Daddy Next Door

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“What does that matter?”

He smiled. “She’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She’s losing her memory.”

“So you thought you could take advantage of her?”

Nick sighed. “Do you want me to show you our family photo albums?”

“I can’t take the time. I left the girls eating. But if you have any proof, you can show it to me in the morning or you’ll be out of the apartment by noon!” Jennifer turned around and stalked across the hall, slamming her door behind her.

Nick felt like he’d been struck by a whirlwind. A very attractive whirlwind, but an angry one nonetheless. And he had no intention of waiting until morning to prove her wrong.

Because he was the oldest, when his mother died, he’d taken the albums she’d filled with family photos, some of which included his aunt Grace. He hadn’t completely unpacked yet, but he searched through the boxes until he found the album that held the older pictures. Then he headed for the apartment across the hall.

After he’d knocked and waited for several minutes, the door opened to Jennifer, still frowning. “What do you want?”

“I want to show you proof that Grace is my aunt.”

“How can you do that?”

“With the photos I inherited from my mother. If you’ll let me in, that is. Or we could go to my apartment.”

“I can’t. We’re finishing dinner. I have to—”

“Fine. I’ll come in,” he said, slipping past her, afraid she intended to shut him out.

“But—”

“Hi, girls. How’s dinner?” Nick asked as he entered the kitchen.

“It’s good,” Missy said at once. “But we don’t have any left for you, ’cept maybe some green beans,” the child said, peering into the serving dishes still on the table.

“I’m not here to eat, Missy, but thank you for thinking of me. I’m here to show some pictures to your mommy.”

“I don’t remember asking you to come in,” Jennifer said from behind him, resentment in her voice.

“I want to get this settled tonight so I don’t have it hanging over my head.”

“Fine! I’ll pour you a cup of coffee. Then I intend to finish my meal. You can just wait!”

With a cup of coffee included, he had no problem sitting at the table. “Thanks,” he said, and pulled out the chair next to Missy. “Hello, Steffi, Annie. Did you enjoy your dinner, too?” he asked, careful to add a gentle smile for Annie’s sake.

“It was good,” Steffi said. Annie just nodded.

Jennifer plunked down a mug of coffee in front of him and took her seat at the table. Ignoring him, she resumed eating her dinner.

Nick thought of the early preparations of his own dinner he’d left behind. He’d done some grocery shopping and had bought a frozen pizza. He’d just taken it out of the freezer when Jennifer knocked on his door. He’d left it on the kitchen counter.

Oh, well, it would be thawed out by the time he got back.

After several minutes of awkward silence, Jennifer said, “I didn’t ask if you’d eaten dinner.”

“I was fixing it when you…knocked on my door.”

She avoided his gaze. “Yes, well, I thought— I trusted you with my children. I’m not used to— I didn’t want to think that I’d trusted a liar.”

“I don’t blame you.”

His simple response brought her gaze to his face.

“I—I should’ve given you a chance to defend yourself.”

“It’s okay, Jennifer. I understand.”

“Quit being so nice! It makes my behavior look bad!” she exclaimed.

He grinned. “That wasn’t my intention.”

She seethed as she took another bite. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, open the album so I can see your proof and then you can go.”

“I’m in no hurry. Finish your dinner,” he suggested, smiling at her. He already knew she hated the thought of being wrong.

She stood and carried her plate and glass to the sink and disposed of what was left of her dinner. “I’m finished!”

“You’re trying to make me feel bad because I interrupted your dinner, but it won’t work. You’re the one who interrupted me.”

“So show me the damned picture and—” She looked up hurriedly at three pairs of innocent eyes. “I mean, if you’ll please show me the picture, we can both be satisfied.”

Missy stared at her. “My other mommy used to say that word all the time.”

“Oh, she talked about pictures a lot?” Jennifer hurriedly said, trying to cover up.

Nick grinned. He was enjoying watching her squirm.

“No, that dammed word. What does it mean?”

Nick could tell by Steffi’s face that she knew the meaning. Annie just stared at her dinner plate.

“It’s not a nice word, Missy, and none of you should use it. I lost my temper and it slipped out.”

“You were mad at Daddy?”

Jennifer drew a deep breath, growing more visibly exasperated by the second. “Missy, you must not call him Daddy. He—”

But Nick saw Missy’s sad face and interrupted. “It’s okay if we just pretend, Missy. I don’t mind.”

“Well, I do!” Jennifer returned vehemently.

Silence fell over the room.

“Girls, if you’ve finished eating, go wash up and I’ll put on the movie I was telling you about earlier.”

The room cleared almost instantly.

“That must be some movie,” he commented.

“It’s about a circus. An old Doris Day movie that I loved as a child.”

“I remember that one. It was good.”

“Yes. Now, show me the picture.”

And leave. They were words she left unspoken, but Nick heard them.

Without wasting any more time he opened the album and showed her several pictures of him and his family, including his aunt Grace.

Jennifer went over them with a shrewd eye. “I’m not sure that’s really her. It could just be someone who looks like her.”

With a sigh, he said, “We could go visit her in the assisted-living facility. Would that convince you?”

“Yes, but I can’t leave the kids.”

“You don’t have someone who could baby-sit them?”

“No.”

“Not even a friend who could watch them just for an hour?”

She closed her eyes and he gave her time to think over her friends.

“Maybe, but not tonight. I could try to get someone to look after them tomorrow for a little while.”

“Well, if you’ll let me stay in the apartment tonight, then we’ll go visit Grace tomorrow.”

“I suppose so…”

“Are you going to stay and watch the movie with us?” Missy asked Nick as she returned from washing up.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I don’t think I can. I haven’t been invited.”