The Nanny's Secret Child. Lorraine Beatty
last three years.”
“Is there a reason you didn’t go to see her?”
This nanny was also too inquisitive for his liking. He met her concerned gaze head-on. “I went every other weekend.”
She lowered her gaze, then stood and gathered up the rest of her belongings. “It’s just a suggestion, but a puppy would give her something to love and hold on to and make her feel more secure here.”
It was a good idea. One he should have thought of himself. If that’s all it would take to make his child happy, he’d buy her a dozen puppies. But why didn’t she feel secure with him? What was he not doing that made Abby think she wasn’t wanted? And how had this young nanny been able to connect with her in such a short time? “I’ll think about it.”
Miss Bishop took the hint and moved toward the door.
“Would you like me to start tomorrow, Mr. Montgomery?”
He wanted to call up the agency and tell them to send someone better suited. But this woman had connected with Abby in only an hour. He couldn’t dismiss that fact. But she also had him off balance. It had been a long time since he’d noticed a woman, and he couldn’t stop from noticing her. She brought light and energy to the room. “Yes. Be here by seven. I need to get to the shop early. I’ll notify the school about the change. And please, call me Gil.”
“And I’m Julie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Gil watched her walk to her car, her dark wavy hair bobbing with each step. Somehow, Julie Bishop had managed to tear down his daughter’s resistance and put a dent in his own barriers. Maybe the Lord was listening after all. Now it was his turn to take a crack at it.
He took the stairs two at a time. Abby was curled up on her bed when Gil entered her room, the same way she’d been since he’d brought her home. The worn polka-dot backpack was close at her side. “I’m home.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “The nanny will be back tomorrow. She liked you a lot. Did you like her?”
Abby thought about that a moment before nodding.
“Good. I like her, too. She’s going to be taking you to school each morning.”
“Are you going away?”
“No.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I just have lots of work to do. But I’ll be home every night. Promise.” She looked skeptical. “Miss Bishop...”
“She said to call her Miss Julie.” Abby corrected him with a deep frown.
“Right. Miss Julie said you might like to have a puppy.” A light appeared in Abby’s eyes, causing Gil to catch his breath.
Abby nodded. “Can I?”
“Absolutely.” His little girl smiled at him, and he thought his chest was going to explode with joy. “I’ll get you whatever dog you want, sweet pea. I love you very much.” Abby stared at him a long moment. Did she believe him? She would. Because he’d tell her that every hour until she had no doubts left.
“What’s a sweet pea?”
He laughed and stroked her soft brown hair. She didn’t pull away this time. “It’s a pretty little flower that your grandma likes to grow.”
“Oh. That’s okay, then.”
Progress. And he had the new nanny to thank.
Julie pulled into the Montgomerys’ driveway Wednesday morning and stopped beside Gil’s Tahoe. She’d arrived early today, a result of her sleepless night. Her dreams had been filled with an assortment of odd images. Light, dark, happy, sad, all underscored with a deep sense of frustration. Her assignment wasn’t going as she’d envisioned. Seeing her baby girl again was what she’d ached for since the moment they’d taken her away. She’d been eager to spend time with her child, but Abby was more inclined to retreat to her room with her backpack. She’d tried everything over the past two days to draw her out, with little success. All she’d managed to discover was that she liked hot chocolate, sugar cookies and chicken nuggets. They’d watched her favorite movie, Cinderella, but she refused to talk about school, or her mother or much of anything. She retreated to her room until supper, then went right back. The only thing she’d ask about was when she was going to get her puppy.
Julie ached for her. If she could get her to talk, to open up a little, she might be able to find the path to help Gil and his daughter connect. It was clear they needed each other, and she had only a few days to accomplish that goal.
Gil answered the door when she knocked, a deep frown on his face. He was usually so together when she arrived. But today he clearly wasn’t ready. His hair was damp and uncombed. His face was slightly red from shaving, and the strong scent of his freshly applied aftershave wafted through her senses. The disheveled look worked for him. Abby’s father was a very attractive man, with high cheekbones and a jawline cut from granite. But he was a man with a burden.
“Good. You’re here. We’re running late. I could use your help with Abby.”
She followed him down the hall to the kitchen, keenly aware of his masculine appeal. Julie shut down that train of thought the moment she stepped into the kitchen. Abby was huddled over her cereal bowl. “Good morning, Abby.” The little girl muttered a soft reply and waved her fingers.
Gil disappeared into the family room, returning a few moments later, looking more like the man she usually saw in the morning; his cotton button-up shirt now neatly tucked into the dark twill slacks, and his hair tamed.
“I have a conference call this morning. If you could help Abby get ready for school...”
“Of course.”
He said goodbye to his daughter, placed a kiss on the top of her head then shrugged into his corduroy sport coat. Julie walked with him to the back door. “Have a good day.” She smiled, her eyes locking with his. He stared back at her in surprise, as if no one had ever said those words to him before. Odd. Didn’t everyone say that?
“You, too.”
Moving to the counter, she poured a cup of coffee, studying her charge across the rim. She was such a lovely child. This morning her brown, sleep-tangled hair fell around her soft cheeks. When she finished her cereal, Julie placed the empty bowl on the counter. “Would you like me to fix your hair today? We could pull some of it over to one side so it wouldn’t be falling in your eyes all the time.” Abby nodded.
Julie followed her upstairs to the bathroom and picked up the brush, gently pulling it through the soft strands, then gathering the top section in a clump and fastening it with a small rubber band. Resting her hands on Abby’s shoulders, she looked at their reflection in the mirror. “How do you like that?”
Abby nodded, a small smile on her lips, then she met Julie’s gaze in the mirror and Julie’s heart stopped. Her lungs seized. Abby looked exactly like her. The texture of her hair, her cheeks, her wide brown eyes and her narrow chin. Abby was a miniature version of her. It was so obvious Julie wondered why Gil Montgomery hadn’t realized immediately who she was. What would she do now? Her throat squeezed shut. How could she stay here when it would be obvious to everyone that she was Abby’s mother?
She sucked in a breath, causing Abby to turn and look at her. “We’d better get a move on. Don’t want to be late for school.”
Julie focused all her attention the rest of the day on her online students and the upcoming move to France. A long talk with DiDi had convinced her that she was overthinking the situation. Lots of people had brown hair and brown eyes. Besides, if Gil hadn’t noticed yet, then he probably wouldn’t. She would see him for only a few minutes in the morning and evening. She’d make a point to leave quickly when he came home. It was only for a few more days, and she wasn’t ready to give up this time with Abby. Selfish but there it