Accidental Family. Joan Elliott Pickart

picked her up at precisely 5:45 p.m. He did not, however, share that smile with any of the caregivers, nor take a moment to say the standard “Have a nice day” to the staff. His focus had been on Sarah Ann and that was that.

      Except… Well, yes, there had been that very brief exchange between herself and David Montgomery on her last day at the center.

      It had all started when Susan, one of the other caregivers who was delightful to work with, had rushed up to Patty before David Montgomery arrived with his daughter.

      “Today is the day,” the attractive Susan had said. “I can feel it in my bones. This morning when David Montgomery delivers little Sarah Ann, he is going to smile at me. I’ve done everything but stand on my head to get that handsome hunk of a man to acknowledge my existence with more than a quick nod and a frown. But I have these vibes, Patty. I do. Today he will smile…at me.”

      Patty had laughed. “You’re positive about that, Susan?”

      “Yes, I am,” she said, nodding decisively. “We know he’s a single daddy because there was no Mrs. Montgomery listed on the application blank he filled out for Sarah Ann. I am a single mommy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that gorgeous David should get to know gorgeous me, which would go much more smoothly if the darn guy would smile at someone other than his daughter.”

      “Like you, for example,” Patty said.

      “Exactly,” Susan said. “He’s been bringing Sarah Ann here for two weeks now. Enough of this grumpy stuff.” She paused. “Oh, there they are now, coming in the front door. This is it. Today is the day. Watch me in action.”

      Patty followed slowly behind Susan, deciding that if the determined Susan actually managed to get David Montgomery to smile at her it was worth witnessing. He was, indeed, an extremely good-looking man.

      He was tall, had black hair like her own, wide shoulders, long, muscular legs that were outlined to perfection in the faded jeans he wore, and the most incredible blue eyes she had ever seen. It was no wonder that Susan was all a-twitter over the I-only-smile-at-my-daughter David Montgomery.

      “Good morning, Sarah Ann,” Susan said brightly, stopping in front of the pair. “And good morning to you, Mr. Montgomery.” Susan beamed.

      David Montgomery nodded, then turned his attention to Sarah Ann.

      “Have fun, sweetheart,” he said, smiling. “I’ll see you later. I love you.”

      “Love you,” the little girl said, then dashed off to join in the fun, her short black curls bouncing.

      David’s frown slid back into place as he watched Sarah Ann go without a backward glance at her daddy. Susan turned, rolled her eyes heavenward as she saw Patty standing there, then stomped off.

      “Mr. Montgomery?” Patty said.

      “Yes?” He switched his gaze slowly to Patty.

      “I’m Patty Clark,” she said. “This is my last day here and I just wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know Sarah Ann. She’s a bright, happy little girl.”

      “Thank you,” David said, smiling. “I appreciate you saying that. I think she’s very special, but I’d be the first to admit that I’m very prejudiced when it comes to my daughter. But please call me David and I’ll call you Patty.”

      “All right, and I feel the same prejudiced way about my son,” Patty said, laughing. “And I’m sure I’ll do the same when this little girl arrives.” She patted her stomach.

      “You and your husband must be excited about having another child,” David said.

      “I’m… I’m not married,” Patty said. “I’m divorced. But, yes, I’m certainly anticipating holding my daughter for the first time in just a few weeks. I…”

      “Mommy,” Tucker said, running to Patty’s side.

      “What can I do for you, sir?” Patty said, tousling Tucker’s dark silky hair.

      “Can Sarah Ann come to our house to play on another day?” Tucker said. “Sarah Ann is my bestis friend.”

      “We’ll see, Tucker,” Patty said. “But I can’t promise.”

      “’Kay,” he said, then ran off.

      “So that’s Tucker,” David said. “Sarah Ann talks about him at home a great deal.” He chuckled. “She says he’s her bestis friend the same way Tucker said bestis.”

      “Picking your bestis friend is very important when you’re three,” Patty said. “Well, I must round up my group. Have a nice day, Mr. Montgomery… David. It was a pleasure chatting with you.”

      “I enjoyed talking with you, too, Patty,” he said. “Goodbye.”

      As David turned and left the building moments later, Susan rushed to Patty’s side.

      “I don’t believe it,” Susan said, planting her hands on her hips. “He smiled at you, Patty. He even carried on an I’m-a-human-being conversation. That rotten so-and-so. What have you got that I don’t?”

      Patty laughed. “A fat stomach. I’m what you would call safe, Susan. Women who resemble beached whales are not generally known to be on the make, so to speak. You, my dear, are just too pretty. Hence, you’re a potential nuisance to a man who no doubt has women fainting dead out at his handsome-beyond-belief feet.

      “The fact that David Montgomery hasn’t even smiled at anyone except me, the blimp, says he’s focusing entirely on his daughter at this point in time. Get it?”

      “I guess so,” Susan said, scowling. “But I sure don’t like it. What a sad waste of machismo.” She smiled again. “Well, there’s hope. The man can’t stay grumpy forever, for crying out loud. Did you see that smile, Patty? It just lit up his face and…” Susan flapped one hand in front of her face. “I’m over-heating.”

      “Well, cool down and gather your wee ones,” Patty said, laughing. “It’s time to get organized here. With Marjorie at the dentist I’m in charge of this place for the moment and heaven forbid we don’t stay on schedule. Shoo David Montgomery out of your mind.”

      “Easier said than done,” Susan said. “Okay. I’m off to do my thing with nary a thought of hunky David. Today…ta-da…we finger-paint. Oh, ugh. I’m not in the mood for that mess.”

      Patty splayed her hands on her lower back, then shifted her gaze to the door David had disappeared through.

      There was a time long, long ago, she mused, when she would have daydreamed about a man like David Montgomery just as Susan was. But those days were over. Forever.

      “Green light, green light, green light,” Tucker yelled from the back seat, bringing Patty back to the present with a thud. “Go, go, go.”

      The driver of the car behind Patty honked the horn as though thoroughly agreeing with Tucker that Patty should get a move on. She pressed on the gas pedal while ignoring the warm flush on her cheeks.

      That had been a ridiculous trip down memory lane, she thought with a mental shake of her head. Why she had relived that conversation with David Montgomery she didn’t know. Well, enough of this nonsense.

      Minutes later Patty was entering the Fuzzy Bunny, her arms full of Sophia in her carrier, her purse and a packed-to-the-brim diaper bag. Two caregivers waved from across the room. Tucker made a beeline for his favorite corner of the large sunny area where brightly colored, chunky wooden blocks waited to be turned into magical creations. Susan hurried to Patty and took the carrier containing a still-sleeping Sophia.

      “Hello, pretty girl,” Susan cooed at the baby, then shifted her attention to Patty. “Oh, cripe, look at you. You’re skinny as a post already. Not a lump or a bump in those slacks you’re wearing. How did you do that? Do you know that a woman asked me when my baby was due and I was standing there holding a newborn Theresa