know she’s not my mommy.” They had had this discussion several times over the past year. His daughter wanted to know what had happened to her mommy since everyone else at child care had a mommy. “But I think she’s someone’s mommy.”
“No, Ally, she’s not someone’s mommy. She lives alone.”
Ally frowned and stared at her father. “But she cut my sandwich into soldiers, and she gave me cookies.”
“Yes, she did, but she’s not someone’s mommy, and it’s important not to call her a mommy.”
“Would it make her cry?”
Jack couldn’t imagine Lauren McNabb crying. She was supposed to be tough as nails. In the office, where she was known as The Shark, they would laugh at even the suggestion that she would cry about anything. “No, she wouldn’t cry, but it might make her mad.”
“Oh. Am I going to work with you tomorrow?”
“No, I’m calling Mrs. Smith after dinner. I think she’ll keep you tomorrow.”
“I want to go with you.”
“No. Eat your dinner. It’s almost time for your bath.”
“I think she’ll miss me tomorrow.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re going to Mrs. Smith’s tomorrow. We’re not having a discussion about it.”
He hurriedly cleaned the dishes before he took his child to the bathroom for a quick bath. Then, looking like an angel in her nightgown, she hugged his neck and got under the covers. After she said her prayers, she whispered, “Please let me go with you tomorrow?”
“No, honey. You need to play with other children and color pictures. You’ll have fun tomorrow at Mrs. Smith’s.”
Once he had her settled, he went to the phone. He’d tried several daycare centers before they came home, but they were all full. So he was going to call Mrs. Smith, who’d taken care of Ally when she was a baby.
“Mrs. Smith? It’s Jack Mason. I’ve run into a problem with child care and I wondered if you could—”
“Mr. Mason, I can’t take care of children anymore. I was in a car accident and I can barely get around.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Uh, could you recommend some place where I could leave Ally?”
“No, not really. None of my friends keep children. What happened to the place you were taking her?”
“They left a child on that little bus and he died. The city shut it down.”
“That’s terrible. Don’t take Ally back there.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Well, sorry I can’t help.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Jack hung up the phone, at a loss. He had no more ideas of what to do with Ally except take her back to work with him for one more day.
He feared Miss McNabb would be pleased.
Chapter Two
Lauren had cleaned the house twice, redone her grocery list three times and thought about redecorating her living room. What else was she supposed to do with her time?
She’d even spent some time with her neighbor across the hall last night. Sherry was a nice woman, but they had little in common other than living across the hall from each other in the fourplex on Yellow Rose Lane. Sherry had seen Jack Mason come in yesterday morning, however, and she had questions.
“Who was that hunk who came over yesterday?”
“You must mean Jack Mason. He’s going to build some shelves in my new study.”
“My husband wouldn’t let him in the front door, looking the way he does. Good thing you’re not married.”
“He’s a handsome man, but he’s supposed to be quite talented as a carpenter.”
“Yeah, but he’s as handsome as sin. Of course, he brought a little girl with him. Do you take care of her?”
“No. He’s going to take her to child care today.”
“So it will just be the two of you? Let me know if you need company, you know, to break the sexual tension.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure we’ll be fine. He focuses on his work and hardly notices anything else.”
“Too bad. Well, keep me up-to-date!”
Lauren had promised she would, but knew she wouldn’t. There’d be nothing with which to update Sherry. Jack Mason was an attractive man, but she had no intention of getting involved with him.
His attractiveness assailed her when she opened the door to him at nine o’clock. It took a few seconds for her to realize Ally once again was in her handsome daddy’s arms.
“Ally, I’m so glad you came back to see me. Come in.”
After a moment, the man holding Ally said, “Do you mind if I come in, too?”
“Of course, Mr. Mason. I was expecting you.”
Lauren was a little embarrassed about her reaction to the little girl. She obviously had irritated Jack with her enthusiasm, too.
“I apologize for bringing Ally again. I couldn’t find anyone to take her.” He stood there stiffly, not moving past the front door, as if he thought she would deny him entrance.
“Are you a mommy?” the little girl asked suddenly.
“Ally, hush,” Jack Mason urged.
“Yes, sweetie, I’m a mommy,” Lauren said readily. She thought of herself as a mother; after all, she’d raised her siblings after their parents’ deaths.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d ignore any personal questions,” Jack said hurriedly. “Ally doesn’t know better.”
Lauren thought about explaining her life, but then she closed her lips and said nothing. Jack Mason was her carpenter, not her lover. That established, she directed him to the office.
With Ally staring at her over her father’s shoulder, Jack marched down the hall toward the empty office.
Lauren followed after a minute. He hadn’t brought in any supplies. She was curious about what he was going to do.
He was coming out of her office as she got to the door and they almost collided. “Oh, sorry,” she said.
“My daughter is drawing pictures and I’m bringing in supplies. If you’ll excuse me,” he said with exaggerated politeness.
She stood aside and waited until
