Valerie Taylor - The World's Best Dad

“Grrr,” said Carla.

He turned the handset over and started pushing buttons. “Here, let me try.”

“I’m sure Carla can handle it.”

Carla said, “Oh, let him try. Men love fixing problems. Makes them feel useful.” She grinned at Ben.

He finished dialing, then listened while it rang. “Alberta Owen, please.” He waited a moment while the call was transferred.

Her line clicked on. “Alberta.”

“Alberta. Baby. Sweetheart.” He smiled, waiting for it.

“Ben! Ben Harbison, you better not be sweet-talking me for help at four fifty-five at night. I’m late for the door.”

“Guilty.”

“Rascal. What is it?”

“My new neighbor. She was supposed to have her power turned on, but it hasn’t happened. She’s moving into a dark house with her little girl.”

“Address?”

“Fifteen sixty-five Glenbeck.”

“Oh, right next door, hmm? And is she pretty, this new neighbor?”

His eyes shot to Julie, who was watching him. “Uh, yes.”

“And will this make you the hero?”

He coughed. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt any.”

“Mmm-hmm. So Alberta gets to play Cupid, does she? Let me see…” He heard her fingers on her keyboard. “Mmm-hmm, should have gone on today. I can take care of it from here.” Another few keystrokes. “Okay, ready?”

“Ready.”

The living room’s overhead light came on.

Carla gasped.

Marisa clapped, and when Joe said, “My daddy can do anything,” she turned to Ben, her eyes shining.

Ben grinned and looked at Julie. She was staring at him in astonishment, her mouth slightly open. He said into the mouthpiece, “Thank you, Alberta.”

“Mmm-hmm. Invite me to the wedding, hear?” She clicked off.

He pressed the off button on the phone and held it out to Julie. She stared at it for a moment, then at him. For a moment, her deep blue eyes on his, he was sure he’d blown it. Too sure of himself, as usual. He toned down his grin for a moment.

Finally she smiled back at him. “Do you know anyone at Cincinnati Water? They keep saying they’ve turned the water on, but there’s no water.”

Ben swallowed. “Er…did you check the main valve to the house?”

Carla snorted.

Julie narrowed her eyes at her friend in exaggerated irritation. “The main valve? No one said anything about a main valve.”

Ben tried not to smile. “I’m sure very few people know about it. It’s practically a secret.”

She turned her mock displeasure on him. “Just go get a wrench or something, okay?”

“Right. C’mon, Joe.” He made his escape.

Ben found his tool belt and strapped it on, then walked around Julie’s house until he found the water shutoff valve. Yep, it was off. He adjusted the fitting, then walked back into her house, Joe at his heels. “Try it now,” he said.

Julie walked into the bathroom under the stairs, and he heard the water running. She came back out. “It’s brown, but at least it’s running.”

Joe, apparently realizing he was trailing around after a bunch of adults doing boring stuff, turned to Marisa. “Do you like swings?”

Marisa nodded and smiled shyly at him.

“Want to go swing?”

Marisa nodded, and the little boy grabbed her hand and tugged at her. She turned to Julie.

Julie glanced through the open doorway. “Well, it’s starting to get a little dark….” She looked at Marisa. “But at least it’s stopped raining. Go ahead, honey.”

The two children ran off, and Ben followed Julie into the kitchen. She watched as they ran through the backyard to Ben’s house. She turned to him, frowning slightly. “They’ll be okay, won’t they?”

Ben nodded. What could happen to them? “They’re just out in the backyard. It’s probably been a pretty boring day for her, with moving and all.”

She bit her lip. “I guess we can see them from here. Well, then, now that I have water—” Carla smirked, and Julie ignored her “—I guess I’ll start unpacking boxes.” She opened one of the cupboards and coughed as dust flew out.

He glanced over her shoulder into the cupboard, which was thick with dust. “Why don’t you let me wipe out those cupboards for you before you put stuff away?”

She smiled. “You’re hired.”

Carla grabbed her purse off the kitchen counter. “Sounds too much like work to me. I’m off for those curtain rods. Back in a flash.” She waved goodbye on her way out, and Ben heard her tell the movers the door better be back on its hinges when she returned. So she’d be back. He’d better work fast.

Julie smiled at him. “Thanks for the offer of help. You really don’t have to stay.”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t mind at all. A little adult company is always welcome.” And now that they were alone, he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. He grabbed a bunch of paper towels from a roll and wet them at the sink. “And I can see you have your hands full. I guess all single parents do.”

She turned slightly away from him, leaning over to open a box. “It’s just all so new, I guess.”

He tried not to leer at her backside, with limited success. It was a very nice backside. What the hell, she couldn’t see him. He jerked his gaze from her jeans as she turned around. He had to think a minute before he could remember what she’d just said. “Ah, what, being a single parent?”

She nodded. “I just adopted Marisa two days ago.”

“Brave woman, walking into single parenting with your eyes open.”

She laughed. “I don’t know how open they were.” She turned half away, started rinsing a pile of plates one by one, stacking them on the counter, her arms graceful, in and out of the water. “I was her guardian ad litem for four years. She’s been in foster care, and when she had to be moved to a new foster home, I just couldn’t stand to see her have to start all over again.”

“So you decided to adopt her? Just like that?”

“More or less.” She made a wry face, and he guessed it had been a little more complicated than that. She dried the stack of plates and set them into the cupboard above the dishwasher.

“Do you get a lot of people telling you how much they admire you?”

She laughed. “Yes. And so far I’ve felt like I’m doing a totally unadmirable job.”

“Oh, that never ends. It’s always going to be harder when you’re going it alone. You don’t have anyone to bounce your thoughts off.” He shook his head. “Or if you do, sometimes they end up making you feel worse.” She turned to him, concern clear on her face, and he gave her a wry grin. “I’m guessing I’m not making you feel any better, here.”

She laughed at that. “Not at all. But next time you need to bounce some thoughts off someone, come bounce them off me. I’ll try not to make you feel worse.” She smiled, that fascinating curve of slightly parted lips. What was it about her smile? If he didn’t watch out, he could lose himself in it.

She crossed to the stack of unopened boxes again, struggling for a moment opening one. He pulled his penknife out of his pocket and squatted beside her, his knees brushing hers lightly. She moved out of his way, and he wished she hadn’t.

For the next half hour, while the movers put the door back on its hinges and cleaned up after themselves, he and Julie worked together, she unpacking boxes, rinsing dishes and pans, and putting them away; he wiping cupboards and trying not to obviously watch her stretching and bending and doing other fascinating things.

Just as Julie was finishing stacking pots in the cupboard under the stove, Carla returned, her arms sprouting curtain rods, and Marisa came in from the backyard with Joe. “Julie…Mom, I mean. I’m hungry.”