Carolyne Aarsen - Unexpected Father

Carlos was supposed to have called him to tell him how the job had gone. Denny needed to know so that he could make arrangements to move the truck here to Hartley Creek.

“Milk and yogurt and eggs.” Evangeline held up a list she had compiled, glancing from it to the containers of milk lined up in the dairy case. She reached for a huge jug and dropped it into the cart, plucked a box of mini yogurts off the shelf and a carton of eggs, then, finally, folded the list and put it in her pocket. “I think we’re done.”

“I would think so, too,” Denny said, scratching his head with his forefinger. “I can’t believe one little girl like Ella needs all this stuff.”

“I don’t know anything about babies, so I just have to go with what Emma told me.”

“You never had any younger brothers or sisters you had to take care of?”

“My father obviously never told you I was an only child.” She flashed Denny a tight smile, then turned the cart around.

Once again Denny followed her down the aisle toward the cashiers.

Right. He had forgotten about that.

And she seemed touchy about it, to boot.

He wanted to tell her that having siblings was fun, but it had its responsibilities and moments of hardship. Especially when he’d had to tell his sisters and foster brother that the ranch they had grown up on had to be sold because of his bad decision.

He pushed that memory aside. That was then. This was now. Only, now also included one last souvenir of Lila.

A little girl he’d never known existed until today.

Evangeline laid the stuff on the conveyor belt and chatted up the cashier as she rang the groceries through the till. A young couple waved hello as they walked past, and an older woman stopped to ask her a question about book club.

Denny felt a hint of melancholy as he watched Evangeline’s interactions. At one time he, too, had been part of a community. Had been able to go to town and talk with most anyone.

Now he was running around from job to job, trying to scrabble together enough money to someday settle down again.

He glanced over at Ella, who stared at him with solemn eyes.

He gave her a tentative smile, wondering how in the world he was supposed to untangle this particular knot in his life. Why hadn’t Lila told him?

Would you have believed her?

Probably not.

“We’re done here,” Evangeline said, looking over at Denny as the cashier bagged the groceries.

“Right. Sorry.” He pulled his wallet out and handed a couple of bills to the cashier.

As the cashier gave him the change, Evangeline’s phone beeped. She yanked it out of her purse but then, as she glanced at the screen, she seemed to deflate as if she’d hoped the caller would be someone else.

Andy maybe?

“Emma is waiting for us in the parking lot,” she said.

Denny shoved the change into his pocket and once again followed Evangeline out the door.

When they got near to where Denny’s truck was parked, a woman stepped out of a pickup beside his, waving at them.

“Hey, Evangeline. Over here.”

Emma, Denny presumed. She had long brown hair, dark brown eyes and an infectious grin. Her blue jeans had grass stains on the knees and her white T-shirt had streaks of dirt. Evangeline had mentioned she lived on a ranch, and she obviously did more than just keep house.

“Hey, Emma, great timing,” Evangeline said, pushing the cart toward the truck.

As Evangeline parked the cart, Emma walked around to the other side of her truck. She opened the door and wrestled out a large seat. As she pulled it, a strap got caught and she almost dropped it.

Denny hurried over to help her, earning him a bright smile. “Thanks. I’m guessing you’re Daddy?” Emma asked.

Denny felt a flush warm his neck as he took the car seat from her. “Apparently.”

Emma’s puzzled look bounced from him to Evangeline, looking for more information.

“Emma, can you help Denny put the seat in the back of the car?” was all Evangeline said.

Denny heaved the surprisingly heavy seat into his truck and strapped it down. As he buckled Ella into it, he thought back to when he and Lila were married.

A good friend of his, Lance, had stopped by with his boy. Denny remembered watching Lance buckle the little boy into the car seat parked in the backseat of his friend’s candy-apple-red truck. This was a vehicle Lance had spent hours waxing, polishing and babying. A truck Denny wished he had.

But crumbs from crackers and leftover papers from fast-food meals had littered the backseat of Lance’s pride and joy, and Lance hadn’t seemed to care. His little boy was his pride and joy.

And once again Denny had been envious.

Now he had his own fancy truck that he had scrimped and scraped to purchase. And now it had a car seat in it, as well.

But somehow it wasn’t the same situation.

He straightened, looking at Ella, who was staring back at him, her dark eyes so serious. Her expression so solemn.

“She’s a quiet one,” Emma said with a laugh.

“Yeah. She is.” It didn’t seem natural. He remembered his sisters at this age, laughing and squirming and getting into all kinds of mischief.

He closed the back door on Ella, then helped Evangeline load the last of the groceries into the other side of the truck.

When they were done he turned back to Emma, who stood by her own truck, her arms folded across her T-shirt.

“Thanks so much for the use of the car seat,” Denny said.

“Gotta keep the little munchkin safe,” Emma returned.

“Yeah. That I do.”

He pulled his car keys out of his pocket and opened the door for Evangeline.

She gave him a curious look, then stepped up into the truck, tucking her long, flowing skirt underneath her as he shut the door.

Emma was watching him, a bemused light in her eyes. “I heard you’re leasing Andy’s place,” she said. “My husband, Carter, and I run a ranch up Morrisey Creek. If you ever need help, we’re willing to lend a hand.”

“Thanks. That’s good to know.” Denny blew out a sigh, thinking about the work that lay ahead of him. “I might take you up on that offer.”

“Make sure you do.” Emma gave him a quick wave, then got into her truck and drove away.

As Denny sat behind the wheel of his truck he glanced at Ella again, who stared back at him.

“Is that normal?” he asked Evangeline as he started up his truck, worry digging at him. “She cried like crazy when she first came, but hasn’t given a peep since.”

Evangeline looked back at Ella, her own concern showing. “She’s probably confused and afraid. She doesn’t know who you are, so she’s going to be cautious.”

Denny shook his head as he pulled out of the parking lot. “I just wish I knew what I’m supposed to do. I’ve got a hundred things on my plate.”

“I’d start with feeding her.”

Denny nodded. Of course. That made sense. “And after that?”

“Bedtime.”

“And tomorrow?”

“Just do what comes next,” Evangeline returned. “That’s how I got through it all.”

Denny shot her a puzzled glance. He wanted to ask her what she meant by her cryptic comment, but when he saw her pursed lips and tight expression, he guessed she wasn’t sharing.

And why should she? She was as much of a stranger to him as he was to Ella.

His mind ticked back to Ella’s mother and his heart floundered.

Lila. Why hadn’t anyone told him?

Dear Lord, he prayed, give me strength to get through this. Help me do what Evangeline said. Help me to trust in You to figure out what comes next.

And what was next? Try to get hold of Lila’s parents somehow? Find someone else to take care of Ella? Get his trucking business moved?