The Dad Next Door. Stephanie Dees

it okay if I see if I can find them? I can put Tinkerbell here into the barn.” It wasn’t any of the grateful scenarios he’d imagined—Amelia didn’t smile or hug him—but she had spoken to him of her own free will.

      One step at a time.

      “Tinkerbell is the perfect name. I love it! While you look for the kittens, your dad and I are going to check out the cabin on the other side of the pond.” Claire started around the water’s edge. The sun was easing toward the horizon, the sky streaky with pink and orange fingers of light.

      Joe followed Claire, for once glad that the sunglasses he wore hid his eyes. Amelia had such a hard time trusting, but Claire had seen that the animals were a key to reaching her and hadn’t hesitated. Maybe it was just his daughter, but Claire definitely had a way with kids.

      The small cabin was tucked into the woods behind the main house. The place had obviously seen better days, but even in the current condition, the view of a crystal-clear spring-fed pond went into the pro column. A rocking chair or a swing on this porch would be really nice.

      She pushed open the door and let him walk in first. He took off his sunglasses and tucked them in his front shirt pocket. Dust swirled in the dim room. It had a kind of charm, if you went for dark and brooding.

      “It was apparently a foreman’s cottage in the years Red Hill Farm was a working plantation. I thought it might make a good office for me, but it’s going to be a while before I get to it.”

      He didn’t say anything. She was obviously optimistic. It might make a good office, if she plowed it over and started again. Did he really want his daughter here? He opened a cabinet door and it fell off its hinges.

      Claire jumped as it hit the floor. “Wow. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. It’s going to take a lot of work to make this place livable.”

      He heard a suspicious rustling sound in the bottom cabinet and elected to ignore it. “Let’s just check it out.”

      “What’s going on?” Amelia bounced into the space, her eyes sparkling even in the dim light, a tiny black-and-white kitten cupped in her hands.

      “We’re looking to see if the cabin might work out for us.”

      Hope burst onto Amelia’s face and she danced into the front room. “We’re going to live here?”

      Joe sent Claire a look over his daughter’s head. “Not necessarily. And only for a while, until my shoulder is better.”

      “Please, Joe. I’ll help with the chores. I’ll do whatever you ask.” Her eyes brightened as inspiration struck. “I’ll eat breakfast every day.”

      A small smile escaped Claire’s control, but she didn’t say anything.

      Joe tried to summon his mean cop face, but the hope that this might be some kind of breakthrough with his daughter kept it from being very effective. “You’ll eat breakfast with me? Without an attitude?”

      Claire shoved one of the front windows up to let some air into the musty space. “Don’t answer that, Amelia. You should probably check out the bedrooms before you decide.”

      Amelia looked around. “It’s not that bad. We could paint it.”

      “There are two bedrooms with a bathroom in between.” Claire sneezed.

      “There’s a bathroom?” Joe raised an eyebrow.

      “No need to go outside. Amenities are assured here at Red Hill Farm. The place is really small, though, smaller than I thought at first glance last night.”

      “It’s not small. It’s cozy.” Amelia ran from one room to the next, then popped back out into the main room. “Here, hold the cat. Can I have the bedroom on the right?”

      “Uhm, sure.” It was pure reflex that had Joe cupping his hands around the little kitten. It looked as stunned as he felt, little black eyes blinking at him. Amelia had gone from not speaking a word to chattering away, and it was weird. Twilight Zone weird.

      Claire lifted the baby from his hands and snuggled it under her chin. “Tell you what, why don’t we forego the rent for now? You fix the place up in your spare time. Clean it up, coat of paint, buff the floors. And when Amelia’s not working in here, she can help me with the animals.”

      The Twilight Zone thing was still kind of buzzing in Joe’s head, but he had the good sense to nod. “Yeah, fine with me.”

      Amelia bounced on the bed in the room she’d picked, a cloud of dust pluming around her. Claire shook her head. “I’m pretty sure I’m getting the better end of that deal.”

      Joe coughed, made a face, then coughed again. “You’re right about that. We’ll come back tomorrow after school and get started cleaning this place out. Amelia, it’s time to go.”

      They stepped out into the light and Joe slid his sunglasses on. “Why don’t you come back to Bertie’s with us tonight? She’ll have some kind of huge dinner and expect me to eat it all. Plus, if you’re not there, she’s just going to be grilling me about you. If you come, you’ll be doing me a favor.”

      Amelia butted in. “Come to dinner, Claire. Stay in the guest room. I heard Gram say she wanted you to.”

      Claire hesitated but finally nodded her head. “If I can keep Amelia to help me get the animals fed and settled, I can meet you there for dinner.”

      “Done. I’ll see y’all there shortly.” Joe strode toward the barn and his truck, turning back for a second to look at the ramshackle place he’d just agreed to live in. It was either the best decision he’d ever made or the worst, but either way, they would be moving back to Florida when his arm and hand were fully rehabbed. He’d prayed for something to break the ice with Amelia, and at least they’d be working on it together.

      First thing on his list was a mousetrap. Or a cat. He called back to Claire. “Hey, how long is it gonna take that cat to grow up and catch mice?”

      She laughed. “Sorry, my friend. Longer than you’ve got. Maybe Mama Kitty will help you out.”

      Joe shook his head, stomping the mud off his feet. He slid into the driver’s seat of his truck. “Bye, Amelia. See you at dinner.”

      His daughter lifted her head from nuzzling the kitten and waved. Would wonders never cease?

      He wasn’t naive enough to believe this was the end of the reign of silence with his daughter, but he was so thankful for the reprieve.

      * * *

      After dinner with Joe’s family, Claire sat on the front porch, rocking the swing gently with her foot. She was sure there was something she should be doing, but right now it felt so good just to stop. Stop moving, stop thinking, stop planning. Just breathe.

      There were a few random sounds, a trash can lid clanking, a bell on a kid’s bicycle, but mostly it was just peaceful. The back door creaked open. Joe stepped onto the porch and held out his hand. Four chocolates sparkled in their multicolored wrappers. “Ah, you do know the secrets of womankind, Joe Sheehan.”

      “Two sisters.” He sat down in the swing beside her, his body weight setting it off kilter. “No secrets, just being observant like a good cop would.”

      Claire looked into those mesmerizing blue eyes. “You know you’re taking on quite a challenge with that cottage. All joking aside, I’m not sure the thing would hold up against a strong wind.”

      He took a swig of his coffee and leaned back, stretching his arm the length of the seat back. “I know. But then there’s Amelia.”

      Claire laughed softly. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. My sister is moving here next month with four of her own horses so that we can do therapy with the kids. I can’t afford five horses. But my sister needs me. Then there’s someone else’s kid who just might be unlocked by time on horseback. And you see how this goes.”

      “I