Daddy Next Door

“Okay, good choice, Annie,” he told the little girl, and paid for her shoes. Then he took her back to the dressing room and let her go show Jennifer.

Jennifer came out without Annie. “You did a great job. She’s overcome with excitement.”

“She has quiet excitement, doesn’t she?”

“Yes. I worry that she’ll explode if she doesn’t learn to express her feelings more like Missy.” Then Jennifer grinned. “But I’ll admit I might enjoy her excitement better than Missy’s some of the time.”

“I know. One of the triplets, Elizabeth, was very quiet, too. But she blossomed later.”

“You really do have triplet sisters?”

“Yes. Did you doubt me?”

“It just seemed such a perfect story to make me accept you. I began to doubt it as I thought about everything.”

He smiled. “Well, it really is true. Is Steffi ready for shoes?”

“Yes, we all are. I’ll go get everyone.”

After Steffi made her choices and Jennifer bought the shoes, they headed for the car, loaded down with packages again.

“It’s a good thing I’m a great packhorse, isn’t it?” Nick teased Jennifer as they reached the car. “And a good thing that you have a minivan. Otherwise, all these packages wouldn’t fit.”

“They’ll all fit. If they don’t, the girls can put them under their feet.”

“I was teasing. But you did buy a lot.”

“But the girls had next to nothing. Their clothes were worn hand-me-downs. Missy was so excited last night that she didn’t have to share a nightgown.”

“They put two kids in one nightgown?” Nick asked in astonishment.

“No. Quit teasing me. They had a community pile of nightgowns. She didn’t get the same nightgown every night.”

“And now she has a choice of nightgowns, all belonging to her?”

“Yes, and her sisters do, too. They all have enough clothes for the rest of the summer. In the fall they’ll be fitted in school uniforms. At least, Steffi and Annie will. Missy will go to a preschool. They don’t wear uniforms there.”

“What school are they going to?”

“Hockaday. It’s where I went to school.”

“Okay, I don’t have to ask if you’re counting your pennies if that’s where you’re sending the girls,” Nick said with a laugh.

“I don’t think I ever said I was,” she replied stiffly.

“No, but I did wonder as the number of packages grew.”

Straightening her back and lifting her chin, Jennifer turned on her heels, mumbling something about checking the girls’ seat belts.

What was it about her financial status that angered Jennifer? This was the second time she’d balked when he brought up money. He made a mental note to steer clear of any further comments.

He closed the back of the minivan and hustled around to the passenger seat. He figured he’d better get in before she drove off without him.

On the ride home there was no conversation, until Jennifer pointed out a grocery store.

“There’s the one where I shop,” she said. “It’s only a short distance from the fourplex.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll go later today.”

When they reached the fourplex, Nick began gathering packages to carry in to the apartment. Jennifer also came around to the back of the minivan with the girls and gave them each a package to carry in. She gave Steffi the key to unlock the doors.

“Sorry, I should’ve thought of that,” Nick said softly after the girls headed toward the apartment. “It was smart on your part to encourage them to help.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows and put a palm to her chest. “You mean I did something right? With all your experience, Mr. Barry, I guess you would know, wouldn’t you?”

“Are you making fun of me, Jennifer?”

“Well, you do seem to think you know better than me.”

She was baiting him, but he refused to bite. Instead he complimented her. “Just goes to show that your instincts are good even if you’ve never had kids before.”

Before she could reply, another car pulled into the small parking lot.

“Uh-oh,” Jennifer muttered.

Nick looked at the other car. “Is there a problem?”

“Not for you. It’s just my mother.”

He looked at the woman getting out of the car. She had Jennifer’s blond hair, but hers looked artificial. She was dressed in a chic suit and heels, and she wore a lot of gold jewelry. She also wore a frown.

“Jennifer,” she called sharply.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Have you lost your mind?” her mother demanded, ignoring Nick, as she approached them.

“I don’t think so.”

“My brother just complimented me on my daughter’s social conscience! When I assured him I didn’t know what he was talking about, he informed me that you have applied to adopt three little girls! I won’t have it! You must stop this at once!”

“I won’t do that, Mother.”

“But I won’t have it! You’ll ruin your life!”

“I’m going to adopt the girls. I believe I’m doing the right thing. And I won’t let you tell me what to do!” Jennifer finished with passion in her voice.

“It’s your grandmother’s fault, isn’t it? She made this possible. Otherwise, I’d just cut off your allowance and you’d do what I said!”