Beneath a Southern Sky - By Deborah Raney Page 0,66
herself to go into the kitchen and stand at the counter, as Cole held Natalie and gently explained why he’d had to spank her.
“Listen to me, Nattie,” Cole explained patiently. “Daddy told you four times not to bother the stereo, didn’t he?”
Daria stepped into the doorway—where she could see but not be seen by Natalie—in time to see the little blond head nod miserably.
“When Daddy says no, he means it. Do you understand that, Nattie?”
Again that pitiful nod.
“Daddy loves you very, very much, but I expect you to obey me and Mommy. Now give me a hug, and you can go find a book for me to read to you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and Daria marveled at her quick forgiveness. She knew that her willful daughter needed Cole’s firm hand, but oh, it was hard to stand by and keep silent.
One Friday at the end of August, Cole appeared in the reception room of the clinic as Daria was getting ready to head out the door to pick up Natalie at her parents’ house. Natalie was scheduled to spend the weekend with the Camfields, and Daria planned to meet Jack and Vera at the café in Bristol for the exchange.
But now there he stood, minus his lab coat, his car keys in hand. “Ready?” he asked, as if his going had been part of the routine all along.
“Y-You’re going with me?” she stuttered, gathering her purse and sweater.
He nodded. “Yes, I am.” He looked around the office, and, apparently satisfied that they were alone, continued, “These little rendezvous in the café every month are ridiculous, Daria. Whether they like it or not, I am Natalie’s father now. The least they can do is acknowledge my presence.”
“Cole, maybe we should at least call and warn—”
He held up a hand, silencing her. “Don’t, Daria. I know you’d like to keep the peace. I promise I’ll be a gentleman, but I’m not going to be the mysterious stepfather anymore. Natalie’s getting old enough now that she can sense their feelings toward me. I hate to think what they might fill her head with when she’s alone with them.”
As though that ended the discussion, he opened the door and held it for Daria. She shrugged and ducked under his arm. In silence, she slid into the passenger seat of their car. Cole started the ignition and backed out of the parking lot, his jaw set. They rode in silence to the Haydons’.
While Cole waited in the car, Daria ran inside to get Natalie. Margo had her dressed and waiting. Daria gave her mother a subdued greeting as Natalie stood sleepily between them, thumb in mouth, eyes darting from one to the other.
When Margo knelt to tie the drawstring on Natalie’s sweatshirt, she glanced out the open door to the driveway. “Is Cole out there?”
Daria merely nodded.
“He’s going with you for the big exchange? It’s about time. Cole has been very patient with the Camfields. I’m glad to see he’s taking charge of the situation.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, she doesn’t understand what we’re saying!”
“I think she understands more than we realize. I don’t want her to get stuck in the middle of all this, Mom. She loves Jack and Vera, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Margo sighed and rolled her eyes, but she kept quiet as she gave Natalie her ritual goodbye kisses.
As they reached the car, Natalie seemed to realize immediately that it was unusual for Cole to be along. “Daddy!” she cried, delighted when she spotted him. She squirmed to get down from Daria’s arms, and the minute she was released she flew to the driver’s side where Cole was waiting with open arms.
“Hey, squirt! How’s my girl?”
“I go see Dwama-Dwampa,” she announced.
“I know,” Cole said, pulling her up onto his lap and nuzzling her neck with his chin. “Won’t you have fun! Now you’d better climb over the seat and let Mommy buckle you in.”
“I dwive!” she told him, turning toward the steering wheel and putting her pudgy hands at ten and two o’clock on the wheel as Cole had recently taught her, much to Daria’s chagrin.
“Not today, peachy. We’re in a hurry. Grandma and Grandpa will be waiting for us.”
“No! I dwive!” she repeated firmly, avoiding his eye and gripping the steering wheel tighter.
Cole made his voice firm. “Nattie, get in your car seat right now.”
She pretended not to hear him and shook the wheel vigorously, making little vroom-vroom noises