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When they reached the food court, Nick noticed the McDonald’s nearby. “Do you mind if the girls have McDonald’s?”
“No, that’ll be fine. If you’ll stay here with the girls, I’ll go get their food.”
“You stay with them and I’ll go get the food. This meal’s on me. It’s definitely my turn.”
In no time he was back with three Happy Meals and drinks. Then he looked at Jennifer. “Now, what would you like?”
“I’d like a grilled chicken salad and a diet Coke.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be right back.”
He returned with two salads and two drinks.
“I didn’t mean you had to get a salad,” Jennifer protested as she saw he’d gotten himself the same thing.
“I like salads, too. Though I don’t eat a steady diet of them,” he assured her with a smile.
“How old are your sisters?” she suddenly asked.
He grinned. “Seven years younger than me.”
“All three of them?” she asked in surprise.
“Yeah. My mom had trouble getting pregnant after I was born, so she took fertility drugs and ended up with triplets.”
“Oh, my. I guess you do have experience,” she said in amazement.
“Yeah. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I got to do much of anything by myself.”
“What’s triplets?” Missy asked.
“It’s when your mommy has three babies at the same time,” Jennifer said.
Missy nodded, but Steffi looked puzzled. “You mean like us only all the same age?”
“That’s right. It makes everything much more difficult. With you being older, you can help your sisters. But Nick had to help all three of his sisters.” Jennifer grinned at him. “If you’d told me that earlier, I would’ve been easier about your helping with the girls.”
“I didn’t want to brag,” Nick said, trying to look modest.
“Yeah, right!” Jennifer said with a laugh.
“How’s your hamburger, Annie?” Nick asked. The little girl had yet to speak to him. He wasn’t sure she would speak to him now.
“Good,” she replied very softly.
“I’m glad. And yours, Steffi?”
“I like it. And I got a car as my toy.”
“Lucky you,” Nick said. “And, Missy? What did you get?”
“I got a cat, I think.” She held up a plastic figure.
“That’s Sylvester the cat. I think they’re bringing out a new movie about Sylvester the cat,” he said.
“Can we go?” Missy immediately asked.
Her suggestion put a pleasant thought in Nick’s head. He and Jennifer in a darkened movie theater—with the girls, of course. Still, he looked straight at Jennifer when he said, “I promise we will.”
Chapter Three
“I don’t think you have the right to promise that, Nick,” Jennifer said, her voice starchy.
“I didn’t think a movie would hurt.”
Jennifer, however, was more focused on the girls. “Have any of you ever been to the movies?”
Steffi shook her head. Annie just stared at Jennifer, wide-eyed. But Missy nodded.
“When did you go to the movies, Missy?” Jennifer asked suspiciously.
“Once, my old mommy took four of us to the movies and we had popcorn and candy and a Coke!”
“What did you see?” Jennifer asked, watching Missy closely.
“A movie. And we had to be real quiet!”
“Do you remember what happened in the movie?” Nick asked, hoping to help Jennifer.
Missy hung her head.
“Missy?”
She finally looked at Nick and confessed, “I threw up and my old mommy was mad because she didn’t get to see all the movie.”
“Missy, if it made you sick, why do you want to go again?” Jennifer asked.
“’Cause it was fun. It’s real dark and—”
“Never mind. We’ll discuss going to the movies when that movie comes out and I can decide if it’s appropriate for you.”
“What’s appropriate?” Missy asked.
Nick answered that question. “If it’s a show that’s good for you to see. Some of the movies are made for adults and you wouldn’t enjoy them.”
“Will you let me sit next to you, Nick, if we go to the movies?”
“Sure. We can even hold hands,” he told the little girl with a smile.
“We can’t expect Nick to come with us, Missy,” Jennifer said sternly. “So far, we’ve managed to take all his time since he arrived. I’m sure he has lots to do. He probably can’t come to the movies with us.”
Missy turned to Nick, her brown eyes wide, “Please, Nick?”
“I’ll try, Missy. But you know how it is. My schedule might get crowded.” He stared at Jennifer as he lied to Missy. He thought that was what she wanted.
“Okay. Has everyone finished eating?” Jennifer asked in a cheery voice. When the girls all nodded, she suggested a trip to the bathroom. “Nick, can you guard our bags?”
“I can, but if you’ll give me your keys, I could carry them all to the car and put them in the trunk. Then we can load up again when you buy other things.”
“Would you mind?” Jennifer asked. “That would be wonderful. We’ll be in the children’s department again.”
“I’ll see you there.”
He stood there watching as Jennifer led her three little girls to the bathroom. It reminded him so much of his childhood. When the triplets were four and he was eleven, their father had died, and he’d been responsible for the girls in the summer while his mother worked.
It had been hard on all of them, but they’d survived and forged a bond that kept them close. Two of them were married now and the third was living in New York City. He kept up with them, though; after all, it was what his mother asked of him before she succumbed to cancer a couple of years ago.
He shook off thoughts of his family and gathered up the shopping bags. He hoped Jennifer could afford all she was buying. Children were expensive in more ways than clothes.
When he got back to the children’s department in the store in which they’d been shopping, he didn’t see any of them. But as he drew closer to the dressing room, he heard their voices.
“I want to go outside with Nick,” Missy complained.
“Nick is putting our bags in the car. I need you to try on this outfit, Missy. I think it will look very nice on you.”
“But—”
“Missy, try on these clothes. Then we’ll go see if Nick is back and you can sit with him. Or maybe he can help you find some Sunday shoes and some sandals.”
“I get two new pairs of shoes?” Missy asked in astonishment. “But I already have these.”
He could picture Missy sticking out her feet to show Jennifer her tennis shoes.
“Just try on the clothes. Here, let me help you.”
He didn’t hear much until Missy spoke up again after a few minutes. “Now can I go see if Nick is back?”
“Yes, I’ll take you out there. Steffi, you and Annie stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m here, Jennifer,” Nick called. “Just send Missy out. I’ll take care of her.”
Instead, Jennifer came out with Missy. “Would you mind taking her just across the aisle to find Sunday shoes and sandals?”
“Sure. About what would you like to spend?”
She looked at him blankly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t know what little girls’ shoes cost. Probably something under fifty. I’ll come pay for them in a minute.”
Nick shook his head as Jennifer went back into the dressing room. He guessed she didn’t have to worry about money. Fifty dollars for kids’ shoes? He could do better than that.
In fifteen minutes, he had chosen black patent leather shoes and white sandals for Missy. She was so excited, he had trouble keeping her from charging across the aisle to show Jennifer before he paid for them.
When they got back to the dressing room, he sent Missy in to find Jennifer.
Jennifer came out at once. “Did you tell them I’d be there in a minute to pay for them? I didn’t think—”
“I paid for them, but I kept the receipt so you can pay me back. It was just easier that way.”
“Oh. I shouldn’t— I didn’t think— Thank you. I’ll write you a check when we get a moment.”
“Good. Now, are you ready for me to take one of the others shoe shopping?”
Jennifer frowned. “Annie is ready, but…”
“I’ll be very gentle with her and bring her back at once if she gets uneasy, I promise.”
“I’ll go ask her.”
In a minute, Jennifer came back out, holding Annie’s hand. “See, Annie? The shoes are just over there. Nick will take you to try some on. Then you can come right back here if I haven’t gotten over there yet.”
“Okay,” Annie whispered.
Nick thought it was a big step for Annie to trust him. He smiled warmly and offered his hand. It would be the first time he had touched her. Her big brown eyes held a lot of fear and hurt, but she slowly put her hand in his.
“Same shoes for her?” Nick asked softly.
Jennifer nodded. “I liked your choices for Missy, by the way. I don’t think she intends to take the sandals off even when she goes to bed tonight.”
Nick grinned. “She did seem to like them. We’ll try to find shoes that will make Annie smile, too. Right, Annie?”
She just stared at him.
He led her over to the shoe section and they looked at what was available in her size. Nick patiently waited for her to make her selection, but she kept watching him, as if afraid she’d anger him if she made the wrong choice.
“Annie, all these shoes are what Jennifer wants you to wear, so you can choose whichever you want to try on. There aren’t any bad choices. Just pick the ones you like most.”
More silence.
He waited patiently.
Finally Annie pointed to a pair of the dress shoes.
“Good. Are there any others that you want to try on?”
She shook her head. Her hand was trembling in Nick’s. He knew this was a big step for Annie. He settled her in a chair and got the saleswoman to bring her size. He also asked for three pairs of sandals to be brought out, all in styles different from Missy’s. He’d learned with the triplets to get everyone something different, something that suited their unique personalities.
Annie was quite different from Missy. She showed her enthusiasm with a quiet smile, by touching the shoes in a way akin to a caress. In no time she approved the shoes and picked out a pair of sandals.
“I like these,” she whispered, looking down at her newly shod feet.
