Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #6)(51)

“I try.”

“Do you have a list of wishes?” Ellen demanded.

“Not yet, but I already know what I’m going to wish for.”

Anne Marie looked at him suspiciously as Ellen chattered blithely on. “Barbie and Lillie and Elise have wish lists, too,” she was saying.

“Friends of yours?” Tim asked, turning to Anne Marie. She nodded.

“Barbie met Mark,” Ellen continued. “He’s in a wheelchair and they’re in love. And Lillie met Hector.”

“Does she love him, too?”

“Yes!” Ellen said loudly. “They hold hands in public. ”

Tim tried to restrain a smile. “Tell me more about your wishes.”

“Okay.” Ellen’s expression was solemn. “I signed up for karate classes. That was one of my wishes.”

“How’d it go?”

Ellen wrinkled her nose. “Too many boys. They can be mean, you know.”

Tim nodded gravely. “I heard that.”

“Do you have kids?” she asked.

His eyes darted to Anne Marie. “Not yet, but I’d really like to be a daddy one day.”

“A man needs children,” Ellen said with all the wisdom of her nine years.

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Children are important. ”

Once again Tim glanced at Anne Marie. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

“Oh, there’s something else on my list. I nearly forgot. Only…only this wish hasn’t come true yet.”

“And what would that be?”

“I want to meet my dad.”

Anne Marie placed a protective hand on Ellen’s shoulder.

“Your dad?” he repeated slowly.

Ellen bent down to scoop up the dog and held him close.

“Everybody has one, you know.”

“I know,” Tim said quietly. “Did anyone ever tell you anything about him?”

Ellen shook her head sadly. “I don’t even have his picture.”

That was a blessing as far as Anne Marie was concerned.

“I’m sure he wonders about you, too,” Tim said. “I bet if he knew he had such a lovely little girl, he’d be very happy.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I’m positive.”

Before this could go any further, Anne Marie said, “Ellen, why don’t you play on the swing set while Tim and I visit?”

“Okay. Can Baxter come with me?”

“He should probably stay here for now. You can take him on the merry-go-round later, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed readily enough, then dashed off to play with the other children.

“Enough about the father business,” Anne Marie said with barely restrained anger.

Tim raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. “I didn’t bring it up. She did.”

“You led her on.”

“I don’t want to argue, Anne Marie. It’s clear to me that Ellen is curious about her father. That’s the reason you called me in the middle of the night, isn’t it? Ellen asked you questions you couldn’t answer.”

Anne Marie ignored him.

“She’s a delightful child,” Tim said, his gaze resting fondly on Ellen.

No one needed to tell Anne Marie that. Reluctantly she handed over the baggie of hair she’d collected from Ellen’s brush. That was all he required, Tim had said, to establish paternity. He slipped it inside his pocket. “You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”

“Her grandmother deserves most of the credit. Ellen’s only been with me for a year or so.”

“Nevertheless, she seems happy and well-adjusted.”

If he thought he could f latter his way into their lives, he was mistaken. “Thank you,” she said coolly.

“I appreciate that you allowed me to meet Ellen.” He hesitated. “With your permission I’d like to meet again.”

She held herself rigid. “When?”

“Whenever it’s agreeable with you.”

She looked at him narrowly. “Don’t be so accommodating. It confuses me.”

He grinned and his smile emphasized the laugh lines around his mouth and beside his eyes. Under any other circumstances she would’ve found him charming and attractive. She couldn’t lower her guard with him, though. Not yet, and maybe not ever.

“Anne Marie,” he said, his expression serious. “I hope you’ll let me take you both out on another…date.”

“I’ll consider it.” Anne Marie wasn’t willing to make any promises beyond that.

“I am your boyfriend, remember? Your sort-of boyfriend, anyway.”

She scowled at him.

Ellen had waited her turn for a swing and then joined the other kids, kicking her feet in the air as she soared higher and higher. Children’s laughter rang through the park, and Anne Marie recognized the distinctive sound of her daughter’s high-pitched giggle. After several minutes, Ellen raced back to the fountain. Baxter barked when he saw her, his tail wagging madly. Tim got up as she approached. “It was very nice to meet you, Ellen. And I hope all your wishes come true.”

“Me, too. Especially the one about my father.” She wrinkled her forehead.