Page 40 of A Night To Remember

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Page 40 of A Night To Remember

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“Okay, Mommy.” Kristy ran off to collect her belongings. Charlie wanted to point out that she’d never been late in picking up her daughter before and there was clause in the contract that waived the first time a parent was late. She decided not to argue because Charlie felt guilty enough as it was. Besides, Jake was waiting outside for them.

“Is there a problem?” Jake asked, stepping inside the building. Charlie shook her head in disbelief. She didn’t hear him enter the daycare center, but she should have known that he wouldn’t listen.

“W-who are you?” Miss Farmer stammered when Jake approached them. Her tongue practically fell out of her mouth at the sight of such a good-looking man.

“Jake Fox. I’m Kristy’s father.” He held out his hand and gave the daycare provider a lopsided smile. It was the same smile that made Charlie’s heart go pitter-patter. Why did he have to be so damn sexy, Charlie wondered. Ms. Farmer blushed before shaking the offered hand. It was obvious the woman was smitten. “Now about that fee?” He extracted his wallet from his pocket.

“Well, I think we can let it slide this time. Kristy is such a delight to have here at the Ponderosa and it was no problem at all,” Sherri simpered, batting her eyelashes.

“Uh, do you have something in your eyes? You may want to go to the eyewash station over there.” Charlie couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice if she wanted to.

Ms. Farmer turned an unbecoming shade of red and shot Charlie a hostile glare before turning back to Jake. Her smile returned. “Don’t worry at all, Mr. Fox, that fee is no big deal at all. We were having so much fun while we were waiting for you, I barely noticed the time.” Charlie rolled her eyes again. What a hypocrite. If Jake hadn’t stepped forward, Charlie was well aware she would have been charged the late fee.

“Please call me Jake.”

“Okay,” the woman gushed. Charlie wanted to hurl. “And you must call me Sherri. Should you need my assistance for anything, please don’t hesitate to call.”

Jake’s grin widened. The bastard. “I’ll remember that.”

Charlie scooped Kristy up when she returned and headed outside. Jake seemed to be handling the dragon lady just fine. Did he have to be so charming to her? Charlie groaned. She couldn’t be jealous. No way, no how. She was ticked about Ms. Farmer’s readiness to cut Jake a break when she wouldn’t have done the same for Charlie. Yes, that had to be it. Wasn’t it?

Jake caught up to them just as Charlie made it to the car. Kristy stared at Jake and she stared back. The little girl was the first to speak. “Who are you, man?”

Charlie’s heart skipped a beat. This was the moment of truth. Charlie and Jake exchanged glances and Charlie nodded. Jake turned his attention back to Kristy.

“I’m your daddy,” Jake announced solemnly. His eyes filled with tears and Charlie couldn’t help but be touched by Jake’s look of uncertainty. A flicker of shame passed through her as she thought of her duplicity.

Kristy’s mouth formed a perfect O as she took in this bit of news. She cocked her little head to the side and looked at Jake for several moments. Kristy turned to her mother. “I have a daddy, like Suzy?” she asked her mother.

Tears threatened to spill from Charlie’s eyes and she could only nod. “Suzy is her best friend this month,” she explained to Jake.

Charlie hadn’t realized Kristy was aware of not having a father around. Sure her daughter was an intelligent child, but there were certain things Charlie took for granted. “Yes, sweetie. You have a daddy, right here,” Charlie croaked, her voice full of emotion.

To Charlie’s surprise, Kristy held out her arms to her father. Jake sought eye contact with Charlie as if to gain approval. Charlie smiled and nodded in acquiescence.

Jake lifted his daughter into his arms for the first time and he squeezed her tight. Charlie could see the instant love in Jake’s eyes, and she knew he and Kristy belonged together.

“I can’t breathe, Daddy,” Kristy protested, squirming within his tight grip.

Jake looked at Charlie with a big smile on his face. Kristy had called him Daddy with such ease, almost as if they’d always been together.

Jake turned back to Kristy looking sheepish. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“I not a baby!” Kristy huffed with exasperation.

“But you’re my baby,” Jake countered. Charlie should have warned Jake about Kristy’s aversion of being called a baby but the scene playing out amused her.

“No. I a big girl. Silly, Daddy.” Kristy laughed as if she’d just told the funniest joke. It was the most beautiful sound.

Charlie knew then that Kristy held Jake’s heart in the palm of her little hand.

Jake stayed for dinner that night. He insisted on helping Charlie with Kristy’s bath and putting her to bed. It was obvious he fascinated Kristy, just as she did him. Her eyes filled with wonder at his every move. When Jake and Charlie put her to bed for the night, Kristy looked at Jake and smiled. “I glad I have a daddy.”

Almost too choked with emotion to speak, Jake stroked his sleepy daughter’s cheek. “I’m glad I have a daughter,” he said, leaning over to kiss her forehead, refusing to leave her bedside until she’d fallen asleep. He took that time to study her features. She was perfect, from the top of her head filled with dark shiny curls to the tips of her tiny toes. His daughter. As he watched her, he vowed to protect and love her forever. Just as he intended to do with her mother.

“You’re very good with her.” Charlie said when Jake came out of Kristy’s bedroom. He appreciated Charlie giving him some time alone with their daughter.

“It’s very easy to be good to her. She’s a sweet girl.” Jake fell in love with his daughter the moment he laid eyes on her. The fact that Kristy looked so much like Charlie, Jake could only love her more. “She speaks well for a two-year-old. I don’t think my youngest nephew spoke until he was three, and even now he has a bit of a speech impediment.”


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