Judy Christenberry - Daddy Next Door

As soon as the girls were finished, Jennifer stood and said, “Thank you for joining us, Nick. We hope you like your apartment.” The polite version of “Here’s your hat. What’s your hurry?”

Deliberately he stayed put. “I’m sure I will. Do you know the owners?”

“Yes,” she said with some hesitancy, which made him even more curious about her.

“Do you think I need to contact them? Aunt Grace wasn’t clear about that.”

“No, the lease says she can sublet to a relative, so there isn’t anything the owner can do.” Diverting her gaze, she started to clean the table.

He stood up immediately. “Let me help you with that.”

She put a hand out to stop him, but when it landed on his arm, she yanked it back. “N-no thank you. I’ll clean up later, after I give the girls their baths and tuck them into bed.”

“I could do it while you take care of the kids.”

“No!” Then, apparently realizing the vehemence in her tone, she sidestepped him and regained her poise. “A guest never does the dishes, Mr. Barry.”

“Well, in that case, Ms. Carpenter, thank you.” As much as he didn’t want to, he walked to the door, his hostess behind him. When he reached the hall, she stepped out, too.

“Oh, look. I forgot you dropped your suitcases out here. I’m sorry.”

“Doesn’t look like a problem. Don’t you worry.”

“Well, then, good night.” She turned and walked back into her apartment, but something made him stop her. For some reason he felt an overwhelming urge to get to know Ms. Jennifer Carpenter. He reached out and grabbed the door before she could close it.

“I…wanted to ask you…” He searched for some innocuous question to prolong the evening. “Are the other renters nice?” How glib, old man. With lines like that you’ll dazzle her with your wit.

“Very nice. In fact, your upstairs neighbors will welcome you most heartily. They’re six flight attendants.”

He let his eyes slowly appreciate her face. She was a beauty, with soft, wavy blond hair that shone like the sun, and flawless skin. With a neighbor like this, he wasn’t sure the women upstairs could even compete. But she was obviously sending a message: Look elsewhere for your entertainment.

He had no choice but to comply. For now.

RIGHT NOW. SHE NEEDED TO get Mr. Nick Barry out of her mind right now. Her new neighbor had no business occupying her thoughts when she was in soapsuds up to her elbows and watching three little girls in the bathtub. Her attention had to be totally focused on her children.

But it was difficult. Not the bathing. The thinking. Every time she reined in her errant thoughts, they found a way back to Nick.

Truth to tell, the man was charming. Handsome. Great with the girls.

Not now, Jennifer! Now was the time she’d waited for, wanted so desperately. Her with Steffi, Annie and Missy.

One by one she took them out of the tub and helped them dry. “Did everyone get a clean nightgown and panties?”

Missy slapped a hand over her mouth. “I forgot!”

“Missy!” Steffi complained.

“It’s all right, Steffi. Come with me, Missy, and I’ll help you.” She’d carefully showed the girls where she’d put their new clothes earlier that afternoon.

She’d found out three days ago that she’d been approved as the girls’ foster mother while she waited for the court to approve her application for adoption.

As soon as she’d gotten work, she’d bought them each a couple of outfits and underwear and nightgowns to wear until they made a real shopping trip.

Missy clutched the clean clothes to her chest as they walked back to the bath. “Do I get to keep these?”

“Yes, of course, sweetie.”

“And I don’t got to share them?”

“No, Missy, these are for you all by yourself.”

“Good.”

She was learning a lot about children in foster homes. Missy and Steffi had regaled her with stories, many of which nearly broke her heart. Annie, on the other hand, didn’t say much, but she was the reason Jennifer had requested to foster the three little sisters until the adoption went through.

And probably the reason her request had been granted.

That and her uncle—a judge in the Dallas juvenile courts.

“Are you going to take more pictures of us?” Missy asked as they reached the bathroom.

“Of course I will. But not tonight.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“It’s too late for pictures tonight. You need to get in bed so you’ll get enough sleep to grow.”

Missy immediately stretched up as high as she could reach. “I’m going to grow this big!” she exclaimed.

“No, you’re not, Missy! Stop exaggerating,” Steffi said, always the big sister.

Jennifer chuckled. “Actually, Steffi, she probably will. Just not tonight.” She turned on the faucet. “Brush your teeth, girls. I bought each of you a new toothbrush.”

“Really?” Missy asked in awe. “A new nightgown and a new toothbrush?”

“Yes, Missy,” Jennifer said, laughing again.

She made sure Missy knew how to brush her teeth and helped the other two. Then after the girls dressed for bed, Jennifer led them to their room. She’d originally thought about giving the eldest child, Steffi, a separate room, since there were three bedrooms. But she changed her mind and bought a shiny red bed that was full on bottom and twin on top. That would allow all three sisters to be together.

For them, it was something new.

“I love our new bed, Jennifer,” Steffi told her as she tucked them in.

“I’m glad, sweetheart. I wanted you to have something that you’d like. And red makes me smile.”

“Me, too. And I like living here with you and my sisters.”

Jennifer bent over and kissed Steffi’s cheek. “I love it, too, honey. We’re going to be happy together.”

“Me, too!” Missy called. “Will we get to see our daddy tomorrow?”

Jennifer sighed. Why did Missy have to remind her of Nick? “That man is not your daddy, sweetie. We don’t have a daddy here. It’s just us girls.”

“Yeah” came softly from Annie.

Jennifer ducked down and kissed Missy’s cheek, too. Annie was on the far side, but Jennifer reached over to kiss her also.

“Good night, Annie. Sleep tight.”

The little girl stared at her with big brown eyes, a solemn look on her face. A look too old for a five year old.

Jennifer gave her a smile and then tiptoed to the door, turning out the light.

“See, the night-light keeps the room from getting dark. Is everyone okay with that?”

Missy and Steffi assured her they were fine with the night-light. Annie said nothing.

“Good night,” Jennifer called one last time before she walked quietly down the hall.

After she cleaned up and made herself a cup of instant decaf coffee, she sat down and sighed. She’d made it through the first day of her new life.

She’d picked up the three sisters this morning at ten o’clock and brought them back to her house after three days of frantic planning and shopping.

But the change had been set in motion three weeks ago, when she’d volunteered, as a professional photographer, to take photos of foster children. The program was called the Heart Gallery and was taking place all over the country. These professional, quality photos replaced the horrible mug shots that had been all potential families had to look at.

It had seemed a more than worthwhile project to Jennifer. When she’d drawn three sisters to photograph, she’d been enchanted to find such beautiful children as her subjects. She planned to spend the day with them, photographing them, treating them to lunch, making a good memory for them. Since she and her mother were estranged, she thought it might make a nice memory for her, too.