Quarterback Daddy (6 page)

When the baby laid her head on Alexis’s shoulder and nuzzled, when he spotted the tears in Alexis’s eyes, a shaky feeling hit the pit of his stomach. He was wrong. Alexis had loved and lost. Twice. Sisters count, too. His confidence wavered for the second time that afternoon. Alexis and Michelle loved each other. Was he doing the right thing?

If he weren’t playing the next day, he would have reached for a drink.

The thought made him fidget. He touched his mouth, his leg. Couldn’t relax. He looked at his daughter. Would he have really poured himself a glass? A wave of uncertainty shimmied through him. He didn’t trust himself. His life was becoming as complicated as a playbook. A beer could become six too easily. He had new responsibilities now, and he couldn’t afford to slip up.

“M
Y FOLKS SHOULD BE
here within the hour,” said Dan, glancing at his watch the next morning, then at the door.

“We’ll be fine. Go. The driver’s waiting.” Alexis couldn’t hide her amusement. The big quarterback who made split-second decisions on a constant basis was pacing the hallway, first kissing the baby in Alexis’s arms, then looking out the window at the car. Not sure where to go, or when.

“Thanks for coming over last night,” he said for the third time. “Best night’s sleep in three days.”

“That was the whole point, wasn’t it? Now, you can go win a game.”

“Oh, yeah. That was the goal.”

His wicked smile and gleaming eyes made her forget to breathe. She had to admit that her enemy was gorgeous—she’d thought so from the beginning. She was sure, however, the man with the powerhouse arm had no clue how powerful his smile could be.

“Winning is a lot more fun than losing.” He was almost at the front door when he turned back to her again. “Everything should be normal tomorrow when the nanny comes. I won’t have to ask for favors anymore.”

Blinking herself back to reality, she flicked her hand in the air, brushing his remark away. “I’m very happy to spend time with Michelle. You should know that by now.” She didn’t care that her voice sounded hard. When it came to Michelle, there was no such thing as a favor. “And please let me know how your Mary Poppins works out tomorrow. I’d be more than happy to meet with her myself.”

Without replying, he walked out and was gone.

“Well, he sure didn’t seem to like that idea, did he, sweetheart?” she murmured to the baby. “But now I’ve got you all to myself and we can play.”

Fifteen minutes later, their solitude was broken by a ringing doorbell. Leaving Michelle in her swing in the kitchen, Alexis ran to the door and opened it.

An older couple stood there—Dan’s parents, she assumed—their arms filled with packages.

“Hi. I’m Alexis,” she said, pasting a smile on her face and opening the door wider. “Come on in.”

But the couple didn’t move. In fact, the blonde woman with the chic do simply stared at Alexis, eyes popping. She moved her mouth, but nothing came out. Then, she leaned against her husband and moaned. Alexis grabbed her packages. Dan’s father reached for his wife, and his own bundles hit the floor.

The man glared at Alexis and, walking slowly, supported his wife to the living-room couch. “Get her some water,” he barked.

The world had gone crazy, Alexis thought as she filled a glass. And if these loons thought for one minute she was leaving Michelle alone with them, they had another think coming. As for Dan? Just wait, Mr. Big
Shot. She had a few words for him, too. Realizing she was trying to squeeze the glass she held, she forced her fingers to relax and reentered the living room.

Mrs. Delito was sitting up now, her husband beside her. Alexis offered her the water.

“What the hell is going on here? Who are you, really? And I expect a straight answer.” Dan’s father again, as he helped his wife hold the glass.

Had Dan not told his family anything? Alexis leveled a courtroom stare at the man. “Back off, Mr. Delito, so we can start from the beginning. Before your wife’s fainting spell.”

“She’s not Kim.” A soft voice from the couch. “She can’t be.” The woman made a pitiful attempt to smile at Alexis.

“She sure doesn’t sound like Kim,” said Mr. Delito. “Not with that attitude.”

Good grief, thought Alexis, the pieces falling into place. These poor people had received a “good morning” they couldn’t have foreseen in a million years because Dan hadn’t warned them about her resemblance to his wife. None of which meant she’d leave the baby with them anyway.

“It seems,” said Alexis, “that I’m a ringer for your late daughter-in-law. I’m so sorry for your shock, but sorrier that Dan didn’t clue you in.”

“Not as sorry as I am,” said Dan’s father, rising from the couch. “What could that boy be thinking, getting involved with you? First, the drinking, and now—” He threw his hands up in disgust, and with narrowed eyes, stared at Alexis again. “And now—some imitation wife.”

Alexis, who’d survived much worse intimidation than this man could mete out, leaned forward and stared right back at him.

“My name is Alexis Brown, and you can bet your life that I’m no imitation. I’m my own woman.” She looked him up and down. “When you find your manners again, I might allow you to play with your granddaughter—if you really care about her.”

She walked from the room, leaving stunned silence behind her.

T
HE SMARTEST MOVE SHE
’
D
made since contacting Dan was petitioning the court for visitation rights. She wouldn’t depend on Dan’s largesse or any ephemeral factor that might influence his mood. She needed to get Michelle out of this madhouse as often as possible.

Michelle had fallen asleep in the swing, and now Alexis lifted her out and walked past Dan’s parents to the front stairs.

“Where are you taking her?” Dan’s mother stood on the threshold of the living room, watching Alexis’s progress with an anxious expression.

“Upstairs to the game room, where there’s a crib. I’m going to hang out there, too, just until Dan gets home.” She gave the woman her best smile and continued upstairs.

“You’ll let us know when she wakes up, won’t you?”

“Absolutely. Mrs. Delito, you’ll be the first to know. In fact, you’ll hear her through the intercom.”

“That’s right. I almost forgot about the intercom. We installed it when Kimmy was so sick.”

The woman’s lips quivered in her effort not to cry.
Alexis had handled enough emotion for the morning, however, and simply waved and ran upstairs. No doubt, Kim had been an angel on earth. A perfect person. A perfect wife and daughter-in-law. But with no luck in the end. And Sherri? Not so perfect. Also with no luck in the end. Both were mourned. Both had been loved—one by many, one by few. But both had had much love to offer. And that, Alexis realized, was the common denominator.

As she settled Michelle for her nap, a wave of grief settled in her chest. Except for Dan during the initial meetings, everyone except Alexis had overlooked Sherri’s existence. Dan’s parents were caught up in themselves. They hadn’t asked one question about Michelle’s mom and seemed more consumed by the past than excited about the present or the future. Weren’t they curious to learn about their granddaughter’s other family?

Once more, Alexis wondered if she’d made a dire mistake.
Sherri, did I misread you about contacting Dan Delito now? Have I done wrong here?

Dan’s parents joined her in the game room a half hour later, and small talk got them through the morning. When the game finally started at noon, Alexis sighed with relief. Three hours of mindless football would replace forced conversation and pointed questions, like the one Dan’s father had asked five minutes ago.

“Didn’t Danny say you could leave this morning after we showed up? Rita and I can take care of the baby.”

I know you can,
Alexis conceded. Despite their initial shock and hostility at Alexis’s presence in the house, the Delitos had been nothing but kind to
Michelle all morning. They were clearly as besotted with the baby as Dan was, which was encouraging.
Admit it, Brown. You don’t want to leave Michelle with them because you don’t want to leave her with anyone
. She simply smiled. “Sorry, but I don’t recall.” She focused on the in-home theater screen. “The game’s about to start. How about relaxing with some Sunday-afternoon football?”

“A great idea,” said Rita Delito. “Although I have to admit, I don’t exactly relax watching my Danny on the field.”

“She hides her eyes at the beginning of every play,” said Nick, stroking his wife’s shoulder. “Even when he was a kid, she couldn’t watch.”

“Really?” asked Alexis, amazed. “So why did you let him play?”

The couple glanced at each other and began to laugh. “Sorry, Ms. Brown,” said Rita. “It wasn’t a question of ‘letting’ him. He lived and breathed for the game from the moment he could hold the ball.” Her brow crinkled as though she were still trying to solve a puzzle. “We’d never seen anything like it. Our older son, Joe, can play a mean piano, and Theresa can sing like a nightingale.”

“But Danny,” interrupted her husband, “he couldn’t carry a tune on his back.”

Strangely, when the conversation focused on Dan, Alexis started to enjoy herself. “I guess he wanted to feel special, too.”

“You could be right.”

The Dallas Cowboys were out for blood. By the end of the first half, Alexis was covering her eyes as much as Rita did.

“I bet he’s not concentrating. Maybe he’s thinking about the baby,” Alexis said.

“Nope.” Dan’s father seemed sure of his response. “When you’re staring at eleven guys weighing in at an average of 250 pounds, who are all out to get you, you don’t think about anything else but football. His receivers aren’t where they’re supposed to be….”

“Well, they’d better shape up, or this little girl won’t have a daddy!” The words popped out of Alexis without warning.

An awkward silence filled the room. Alexis glanced from one guest to the other.

“We’re still getting used to that little fact,” said Rita. “That Dan is a daddy. It’s come as a bit of a shock, you know.”

“Oh, I definitely know. I know all about shocks…like my sister’s murder, for example.” She let her words lie open for a moment. “Michelle’s already lost her mother, so let’s hope her father quits getting sacked during the second half.”

She offered a tiny smile and, with surprise, watched Rita come over and knelt down on the play mat next to her and Michelle. “Both of you girls have suffered a major loss,” Dan’s mom said quietly, squeezing Alexis’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Alexis.”

“Thank you, Rita. Thank you very much.” Maybe this emotional woman had a good heart underneath.

Nick’s deep voice sounded behind them. “Is that where the baby gets her red hair? From her mother?”

“Sure does. You can thank Sherri for that strawberry-blond cap. But she might wind up with my eyes. A muddy hazel. Nothing to brag about.”

The game on TV resumed, but Alexis’s mind was elsewhere. The ice had been broken with these two important people. She’d put in a good day’s work on Michelle’s behalf.

Nick’s shouts grabbed her attention. “Touchdown! Touchdown! Way to go, New England!” He punched his hands in the air and grinned at her. “They must have had some discussion in the locker room during halftime. Suddenly, everyone’s where they should be, and if this keeps up, you know what that means?”

“Super—”

“Shush, shush,” said Rita, actually putting her fingers over Alexis’s mouth. “We don’t speak that word out loud around here. Might jinx it, you know?”

Alexis looked from one supposedly sane adult to the other. She began to laugh and couldn’t stop. They were all down the rabbit hole again. But this time, as crazy as it sounded, it was okay. They all got the joke, were on the same side. Maybe Dan’s family really was loving and supportive and exactly what Michelle needed.

When the game ended with a win, Alexis got ready to leave. Rita knew her way around formula and diaper changes. The baby was napping again. Alexis’s last bit of uneasiness evaporated.

She retrieved her belongings from the bedroom she’d used across the hall from Michelle, then stepped into the game room to say goodbye.

“Why are you leaving?” asked Nicky. “We’re getting ready to party. The whole family’s coming over. And Dan’s friends. You’ll never eat food this good anywhere else. You should stay.”

What a difference an afternoon made. “Thanks, but
not this time,” Alexis replied with a smile. “I’ve got to get ready for work tomorrow. It’s my first day back after my leave of absence. Can’t afford to lose my job.”

She brushed the baby’s cheek with kisses, waved to Dan’s parents and let herself out the front door. When she reached the corner, she paused. A party. Did that mean Dan would be drinking again? Unless she stayed, she’d never know. But surely the man wouldn’t get blitzed in front of his parents.
Stop assuming the worst.
She’d seen him drunk only once, and he’d had a reason. She was overreacting, too sensitive. Placing once foot in front of the other, she continued on her way.

T
HE HOT SHOWER IN THE
locker room didn’t do it. He needed a long soak in a very hot tub. Every muscle in his body cried out for relief, but between the press interviews, the fans in the parking lot at Gillette and the traffic going home, it took Dan’s driver over two hours to reach Chestnut Street.

Dan opened the door to a full house. Good. He scanned the room for his mom and the baby. Now, everyone would meet the latest addition to the family. He heard his name being called, and compliments on the rally in the second half. He waved to everyone.

“Where’s my daughter?”

“Right here, Danny-boy. Right here.” Theresa’s voice.

His heart lightened as he beat a path to his sister, who held Michelle and was kissing her belly at the same time.

“Where’s my little girl?” asked Dan softly when he stood next to her.

The baby’s eyes opened wide, her arms and legs started their own dance, and Dan thought his heart would burst from his chest. “Come to Daddy, my little sweet pea,” he cooed, taking Michelle from his sister.

He felt a kiss on his cheek, and a hug. “I don’t know the details,” said Theresa, “but I haven’t seen you so calm and happy in too long. This baby is a good thing.” She paused. “Oh, and congrats on the game. Well done. Of course, I always think any game in which you come out alive is a good one.”

His parents appeared, and Nicky started to clap him on the shoulder.

“Easy, easy, Dad. I’ve got a delicate bundle here.”

“Good job, son. Good job. A win at home and a new daughter. Perfect reasons for a party.”

“I totally agree.”

“Too bad Alexis didn’t stay a little longer,” said Nicky. “She could have met everyone.”

“Alexis? Man, do I owe her. But I thought she would have left this morning after you and Mom showed up. That was the deal.”