Divine Charity (30 page)

“Why? What happened? Something at the store?”

His department stores were his babies and always uppermost in his mind so she didn’t blame him for coming to that conclusion. “No. It’s something personal. A friend of hers was involved in a terrible accident. He’s not doing well.”

He frowned and said, “Oh. Well, that’s terrible. I hadn’t heard,” he said with a frown.

“Yeah. He’s in ICU. She’s been at the hospital a lot.”

“That explains why she hasn’t been answering my calls to her cell phone and why Evelyn has been telling me she’s unavailable when I call the store. I wish she’d called me and told me. I would’ve sent her some help.”

“I can help out if you need me to.”

He flicked his gaze back to her and she saw the doubt in his eyes. She deserved that, too. He gave a minute shake of his head. “I’ll send one of the assistants from the store in Morehead to help.”

“I’m sure I’ll see her at some point after I leave here. Would you like me to tell her?” She wanted very much to tell Leah something that might lighten her burden.

He shook his head. “That’s all right.”

“I don’t mind.”

He tilted his head and gave her the look. “I know you mean well but you have to admit, honey, your memory isn’t the best. It’s no help to her if you forget to tell her. You’ve been otherwise focused lately.”

She actually flinched even though there was no accusation in his voice. That was his nice way of saying she was a pampered self-absorbed dingbat.

Honey, if the shoe fits, lace the bitch up and wear it.

“I’ve let you down in the past more than I’ve given you reason to trust me. I know that,” she said as she moved forward on the edge of her seat. “When I see her, I’ll tell her, I promise.”

“Fine. And I’ll let Evelyn know as well.”

“I guess that’s a good idea. I know I’m been scatter-brained.” There was no point in denying it. When she’d been little, he’d always called her his little dingbat. She knew it was for a good reason and she’d never been hurt by it. But she’d still do what she could and let Leah know, if she would listen.

“Have you told the father yet?”

She couldn’t look him in the eye as she shook her head.

“You have no idea how to contact him do you?” he asked with a heavy sigh. The minute shake of her head drew another heavier sigh from him. “Okay. I suppose this means you’ll be quitting the store and moving back home?”

“No,” she said, finally finding her voice. “And I’m going to be finding my own place, too.”

He leveled her with his “come on” look and said, “Seriously? You have no way of making a decent enough living doing what you’re doing at the store. You’ll need day care, rent, groceries,
clothes and shoes
…” That last jab really hurt even though she deserved it since up until now he’d been the one paying for her shoes, clothing, and handbag habit.

“I’ve already talked to Uncle Marvin. He’s going to rent me the little apartment above his computer shop.”

“Honey, have you seen that place? It’s tiny, and by your standards it’s a total dump.”

She had seen it and while he was sort of right, she already was envisioning it as her home. “No it’s not. I can make it work.”

He raised his eyebrows and said, “Just one of your shopping sprees would fill it to the ceiling.”

“I won’t be doing that anymore,” she said firmly, thinking of all the shoes and clothing she’d be packing up that night to take to a designer resale boutique in San Antonio. She had to plan ahead for when she needed to purchase maternity clothes. She was disgusted with herself, recalling how nonchalantly she’d handed over her father’s credit card to pay for all of it over the years. Plus, there was no point in holding on to items that wouldn’t fit her soon.

When she looked up at him, she saw speculation in his eyes, as though he wondered if she was telling him the truth or perhaps if she was fooling herself. The resolve inside her grew as the seconds ticked by on the grandfather clock in the corner of his study.

“Okay, Presley Ann. Here’s what I’ll do—”

“Daddy, I don’t expect you to do anything. I just needed for you to know about the baby.”

“Let me finish, honey. I respect your desire to make a go of it on your own. I often hoped you’d do that, prior to this morning. I’ll keep you on my insurance and pay any medical expenses you incur.”

“Dad, I—” Conflict tore at her. The medical bills were going to pile up and she knew that. It would be the largest expense she had, at least short term. She was proud but she wasn’t completely stupid. She did need his help even though she wouldn’t have asked for it. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t expect you to say anything. In addition, I’ll pay for the formula or lactation consultant after the baby arrives and for the diapers the first year. Basic disposables, though. No diaper service or fancy diapers.”

“Dad—”

“Hush,” he said gently. “Even though it would’ve hurt her to know all of this, that’s what your mom would’ve done for you if she was here.” He paused for a long time and then a bittersweet smile crossed his lips and tears filled his eyes. “Before your mom died, she used to tell me that I spoiled you too much. That if I didn’t push you to spread your wings, you’d never leave the nest willingly. I—” His voice sounded like his throat was clogged and he rubbed his fingers against his eyes hard.

She was around his desk in a matter of seconds and down on her knees with her arms wrapped around his shoulders. “I’m so sorry I disappointed you, Daddy. So
sorry
.” His familiar scent of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum and spicy aftershave comforted her as he hugged her back while struggling to control his emotions.

“Dad, I know I’ve always been a hot mess for you to deal with. I know it’s going to take time but I’m going to make it. You have every right to be furious with me, to write me out of your life, and to mark me off as a failure. But I’m not and neither is this baby. I’m going to show everyone I can do this—including myself.”

He lifted her chin with a gentle hand. “Was the father nice to you? Is there any chance he’d be involved?”

Presley Ann smiled thinking about that handsome cowboy, his brown eyes so dark they were almost black, his short spiky black hair, and features that were somehow masculine and beautiful all at the same time. “He was
really
sweet to me, Daddy. He made me laugh so much. If he knew, I’d like to think he’d care. He wasn’t from this area and I doubt our paths will cross again. But if they did, I would welcome his involvement…as long as he doesn’t try to take my baby from me,” she added, marveling at the fledgling sense of protectiveness that curled tight inside of her.

“Well, I can’t promise that I won’t have a few words for a guy that would have sex with a beautiful young girl and then leave her stranded, if he ever did show up.”

Presley Ann snorted. “Daddy, I’m too old for you to be referring to me as a young girl and I was on the pill. Neither of us anticipated this.”

“I know you want to make a go of it on your own, honey, and I want you to be successful. But if you ever need to say ‘uncle’ I’ll understand. You can always come—”

“Don’t say it,” she said, putting a finger to her lips. “I’m not moving back home.”

“Then I’ll leave it unsaid as long as it’s understood.” He helped her rise from her kneeling position. “You shouldn’t squat like that. It’s bad for your blood pressure when you’re pregnant.”

She giggled for the first time in what felt like a long time. “Hey, I’m pregnant, not an invalid.”

“And you’re my little girl. So, what now?”

“Right now I go to work. I have prom dresses to sell and commissions to make. That rent and grocery bill won’t pay itself.”

He chuckled and said, “
Now
you sound like me.”

She hugged his neck and said, “There’s more of you in me than you realize, Daddy.”

She had no illusions about the future being easy or carefree. Those days were over. But knowing that her father still loved her and hadn’t cut her out of his life made everything seem possible.

“Oh, thank the Lord,” Grace said when Charity and Justine snuck into her room after taking Justine for a follow-up appointment with her doctor. Grace sounded relieved and Charity felt for her. She’d been cooped up for four days with nothing to do but have her brain cells sucked out by daytime television. She’d tried reading when Charity had brought her iPad to the hospital but holding it up to read made her shoulder ache.

“Hey, how’s your headache?” Charity asked when she noticed that the light was out and the blinds were drawn.

“Hurts. It’s from sitting still too much. I’m
booooooored
.”

“You want some cheese with that whine? Has Emma said when we can spring you from here, sis?”

Grace stuck her tongue out at her sister and then said, “She hasn’t said anything yet. I’m bored stiff. Any chance you might bring my—”

Charity raised an eyebrow and gave her sister the look. “No computer, sis. What did your publisher say?”

Grace made a face and then said, “She said to follow my doctors’ orders and that the work on the edits can wait until my doctor releases me. But I can move my hands. I’ll rest my elbows on pillows. I can do those edits.”

“Yeah,” Justine said. “And put a lot of strain on your shoulders and your back while you’re sitting up in bed. Aunt Grace, you
can’t
do it.”

“Hey, you’re supposed to take up for your sweet auntie,” Grace pouted.

“I am. I know how you lose track of time while you’re working on that stuff. Dr. Emma will be pissed and in the end you’ll just take longer to heal. Relax, okay? And lookie what I brought you!” Justine said as she put the big fluffy teddy bear in Grace’s arms and hugged her gently. “It’s for the nursery.”

“Speaking of nurseries, how goes that operation?” Charity asked as she sat down in the chair next to the one Justine sat in so Grace wouldn’t have to swivel her neck back and forth, which hurt her still.

“Well, it’s no longer a clandestine op, according to Adam when he called me a little while ago. Rose Marie figured out what they were doing in Adam’s bedroom. At first she thought she was moving into her daddy’s room and thought that was cool, until she realized he was moving the rest of his stuff out of it. She actually threw a tantrum.”

Charity snorted with laughter. “Poor baby. I’ll bet now you wish you’d added on.”

Grace shook her head. “I’m going to need their help when the baby comes and I don’t want the guys embroiled in a house expansion when one isn’t necessary. It’s time they moved their stuff upstairs, since they sleep there with me every night anyway. Having two bedrooms downstairs that go unused most of the time and adding on makes no sense whatsoever, especially if the justification for the expansion is satisfying the whims of Princess Sassypants.”

All three women laughed at the nickname Adam used for his daughter.

“When Adam called, he said they’d hung her new curtains and had put together the bed. Even getting a frilly canopy bed didn’t make her happy. That child is bound and determined to stay ‘the baby,’ which means occupying the nursery.” Grace shook her head and was about to speak when a distinctive chime sounded on her phone.

“Oh, good!” she said eagerly as she picked up her phone from the tray table. “Adam was going to call me on FaceTime and show me how the room turned out. Come here, you can see, too.”

Charity and Justine crowded closer at the head of the bed as Grace opened the app on her phone and waited. A shadow came over the screen which jumped around dizzily for a second and all they heard was heavy breathing.

“What the heck?” Grace murmured. “Adam? Is everything okay?”

The picture focused, showing them the blank walls of a bedroom and then settled with an audible thump on the other end, showing a partial picture of what must be the new canopy bed and a very disgruntled looking Rose Marie.

“Rose Marie, what are you up to?” Grace asked in an even tone.

Rose Marie crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. “Mommy, you have to come home
right now
.” Her face was red, her nose was running like she’d been crying, and her tone was a little snippy.

Grace raised an eyebrow and in a steely voice, she said, “Excuse me?”

Rose Marie stuck her bottom lip out and recrossed her arms as though reinforcing her position. “Sorry. Mommy, I really need you to come home now. The daddies are being
bad
,
mean
daddies.”

On the other end of the call, they heard a light knocking and Adam’s muffled voice. “Rose Marie, I need you to please unlock this door. Did you take my iPad?”

“Oh, this is gonna be fun,” Charity whispered as they all held back their laughter.

Grace tilted her head. “Young lady, you’d better explain.”

“The daddies are moving all my stuff into this too-far room and I belong in the baby room, not
here
!” she said gesturing to the bedroom.

“I love your new canopy bed,” Charity offered. “What I can see of it and the new curtains are really pretty, honey.”