A Father's Place

Quinn looked a bit harassed, and Ellie had to smile. Maybe coping with his daughter’s wishes would distract him from her father.

“Honey, I can’t do that. Not right now. Let’s just enjoy my leave, okay? Hey, we haven’t talked about your birthday yet, and it’ll be here before you know it. Have you decided what you want?”

He wasn’t quite as skilled as her father in changing the subject when it got uncomfortable, but he’d probably improve with practice. She found herself wanting to tell him to answer his daughter’s question, and reminded herself it was none of her business.

Kristie tipped her head to one side, considering the question. “I want a chocolate cake,” she said firmly. “With white icing and lots of sprinkles.”

“We can probably manage that,” Quinn said.

“And a party with Ms. Ellie and her daddy.” She tilted her head toward Ellie. “You’ll come, won’t you? Please?”

Ellie tried not to look at Quinn, knowing what she’d see in his eyes. “If we get an invitation.” He undoubtedly wanted her to make an excuse, but she wouldn’t lie to the child.

“What about your present?” Quinn’s voice was even, but she could detect tension underneath. “A little bird told me you were thinking about a two-wheeler.”

Kristie giggled. “That wasn’t a little bird, Daddy. That was me!”

“Oh, yes, that’s where I heard it. So, what do you think? Is it going to be a bicycle?”

She shook her head decisively. “I decided there’s something I want even more.”

Quinn looked surprised, and Ellie wondered if he’d already picked out a bicycle. A six-year-old’s wants tended to change from moment to moment, but Kristie would probably be delighted with whatever her father gave her.

“Well, what is it?”

“I don’t know if I should tell.” Kristie wrinkled her nose. “Do you think it’s sort of like wishing on your candles? I mean, if you want something really, really bad, maybe you’ll get it if you don’t tell.”

“If you don’t tell,” Ellie pointed out, “Daddy won’t know where to buy it.”

“He doesn’t have to buy it!” For some reason, Kristie thought that was hilarious.

A spasm of apprehension crossed Quinn’s face. “Even so, sweetheart, I think you’d better tell me.”

Kristie considered a moment, then nodded. “Well, see, it’s something I was praying about. Ms. Ellie taught us about praying in Sunday school. And she said that God always answers, but sometimes He has to say no.” She turned to Ellie. “Isn’t that what you said?”

Now she was the one who was apprehensive, Ellie thought as she nodded. What on earth had she said that played into Kristie’s birthday wish?

“So I decided I’d ask for it for my birthday,” Kristie said confidently. “I always get what I want for my birthday, and if I do that and pray, too, I’m sure to get it.”

“I don’t think…” Ellie began, then fell silent when Quinn frowned at her.

“So what is it you want?” Quinn looked afraid to find out.

Kristie smiled confidently. “I want you to get married so I can have a mommy. Then you’ll come home to stay.”

“So, do you think you understand now?” Quinn concentrated on his daughter, seated between him and Ellie on the back porch swing. He tried to ignore the way Ellie’s arm curved around Kristie, the way her hand brushed his as she patted the child.

Think about your daughter, he lectured himself. Not about Ellie Wayne, no matter how attractive she is.

Now where had that come from? He was not attracted to Ellie. Her hair tickled his shoulder, escaping as usual from its band, and the faint scent of roses teased his senses, mingling with the spicy aroma of his mother’s marigolds. It looked as if he’d have to keep reminding himself he wasn’t.

They’d just tried to explain to Kristie the difference between prayer and birthday wishes, and he still wasn’t sure they’d succeeded. Maybe he’d have been better off doing this without Ellie, but he felt she carried some of the responsibility.

“I guess so.” Kristie looked up at him with trust shining in her eyes. “But that’s still what I want for my birthday, okay?”

He tried to suppress a sigh of exasperation. “Kristie…” he began, but she slid off the swing and patted his knee like a little mother.

“It’s okay, Daddy. You think about it. I’ll go help Grandma with dessert while you decide.”

She danced across the porch, her white sundress flitting around her. The screen door slammed behind her.

He looked at Ellie. Her expressive face was perfectly grave, but he thought a trace of amusement lurked in her dark eyes.

“I suppose you think this is funny.”

Her dimple showed. “Maybe just a bit. She is one very determined little girl. I wonder from whom she inherited that quality?”

She had a point there, though he hated to admit it. Certainly Julie had never been that way. Julie had been sweet, dependent, passive. But never determined.

“Do your spiritual lessons with six-year-olds always end up like this?” He firmly lobbed the ball back into Ellie’s court.

Her expression clouded. “I hope not. I take it very seriously, and I try to put things in terms children can understand. But you just never know how they’re going to interpret what you say.”

“To an engineer, precision is crucial.”

“Even when you’re dealing with a six-year-old?”

“Especially when you’re dealing with a six-year-old like mine.” He frowned. Did he really have a clue what Kristie needed anymore? “I already ordered the bicycle. It’s hidden over at Brett and Rebecca’s house. Bright blue, with streamers on the handlebars.”

“She’ll love it. Really.” She reached toward him, almost as if she wanted to comfort him. Then, just as quickly, she drew her hand back, apparently thinking the better of it. “I’m sure she knows you want what’s best for her.”

“I hope so.” He looked at her, weighing the caring that shone in those bright eyes. He’d like to believe that was genuine. Unfortunately he couldn’t ignore the instinct that told him she was hiding something. “I want what’s best for my mother, too.”

She knew immediately what he was talking about. He could see that in her sudden wariness. Her expression clouded, and she looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap. “Your mother seems to be perfectly happy with her life.”

“You look at her as a friend,” he said, trying to ignore the way her dark hair curled against the sunshine yellow of her dress. “At least I hope so. I look at her as the mother who’s always been protected.”

She bit her lower lip for an instant, then seemed to come to a decision. Her gaze met his with a certain amount of defiance. “I’ve already told you that she and my father are just friends.”

“Are they?” After his mother’s performance this morning at church, he couldn’t believe that.

“Yes.” She said it so firmly that he thought she was trying to convince herself. “And if it’s any satisfaction to you, I don’t want to see anything else between them, any more than you do.”

“Why?” He shot the word at her.

For an instant she looked disconcerted. “Because…because my father will be leaving soon.” He sensed she edited her words carefully, and wondered what she’d say if she really spoke her mind. “I just don’t think it would work out.”

“That’s good, because I intend to make sure nothing happens between them.” He leaned closer, hearing the sudden catch of her breath at his nearness. They were so close he could see the fine vein tracing her temple, the curve of each dark lash. “And since you agree that a relationship between them is a bad idea, you can help me.”