Page 39 of A Night To Remember

When they were both sated, they lay on the floor entwined in each other’s arms. He wanted this moment to last forever, but the floor wasn’t where he wanted to hold Charlie.

Jake picked Charlie up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

Charlie woke to the ringing of the telephone. She automatically reached for it even though her mind was still clouded from sleep.

“Ms. Brown, this is Sherri Farmer from the Ponderosa Day Care Center.”

She sat up in a panic. She’d forgotten Kristy!

At her abrupt movement, Jake stirred beside her.

“It’s past six o’clock and we are trying to close. Will you be here to pick up your child anytime soon?” Sherri’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Yes, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I’m terribly sorry about this.”

“Okay. We’ll expect you then, but please be aware that there is a late charge of twenty-five dollars for every fifteen minutes you’re late,” Sherri said, sounding miffed at being held up before she hung up on Charlie.

Charlie scrambled out of bed. She could just kick herself for losing track of time. Jake watched from the bed, resting on one elbow. “What’s the rush? Come back to bed.” He gave her a come-hither smile. If she didn’t have to rush to the daycare center, she just may have been tempted to rejoin him.

“I forgot to pick up Kristy. The daycare center closes at six and it’s currently five minutes past six!” She threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

Jake scrambled out of bed. “I’ll come with you.” Charlie would have protested but the determined look in his eyes told her arguing would be futile. Besides, she saw no point in delaying the inevitable.

Chapter Eleven

During the ride over to the daycare center, Jake made it clear he wanted to be properly introduced to his daughter right away. Charlie protested, not knowing how Kristy would react but Jake was adamant. Would her daughter accept Jake? She did have a fascination with men of late, but that could mean any number of things.

“I think we should hold off telling her until she gets used to you,” she began, trying to reason with Jake.

“No. I’m not going to argue about this, Charlie. I want her to know exactly who I am. The sooner she knows, the easier it will be for her to accept.”

She saw merit in his point, but still, she had her concerns. “But Jake—”

“Charlie, I think it would confuse her if she got to know me as someone else, only to later find out I’m her father. It’s not fair to her or me.”

He had a point.

When she pulled into the parking lot, Charlie turned to Jake before getting out of the car. “Stay here, Jake. I’ll only be a few minutes. I have a feeling words may be exchanged with Miss Farmer.”

She assumed Jake would stay put since he didn’t argue.

“You left me,” Kristy accused with tears in her eyes when Charlie walked into the daycare. Kristy’s hands were on her little hips and her lower lip poked out. She glared at her mother with censure in her eyes. Her child was not easily angered, but Charlie knew she was in trouble. Guilt consumed her because she knew how sensitive her daughter was about being the last kid picked up and Charlie had always been careful to pick her up in a timely manner. This was yet another reason why allowing Jake into her life wasn’t a good idea. He made her forget her responsibilities.

Charlie lifted her recalcitrant child into her arms and gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I lost track of time, but it’ll never happen again. Will you forgive me?”

Kristy didn’t look like she was ready to forgive so soon. “Bad Mommy,” the child chastised.

“I know, sweetie, Mommy has been very bad.”

Charlie could see Kristy’s anger wavering and decided a little bribery was in order. “We can stop for ice cream on the way home. Would you like that?”

At the mention of ice cream, Kristy’s face lit up. “Ice cweam? Okay, I forgive you. Can I get cho’lat?”

“Sure.” Charlie laughed. Kristy was a tough negotiator.

“I should hope this won’t happen again, Ms. Brown. You are forty-five minutes late and, as I already pointed out on the phone, a late fee will be accessed,” Sherri Farmer said, interrupting the mother-daughter moment. Charlie could never figure out how someone wound as tight as Sherri Farmer could end up running a daycare full of boisterous toddlers. Had the Ponderosa Day Care Center not come so highly recommended and her daughter didn’t made so many friends, Charlie would have taken Kristy elsewhere.

“I understand. I’ll write you a check.” She gave Ms. Farmer a strained smile, not appreciating the woman’s tone. “Kristy, go get your things from your cubby.” Charlie put her daughter down to dig in her purse for her checkbook.

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