The World's Best Dad. Valerie Taylor

      They both jumped when a light appeared in one of the windows. When Ben followed his son into what was obviously the child’s bedroom, Julie gave a guilty laugh. “Guess I don’t need to trim the hedges after all.” She called Marisa, and they turned to go into the house.

      The big mover was poking his head into the kitchen when Julie stepped in from the patio. “Oh, there you are, lady. Come here, I think you better look at this.”

      Julie’s heart sank as she followed him upstairs, trailed by Marisa. What now?

      Upstairs, in the bedroom that was supposed to be Julie’s, the mover opened the closet door. The floor was covered with water, which had splashed onto the walls.

      Julie looked up at the ceiling of the closet at a large, dark stain. As they watched, a drop of water formed and fell to puddle on the floor, splashing the walls.

      Marisa looked at the wet spot, then up at Julie. “If we had a daddy, I bet he could fix it.”

      BEN KNELT ON THE FLOOR in front of Joe’s bed and hustled the now-shivering child into a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Joe’s feet were clammy as he slid socks over them. “Weren’t you cold out there?”

      “N-no!” Joe shook his head, stubborn. “Cats aren’t cold outside. Cats are cold inside, though.”

      Ben bit back a laugh and gathered the child into his arms, rubbing him to warm him. He held him close for a moment, enjoying the feel of the small body in his arms. How much longer would Joe let his father cuddle him close? Ben felt a pang of yearning, part of him wishing he could keep Joe four years old forever. Nuzzling his neck and making snarfing noises, Ben carried Joe to the living room, grabbing the portable phone on his way out the front door.

      The two of them stepped under the front porch overhang at the new neighbors’. The front door was off the hinges, so Ben called in through the open doorway, “Telephone man.”

      Julie came around the corner, her red and white sweater setting off the flush of her face—not to mention hugging her curves. The faded jeans didn’t say anything bad about her, either. She smiled at him, her lips parting in a fascinating way. The little girl, Marisa, followed right behind her, almost clinging to her side.

      He held up the phone. “It should be all charged up, and at this distance you shouldn’t have any trouble. But if you do, I can bring over the charger.”

      She shook her head. “Won’t do any good. No electricity.”

      Marisa tugged on Julie’s arm. “It’s ’cause we don’t have a daddy. A daddy could turn the lights on.”

      Ben watched Julie bite her lip and sympathized. Joe was almost as good as Maggie at making Ben aware of all that he was not. He smiled at Marisa. “I thought you people just liked having the lights out.”

      Marisa laughed, and as he watched, Julie relaxed ever so slightly. “It was supposed to be turned on, but they still haven’t gotten to it. That was one of the things we needed the phone for.” She glanced over her shoulder as Carla walked into the room from the kitchen. “I was going to sic Carla on them.”

      “Grrr,” said Carla.

      He turned the handset over and started pushing buttons. “Here, let me try.”

      “I’m sure Carla can handle it.”

      Carla said, “Oh, let him try. Men love fixing problems. Makes them feel useful.” She grinned at Ben.

      He finished dialing, then listened while it rang. “Alberta Owen, please.” He waited a moment while the call was transferred.

      Her line clicked on. “Alberta.”

      “Alberta. Baby. Sweetheart.” He smiled, waiting for it.

      “Ben! Ben Harbison, you better not be sweet-talking me for help at four fifty-five at night. I’m late for the door.”

      “Guilty.”

      “Rascal. What is it?”

      “My new neighbor. She was supposed to have her power turned on, but it hasn’t happened. She’s moving into a dark house with her little girl.”

      “Address?”

      “Fifteen sixty-five Glenbeck.”

      “Oh, right next door, hmm? And is she pretty, this new neighbor?”

      His eyes shot to Julie, who was watching him. “Uh, yes.”

      “And will this make you the hero?”

      He coughed. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt any.”

      “Mmm-hmm. So Alberta gets to play Cupid, does she? Let me see…” He heard her fingers on her keyboard. “Mmm-hmm, should have gone on today. I can take care of it from here.” Another few keystrokes. “Okay, ready?”

      “Ready.”

      The living room’s overhead light came on.

      Carla gasped.

      Marisa clapped, and when Joe said, “My daddy can do anything,” she turned to Ben, her eyes shining.

      Ben grinned and looked at Julie. She was staring at him in astonishment, her mouth slightly open. He said into the mouthpiece, “Thank you, Alberta.”

      “Mmm-hmm. Invite me to the wedding, hear?” She clicked off.

      He pressed the off button on the phone and held it out to Julie. She stared at it for a moment, then at him. For a moment, her deep blue eyes on his, he was sure he’d blown it. Too sure of himself, as usual. He toned down his grin for a moment.

      Finally she smiled back at him. “Do you know anyone at Cincinnati Water? They keep saying they’ve turned the water on, but there’s no water.”

      Ben swallowed. “Er…did you check the main valve to the house?”

      Carla snorted.

      Julie narrowed her eyes at her friend in exaggerated irritation. “The main valve? No one said anything about a main valve.”

      Ben tried not to smile. “I’m sure very few people know about it. It’s practically a secret.”

      She turned her mock displeasure on him. “Just go get a wrench or something, okay?”

      “Right. C’mon, Joe.” He made his escape.

      Ben found his tool belt and strapped it on, then walked around Julie’s house until he found the water shutoff valve. Yep, it was off. He adjusted the fitting, then walked back into her house, Joe at his heels. “Try it now,” he said.

      Julie walked into the bathroom under the stairs, and he heard the water running. She came back out. “It’s brown, but at least it’s running.”

      Joe, apparently realizing he was trailing around after a bunch of adults doing boring stuff, turned to Marisa. “Do you like swings?”

      Marisa nodded and smiled shyly at him.

      “Want to go swing?”

      Marisa nodded, and the little boy grabbed her hand and tugged at her. She turned to Julie.

      Julie glanced through the open doorway. “Well, it’s starting to get a little dark….” She looked at Marisa. “But at least it’s stopped raining. Go ahead, honey.”

      The two children ran off, and Ben followed Julie into the kitchen. She watched as they ran through the backyard to Ben’s house. She turned to him, frowning slightly. “They’ll be okay, won’t they?”

      Ben nodded. What could happen to them? “They’re just out in the backyard. It’s probably been a pretty boring day for her, with moving and all.”

      She bit her lip. “I guess we can see them from here. Well, then, now that I have water—” Carla smirked, and Julie ignored her “—I guess I’ll start unpacking