An Angel for Daddy Read online

“Daddy, can I watch one of Mommy’s videos?”

  “Not tonight, but you can watch one in the car on the way to school tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” she sighed, then she yawned. I tapped the door frame with my knuckle and went down stairs. I envied the way Nina was handling losing her mother. The loss was a sharp pain I walked around with all day. The almost two years she’d been gone had dulled the edges but the ache never went away.

  I sat at the kitchen island, poured myself two fingers of Jim Beam and opened my laptop to work. Losing Sarai and having to raise Nina alone put a lot of things in perspective for me. I was working too much and spent too much time away from my family, when I still had a family.

  Determined not to let that happen again, I took a job across the country that would pay my asking rate but allow me to spend half of my time working from home.

  I was able to drop Nina off in the morning, go to the office and pick her up after school. It meant working into the wee hours of the morning and not getting a ton of sleep but it was worth it. It was also incredibly unhealthy and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep it up. It also didn’t do anything to assuage the guilt of not doing it while Sarai was still alive, but I think she would be proud of the way I was taking care of Nina. I was trying at least.

  I finished three reports before my eyes started to glaze over. I looked at my watch. It was late in California, which meant it was later in Chicago. I took a chance my sister would still be awake.

  “Spence, what’s up? Is Nina okay?” Simi’s voice was groggy and thick with sleep.

  “Yeah, Sim, she’s fine.”

  “So why are you calling me at three in the morning?”

  “I think I fucked up.” I took a sip of my whiskey.

  “Fucked up what?”

  “I think I flirted with Nina’s kindergarten teacher.”

  “I’m gonna kill you.” She sighed.

  “C’mon, sis. I need advice.”

  “You called me in the middle of the night to tell me you flirted with someone? Spence, Sarai has been gone for almost two years. Is it so out of the ordinary for you to be attracted to someone else? Especially, a woman who takes care of your daughter.”

  “Nina noticed and she’s asking questions. I’m not ready to date and you know how she is. She’s tenacious like her mother. Lord knows what she’s telling this woman about me.”

  “Do you care?” she asked.

  “Of course, I care, but not the way you’re thinking. I mean, I don’t care. Okay, I care a little bit.” I didn’t know what the hell I was saying. I took another sip of my whiskey.

  “Mmm Hmm. You care so little that you’re waking people up to tell them how little you care.” Simi sounded like she was wearing one of Mom’s sarcastic expressions and I missed not being in the same city with her.

  “I care about Nina and I don’t want her getting confused or upset or getting her hopes up. I don’t know.”

  “Tell me about this teacher. Is she cute?”

  “Yes, she’s cute. She’s beautiful, but I’m not her favorite person.”

  “What did you do already? You just moved there a month ago.”

  “I’ve been late picking up Nina a couple of times.” I said. I listened to Simi’s weighted pause before adding, “Okay, more than a couple of times. I’m getting used to working part time. Her school doesn’t have an after school program.” I wouldn’t enroll her even if it did.

  “Why don’t you hire a baby sitter or a nanny?”

  “Hell no, Simi.” My incredulous laugh sounded like a bark. “Ma would never let me hear the end of it. She was pissed that I moved Nina halfway across the country. How would she react if she found out that I hired a stranger in California to do what she would do for free in Illinois?”

  “You need to stop thinking about what’s best for Ma and worry about what’s best for you and Nina. We didn’t need nannies when we were kids. We could take care of ourselves. We had aunties and cousins and neighbors. It’s not like it was when we were kids. Do you even know your neighbors?”

  “Nope.”

  “Exactly. Just hire someone to pick her up from school and watch her for a couple of hours until you get home.”

  “That’s good advice but I’m gonna try to figure out a way to do it on my own. I’m not ruling it out but the whole point of this move was to spend as much time with Nina as possible.”

  “Okay, little brother. Just make sure you’re doing what’s best for you and Nina and not punishing yourself for things you can’t change.”

  “Okay. I hear you.”

  “But are you listening?”

  “Yes.” I laughed. “but, I think you have that backwards.”

  “I said what I said,” she replied, “and keep flirting with cute women, but maybe not your daughter’s teacher. It’s time. Sarai would want you and Nina to be happy. You know that.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “I love you, Spencer, but if you call me again at three in the morning for nonsense I’m flying to Cali and beating your ass.”

  I let out a belly laugh and Simi joined me.

  “I love you, too.”

  “I’m proud of you, little brother. Go to bed.”

  “Okay.”

  I swallowed the last of my whiskey, chased it with a glass of water and took my sister’s advice.

  ruby

  “That’s a beautiful necklace, Nina.” My after school buddy was holding up a ring of pink yarn threaded through about twenty painted penne noodles. “Who’s that for?”

  “I made it for you.” She held it out to me. “It’s a thank you gift. I know my daddy is always late and you always wait with me and I know you don’t have to.”

  My heart broke at her declaration and the pieces melted as I took the necklace from her and slipped it over my head.

  “Do you like it?” she asked.

  “I love it. It’s beautiful, just like you.”

  Her face lit up.

  “Hey, Little Bit.” Nina’s dad was standing in the doorway. He looked out of breath and a little disheveled. I glanced at the clock. It’s was almost four. He was earlier than usual, but still late.

  “Daddy!” Nina did her usual squeal and ran into her Dad’s arms. He set her down and she ran in the direction of her cubby.

  “I know. I know.” He held up his hands in concession. “I know I’m late again. I really tried this time.”

  “Are you implying you didn’t try the other times?” I smirked at him.

  “What? No, I mean I scheduled my meetings so I would have plenty of time to get here—” he stammered.

  “It’s okay. Really. I don’t mind staying with Nina. She’s a great kid.” I offered what I hoped was a kind smile.

  “Oh.” His face fell. “I see.”

  “What?”

  “That face.”

  “What face?”

  “You had no problem putting me in my place before you found out I was a widower and a single parent, but now you’re giving me ‘the face.’”

  My face went slack and I could feel heat rising in my neck and cheeks. I quickly schooled my expression and continued, a little annoyed, “So now you’re upset that I’m cutting you a little slack.”

  “No, I’m upset that you’re pitying me.”

  “I’m not pitying you. I just—” I wasn’t sure how I was going to end that sentence because I was pitying him. My feelings about him picking up Nina late everyday had definitely changed in the days since I found out about his wife. I’d looked forward to spending time with Nina, remembering how much I treasured spending time with women when I was her age. Luckily for me, Nina came back from her cubby and saved me.

  “Here daddy.” She held up a nearly identical macaroni necklace but this one was blue. “I made this for you.”

  He took it from her with a huge grin on his face that faltered slightly when he noticed the one I was wearing.

  “This is awesome. Thank you.”

  “You have to wea
r it now.” She commanded. He reluctantly put it over his head. “Okay, you have to stand next to Miss Ruby so I can take a picture and send it to Auntie Simi.”

  “Sweetie, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He shot me a quick glance.

  “My aunt Simi makes necklaces as her job,” she informed me. “I wanted to show her mine. Maybe if she likes them she can sell them in her store.” She turned to address her father. “You and Miss Ruby are my models.”

  She grinned at him and I could see the moment he relented. Nina must get her way a lot by flashing that grin.

  “I’m sorry,” he said to me.

  “Hey, I can’t discourage a young entrepreneur and I’ve always wanted to be a model… I’m too short.” I joked, but he didn’t smile. His reaction made my heart thud and I tried to keep my face placid.

  Nina’s Dad handed her his phone and she directed us. We stood next to each other and I was close enough to smell his spicy, woodsy cologne mixed with the faint hint of sweat. I had gone from rudeness, to pity, to now wanting to climb this man like a tree. He turned to me and our eyes met. We held that gaze for a few moments when I heard the click of the phone shutter.

  “Okay. One more,” our little photographer called out. We posed again, Nina snapped a few more photos.

  “Thank you Miss Hayes.” His parting greeting was curt, abrupt. And that same guilty feeling crept in, but this time it had brought a friend, frustration.

  I was supposed to feel guilty for telling him off for being late and feel guilty for not telling him off for being late. This wouldn’t even be an issue if he just got his butt here on time.

  I shook it off and decided to head home. If I got Dad his dinner early maybe I could convince my best friend to come out for a drink.

  “Okay, first things first.” Sabrina said and wrapped her perfectly manicured hand around her martini glass to take another sip of her cosmo. “What is his name?”

  “Why?” I asked and sipped my cabernet.

  “We are going to search him.” She pulled out her phone. She had her thumbs poised and eyebrows raised and was waiting for me to answer.

  “Spencer Jones,” I said in a low voice and took another sip of wine, a bigger sip.

  “Spencer Jones? That sounds sexy as fuck.” Her thumbs were flying over her screen. She flipped the phone around to show me a screen full of photos of what I guessed were men name Spencer Jones. I scrolled until I found Nina’s dad and clicked. She turned the phone around. “Oh, Rube, he is fine…and smart…and rich…and a widower.”

  “I know he’s a widower. Are you satisfied with your search. This feels invasive.” I took another sip of my wine. “I just wanted your opinion on how I should’ve handle today. I thought I was doing a good thing by not giving him a hard time, when he obviously tried to be on time but apparently that wasn’t the right thing to do.”

  “Well,” She cast one last glance at her phone before placing it face down on the bar, “remember when your mom died,” she asked. I nodded, “and you told me that everyone was fussing over you, and constantly talking about her, asking you how you were feeling and blah, blah, blah…” She waved her hand around.

  “Yes, everyone except for you. You treated me like a regular person.” I put my hand on top of hers and squeezed.

  “Exactly.” She nodded. “His wife died two years ago.” She said. I blinked at her in surprise and she pointed to her phone. “He wants to be treated like a person and not someone wearing a t-shirt that says My Wife is Dead and I’m a Single Dad. Treat him the way you wanted people to treat you.”

  I nodded and smiled at her.

  “When are you planning on taking off that ring and stop scaring men away?” She held up her cosmo, and pointed her head at my ring.

  I reached for my mother’s wedding ring and twisted it in response to Sabrina’s question. I started wearing it my first year of teaching. I doesn’t work completely when it comes to fending off unwanted advances but I’ve definitely seen men and women switch gears when they notice it. I haven’t dated anyone since college and with work and Dad keeping me busy I don’t really have time to think about a relationship. I tried online dating but the three dating app setups were disastrous and no amount of therapy would scrub away the memories of some of the messages I’d read or the amount of unsolicited dick pics I’d been sent.

  “He asked me if I was married.” I said in a low voice.

  “What did you say?” she said in a sing-song voice.

  “I deflected and hid my hand.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Mature, Ruby,” she muttered and glared at me. “You seriously need to dust that thing off and see if it still works.” She gestured to my waist. I was mid sip and almost snorted wine through my nose. “But not with one of your student’s parents. You don’t want to be that teacher.”

  I laughed.

  “How’s Pop?” she asked. I’ve known Sabrina since we were Nina’s age. Our mothers were best friends. When I lost my mom, we became closer. She moved to LA right after high school and became a highly sought after event producer, but she moved back to help her mom two years ago.

  “He’s still pretty good. He’s deteriorating and he’s being really stubborn about the assisted living facilities I’ve been trying to get him into.”

  “That’s a big change. Ask me how I know.” She took another sip of her drink.

  “I know, but I’m scared. He’s already set one fire. Yes, it was an accident but I’m terrified to leave him alone and he won’t let me hire a home health aide.”

  “I’m sorry, babe. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

  “Well, same. How’s Aunt Anita?” I said hoping to shift my thoughts away from my stubborn father.

  “She’s doing a lot better. The rehab went well, and she’s settling into the new community.”

  “Oh, please tell me everything. Maybe if Aunt Anita likes it, she can talk to Daddy.”

  “Girl.” She pursed her red glossed lips, dropped her chin and glared at me, before signaling the bartender for another drink. “They were not lying when they say caring for an aging parent is like raising a child.”

  “What do you mean?” I thought I had an idea what she meant, taking care of Dad, but I felt like Sabrina was about to shock me, which was kind of my best friend’s specialty.

  “Hold on.” She polished off her martini just as the bartender dropped off a fresh one. “I had to give my mother…a sex talk.”

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Yes, girl.” She slapped my thigh. “And condoms.”

  “In an assisted living community?”

  “Yes,” she hissed. “Those old folks get it in. Do you hear me?”

  “Oh my god. Let me know where so I can keep Dad away from that one.”

  “Ruby.” She put her hand on mine. “It’s all of them. Those old folks are getting more action than both of us.”

  She laughed and I joined her. It felt good to relax and have a sounding board. I loved having Sabrina home, though I felt a little guilty, being that the reason she came back was because her mom broke her hip.

  “You okay, Ruby?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded. The word okay was the perfect descriptor. I wasn’t happy but I wasn’t sad. I was under a lot of stress but I still had a lot to be thankful for. I felt like something was missing but I didn’t have time to figure out what it was. “How about you, Brina?”

  “Girl, same. I took a leave of absence that was supposed to be six months, that turned into two years. Now, I’m freelancing to make ends meet. Don’t even get me started on dating. Why do men think everyone wants to see pictures of their dick?”

  I snorted laughing again.

  “Okay. That’s it,” I said and picked up my glass. “No more stressing about men, our jobs and our parents. This is girl’s night.”

  Sabrina held up her cosmo and clinked our glasses.

  “Deal, but only for the next two hours.”

  We laughed.

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nbsp; spencer

  My phone pinged for the third time in a row during the meeting.

  “Do you need to get that?” Jason, another analyst, asked.

  “No, it’s fine. It’s my sister. If it was an emergency, she’d call.” I quickly set the phone to vibrate and stuffed my cell into my pocket.

  “Can you turn off your phone?” he asked.

  “Not with a five year old in school.” I smiled at him because I didn’t want to seem hostile, but there was no way I was cutting off communication with Nina, even for ten minutes. Simi was going to get an earful after my meeting. Jason conceded and we continued the rest of the meeting without incident.

  I waited until I was in the office to check my text messages. My breath caught in my throat when I opened the app. Nina must have sent her aunt the photos she took of me and Miss Hayes last week.

  Big Head: What is going on here?

  Me: I don’t know what you mean.

  Simi sent another photo. She’d zoomed on the photo of the two of us locking eyes and circled our heads in red.

  Big Head: this. You are eye fucking your daughter’s teacher. And she is not cute, she’s gorgeous.

  Simi was always great at pointing out the obvious. My mind flashed back to every up close encounter I had with Ruby Hayes, remembering every bounce of her curls and curve of her slim yet shapely body.

  Me: You’re supposed to be looking at the merchandise, not the models.

  Big Head: These necklaces are too cute. They’ve given me an idea for a new collection, but send me one of Nina’s creations. I’ll put it in a display case and take a picture for her.

  Me: She would be so excited.

  Big Head: You know I love that girl. Now answer my question, little brother. Are you hot for teacher?

  Yes.

  Me: That would be inappropriate.

  Big Head: Still not an answer. But I’ll tell you something. If Sandra and I ever looked at each other the way you two are looking at each other in this photo, we’d still be married. Just saying.