The Surprise Holiday Dad

What about Reggie? The kid must have been stunned and overwhelmed when his mom died. Wade was sixteen when he’d lost his own mother in a small-plane crash three years after she and his father divorced. Although she’d moved away and they rarely saw each other, he’d been devastated.

If only he’d known about Vicki’s death, he’d have rushed down here. Well, he’d do his best to compensate for that now.

After a couple wrong turns, he found the cul-de-sac. Picking the right house proved harder than expected. There were several two-story Craftsman structures with wide front porches, none of which matched his memory of fading beige paint and a patchy lawn edged by boxy hedges.

It had to be the one on the left, almost to the end. Wade recognized that row of sash windows on the second floor with a tiny attic window above. The house had been repainted cream with blue trim and the hedges replaced by blooming bird-of-paradise plants interspersed with hibiscus bushes, fronted by a mixture of miniature roses and colorful annual flowers. The doctor took good care of her property.

From the porch roof hung a bunting banner, each one of its green triangles displaying a picture of a teddy bear. A cluster of green and white balloons fluttered from one of the supports.

As he parked, he saw a bouncy little girl and her parents stroll toward the front door. There was something familiar about the mother, who had short stick-straight hair and the low-hipped stride of a cop accustomed to wearing a duty belt. When she glanced toward him, Wade recognized her as Patty Hartman, one of his fellow rookie officers from his stint at the local P.D. She carried a wrapped present.

After making startled eye contact with Wade, Patty waved. He returned the gesture.

Several more children scampered up the walkway with parents in their wake. They, too, brought gifts.

Reggie’s birthday might not be until Tuesday, but the aunt had obviously scheduled his party for today. And Wade wasn’t invited.

Well, he’d just invited himself.

Chapter Two

With Anne Murray singing “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” from a boom box on the patio, Adrienne hurried along the outdoor tables, distributing containers of Play-Doh along with teddy-bear molds.

“I should have done this earlier,” she fretted to Harper Anthony, whose seven-year-old daughter, Mia, was romping with Reggie in the large backyard. “I’m usually better organized.”

“I’d say you’re remarkably well organized.” That was a high compliment coming from Harper’s fiancé, Peter Gladstone, a gifted teacher and sports coach. He indicated the refreshment table with a tray of cut-up vegetables, the teddy bear–themed yo-yos awaiting the guests and the decorated party hats, plates and gift bags. “This is impressive.”

“That’s due as much to my friends as to me,” Adrienne protested. Through the kitchen window, she could hear newlyweds Stacy and Cole Rattigan bustling about fixing sandwiches.

Harper and Stacy had been close friends with Adrienne’s younger sister since junior high. Both nurses, they’d done their best to steer Vicki into treatment for her bipolar disorder and her drinking, and since her death had pitched in to babysit Reggie when his regular sitter wasn’t available. They’d also become Adrienne’s allies and mutual support system.

Harper, who’d volunteered to take pictures today, snapped the two children as they chased a butterfly. “You seem on edge. Is everything okay?”

“I’ve noticed that, too,” said Stacy, bringing a bowl of teddy-bear graham crackers from the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

With guests due to arrive any minute, Adrienne hesitated to spill the news she’d kept to herself all week. But it had to come out sometime. “It’s about the adoption. Reggie’s birth father is contesting it.”

“What?” Harper stared at her in dismay. “That lowlife?”

Stacy smacked the bowl onto the table. “Where does he get the nerve?”

“And if he takes my little boy away, I don’t know what I’ll...” Adrienne broke off.

“He can’t!” Stacy protested.

“Unthinkable,” Harper added. “If you need money for a lawyer, we’ll help.”

“So will we.”

“Thank you.” Adrienne struggled to regain her composure. “I already have an attorney. Unfortunately, he believes Wade has a case.”

“What kind of case?” Harper’s eyes narrowed.

“It turns out Vicki didn’t tell the whole story.” Adrienne explained about the checks and gifts.

“Sending money isn’t the same as being a father.” Stacy’s hand dropped to her abdomen, visibly enlarged with triplets due in four months. “I don’t know how I’d get through this pregnancy without Cole.”

“A real dad does whatever it takes to protect his kids,” Harper said. “Look how far Peter was willing to go to have children.”

A widow with a young daughter, she’d donated eggs so that Peter—himself widowed—could have a child by a surrogate. Unexpectedly, the two had fallen in love and were now due to be parents next June. They’d been overjoyed to learn that the surrogate was carrying twin boys.

Adrienne glanced toward the interior of the house, expecting to hear the bell, which she’d turned on high for today. No one had arrived yet, though, giving her a few more minutes. “I haven’t even told Reggie his father might be here next week.”

“When are you planning to break the news?” asked Peter.

“As soon as Wade actually shows up. He’s driving down from Northern California.” Adrienne wanted Reggie to enjoy his party without stewing about his father.

“Good plan,” Stacy said. “Considering he’s been the invisible man until now.”

Harper folded her arms. “Maybe he’ll conveniently get lost on the way.”

That would be a welcome break, Adrienne thought. “Just as long as he signs that legal waiver.”

The bell jangled. “The happy hordes descend,” Stacy murmured.

Through the window, Cole waved. “I’ll get it.” Wearing a checkered apron and a dab of chocolate icing on his cheek, he didn’t look like a world-famous men’s fertility expert.

“Thanks,” Adrienne called.

She might as well relax and enjoy the party. No sense dwelling on what next week would bring.

* * *

WADE SUPPOSED HE shouldn’t be surprised to find a man playing host at the front door. Yet the lawyer hadn’t mentioned that Adrienne had a husband or fiancé.

Patty’s family had already gone inside, followed by several other groups. The mild-looking fellow kept the door open for Wade, announcing, “Hi. I’m Cole.”

“Wade Hunter.” No sign of recognition crossed the man’s face as they shook hands.

Cole’s forehead wrinkled. “You were, uh, invited, right?”

“Do lots of little boys have stray men crashing their parties with gifts?” Wade wasn’t sure why he felt cranky toward this guy, except that he’d stolen the father’s place today.

“Sorry. It’s just that we haven’t met.” Despite the apologetic tone, Cole remained blocking the entrance.

“You know all Dr. Cavill’s friends?”

“Not exactly,” the man conceded. “My wife probably does. Stacy. She’s a surgical nurse at the hospital. Do you know her?”

Way to act like an idiot, Wade. “Afraid not.” He decided to cut to the point. “I’m Reggie’s father.”

Still looking puzzled, Cole moved aside. “I didn’t realize... Come on in. The party’s in back.”

The scents of chocolate and cinnamon reached Wade the instant he stepped into the foyer. Quite a charming change from his father’s place, as were the bouncy music and cheerful voices drifting from the depths of the house. His mood lifting, he followed Cole.

Glancing into the living and dining rooms that opened off the hall, he saw comfortable, well-maintained furniture, with bouquets of flowers that he guessed came from the yard. Everything appeared tidy and fresh.

With a twist of longing, Wade recalled the house where he’d lived before his mother left. More modest than this one but just as inviting, it had smelled of lemon oil and baking. He’d hurried in after school each day, eager to eat his snack and spill the day’s events to Mom.

Not that last year, though. Once he entered adolescence, Wade recalled with embarrassment, he’d become surly and quick to rush off with his friends. No wonder his mother hadn’t believed he’d needed her any longer.

Now, passing the staircase, he entered the family room. Judging by the view through the bay window, most of the action was on the patio. “I’d better go check on the food,” Cole said. “Nice to meet you.”

“My pleasure.” Wade stayed where he was, not quite ready to plunge into the mix of people outside.

He was alone in the den except for two school-age girls who stood near the window. They seemed to be debating whether to take their stuffed animals outside and risk getting them dirty. Boys would never argue over something like that, Wade thought in amusement.

“Mischief wants to run around,” said the shorter of the pair, a little charmer with elfin features. “He’s restless.”

“He should follow Roar’s example.” Her taller companion, a graceful African-American girl, cradled her lion. “He’d rather watch the others and write about them later.”

“I guess that’s okay.” The first girl clutched her well-worn bear. “Mischief, we can play later, okay?”

The girls set their little pals in the bay window facing the yard and darted out through the kitchen. Following, Wade spotted Cole hovering near the oven.

“I’d forgotten that boys this age still have girls as friends,” Wade remarked.

“Berry and Kimmie are stepsisters,” Cole said, as if answering an unasked question. “Took them a while to warm up to each other, but now they’re best pals.” A timer rang. “Excuse me. That’s the gluten-free cupcakes.”

“Gluten-free cupcakes?”

“Some of the kids and parents have allergies.”

Wade wondered how people kept track of such things. He’d have bought a cake at the store and been done with it.

Moving through the sunny kitchen, he stopped by an open slider window to take in the scene. A handful of adults gathered on the patio while children galloped on the grass and walkways. Among the three or four little boys, he couldn’t tell which was Reggie.

He ought to recognize his own son. Thanks to Vicki, he couldn’t.

Behind them a vegetable garden still flourished in October. Wade identified squash, peppers and a stubborn tomato plant. Nice touch. His mom used to raise herbs and vegetables, too.

Returning his attention to the patio, he noted a gift table. Should have wrapped this thing, he reflected. At least he’d attached a card.

After setting the box on the pile, he tried to pick out Reggie’s aunt among her guests. Definitely the pretty blonde woman with her hair pulled back, although those coveralls didn’t fit his image of a starchy professional. Why was she hiding in such a shapeless garment? It failed to disguise her attractive figure, however, just as the no-frills hairstyle didn’t detract—much—from her lively face, intelligent light green eyes and full mouth.

Wade registered the instant she recognized him. Disbelief flashed across her face, then disapproval, yielding at last to a painful attempt at a smile. Well, if she’d invited him, she wouldn’t have received such a shock.

As she started in his direction, a tall woman with long brown hair followed her gaze, then said something and indicated the children. Adrienne nodded, and her friend—corralling a couple other parents, including Patty—began distributing yo-yos in the yard.

With the others occupied, Adrienne approached Wade, her expression wary. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” Her warm, low voice stated that as a fact, not a challenge.

Wade decided to try a diplomatic approach. As a police officer, he’d learned that a courteous tone often defused potential violence, not that he expected anyone to start throwing punches around here. “You’ve put together a great party. I didn’t mean to crash, but I was in the neighborhood.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“On purpose,” he admitted. “I was impatient to meet my son. Only I didn’t expect all these people.”

Adrienne swallowed. “I thought it would be better for you to meet him next week, just the three of us.”

“I’d prefer just the two of us.” Seeing her chin come up defiantly, he changed the subject. “How’s he taking the news?”

“What news?”

“About me.” That ought to be obvious, he thought.

She averted her gaze. “I haven’t told him yet.”

Anger boiled up, hot and fast. She hadn’t bothered to prepare his son, leaving Wade to break the news himself. “Did you think about his feelings?”

“That’s all I thought about!” She glanced around, but no one stood near enough to overhear her sharp tone.

“Could have fooled me.”

“You might consider my perspective.” Tension bristled in her voice. “What if you didn’t show up? I’ve spent the past year helping my nephew deal with losing his mom. That’s all he needs, to get excited about his daddy and then be left with nothing.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said tightly.

“You accused me of ignoring Reggie’s feelings,” she responded. “That’s not fair.”

Much as he hated to admit it, she had a point. “Perhaps.”

She folded her arms. “Look, Mr. Hunter...”

“Wade.”

“Wade. Until a few days ago, I believed you were a deadbeat who dumped my sister and abandoned my nephew.” Her commanding expression warned him not to speak until she finished. “I understand now that wasn’t the case. But I love Reggie more than anything. I will make whatever sacrifices are necessary to give him a stable, loving home.”

“So will I.” He meant that, even though he wasn’t sure how to accomplish it. Nevertheless, he grasped quite clearly what lay ahead when Reggie hit adolescence. This aunt might be strong—no doubt a lot stronger than her sister—but that didn’t mean she could rein in a young man with roaring hormones and a family tendency to screw up. “He needs a dad. I wish I’d been involved all along, but I’m here now.”

Her shoulders tightened. “We can’t resolve this today.”

“Agreed. Well?”

“Well, what?”

“I’d like to meet him,” he said with strained patience.

Adrienne’s lips formed a thin line before she answered. “Let’s wait for the right moment, okay?” she asked. “So we can do this discreetly, without disrupting the party.”

Since he disliked creating a scene, Wade had no problem agreeing. “That suits me.” In the yard, the children had spread out to experiment with their yo-yos. “Which one is he?”

Adrienne looked astonished at the question and then responded wryly, “The dirt magnet.”

Wade laughed. No question, that was the blond boy vying with a couple girls to spin his yo-yo the farthest. The knees of his jeans were smeared with something brown and crusted, while a large leaf stuck to his hair.

One of the parents in the yard plucked off the leaf and said something about it. Reggie’s mouth formed the word “Yeah?” and he took the leaf, examining its shape.

“That’s Peter Gladstone, my friend Harper’s fiancé,” Adrienne said. “He was Reggie’s coach at sports camp last summer. He teaches biology and physical education.”

“I went to sports camp when I was a kid.” The implication that other men had filled the role of father figure troubled Wade. Still, that was better than no father figures at all. “I suppose it’s good for Reggie to have his coach as a friend.”

“It is.” Adrienne edged away. “I should be out there running the party.”

“Don’t let me stop you.”

“They’re going overboard with the yo-yos.” She waved at a boy swinging his wildly. “Hey! Cut it out!”

Peter moved in and calmed the child. Otherwise, Wade would have been tempted to intervene and possibly assign a dozen push-ups to take the edge off the kid’s exuberance.

“It’s time for the teddy-bear modeling session.” Facing the youngsters, Adrienne cupped her hands over her mouth. “Play-Doh, everybody!”

As the parents shepherded the children toward the tables, Patty spotted Wade. “Hey, Reggie!” she announced in a voice loud enough to halt a fleeing perp a block away. “Look, your dad’s here!”

Beside Wade, Adrienne stiffened. So much for waiting for the right moment, he thought, and prepared to meet the son he’d missed for all these years.

* * *

A BEAM OF sunlight lit Reggie’s face as the little guy registered what Patty had said. Adrienne’s chest squeezed. How would he react? Even if things went well today, she dreaded to think how devastated he’d be if, eventually, Wade let him down.

The man had a muscular, self-contained presence that under other circumstances she’d have found attractive. Not today. He’d come where he wasn’t invited and had the nerve to criticize her. Had he waited until Reggie’s actual birthday, she’d have laid the groundwork.

Well, there was no going back after Patty’s blunt declaration. Her friend—who’d married hospital embryologist Alec Denny and become stepmother to seven-year-old Fiona—had a kind heart but rough edges.

Reggie trotted toward them and then stopped in confusion. He blinked at Wade as if the man had stepped out of a TV set. “Is he really my dad?” he asked Adrienne.

“Yes.” How was she going to handle this? Wade’s untimely arrival had forced her hand. “It’s...a birthday surprise.” Boy, does that sound lame.

“Hi, Reggie,” the man said. “Happy birthday.”

“Uh, hi.” The little boy reached out and patted his father’s arm gingerly, as if Wade were a crouching lion, both fascinating and scary.

“Hugs!” Patty called, cheering them on. It occurred to Adrienne that since she hadn’t told her friend about Wade in advance, Patty must have known him in her former job at the police department.

A smile illuminated Wade’s rugged face. Bending down, he closed his arms around his son. After a moment’s uncertainty, Reggie’s arms encircled his neck. On the sidelines, Harper snapped a picture of the tableau.

“How about going inside so we can talk in private?” Wade said.

Reggie looked up uncertainly. “Is that okay, Aunt Addie?”

Refusing might bring on an awkward dispute. “Just for a minute. I’ll make sure you don’t miss anything important out here.”

With a deep breath, the boy she loved with every fiber of her being took the big man’s hand and went indoors with him. Reg was so small, so powerless. Don’t let him become a pawn in this guy’s ego trip.

While Peter steered everyone’s attention to a game, Harper joined Adrienne on the patio. “Is he being a complete jerk?”

She wasn’t sure how to respond. The man was tearing her world apart, and she hated him for it. But she’d seen his tenderness and the glint of moisture in his gray eyes as he’d embraced his son.

“Not a complete jerk,” she responded at last.

“Let us know what we can do,” Harper said loyally.

“I will.” Adrienne thanked heaven for her friends.

* * *

SITTING ON A couch in the den to be near Reggie’s height, Wade searched for the right way to begin. He settled on, “Did your aunt tell you anything about me?”

The little guy shook his head.

Waded wished they could skip this difficult conversation and cut to the fun part, where he taught his son to surf or play Frisbee or trounce an opponent at Ping-Pong. The guy stuff, instead of all these emotions.

It struck him, though, that this conversation might stand out forever in his son’s memory—the key moment when Reggie found out the truth about his dad. Turning points like this stayed with a person. One holiday when Wade served charity meals to the homeless, he’d sat down later with an eighty-year-old man who’d reminisced about the day his father came home from the war, describing with heartfelt clarity the details of an event seventy years in the past.

Let’s start with the important part. “I love you,” Wade said. “I’ve always loved you.”

“Mom told me you didn’t care.” The boy’s tongue traced a gap in his teeth where a new one was growing. “That you left us.”

“She forced me to leave.” Much as he disliked maligning the dead, Vicki didn’t deserve to get off easy.

Reggie considered this. “How?”

“Your mom had security guards throw me out of the hospital. She told them I was violent, but I never did anything like that.” Wade’s anger rose at the memory. “She lied about me and tried—well, threatened—to have me arrested. I’m a police officer. I’d have been fired from the police department.”

Reggie folded his hands in front of him. “Mom acted kind of crazy sometimes.”

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Wade said. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you. I should have been.”

“Aunt Addie keeps me safe.”

A spurt of gratitude replaced his annoyance at the doctor, temporarily anyway. “I’m glad she’s taken care of you. Now I’m here to do that.”

“Why?” Reggie asked.

“Because I love you.”

“I mean, why’d you come back now?”

A reasonable question. “I just found out your mother died. I’ve been living up in Northern California.” Wade brushed his palm across his son’s cheek. “I drove to Safe Harbor as soon as I could.”

“How long will you stay?”

Suggesting that he might remove the boy from his home would be a bad idea, Wade surmised. “Forever, if I can find a job.” Silence descended. After waiting a bit, he said, “Any more questions?”

“No.” Although the boy would probably think of plenty later—this was a heavy conversation for a young kid, Wade acknowledged. Reggie glanced past him out the window. “Did you bring that police-station set?”

Swiveling, Wade saw his gift sitting atop the others. “Sure did.”

“Can we play with it?”

He’s a normal kid. Toys first. Wade chuckled. “I’d like that. But everybody else brought presents, too. It might hurt their feelings if you play with mine and not theirs.”

“All right.” Reggie wiggled impatiently. Standing in one place for more than a few seconds was obviously a foreign concept at this stage of his development. “Can I go outside?”

“You bet.”

The boy stepped forward and then halted. “What should I call you?”

Longing seized Wade. Go for what you want. “Daddy sounds good to me.”

The child appeared to be weighing the matter seriously. “Now that I’m six, I’d rather call you Dad.”

“Done.” Wade held up his hand. To his satisfaction, his little boy ran over and fist-bumped him before scooting out.

That had gone well, or so Wade assumed. If only he knew more about kids and their thought processes.

Well, I’ll learn.

* * *

REG TROTTED OUT, eager to join his friends. Adrienne couldn’t tell much from his expression. Through the window, he’d appeared to do more listening than usual, while his father appeared to have treated the boy with respect.

She still wished the man would leave them alone.

Wade rejoined her on the patio. “He says you took care of him when his mom...didn’t. Thank you for that.”

“He seems in good spirits.” A bit grudgingly, Adrienne added, “Thank you for handling that tactfully.”

“Did that hurt?”

“Did what hurt?”

“Thanking me.” His playful tone took the edge off his words. At close range, she noted that his eyes were silver-gray, like Reggie’s. Adrienne had never seen anyone else with that exact shade.

“Yes,” she answered honestly. No matter how civil this man was, nothing changed the fact that he might try to take her child away. “We’re meeting tomorrow at the lawyer’s, right?”

Wade’s head tilted in accord. “I’m surprised a doctor like you is free on a weekday.”

“I work an overnight shift in Labor and Delivery, plus some evening office hours.”

His forehead furrowed. “Who stays with Reggie?”

“He has a regular sitter—she’s licensed.” Adrienne resented being interrogated. Still, she supposed the question was warranted. “He sleeps at her house with her family. Occasionally on weekends, if she has other commitments, he stays with Harper or Stacy.”