite having a busy little boy who left a trail of toys everywhere. She’d prepared nourishing meals with Peter’s favorite desserts made from scratch. She’d never pleaded fatigue or a headache when he reached for her in the night but… It hadn’t been good enough. She hadn’t been good enough.

She was a devoted mother. She knew that. But she had failed miserably in the role of wife to her husband, and because of that he’d left her for another woman who could and would meet his needs.

Because of her, Tucker rarely saw his father. More often than not he did not show up when he was scheduled to have Tucker for an outing. Tucker no longer asked about his daddy. When Peter did manage to come for his son, Tucker trudged out the doors with a frown on his little face, then ran into Patty’s embrace upon his return.

And this new baby? Patty thought, gazing at Sophia. When she’d told Peter she was pregnant he’d rolled his eyes in disgust and told her to have her attorney contact his attorney about adjusting future child-support payments.

He never acknowledged her changing body when he came for Tucker, nor asked how she was feeling or if she knew if she was having a girl or a boy. He knew when the baby was due but he hadn’t contacted her to see if she’d given birth. He just didn’t care.

Because she had failed as a wife.

To Peter she was the mother of his children, nothing more. Because she had that title he was going to have to fork over a chunk of his paycheck every month to help feed and clothe those children. Patty was an ex-wife, and he’d moved on to be with someone who knew how to perform in that role properly.

“Patty?” Susan said, coming into the office and snapping her back from her tormented thoughts. “This is the first chance I’ve had to really speak to you alone. Has Peter seen Sophia yet?”

Patty shook her head. “He knew when my due date was, but I haven’t heard from him. He hasn’t shown up on his scheduled visitation days for several months to take Tucker for an outing, either. Tucker rarely mentions his daddy anymore. Well, it’s Peter’s loss. I have two wonderful children and I’m enjoying being a mother to them more than I could ever begin to express in words. Life is good.”

“I don’t know how you can be so cheerful,” Susan said. “I’d have murder on my mind if a man did to me what Peter did to you, Patty. Every time I think about it my blood boils. But you? You just keep on smiling.”

Because she’d cried until she’d had no more tears to shed, Patty thought.