Daddy Next Door. Judy Christenberry

      “I thought I should tell you since I know teachers don’t make a lot of money.”

      “Like unknown photographers?”

      She stiffened. “I told you I had help from my grandmother.”

      “Sorry, that was out of line, anyway. If you’ll make me a map, I’ll get out of your hair.”

      “Of course. I’ll get pen and paper,” she said, still stiff, showing she hadn’t forgiven him. Rising, she left the room.

      Nick cleaned off the table and loaded the dishwasher.

      “What are you doing?” Jennifer asked as she returned.

      “Hoping to get you to forgive me,” he told her, offering his best smile.

      “There’s nothing to forgive,” she assured him, not meeting his gaze.

      “Yes, there is. You’ve taken me in and fed me twice, and I’ve repaid you by being rude.”

      “Please,” she said, pushing her chin-length hair behind her ear, “it doesn’t matter.”

      “Jennifer,” Missy called out and they both heard the patter of her little feet. Before they could turn around to look, she was in the kitchen with them. “Don’t I look beautiful?” Missy demanded, glowing.

      Jennifer laughed, a sound full of joy. “You absolutely do, but you should wait for me to tell you, instead of asking.”

      “But what if you forget?” Missy asked, puzzled by that social rule.

      “Well, then I think you could ask.” Jennifer reached out to hug the little girl. “Where are your sisters?”

      “They’re still getting dressed. They had lots of buttons,” Missy assured her.

      “Okay, maybe I should go help them. And we have to brush your hair.”

      “Oh.” Missy didn’t look very happy about that chore. “Sometimes it hurts.”

      “Bring me the hairbrush and I’ll be gentle,” Nick promised, smiling at Missy.

      “No, I’ll take care of it, as soon as I help the others finish dressing,” Jennifer assured him, and jumped up from the table to go to the little girls’ bedroom.

      Nick sat there for a minute, knowing he hadn’t gotten his map, but he’d gotten so much more. Just as he started to stand and leave, Missy returned with the hairbrush.

      “Don’t pull!” she ordered sternly, at least as sternly as a three-year-old could be.

      “I won’t. Let’s move in here,” he said, leading the child to the living room. He sat down and pulled Missy onto his lap. “Okay, now, I’m going to be gentle, but if it hurts, tell me.”

      “Okay!” Missy agreed. She was holding herself stiffly, reminding him of her new mommy. But as he worked on her hair, as he once had his little sisters’ hair, she gradually relaxed.

      “There, you’re all done. Do you have a bow or a barrette to put in your hair?”

      “Yes, I have a bow. I’ll go get it.” She hurried out of the room.

      Nick hoped she returned before Jennifer did. When she came running down the hall, he thought he’d be able to finish his job before Jennifer appeared. But she called for Missy just before she reached Nick.

      “Missy? Where are you? I need to brush your hair, too.”

      “Nick did it, Jennifer!” Missy called out and kept running to Nick. She handed him her bow. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

      “Definitely beautiful.” He gently pulled the long hair back and put the bow in place. “Perfect,” he said, and bent forward to kiss her on the cheek.

      To his surprise, the little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I love you.”

      “Missy!” Jennifer said sharply over Nick’s shoulder.

      The child, with no fear, jumped down and ran to Jennifer. “Don’t I look beautiful?” she demanded with a big smile, using what appeared to be her favorite word.

      “Yes, sweetheart, you do. I hope you thanked Nick for his hard work.”

      “I did. Can he come with us?”

      “No, we’re going to be shopping for clothes, and men don’t like to do that. Besides, he needs to go to the grocery store.”

      “I could do my grocery shopping later,” he offered, watching her.

      “No. It would be absurd to drag you along on our shopping trip. You’d hate every minute of it.”

      “Actually, as the oldest child, I had three little sisters, and my mother put me in charge of them often. I would enjoy the shopping trip and you might need help with three of them.”

      “Please, Mommy?” Missy said, surprising both him and Jennifer.

      “That’s the first time you’ve called me Mommy,” Jennifer said, looking teary-eyed.

      “Is that okay?” Missy asked.

      “Of course it is, sweetie,” she said, scooping the child up into her arms.

      “If you let him come with us, I would hold Nick’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost,” Missy said, her arms around Jennifer’s neck. “And he can tell me I look beautiful!”

      The other two little girls came down the hall, all neat and tidy, and Nick took the opportunity to praise their appearances also.

      “I don’t— This is ridiculous!” Jennifer said under her breath.

      Nick, however, had an angle he didn’t think she would refuse. “Have you ever thought that it might be good therapy for…someone, to know a man who isn’t bad?”

      “How do I know you aren’t bad?” Jennifer demanded.

      “I’m just a teacher who helped raise his three sisters. I’m used to girls. Besides, I’m Grace’s nephew.”

      “Don’t you have something better to do with your time?”

      “Actually, I don’t. This way I’ll get to see lots of Dallas and find out where things are.”

      “Please!” Missy added to his cause.

      “Oh, all right, but don’t blame me if you get bored!” Jennifer said. She picked up her purse from a nearby table. “Are we ready, girls?”

      “Yes,” Steffi said, taking Annie’s hand. Missy struggled out of Jennifer’s hold to come collect Nick. “I’ll take care of you, Nick.”

      “Thank you, Missy,” he said, trying to sound like he needed a three-year-old’s watchful eye.

      Jennifer rolled her eyes and headed for the door.

      TWO HOURS LATER, NICK was impressed with Jennifer’s endurance. She still seemed to be enjoying herself. Missy, however, was worn out. She sat curled in his lap while the other girls continued to try on clothes in a nearby dressing room.

      “I’m hungry,” she complained.

      “Me, too. How about I take us all to lunch?”

      “Yeah! Can we go to McDonald’s?”

      “I’m not sure Jennifer would like McDonald’s. We’ll see.”

      Just then Jennifer and the other two girls came out of the dressing room.

      “Mommy, Nick said he would take us to McDonald’s!” Missy said, scooting out of Nick’s lap to reach for Jennifer.

      “I’ll buy you lunch when it gets—” She stopped to look at her watch. “Oh, I had no idea it was almost two o’clock.