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“I know what it’s like to find out I’ve been duped,” she replied with a wry smile.
He paused, wondering who’d duped her in the past, but there wasn’t time to ask. Katy came back down the stairs, water saturating her dress front. She looked up at Malory with a big smile. “I’m done.”
“You need a tiny bit of help.” Malory chuckled. “Come on... Let’s go get you cleaned up. We have to brush your teeth, too...”
Malory left the room, and Mike sighed. He was talking too much. He didn’t know what it was about this lovely nanny, but he found himself opening up more than he was comfortable with—talking about all the things he normally kept sealed safely inside.
Their footsteps clomped up the stairs toward the bathroom. Mike suspected that Malory was holding something back—something that made her nervous when he talked about honesty and lies. He hadn’t missed the tension in her stance when the topic came up—the sheriff in him didn’t just turn off when he was off duty.
And someone had duped her... For some reason, that little nugget of information stuck.
* * *
BEAUTY’S ICE CREAM was an old-fashioned place sandwiched between a coffee shop and a fish-and-chips restaurant. Outside, in the front window, faded pictures of various ice-cream treats advertised the options. A large pink ice-cream cone stood like a sentinel next to the door. It was an old building with some peeling paint and vinyl booths that could be seen through the window. Above them, the vast expanse of prairie sky stretched over the town—watery blue scratched across with wispy clouds. A warm breeze stirred, and Malory pulled her hair away from her face.
“You ready?” Mike asked, pulling open the door and stepping back. He shot her a grin.
Katy hung back, distrust etched in her tiny features.
“Don’t you want ice cream?” Malory asked.
Katy scowled in the direction of the door.
“Not going in,” she declared.
“Why not?” Malory bent down and then crouched next to Katy. It was awkward, and she felt her position shift to make way for the swell of her belly. She realized with a sinking feeling that she’d have trouble standing up again on her own. Something had changed even in the past few days.
“No!” Katy said, her little voice echoing across the street. “No!”
It was a tantrum...or would be soon. Malory wasn’t surprised in the least.
“Really?” Malory asked, exaggerating her surprise. “Because I sure wanted ice cream.”
Katy’s face screwed up into a wail before the sound even started, and then she flopped herself onto the ground and howled. Malory winced.
“Wow,” Mike said.
Malory shrugged. “It happens. She’s three. Expect more of this.”
“Over ice cream?” Mike looked incredulous.
“Why not? She’s been through a lot. She doesn’t know how to make sense of it. Sometimes a little venting helps.”
Katy was in full tantrum now, but she wasn’t going to hurt herself. Malory tried to stand up and she suddenly knew what had changed over the past couple of days—her center of gravity. Her stomach sank. This was the last thing she’d expected, and she glanced nervously toward Mike.
“Could I get a hand?” she asked, attempting to sound as natural as possible. Mike looked back at her curiously, then down at the wailing toddler. Katy hadn’t let up, but she couldn’t keep going forever, either.
“You okay?” Mike held out a hand, and when she took it, he lifted her easily to her feet. She stumbled forward as she rose and landed in Mike’s strong arms. He was like a tank—solid with muscle and about as immovable. Her body connected with his, and Mike froze, then looked down at her in unveiled surprise.
“Wait, you’re—” He released her and stepped back, looking her up and down. Malory quickly adjusted her top and turned her attention to Katy, whose wails were now abating.
“Are we ready for ice cream, then?” Malory asked brightly. “I like vanilla ice cream. What kind do you like, sweetie?”
Katy sniffled and looked up at Malory dubiously.
“I don’t know,” Katy said after a moment, and she got back to her feet.
Malory glanced at Mike once more, and she found his dark eyes locked on her. He knew. He’d felt her belly when he caught her. She knew she couldn’t unring that bell, but she still held on to a fragment of hope that she might be able to hide her pregnancy awhile longer.
“So...” His voice was low and calm.
She sighed, giving in to the impulse and putting a hand onto her belly. “Yes, I’m pregnant. I thought I could keep it to myself, but—” She glanced down at her stomach. She’d been growing, and even the most careful dressing couldn’t fully mask it any longer. She’d wondered when she’d start to show—apparently, at four and a half months.
“Okay.” He looked toward the door of the shop but didn’t move. “You didn’t want to mention it?”
“It’s personal.” She threw him a defiant look, then dropped the bravado. “Mike, I need this job. The agency won’t keep me on if I can’t get a position, and I need the health insurance. It costs a lot to have a baby, and if I lost my health insurance...” She didn’t need to finish.
“Yeah, I could see that.” He sighed. “I wish you’d said something.”
The wind whisked some hair into her eyes and she pulled it back irritably. He wanted her to say something? Had he ever had to risk his ability to keep his health insurance? This pregnancy had been a shock. It wasn’t as if she had a contingency plan! The father was canoodling with the one woman she’d thought she’d always be able to count on, and she had to figure this all out before the baby was born.
“So am I fired?” she asked abruptly.
His dark eyes swept over her, his emotions hidden behind that mask of his. Then he shook his head. “No. Legally, you don’t need to disclose that information.”
She tried to suppress the sigh of relief. “But you’re still probably annoyed.”
He nodded slowly, and for a brief moment disappointment cracked through his professional demeanor.
“I like honesty.” His expression froze her in place for what felt like an eternal moment.
Honesty. His words stung more than any firing would have. She’d always considered herself an honest person. She believed in honesty, too, but when things got complicated, she also had a real appreciation for privacy. She’d never imagined herself pregnant and alone. She’d always wanted to be married first. Maybe even own a home. But here she was, on the cusp of single parenthood. Did he have any idea how terrifying that was?
“Let’s get some ice cream,” he said after a moment and pulled open the door and held it for her, a bell tinkling overhead. The gesture was sweetly old-fashioned.
“Come on, sweetie,” she said softly, taking Katy’s hand in hers. “We need ice cream.”
Her stomach rumbled. She needed more than comfort; she was hungry. As she approached the door to the shop, held open by the broad-shouldered sheriff, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing would ever be the same again.
She could finally admit it. She was officially eating—and working—for two.
Chapter Four
Pregnant.
Mike eyed Malory cautiously as she stepped through into the air-conditioned ice-cream shop. Her lightly scented perfume lingered. He could see it now: the way her body swelled at her waistline, the way she moved with careful, certain steps. He was a sheriff. He was supposed to see the details, and this one had swept right by him with embarrassing ease.
The only excuse he could offer up to his tattered ego was that he’d been too focused on the rest of her. They were swimming farther and farther away from the Mrs.-Doubtfire-and-Mary-Poppins hybrid he’d been hoping for.
Katy clung to Malory’s hand, dancing along happily, her tantrum already forgotten. Mike stepped inside after them and caught himself short of putting a hand on Malory’s back to guide her forward. He shoved his hand in his pocket instead.
What was with him? He felt a sudden protective surge, but she was his employee, nothing more. And she’d preferred to keep this information to herself, so she obviously wasn’t looked for a big, strong man to take care of her.
“Look, Mike—” Malory tipped her face up to meet his gaze, worry swimming in her eyes.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “What kind of ice cream do you want?”
She blinked, then dropped her gaze to Katy. They conversed softly, and then Malory answered, “I’d like vanilla, and Katy wants the blue one. What is that, bubble gum?”
Mike scanned the tubs of ice cream through the glass guard.
“How’s it going, Mike?” Trent, the store owner, asked. He was a portly man, bald on top and gray on the sides. He wore a white apron over a Beatles T-shirt. Trent’s ice cream came from milk from his own dairy farm. It was a creamy delicacy that drew people from miles around, and he’d named the shop after his favorite dairy cow.
“Not too bad. Just taking these ladies out for a treat.”
Mike caught the twitch in Trent’s eyebrow as his gaze flickered toward Malory and back again.
“Ah.” Trent shot Mike an approving grin. “And what’ll it be?”
“Three cones—vanilla, chocolate and whatever the blue one is. Maybe make the blue one a kiddie cone.”
“Blue raspberry.”
“Sound good, Katy?” Mike asked, looking down. “The blue one is raspberry. Is that what you want?”
“Blue!” Katy declared.
“Blue it is.”
Katy squirmed away, and Malory followed, leaving Mike with Trent. He could see them in the wide mirror behind the counter, getting settled at a table by a window. Trent looked after Malory with an admiring smile.
“Girlfriend?” he asked, lowering his voice.
“No, she’s the new nanny.” Mike shook his head. “So don’t start any rumors, my friend.”
“Me?” Trent chuckled. “Well, if you want a little advice—”
“I don’t.” Mike gave Trent a dominant expression that told the other man to back down. “But thanks.”
Trent shrugged and grabbed a cone and a scoop. “Suit yourself, Mike, but if I were ten years younger and single...” He sank the scoop into the velvety surface of the vanilla ice cream. “Actually, strike that. If I were single, period, I’d ask her out myself.”
“I wouldn’t say that in front of Rita,” Mike teased, and Trent’s rosy complexion blanched ever so slightly as he scooped.
“Never. She’d kill me.” He passed the cone over the glass guard.
Mike chuckled and turned to beckon Malory over. “This is yours.”
Katy came running over, and Trent prepared the blue raspberry cone. Malory smiled as she accepted the cone from Mike’s hand. Her cool fingers brushed his ever so slightly and she tossed him a smile of thanks before taking her first bite. He watched for her reaction and he was rewarded with an eye roll of ecstasy.
“Oh, wow,” she murmured. “This is good.”
“Trent makes the best,” Mike agreed, and he wasn’t quite able to dampen the swell of pride to have been able to provide it.
“And this is for you,” Mike said, accepting the next cone from Trent and handing it down to Katy. Katy’s eyes widened in delight, and she took the treat in both hands, then waggled her tongue into the top of it.
“Let’s go sit,” Malory said softly, leading Katy away again toward the table.
Trent offered Mike his cone, and Mike pulled a bill out of his pocket and slapped it on the counter.
“That little girl is quite the heart stealer,” Trent said as he took the bill and made change.
Mike’s gaze moved toward Katy, whose mouth was already covered with blue ice cream. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, she’s a cutie.”
“Your life will never be the same,” Trent said wistfully. “I remember when my eldest was born—”
“No, no.” Mike cleared his throat and accepted the change the older man held out. “This is short-term.”
“Oh?” Trent’s brows raised, but he shrugged and let the topic drop. “Fair enough. Good seeing you, Mike.”
“Tell Rita I say hi.”
“Will do.”
Mike took his own cone to the far table where Malory and Katy waited, then slid into the chair opposite Malory. He was determined that this be short-term, but he found himself wondering what it would be like to keep Katy. If he had Malory here to help out—
No. He pushed the idea firmly aside. He’d thought this through already, and Malory was pregnant. That changed a lot of things, too. He’d been right before.
“This is really good.” Malory was already down to the cone, and she reached over and turned Katy’s ice cream to keep it from getting lopsided, then put it back into her hands again. “Eat fast, Katy,” she warned. “Or it will melt.”
Mike took a thoughtful bite of his cone, but the ice cream didn’t taste as good as it usually did to him. He didn’t know what his problem was. It wasn’t as though he’d known Malory before, or even as though he’d had plans to make something more of their relationship. But she’d held back an important detail that, while private, certainly factored into the job. And when he’d said that he preferred honesty, that was a blunt fact. He’d been lied to enough in his life, and he respected transparency.
“Look, Mike...” Malory said quietly once Katy was happily settled with her ice cream. “I’m sorry that I didn’t say anything earlier. I hope you understand. If it only affected me, I might have been more forthcoming, but I’m going to have a child to provide for.”
Mike nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”
Having Katy here was opening his eyes to a lot of things he’d never experienced—like the amount of worry that went into a child in his care.
“I didn’t think I’d be a single mom,” she admitted. “But life doesn’t always go according to plan.”
“You don’t have any support?” he asked. “What about the father?”
“Steve offered to pay for the abortion.”
Mike winced. “Ouch.”
What kind of a lowlife offered an abortion? He’d smack this Steve himself, given the chance.
“I could sue him for child support, true, but—” She sighed. “I’d just as well take care of my baby on my own and not have to deal with him.”
“What happened exactly?” he asked. This was moving very quickly toward the personal, and she’d already made it clear that she liked her privacy, so he added, “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“No, no, it’s fine.” She waved her hand through the air. “I was dating Steve for a couple of years. After he left me for my best friend, I found out I was pregnant. I never saw it coming—him leaving me, or the baby.”
“And you still told him?” He raised an eyebrow. That showed some strength right there, to give him the information at all after he’d dumped her so unceremoniously.
“It only seemed right to let him know that he had a child on the way,” she replied. “And, well, you know how he reacted. I suppose it’s just as well.”
“Is it?” he asked uncertainly. The thought of a man treating Malory that way boiled his blood, and he’d half hoped to see his own anger mirrored in her face, but all he saw there was resignation. Whoever this guy was, that kind of reaction to the news that he’d fathered a child was unforgivable in Mike’s eyes. A man stood up and took responsibility.
“My mom was on her own raising me, and she spent my entire childhood trying to rope in a husband.” She shook her head. “I swore I’d never do that. I might be a single mom, but I’m not going to make my mother’s mistake and think that some guy is going to rescue me. I’ll do this alone.”
Alone. So she’d already decided that she didn’t want a man in her life. Not that it should matter to him—
Mike nodded. “Fair enough.”
“And I wanted to thank you.” Her gaze met his earnestly. “You could have given me my walking papers, but you didn’t.”
“Well, I’m not that kind of guy,” he replied. It was more than that, though. Somehow, that information had sparked a protective instinct in him, and he wouldn’t have been able to fire her if he’d tried. “You’re here for Katy, and she really loves you already.”
Malory sucked in a breath and smiled, this time the sparkle hitting those brown eyes.
“And if you need help with anything—” Mike began.
“No.” Her tone was emphatic, and he bit back the last of his offer.
“No?” With no father around and no support network, he was surprised she’d turn down an offer of help.
She shook her head. “No. I’m serious. A job is enough. I can do this just fine by myself.”
Malory met his gaze evenly, her lips pressed into a thin line. She meant every word, he had no doubt.
“Okay,” he said with a nod. “I won’t intrude.”
She smiled. “Great. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
Mike took another bite of his cone. She was like no other woman he’d ever come across, but if she wanted her space, he could do that.
“Uh-oh, Nanny Mal.” Katy sighed, and they both looked over to find the top of her cone in her lap. She poked at the softened ice cream with one finger.
Malory took a pile of napkins and set to work cleaning up what she could. A smile turned up her lips as she looked into Katy’s forlorn little face. Then her honeyed hair fell down across her eyes, hiding them from his view.
She was certainly more appealing than Mrs. Doubtfire, he’d give her that.
* * *
THAT EVENING, MIKE sat downstairs, his feet up, emptying his brain with some sports on TV. Upstairs, the bathwater splashed in the tub, and soft voices carried down. There was something sweet about having women in the house, and he hated to admit that he liked the changes around here—the scent of perfume in the hallway, the pile of wet towels after Katy’s bath, the extra plates in the sink. It was funny how such mundane details could be comforting, too.
If the facts were different, he’d be tempted to keep this. His home would feel very empty once Katy—and therefore Malory—left, even though he was trying his best to keep his emotions back.
The phone rang and he pushed himself back up, reaching for the handset.
“Mike Cruise here.”
“Hello, Mr. Cruise, this is Elizabeth Nelson from the adoption agency. How are you?”
“I’m good.” He sank back into the couch and muted the TV. He’d been in contact with Ms. Nelson since the day Katy arrived, and he’d already filled out a large number of forms. “Thanks for getting back to me.”
“I’d love to come by and meet Katherine, if you’d be okay with that. We can start the process of finding her a family. How does that sound to you?”
“That sounds good,” he said quickly. “So how does this work, exactly?”
“Well, I come for a little home visit. Then we’ll make her file available to families who are looking for children. Sometimes these things take a long time. Sometimes they’re surprisingly quick. It’s all about finding the right match.” There was a pause. “But I have to be honest. Katherine is already three, and that will make finding a match a little more difficult. Most families are looking for infants.”
“Yeah, I get that,” he said.
“But that doesn’t make it impossible,” she hurried to add. “Your situation isn’t so rare. When there are deaths in a family or incarceration, there are often small children left behind without anyone to take them in. Another loving home is the best solution for everyone.”
A pang of guilt stabbed at Mike’s gut. Katy did have a family member, but Mike still wasn’t the best solution for the kid. “So the next step is a home visit?” he prompted.
“Yes, and I’d love to come by at your earliest convenience. I have next Tuesday afternoon open.”
“That could work,” Mike agreed.
“Say at one?”
“Perfect. We’ll be here.”
After a few more pleasantries, Mike hung up and his gaze moved toward the ceiling. Above, the plug was pulled, and the sound of water rushed through the pipes in the walls.
He’d miss this, much as he hated to admit it. He’d miss hearing laughter and bathwater. It was a silly thing to miss, but there it was. He’d never admit it out loud to anyone.
* * *
MALORY KNELT NEXT to her small charge in the middle of the floor, summer sunlight pooling on the tiles from the open bathroom window. A warm breeze pushed into the room, fluttering the white curtains. Next to them, the water drained slowly from the tub. Malory pulled the towel off Katy’s wet hair and picked up a brush.
“I don’t like that.” Katy shook her head adamantly and clamped her hands onto her head.
“Why not?” Malory asked, squatting down next to her. They’d encountered this before.
“It’s ouchie.”
“I put some special conditioner in your hair so it won’t hurt,” Malory said.
Katy didn’t answer but appeared to be thinking it over.
“What if I promise to be very, very careful? Will you let me brush your hair then?”
Tears filled Katy’s eyes and when Malory came toward her, she shied away in terror. Malory looked down at the brush, and the horrible thought struck her that someone might have used a brush to punish the tiny girl in the past.
“Okay, okay...” Malory put the brush behind her and pushed it across the floor. “No brush. Would you let me touch your hair with my fingers?”
Katy complied to that request, and Malory detangled the toddler’s hair as best she could using her fingers as combs. Whatever this child had been through, it would take a lot of love and patience to win her trust again.
“What story do you want before bed, sweetie?” Malory asked as she worked on a knot.
“I want him to read it.”
“You mean Uncle Mike?” Malory asked.
Katy nodded.
“Well, why don’t you go choose a book from my bag and then you can ask him.” Malory smiled as the little girl scampered off toward Malory’s bedroom. Some scuffles and thumps filtered through the wall as Malory picked up the towels and wiped up the puddles on the floor. The brush lay next to the tub, and she picked it up, sadness piercing her heart.
“What did they do to you?” she whispered, then dropped the brush into a drawer.
By the time she was finished making the bathroom presentable again, Katy stood in the doorway, a book clutched against her chest.
“Got one!” she announced.
“Okay, let’s go find Uncle Mike.”
She’d have to fill Mike in on these developments. Maybe he could arrange some therapy for Katy. She’d need help healing from her trauma.
Katy traipsed down the stairs dressed in a nightgown, damp at the shoulders from her wet hair. When Malory caught up in the living room, she faltered. Mike sat on the couch with his feet up, the TV on a sports channel. His T-shirt tugged at his muscled chest and arms, and from the angle where Malory stood, she could see the stubble on his chin.
“Go ahead,” Malory said quietly.
Mike looked up when he heard Malory’s voice, and Katy moved forward, her book held over her chest like a shield.
“Uncle Mike?” she whispered.
“Yes, Katy?” He flicked off the TV and dropped the remote. Katy crept closer until she stood right in front of him.
“Uncle Mike?” she repeated breathlessly, then thrust the book out in front of her, smacking him solidly in the kneecaps.
“Ouch.” He chuckled. “Do you want me to read that to you?”
She nodded but didn’t make a move.
“Do you want to come sit next to me?” he asked.
Katy considered for a moment, then lifted her arms toward him. “Up,” she said.
Mike glanced up at Malory uncertainly, then gently lifted the small girl up onto his lap. She pulled her knees up and settled against him, her head tipped toward his chest. Mike’s expression softened, and Malory thought she saw his eyes mist, but she couldn’t be sure, because he blinked quickly, cleared his throat and opened the book.
“Okay,” he said. “This book is called Lippity Loppity the Bunny.”
“Who’s that?” Katy asked, pointing at the picture.
“Um...” Mike looked closer. “My guess is Lippity Loppity.”
“Okay.” She put her head back against his chest and heaved a deep sigh.
“‘One day, Lippity Loppity the little bunny hopped away from his cozy burrow toward the big woods,’” Mike read.