Page 31 of Nico
Now she was feeling a little steadier. And had met someone. Robert Wilson was a banker and had wandered into the gallery a week ago when he accompanied his sister to a showing. He had approached her and started asking about several pieces and then invited her for coffee. Which had been followed up by dinner at an Italian restaurant.
He was sweet and kind and uncomplicated, just what she needed. He knew about her and Nico because their photoshad been in the papers, but he never pressed her for more information.
He was a distraction and exactly what she needed.
Most of all, he wasn't an artist, which was a big plus.
*****
"She's an artist." Nico looked pleased as he studied the drawing pad his daughter had filled with sketches of her dolls and the flowers beneath her window at the manor. It was almost Christmas, and the manor had been decorated with a towering tree in the main living room, with several smaller ones in some of the other rooms.
His mother and sister had gone all out with the shopping and Gracie had enough clothing to open her own department store. A nanny had been hired and was living at the manor to be at the little girl's beck and call whenever she needed anything. But Nicoand his family made sure to spend quality time with the little girl.
"She sure is." Nadine commented as she peered down at the picture of a dog Gracie was drawing.
"She has been asking for a doggie."
"What does mother have to say about it?" He asked, handing her a glass of wine. His cottage looked nothing like what it had looked like before. A housekeeper had been assigned, and this one was sticking. Only his work area was off limits. He had child proofed the various areas and had a room decorated for when his daughter comes over for the weekend. His social life was non-existent, but he preferred it that way. When he was not working, he was getting to know his daughter and discovering that he had fallen in love with her.
She was so much like him in the way she would focus on a task to the exclusion of anything else. But the ache in his heart was not going anywhere. He missed Sadie with a keenness that was designed to drive him crazy. Nothing dulled the pain, and he had given up on trying to erase her from his mind.
Nadine smiled as she sipped her wine. "She's all for it."
"Daddy, I want a cute puppy." Gracie looked up from her drawing and sent him that soulful look out of her bottle green eyes.
It still gave him a jolt when she called him daddy.
"A puppy is a lot of responsibility." He told her solemnly. "It needs food and warmth and a place to live, not on your bed. It also needs to be trained. Do you understand all of that?"
She nodded, eyes swinging to Nadine. "Aunt Nadine and Grams say they would help."
"Is that right?" He sent his sister a look that spoke volumes.
"Can I have a puppy, please?"
"We'll see."
Taking that to mean she was definitely getting her wish, she abandoned her chair and launched herself in his arms, almost spilling his wine.
"Easy, I haven't said yes."
"I love you daddy."
The words stunned him enough to have him going still and he felt his throat getting tight.
It took him a minute to get himself together and said it back to her.
"I love you too sweetheart."
His heart felt full. The unqualified, unconditional love of a child was a lot to take in. Glancing over at his sister, he met her look of understanding. Wrapping an arm around his daughter, he kissed the top of her head.
*****
He finally decided that it was time to confront her. She wasn't answering his calls or responding to his messages and dammit, he missed her so much, he was suffering. Agonizingly. Nothing was working. Not work, not even the time he was spending with his daughter, as enchanting as she was.
So, Friday night, he handed over his daughter to her very grateful grandmother and was dressed and out the house in under an hour.
The wind was biting. Christmas was three days away and his mother was planning a party, something he wasn't looking forward to. But she was also planning a family breakfast, and he had promised to spend the holidays at the manor, so he could spend the time with family.
