Ellie frowned and met Merry’s gaze. Also a single parent, Ellie had to juggle work and family. She’d mentioned more than once wanting to someday own her own shop. It was times like this Merry agreed with her. Not that she’d do it herself, not while her son was young.
By the time Merry finished up her shift, her feet ached and her body itched. She stopped by her house for a quick shower to get rid of the hair. With Halloween in two days, she’d promised to take her son to the community center for the scarecrow-making event. She almost forgot the bag of canned goods for the food drive and had to run back in to grab them.
When Merry opened the door of the Happy Ducklings Daycare, she found her son waiting near the front counter with his new friend Grace. They’d only known each other a week and were already best buds. Merry couldn’t help smiling at the way they stood chattering away with each other, holding hands. It was the closest thing she’d ever seen of someone finding a kindred spirit.
Merry went to the counter to check her son out. “Hi, Millie,” she said to the owner who was handing Alex his jacket.
“Mama.” Alex grabbed it and ran to the half-door which kept children from coming into the reception area. He’d dragged Grace along with him. She raised a shy hand and waved.
“Good evening, Grace.” Merry waved back. The little girl’s curls were reminiscent of a young Shirley Temple. Merry wondered if the child’s mother had considered entering her daughter in the contest for Christmas fairy. Add some wings and glitter, and she’d be perfect.
“Can Grace come with us to build scarecrows?” Alex asked.
“Isn’t her family already going?”
Alex shook his head. “Please. She’s never been.”
The door opened behind them, and Merry glanced over her shoulder. A dark-haired man, wearing an expensive overcoat and shoes that screamedmoney, had entered, his attention focused on his phone.
“Papa!” Grace cried.
So, this was her father. Usually, her nanny picked her up.
The man glanced up from his phone, and his gaze landed on his daughter. When he noticed how close she stood to Alex, he raised one of his highbrows but said nothing. Barely glancing at Merry, he stepped to the computer used for checking children in and out.
“Come, Grace. We must hurry.” He had a hint of an English accent, which might have something to do with his daughter’s advanced vocabulary. Grace didn’t sound like a child just shy of five. It made Merry think of Trish Johnson’s perfect gentleman. Was this him?
He barely acknowledged Millie Bartholomew, the daycare owner standing behind the counter. So, not such a gentleman after all.
“But, Papa, it’s a charity. It helps people.” Grace gave him a pleading look, but he was paying attention to his phone. It about broke Merry’s heart.
“Another time, perhaps.” The man had put away his phone and taken her hand.
“But it’sonlytonight, and I must go with Alex.” Grace jerked her hand free.
Looking surprised, her father turned to face her. “I don’t have time to go to a charity event.”
“She’s welcome to come with us,” Merry offered.
“And who mightyoube?” His disdainful tone made her stiffen.
“She’s my mother, Merry Noel Hurst,” Alex said proudly.
“Merry Noel?” Grace asked, her bright eyes on Merry. “That’s so pretty.”
“She was Grammy’s Christmas present.”
Before Alex could tell Merry’s total life story, which he was prone to do, she put her hand on top of his head.
“We’re going to the Make-a-Scarecrow food drive at the community center,” she explained. “Grace is more than welcome to join us. Alex had already invited her before you arrived.”
The man glanced at Millie, who smiled.
“I know Merry Hurst very well. She’s lived in Huckleberry Falls all her life. She’s a good, upstanding citizen and a wonderful mother.” The middle-aged woman got a twinkle in her eyes. “She’s also a widow.” Merry and the man both scowled at her. Millie didn’t look repentant at all and added in the way of an introduction, “Grace’s father is Mr. Carlisle Wyndham.”
“CarlisleAlexanderWyndham,” Grace corrected and gave Alex the most adorable grin. “I told you Papa has your name.”
“We really must go, Grace,” her father said firmly, but Merry didn’t miss how the corner of his mouth twitched.
