EARLY EVENING, JENNIFER had pulled herself together and prepared dinner for her family. When she called the girls in to set the table, Missy asked, “Where’s Nick?”
“I’m sure he’s at home. He’s not part of our family, Missy. You know that.”
“But Nick is our daddy! He should be here for supper!” the child said firmly.
“I’ve told you before, Missy, he’s not your daddy. He’s our neighbor, that’s all.” And, she reminded herself, that was all he’d ever be. “Now, help your sisters set the table.”
When the phone rang, Jennifer grabbed the kitchen extension, which had a long cord so she could finish fixing dinner while she talked.
“Jennifer?” said a wavery voice she recognized at once.
“Grace, how are you?”
“I’m fine, but I need to pay my rent.”
“Uh, Grace, aren’t you at the assisted-living facility?”
“Yes, but it’s not as nice as my apartment.”
“But do you think you’ll be able to return to your apartment?” Jennifer asked, confused.
“Oh, yes.”
“Have you told your nephew that?” Jennifer asked. Grace Windomere had been a good friend of her grandmother’s, which was how she’d gotten the apartment.
“Why would I?”
“If you’re subletting the apartment to your nephew, you’ll need to tell him.”
“What nephew?”
Jennifer froze. Then she said, “Your nephew, Nick Barry. He said you sublet your apartment to him.”
“I don’t think I have a nephew.”
“Grace, are you sure?”
“Well, I should know.”
“Yes, you should,” Jennifer said, her mind racing. She found it hard to believe that Nick was a brazen liar. But it appeared he was.
Suddenly her breath caught and a wave of cold chilled her body. She’d left her children with the man. Whoever he was. She’d trusted him!
Putting the food on the table, she helped each child serve herself.
“Now, girls, I need to go say something to Nick. You stay here and eat your dinner. I’ll be right back. Okay? Steffi is in charge. You do what she says.”
With a backward glance, Jennifer hurried out of her apartment and banged on the door across the hall.
When Nick opened the door, she glared at him.
“Grace Windomere doesn’t have a nephew!”
Chapter Four
Nick stared at Jennifer. He’d expected a friendly greeting. Not an accusation. Then he pulled himself together and asked gently, “Do you know why Grace is in assisted living?”
“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
