Judy Christenberry - Mommy For A Minute

She stared at him. Then she gestured to the chair opposite her. “Let’s talk about it.”

“That’s the last thing I want to do with a lawyer. You always think you can outtalk everyone. I’m a carpenter!”

“A carpenter who had a large business before he sold it,” she pointed out. “Judge Robinson told me you were a major player in the real estate market here in Dallas, so don’t play the innocent with me!”

“I’m not trying to mislead you. You’re known for your ability to argue your case. But I’m talking about my daughter. She’s not open for discussion.”

“Why?”

His eyebrows soared. “Because I have the final say about my child. And I think, one-on-one, you’re going to get too close to her. She’ll think—She’s going to see you as—I don’t want to risk it.”

“She’ll see me as what?”

“Damn it, she’ll see you as a mother. As her possible mother!”

“I’m sure she won’t. All I’m offering is to take care of her for four weeks, while you make my office for me. I don’t see that as a problem.”

“You may not, but I do! So, I’ll find a place for her to go to school. That’s all.”

She continued to plead her case. “What if you don’t?”

“I will. Don’t concern yourself.”

“Of course I’m concerned! And there’s no need to enlist a group of strangers to take care of Ally when I’m right here and willing to care for her.”

He held his ground. “I’ll find a place for her.”

“But she likes it here!”

His voice rose as his patience unraveled. “I don’t care!”

“But—”

“Daddy? Why are you yelling at Lolly?” Ally asked from the doorway.

Jack turned to stare at his daughter. “Who the hell—I mean, who is Lolly, sweetheart?”

Lauren cleared her throat. “My little brother used to call me that because it’s easier to say than Lauren. It’s about the only L word children learn quickly. I told Ally she could call me Lolly.”

Jack glared at her. “I guess that’s better than calling you—Never mind. I still don’t think her staying here is a good idea.”

“Suppose we try it for a few days. If it’s not working out, you can find another place.”

And suddenly Jack could no longer argue. He didn’t have the stamina. Maybe that was why they called her The Shark. The woman was relentless. “I’m going to keep looking. When I find a place, I’m putting her in it. So be prepared.”

He spun around to leave and found himself facing his daughter. “Sweetheart, you’re going to stay with—with Lolly until I can find a place for you to go to school.”

Ally’s face broke into a big smile. “I like that.”

Muttering about women, Jack stalked down the hall.

LAUREN’S SMILE matched Ally’s. “I hope you’re happy staying here, Ally. I am.”

“I love it, Lolly. Maybe Daddy won’t ever be able to find a place for me!”

“Well, it will only be for four weeks, sweetheart. Then I’ll have to go back to work.”

“Where do you work?”

“Downtown. Maybe I can take you down there one day, and we could have lunch.”

“Will Daddy go with us?”

“No. He’ll be working here. But we’d be back before he finished work. We’ll talk to him about it.”

That was one conversation she dreaded.

THE WEEK PROGRESSED quietly. Lauren did her grocery shopping and made her trip to the art supply store at night, not testing Jack’s patience about taking Ally out in the car.

On Friday, her day was spent in the kitchen, with Ally beside her, supposedly helping, getting ready for dinner that night.

“Who is coming?” Ally asked again.

“My baby brother, the one who used to use the desk.”

“Is he my age?”

“No, he’s almost twenty-two.”

Ally’s eyes got large. “That’s lots older, isn’t it?”

“Yes. He lives in his own apartment, and he’s bringing a friend who lives there, too.”

“Aren’t you making a lot of food?”

“Yes, I decided I’d freeze some for later.”

Ally gave her a confused look.

“You know, like ice cream. It stays good until you thaw it out.”

“Oh.”

It was just before noon when Lauren finally slid two large casserole dishes into the oven. “Now we need to fix lunch. Your daddy will be hungry.”

“Me, too.”

Lauren made roast beef sandwiches and sent Ally to call her father. The child came running back down the hall.

“Daddy said in a little while.”

Lauren took Ally’s hand and went back down the hall. As she suspected, Jack was working away, with no knowledge that he’d said no to lunch.

“Jack?”

“Uh-huh?”

“I want you to come to lunch. It’s all ready.”

“Just a minute,” he muttered.

“Do you need some help?”

“Yeah, can you come hold this in place while I nail it?” he asked, still focused on his work.

Lauren did as he asked. She didn’t realize quite how close she would have to get to him. But as she held the wood, his arms went completely around her to nail it in place. His rock-hard chest pressed against her, leaving her no avenue of escape.

She couldn’t help wonder what it would be like to have his arms around her for real, pulling her into a kiss.

“Okay, now we can go.”

His words cut into her heated reverie. “Go where?”

“To lunch. You said it’s ready now.”

“Right.” That was why she’d come into the office in the first place. Somehow she’d gotten sidetracked.

Ally took his hand. “I’ll show you, Daddy. Lolly’s been cooking all morning.”

He looked at Lauren. “We don’t need anything complicated for lunch.”

“No, I’ve been cooking for this evening. My brother and his friend are coming over for dinner.”

He stared at her. “You can cook?”

“Of course I can. My mother taught me a lot of recipes before she died, and I’ve learned others. Did you think I ate out every evening?”

“I know professional women who do that.”

They had reached the kitchen and the aroma of roast beef lingered in the air. He noticed it at once, his gaze going to the plate on the table. “We’re having roast beef?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“Not at all. I love roast beef.”

“Good. Ally thought you did.”

She finished pouring glasses of iced tea for the two adults and milk for Ally. “Okay, Ally, you can say the prayer for us.”

The child did so and then beamed at her father. “It’s a good lunch, isn’t it, Daddy?”

“You bet, honey,” he agreed after taking his first bite. “It’s wonderful. I think I may owe more than five dollars for this one.”

“It’ll average out. Besides, I froze a lot of it.”

“Like ice cream, Daddy.”

“Yeah, I do that, too. Some days, I don’t feel like cooking, but Ally needs a good meal.”

“Yes, she does.”

“Lolly made something else with chicken in it,” Ally said, frowning as she tried to remember what it was.

“Chicken spaghetti, sweetie.” She looked at Jack. “It’s my brother’s favorite.”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“It’s a casserole that my mother made. All the kids love it.”

“Ah. Down home food.”

“Yes. When one of them asks for that, I know something’s up.”

“So what’s up tonight?”

“The friend is female. He says she doesn’t eat enough and he wants me to feed her. I think he wants me to meet her, but he doesn’t want to say it’s something important.”

“How old is he?”

“Almost twenty-two. He’s the baby.”

“Have any of your other brothers and sisters married?”

“No, none of them.”