Daddy Next Door

A suitcase in each hand, Nick Barry shoved open the front door to the fourplex on Yellow Rose Lane. The residential North Dallas neighborhood was exactly what he needed. A tree-lined street, freshly mowed grass and peace and quiet. No wonder his aunt had loved this place. Too bad she had to leave it, he thought, but at least she'd sublet it to him. Between the low rent and the amenities, it was a sweet deal. He was in the lobby, having used the key Aunt Grace had sent to get in the front door. Now he was trying to figure out which key unlocked his new apartment when he heard someone behind him. He looked over his shoulder but not seeing anyone, he turned back to his task. Simultaneously he felt something around his ankle and heard a tiny voice yelling, "I found him! I found our daddy!" Shock filled him as he stared at the little girl sitting on the floor with her short, thin arms wrapped around his left leg. He'd been a little forgetful lately, what with the change in his life, but he was pretty sure he hadn't forgotten a child. "Missy? Missy, where are you?" This time it wasn't a child's voice, but a woman's. And if the woman herself matched her tone, she was a beauty. The sound came from afar so he decided to encourage her to come closer. "Um, I think Missy is with me in the entry hall," he yelled. He looked down at the towheaded preschooler staring up at him. "You are Missy, aren't you?" She nodded brightly, not appearing at all scared. "Missy?" The woman was getting closer, but Nick called again. "She's here with me in the lobby!" When the door across from his aunt's apartment swung open, Nick knew he'd been right: the flesh and blood woman matched her voice. The blond beauty rushed out. "Missy! I told you not to come out here without me! Get back inside at once." "But I found him!" Missy said indignantly, hugging his leg even tighter. "Who did you find?" the blonde demanded. Nick was finding the situation amusing until two other little girls appeared behind the adult. He'd forgottenthreedaughters? "Uh, I don't think--" "Missy, let go of--of whoever you are!" The blonde looked at him for the first time. "Nick Barry." "Okay. Missy, let go of Nick Barry. He is not your daddy!" "Whew! That's a relief," Nick said, grinning. "This is not a laughing matter!" the young woman said sternly. "Why can't he be our daddy?" Missy asked, still not letting him go. "Because I don't even know who he is!" "But we need a daddy!" Missy protested, her tone getting more indignant. Nick looked down at the charmer hanging on to his ankle. He set down the two suitcases he'd been carrying and then bent down and picked her up. "Sweetheart, I'm sure wherever your daddy is, he'll come soon. I can't believe he'd ever forget you." Suddenly one of the older girls burst into tears and, sobbing, ran back into the apartment across from him. "Was it something I said?" Nick asked, frowning. The woman stepped forward and took Missy into her arms. "Why are you here?" she asked him, looking around. "And how did you get in?" Ah. She'd finally started asking important questions. "I'm subletting this apartment." "Grace's apartment? She can only sublet it to a relative and what happened to her? The last time I saw her she was doing fine!" "She's moved into an assisted-living facility. And I'm her nephew." "Okay, fine. I'll deal with you later. Now I have to--" "Jennifer, the stove is exploding!" another young voice called out from inside the woman's apartment. "What? Get out of the kitchen! I'm coming!" Seemingly without thinking, she set Missy down and ran back into the apartment, frantic. Missy grinned up at him. "Won't you be our daddy?" "Uh, no, but I will see if I can help your mommy. Come on." He scooped up the little girl and entered the apartment. Missy showed him the way to the kitchen. ThChristenberry, Judy is the author of 'Daddy Next Door ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373751495 and ISBN 0373751494.