Flustered, Michelle nodded, longing to throw caution to the wind and at least consider his amazing suggestion. With dazed eyes, she watched him stride from the room and call Penny.
Soon the sound of childish laughter came in through the open window. Michelle detoured by the window, her arms full of dresses, to look out. Josh was playing ball with Penny. He'd gently lob the big ball toward the little girl’s outstretched hands. The ball would actually bounce against one palm or the other, then fall to the grass. Laughing, she’d race to pick it up and throw it back to her father. Once in a while, Josh managed to run fast enough to catch an erratic toss.
Both of them appeared to be having a wonderful time.
Wistfully Michelle watched for long moments. Penny was one lucky little girl. She’d have wonderful memories growing up. Once again the sense of rightness filled her. If nothing else, Michelle was glad she’d made this possible.
But she felt oddly left out. Josh hadn’t included her.
Sighing softly, she carried her dresses to her room.
Monday morning Josh left early. Penny was still eating breakfast. Michelle had dressed for work before preparing the meal, so she was ready. As soon as Penny was finished, they’d leave for the office and Penny’s new day care center.
“Hurry up, Penny. We need to leave soon,’’ Michelle said as the child dawdled over her milk.
“Don’t gots to,” Penny mumbled. She wore her baseball hat today, and her teddy bear waited on the floor beside her chair.
“Don’t have to. Don't say got, say have.” Michelle murmured, checking the time again.
She planned to drive to work rather than subject Penny to the bus, but wasn’t sure how heavy the traffic would be from Josh’s house. She wanted to leave plenty of time to take Penny to the day care and still make it on time to her desk.
“Are you finished with your milk?”
“No.” She fiddled with the glass.
“Penny, we have to go.”
Penny’s lower lip pushed out and she glared at Michelle. “Don’t gots to.”
“Yes, you do have to. You’re going to a new day care today. We need to be there on time. Come on.”
“No!” Penny scooted off her chair, snatched up her bear and ran for her room.
Michelle stared after her for a long moment. Josh had said she was a handful sometimes. Had she or her sisters ever behaved like that with their grandmother? Somehow she doubted it.
She put everything in the car and went to get Penny. Maybe she’d call Abby later and ask for pointers. “Come on, Penny. Time to go.”
“Don’t gots to,” Penny stated from her position on her bed. She had her back to the door.
Michelle crossed the room and knelt beside the bed, trying to catch Penny’s eye. “I’ll tell you what. If you come now like a good girl, we’ll stop at the park on the way home. How about that?”
Warily Penny studied Michelle. After a long moment, she nodded and crawled to the edge of the bed. “Okay. I can go on the swing?”
“Yes.”
Relieved they were heading out, Michelle ignored the bribery aspect, though her own words echoed in her mind. Right now she was looking for whatever worked. Once she and Penny got to know each other, she’d know better how to deal with the child. And there was no reason Josh should ever find out about today’s bribe.
Josh checked out the front window for the eighteenth time in the last half hour. Where were they? He knew Michelle normally left work at five. Had she had to work late? Couldn’t she have called? What if they’d been in a traffic accident? It didn’t take ninety minutes to drive from her office building to the house.
He paced the living room, checking his watch again. He’d already called her office, but reached only a recording announcing the office hours. He didn’t dare call Caroline, Michelle’s admonitions about protecting her sister were too strong. Abby would be at work. He remembered her talking about her days off and how she had switched with others to get the weekend off.
Where were they?
A car turned into the driveway. Rushing to the door, he flung it wide open and stepped outside. Michelle released Penny from the car seat in back, leaning in through the open door. The relief to see them both safe mingled with the attraction he felt for his new wife. He wanted to yell at her for putting him through this worry, then snatch her close and kiss her breathless.
Instead, he clenched his fists and waited with what patience he could muster as they came toward him.
Penny ran ahead, her teddy bear bumping against her leg.
“Hi Daddy. I went on the swings. I went really high.” She flung herself into his arms when he stooped to her level. Lifting her, he hugged her close.
“Where have you two been?” he demanded when Michelle drew closer.
“We stopped at the park.” She looked at him closely. “Is something wrong?”
“You scare the h—” he glanced at his daughter. “You scared me when you weren’t home when I arrived. I thought you left work at five.”
“I did. Penny and I stopped at the park.” She bit her lip as a look of contrition crossed her face. “I’m sorry, Josh, I didn’t even think you might be home or worried. I’m not used to living with anyone. And I guess I thought you’d work later than me.”
He couldn’t help himself. Reaching for her with his free hand, he drew her close enough to kiss. Just the touch of her lips against his sent his temperature soaring. He wondered if she’d given any thought to his proposal.
“You do now! Maybe I overreacted, but I was worried when you both weren’t home where I expected you to be,” he said, releasing her and turning toward the open door.
“I’ll call next time,” she said breathlessly.
Josh smiled. At least he got the kissing part right. But if
