For His Little Girl

He stooped and kissed Josie's cheek, laid a hand on Pippa's shoulder and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Then he was gone, leaving her to realize that Luke had kissed her for the first time in eleven years.

It had been over before she'd had time to think, the kind of casual salute he probably gave to women every day, thinking nothing of it. But it lingered on her mouth like honey.

Be sensible, she thought. It meant nothing to him, and you're not an adolescent anymore. But she felt as though a drop of water had fallen onto her parched lips after years in the desert. Her defenses tottered alarmingly. She didn't want to be sensible. She wanted Luke to kiss her again. She wanted to kiss him back and tell him how lonely she'd been without him.

She brought herself back to reality with an effort. The audience was beginning to stream in, and soon the seats were full of laughing, chattering people. Ritchie came out and gave a brief warm-up talk, then the lights went down on the studio, up on the set, and there was Luke, wearing his most infectious grin, greeting the crowd as if they were old friends.

He wore a red apron and red chef's hat and he had a feast of cherry dishes. For the next hour he held them spellbound. Pippa watched in admiration as Luke produced a great, barnstorming performance. He had the gift of being able to project his real self. There was the cheeky charm, the crazy clowning, the hint that he'd found the secret of making life fun. And behind it, the perfect organization, each detail under control, everything planned just as he wanted it. In fact, there was Luke, writ large.

Pippa and Josie joined in the laughter with everyone else. Josie's eyes were shining and she applauded loud and long. 'Isn't Daddy wonderful?' she whispered to Pippa.

'Yes, darling. He's wonderful.'

After the first show there was a break for lunch, and Josie and Pippa picnicked with Luke in his dressing room. Josie chattered a mile a minute, while Luke grinned. But the grin was wiped off his face when his phone rang.

'Okay, okay,' he said, sounding exasperated. 'We'll just have to find something else.' As he hung up he was audibly grinding his teeth. 'My suppliers have let me down. Now a couple of tomorrow's dishes have to be changed.'

'Can you do it at such short notice?' Josie asked anxiously. 'I mean, can you do the rest of today's show and think up new recipes?'

He grinned and tweaked her nose. 'For genius, nothing is impossible.'

'Yes, Daddy, but can you do it?' Josie asked, straight-faced.

Luke flung up his hands. 'Great!' he told Pippa. 'You've been teaching my kid to be a smart aleck.

Come on, brat. Back to work, and your old man will try not to disappoint you.''

Josie giggled, and they went out with their arms about each other's waists.

It all started again. Ritchie came out again, reminding the audience to greet Luke with the same enthusiasm as before, but he needn't have bothered. They adored him, and the cheer, when he appeared again, raised the roof. He'd changed into fresh jeans and sweater, and the red hat and apron had been replaced by green and white, suggesting the salads he was about to create.

Josie was caught up in the general excitement, but Pippa found herself standing back and seeing Luke as he appeared to the rest of the world. It was a curious experience, like looking at him down a long tunnel, and she had the strange feeling that she knew him better. He was a man who could give a little of himself to a million people, but not all of himself to anyone. She should have known that long ago.

He seemed to have inexhaustible energy, because after a brief pause he was off again on the third show, and it was as fresh and spontaneous as the first. Then it was over, and the crowd was streaming out, leaving Josie and Pippa alone in their seats. Now that everyone could relax, Josie took the chance to explore the studio. Ritchie flopped down beside Pippa like a rag doll.

'Every time I swear I can't go through it again,' he moaned. 'But somehow I find the nervous energy. The question is, how much longer?'

'As long as the ratings are good, I suppose,' Pippa said, amused.

'You're right. Only the public really counts, doesn't it? That great hydra-headed crowd out there, baying for its pound of flesh.'

'We'll just have to hope that Luke can keep producing the goods,' she said demurely.

'Of course,' he replied with an edge on his voice. 'Nobody knows what he owes to Luke more than I do.'

'I'll bet you do.'

He gave her a sour look and went in search of a more appreciative audience.

In the car, on the way home, she related this conversation, and Luke shouted with laughter. 'That's my Pippa,' he said appreciatively. 'Never stood any nonsense from anyone. And he certainly offers himself as a target.'

'What about your problem?' Pippa asked. 'Did it sort itself out?'

'No, it got a lot worse, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be good company this evening. I've got to spend tonight working out new recipes and cooking them myself, as well.'

'So we'll help you,'' Pippa said. 'I can cook you know.'

'No, really? I had no idea.'

'If you weren't driving this car I'd kick your shins. I'll do the supper. You get on with being the genius of the screen. And don't you dare hover over me, sticking your nose in. You won't be driving a car then.'

'Yes, ma'am!'

He tried to be virtuous. He and Josie seated themselves at his computer, and before her fascinated eyes he called up recipe after recipe, considering, rejecting, analyzing, amending. But his mind was only half on the job. He couldn't resist looking over his shoulder at Pippa, moving about the kitchen-his kitchen- opening his doors and drawers.

'Dad,' Josie muttered, reading his tension. 'I wouldn't if I was you.'

'I was only going to-'

'Well, don't! Not unless you want to be bopped on the head.'

'Look,' he said, also muttering, 'I just want to show her where things are. She won't understand my plan.'

'Yes, she will. She's got the same one.'

'What do you mean?'

'Mom's organized the kitchen at home just like this. It's smaller, but the plan's the same. Knives here, chopping board there, blender in the cupboard on the right, scales in the cupboard on the left. Same as you. She says it's how you reorganized Ma's kitchen years ago.'

'Really?' He was fascinated.

'And she goes mad if anything's out of place. Honestly, you'd think the world was going to end if anything's just a little untidy.'

'Pippa? Tidy? You're kidding me.'

'Why?'

'I knew her before you, remember?''

'Was she untidy then?'

'Was she unti-Let me tell you…'

He stopped, realizing that his memories of discarded clothes littering their room were hardly suitable for a child's ears. 'Never mind,' he said hastily. 'Look, she's driving me nuts.'

'Dad, leave it.'

'Yes, dear.' He subsided.

But it was more than flesh and blood could stand. Within minutes he jumped up. 'Pippa, not that saucepan-'

She whirled, eyes flashing, ladle in hand. ''Josie, get him out of here-now!''

'Let's go,' Josie said briskly. 'We've got work to do. You need a whole pile of new ingredients, and we'd better go out and buy them from an all-night supermarket.'

'Don't think there is one around here,' Luke said stubbornly.

'Dad,' Josie said patiently, 'I watch American movies. I know there's always an all-night supermarket. Now come on. I'm not ready to be an orphan yet.'

'What's this orphan talk?'