Page 3 of The Widower's Nanny

He runs a hand down the puppy’s back. “I’m glad you approve.” His tone is laced with sarcasm.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

He takes a moment, in which he relaxes his posture. “Where is Lilly?”

“She’s with Laura in the kitchen. Do you want me to go get her?”

“If you don’t mind.”

I nod and go up the stairs onto the porch, then pass him, resisting the urge to pet the puppy. I glance at him. “I’ll be right back.”

I find Lilly in the kitchen eating a fresh-baked cookie. I smile at her. “Can I show you something on the porch?”

“Do you want a cookie?”

“Maybe later. Come on. I promise it’s worth leaving the cookies for.”

Lilly pops the last bite of cookie into her mouth, then jumps down from the stool she is perched on. I take her hand and walk out the door leading to the back porch.

When she spots her father, Lilly squeals and runs to him. He picks her up and hugs her.

She leans back and puts her hands on either side of his face. “You’re here in the middle of the day.”

“Yes, I am.” He kisses her, then sets her down. “And I brought you something.”

“In this box?”

He nods. “Open it up.”

Lillyslowly opens the flap to the box, then gasps and instantly starts crying. She looks up at Preston and whispers, “It’s a puppy.”

He smiles, which completely changes my first impression of him. “Yes, it is.”

She wipes at her tears. “Can I hold it?”

Preston lifts the dog from the box and hands it to her. Lilly buries her face in the puppy’s neck, then kisses it repeatedly on the nose. Tears well up in my eyes as I watch her face light up with excitement and her smile widen so that her cheeks almost can’t contain it. Then, I feel the weight of Preston’s eyes on me.

I nod at him and give him a thumbs up.

He raises an eyebrow, then returns his attention to Lilly. “So, I take it you like her?”

She looks up at him. “I love her. What’s her name?”

“That’s up to you. Whatever you want.”

Lilly turns toward me. “Look what my daddy brought me.”

“She’s so cute, Lilly.”

She kisses the puppy again. “I don’t know what to call her.”

Preston pats her head. “It’s okay. Take your time. You’ll come up with something perfect.”

Lilly nods. “I love her. Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Lilly carries the puppy over to me. “Do you want to hold her?”

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