The Surprise Holiday Dad. Jacqueline Diamond

forehead wrinkled. “You were, uh, invited, right?”

      “Do lots of little boys have stray men crashing their parties with gifts?” Wade wasn’t sure why he felt cranky toward this guy, except that he’d stolen the father’s place today.

      “Sorry. It’s just that we haven’t met.” Despite the apologetic tone, Cole remained blocking the entrance.

      “You know all Dr. Cavill’s friends?”

      “Not exactly,” the man conceded. “My wife probably does. Stacy. She’s a surgical nurse at the hospital. Do you know her?”

      Way to act like an idiot, Wade. “Afraid not.” He decided to cut to the point. “I’m Reggie’s father.”

      Still looking puzzled, Cole moved aside. “I didn’t realize... Come on in. The party’s in back.”

      The scents of chocolate and cinnamon reached Wade the instant he stepped into the foyer. Quite a charming change from his father’s place, as were the bouncy music and cheerful voices drifting from the depths of the house. His mood lifting, he followed Cole.

      Glancing into the living and dining rooms that opened off the hall, he saw comfortable, well-maintained furniture, with bouquets of flowers that he guessed came from the yard. Everything appeared tidy and fresh.

      With a twist of longing, Wade recalled the house where he’d lived before his mother left. More modest than this one but just as inviting, it had smelled of lemon oil and baking. He’d hurried in after school each day, eager to eat his snack and spill the day’s events to Mom.

      Not that last year, though. Once he entered adolescence, Wade recalled with embarrassment, he’d become surly and quick to rush off with his friends. No wonder his mother hadn’t believed he’d needed her any longer.

      Now, passing the staircase, he entered the family room. Judging by the view through the bay window, most of the action was on the patio. “I’d better go check on the food,” Cole said. “Nice to meet you.”

      “My pleasure.” Wade stayed where he was, not quite ready to plunge into the mix of people outside.

      He was alone in the den except for two school-age girls who stood near the window. They seemed to be debating whether to take their stuffed animals outside and risk getting them dirty. Boys would never argue over something like that, Wade thought in amusement.

      “Mischief wants to run around,” said the shorter of the pair, a little charmer with elfin features. “He’s restless.”

      “He should follow Roar’s example.” Her taller companion, a graceful African-American girl, cradled her lion. “He’d rather watch the others and write about them later.”

      “I guess that’s okay.” The first girl clutched her well-worn bear. “Mischief, we can play later, okay?”

      The girls set their little pals in the bay window facing the yard and darted out through the kitchen. Following, Wade spotted Cole hovering near the oven.

      “I’d forgotten that boys this age still have girls as friends,” Wade remarked.

      “Berry and Kimmie are stepsisters,” Cole said, as if answering an unasked question. “Took them a while to warm up to each other, but now they’re best pals.” A timer rang. “Excuse me. That’s the gluten-free cupcakes.”

      “Gluten-free cupcakes?”

      “Some of the kids and parents have allergies.”

      Wade wondered how people kept track of such things. He’d have bought a cake at the store and been done with it.

      Moving through the sunny kitchen, he stopped by an open slider window to take in the scene. A handful of adults gathered on the patio while children galloped on the grass and walkways. Among the three or four little boys, he couldn’t tell which was Reggie.

      He ought to recognize his own son. Thanks to Vicki, he couldn’t.

      Behind them a vegetable garden still flourished in October. Wade identified squash, peppers and a stubborn tomato plant. Nice touch. His mom used to raise herbs and vegetables, too.

      Returning his attention to the patio, he noted a gift table. Should have wrapped this thing, he reflected. At least he’d attached a card.

      After setting the box on the pile, he tried to pick out Reggie’s aunt among her guests. Definitely the pretty blonde woman with her hair pulled back, although those coveralls didn’t fit his image of a starchy professional. Why was she hiding in such a shapeless garment? It failed to disguise her attractive figure, however, just as the no-frills hairstyle didn’t detract—much—from her lively face, intelligent light green eyes and full mouth.

      Wade registered the instant she recognized him. Disbelief flashed across her face, then disapproval, yielding at last to a painful attempt at a smile. Well, if she’d invited him, she wouldn’t have received such a shock.

      As she started in his direction, a tall woman with long brown hair followed her gaze, then said something and indicated the children. Adrienne nodded, and her friend—corralling a couple other parents, including Patty—began distributing yo-yos in the yard.

      With the others occupied, Adrienne approached Wade, her expression wary. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” Her warm, low voice stated that as a fact, not a challenge.

      Wade decided to try a diplomatic approach. As a police officer, he’d learned that a courteous tone often defused potential violence, not that he expected anyone to start throwing punches around here. “You’ve put together a great party. I didn’t mean to crash, but I was in the neighborhood.”

      She raised an eyebrow.

      “On purpose,” he admitted. “I was impatient to meet my son. Only I didn’t expect all these people.”

      Adrienne swallowed. “I thought it would be better for you to meet him next week, just the three of us.”

      “I’d prefer just the two of us.” Seeing her chin come up defiantly, he changed the subject. “How’s he taking the news?”

      “What news?”

      “About me.” That ought to be obvious, he thought.

      She averted her gaze. “I haven’t told him yet.”

      Anger boiled up, hot and fast. She hadn’t bothered to prepare his son, leaving Wade to break the news himself. “Did you think about his feelings?”

      “That’s all I thought about!” She glanced around, but no one stood near enough to overhear her sharp tone.

      “Could have fooled me.”

      “You might consider my perspective.” Tension bristled in her voice. “What if you didn’t show up? I’ve spent the past year helping my nephew deal with losing his mom. That’s all he needs, to get excited about his daddy and then be left with nothing.”

      “I wouldn’t do that,” he said tightly.

      “You accused me of ignoring Reggie’s feelings,” she responded. “That’s not fair.”

      Much as he hated to admit it, she had a point. “Perhaps.”

      She folded her arms. “Look, Mr. Hunter...”

      “Wade.”

      “Wade. Until a few days ago, I believed you were a deadbeat who dumped my sister and abandoned my nephew.” Her commanding expression warned him not to speak until she finished. “I understand now that wasn’t the case. But I love Reggie more than anything. I will make whatever sacrifices are necessary to give him a stable, loving home.”

      “So will I.” He meant that, even though he wasn’t sure how to accomplish it. Nevertheless, he grasped quite clearly what lay ahead when Reggie hit adolescence. This aunt might be strong—no doubt a lot stronger than her sister—but