“Duckies?” Eb asked.
“It’s the daycare center I mentioned before. It’s a great place. Alex and Grace go there after school. They could introduce Rue to some of the kids, and none of them will be bored to death while you buy furniture.”
Eb shifted in his seat to face his little girl. “Would you like to meet some other children?”
“Yes!” Rue clapped her hands.
“All right then. Don’t unbuckle yet,” Sandra warned. “The parking’s in the back, so be patient.”
The owner, Millie Bartholomew, chatted with Eb about registering Rue while Sandra signed in the Wyndham children. Alex and Grace immediately took Rue’s hands and towed her to a door which opened to the fenced-in outdoor play area.
“Bye, Papa,” Rue called, mimicking Grace.
Once again, a look of almost painful happiness flashed across Eb’s face. He glanced at Sandra, his cheeks flushed.
“I will never get used to hearing that.” His voice had gone rough, and he cleared his throat. “Now we have her winter clothes, where do you suggest I purchase a child’s bed?”
“I guess it depends on what kind of room. I should show you some pictures of little girl rooms online. Initially, I’d suggest you go basic, so if you decide to have something built, what you buy now will fit in. And after getting to know her a little better, so you can find out what she likes.” Sandra couldn’t help grinning. “Besides pink and purple.”
Eb gave a soft groan but said nothing as they returned to the car.
“I don’t want to dampen your mood,” Sandra said once she’d finished buckling her seatbelt, “but you might consider renting a room full of furniture.”
He stilled for a second and then gave a resigned nod. “I realize Paige could return and demand Rue back. While we’ve been driving between stores, I did a quick search online. It appears in both Wyoming and California, it can take a year to declare that a parent has abandoned a child. Which gives me even more incentive to get a paternity test. Iwillfight for my daughter.”
“One thing I can say about Rue is she seems very adaptable, which makes me wonder if change was the norm for her.” Sandra backed out of the parking space.
“She’s also very loving, which I hope means her mother showed her love.”
Sandra wasn’t sure how to respond, considering the woman had dumped the little girl off at the office of a man Paige hadn’t seen in four years. Sandra could attribute Rue’s disposition to several things, only one being a loving mother.
Growing up, one of Sandra’s neighbors had adopted a baby. They’d had the little boy for six weeks when the birth mother decided she couldn’t go through with it and took him back. They’d fallen in love with a child they’d thought would be theirs. Sandra and her mother had helped them dismantle the nursery. It had reminded Sandra of when they’d packed up her late grandmother’s possessions. It was like the child died.
Sandra hoped something like that wasn’t in store for Eb.
CHAPTERSIX
“You guys need any help?”
At the sound of Derrick Johnson’s voice, Sandra glanced over her shoulder and smiled with relief. The young man worked as Walt’s part-time gopher, doing odd jobs. He’d confessed to her once that he liked the variety of never knowing what he’d be doing on any particular day. And the earl sat in the boy’s truck.
“Do you think we could fit this in the back of your pickup?” she asked.
“Sure thing.” Derrick hopped out and took her place, helping Eb maneuver the cumbersome mattress into the truck bed.
“It’ll take a little time for your daddy to find a builder for the frame you want, so you’ll need to be patient,” Sandra warned Rue.
“Mommy promised to get me a princess room. She never did.” The little girl turned her shining eyes on Eb, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. It seemed all he’d have to do was follow through with his promises, and he’d win his daughter’s admiration for sure. It was kind of sad.
“Maybe I can sleep over when it’s finished,” Grace said hopefully.
“Oh, yes. Please.” Rue turned to Sandra like she had the authority to give permission.
“Your daddy will know when your room’s ready for company. Looks like we’re done here.” She pointed to the truck and then said to Derrick, “Thanks for doing this.”
Eb gave the young man the building number, and he blinked in surprise.
“It’s the same building Walt lives in. He’s on the fourth floor,” Sandra said.
