else.”
She nodded. “There was no one else to help. I don’t have a relationship with my parents. Cal’s been an alcoholic all his adult life, and Peggy’s an enabler. Sherri and I got out as soon as possible.”
“Speaking of which,” he said, “there’s no alcohol in the house anymore.”
Her gaze jumped to his and held.
“You saw me at my worst,” he continued, confident in the truth of every word, “so, if you’re concerned at all, you don’t have to be. I’m done with it.”
She touched him, and his arm burned. “After watching you play, and getting to know you better, it’s barely entered my mind lately,” she said in a quiet tone. “But frankly, if there’s any hint of alcohol use, then neither Michelle nor I can count on being safe with you.”
She moved slightly, her hand dropping to her side. His skin cooled immediately; he preferred the heat.“Michelle not being safe is unacceptable—at any price,” she added.
“I agree. And I appreciate your trust.”
“Oh, you’re still earning that, but you get points for trying to be a good daddy.”
Her green eyes seared his. “I’m familiar with the empty promises of alcoholics, with their rationalizations and their blaming others for everything wrong in their lives. I’ve seen the damage caused by their out-of-control behavior. If you’ve got a real problem, Dan, I’ll know about it, and I’ll be able to protect Michelle.” She waved her arm, lightening the atmosphere. “I’m known to be a pretty good judge of character, and my money’s on you. Just don’t prove me wrong this time.”
T HE NEXT MORNING , A LEXIS watched in amazement as Dan built his breakfast in a soup bowl. Two types of multigrain cereal, fresh blueberries, a sliced banana, a half-dozen strawberries and an avalanche of milk. The man needed a tureen, not a bowl.
He raised his head. “What’s the matter?”
“Uh, nothing. It’s a colorful volcano…for about three people.”
Grinning, he pushed the bowl toward her. “Help yourself.”
“Eat up. Michelle needs a healthy daddy.”
It was almost nine o’clock, and her morning had been filled with Michelle-centered activities, including laundry—which hadn’t been done since the baby moved in last Thursday. The elevator had proved handy for getting to the machines in the basement.
“Maria should be here any minute. I want to introduce you before I leave.”
“The kitchen person?”
“Just call her General. We do. She stayed here a lot when Kim was sick, acting like a general at a command center, and now she comes in two mornings a week. She orders groceries, prepares and freezes dinners for me. Just write down what you want and she’ll add it to the list. No problem.”
“I don’t want to cause the woman more work. I’ll shop for myself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She uses my credit card and mostly shops online. The stuff is delivered. There’s no extra work.”
Alexis simply stared at him. “Wow. I guess the rich really are different.”
Dan leaned back in his chair. “We bleed red, just like the rest of humanity. Get used to it, because I’m giving you card access, as well. You buy whatever you think Michelle needs for now. When the season’s over, I’ll have more time—”
The sound of the doorbell was followed by a woman’s voice calling Dan’s name. Footsteps approached and Maria Sanchez entered the kitchen, took one look at Alexis and made the sign of the cross.
“Madre de Dios,” she said, grabbing onto a chair back.
“Here we go again,” mumbled Alexis. “I swear I’m going blonde and getting a haircut.”
“No, don’t do that,” Dan said, quickly going to Maria. “I like you just the way you are.”
Why did that remark make her feel so good? Shewatched him lean over and explain her presence to Maria, saw that words weren’t necessary after the woman spotted Michelle. Joy radiated from every part of her.
“Such a beautiful baby! Señor Daniel, now
She nodded. “There was no one else to help. I don’t have a relationship with my parents. Cal’s been an alcoholic all his adult life, and Peggy’s an enabler. Sherri and I got out as soon as possible.”
“Speaking of which,” he said, “there’s no alcohol in the house anymore.”
Her gaze jumped to his and held.
“You saw me at my worst,” he continued, confident in the truth of every word, “so, if you’re concerned at all, you don’t have to be. I’m done with it.”
She touched him, and his arm burned. “After watching you play, and getting to know you better, it’s barely entered my mind lately,” she said in a quiet tone. “But frankly, if there’s any hint of alcohol use, then neither Michelle nor I can count on being safe with you.”
She moved slightly, her hand dropping to her side. His skin cooled immediately; he preferred the heat.“Michelle not being safe is unacceptable—at any price,” she added.
“I agree. And I appreciate your trust.”
“Oh, you’re still earning that, but you get points for trying to be a good daddy.”
Her green eyes seared his. “I’m familiar with the empty promises of alcoholics, with their rationalizations and their blaming others for everything wrong in their lives. I’ve seen the damage caused by their out-of-control behavior. If you’ve got a real problem, Dan, I’ll know about it, and I’ll be able to protect Michelle.” She waved her arm, lightening the atmosphere. “I’m known to be a pretty good judge of character, and my money’s on you. Just don’t prove me wrong this time.”
T HE NEXT MORNING , A LEXIS watched in amazement as Dan built his breakfast in a soup bowl. Two types of multigrain cereal, fresh blueberries, a sliced banana, a half-dozen strawberries and an avalanche of milk. The man needed a tureen, not a bowl.
He raised his head. “What’s the matter?”
“Uh, nothing. It’s a colorful volcano…for about three people.”
Grinning, he pushed the bowl toward her. “Help yourself.”
“Eat up. Michelle needs a healthy daddy.”
It was almost nine o’clock, and her morning had been filled with Michelle-centered activities, including laundry—which hadn’t been done since the baby moved in last Thursday. The elevator had proved handy for getting to the machines in the basement.
“Maria should be here any minute. I want to introduce you before I leave.”
“The kitchen person?”
“Just call her General. We do. She stayed here a lot when Kim was sick, acting like a general at a command center, and now she comes in two mornings a week. She orders groceries, prepares and freezes dinners for me. Just write down what you want and she’ll add it to the list. No problem.”
“I don’t want to cause the woman more work. I’ll shop for myself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She uses my credit card and mostly shops online. The stuff is delivered. There’s no extra work.”
Alexis simply stared at him. “Wow. I guess the rich really are different.”
Dan leaned back in his chair. “We bleed red, just like the rest of humanity. Get used to it, because I’m giving you card access, as well. You buy whatever you think Michelle needs for now. When the season’s over, I’ll have more time—”
The sound of the doorbell was followed by a woman’s voice calling Dan’s name. Footsteps approached and Maria Sanchez entered the kitchen, took one look at Alexis and made the sign of the cross.
“Madre de Dios,” she said, grabbing onto a chair back.
“Here we go again,” mumbled Alexis. “I swear I’m going blonde and getting a haircut.”
“No, don’t do that,” Dan said, quickly going to Maria. “I like you just the way you are.”
Why did that remark make her feel so good? Shewatched him lean over and explain her presence to Maria, saw that words weren’t necessary after the woman spotted Michelle. Joy radiated from every part of her.
“Such a beautiful baby! Señor Daniel, now
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