Nobody Said It’d be Easy

  “Let’s go,” she said in that deep husky voice that made him immediately hard.

  He was out the door before she finished talking. He helped her from the car, led her up the walk to Mike’s front door, inserted his key. “Mike’s a bit of a neat freak so, wipe your feet, take off your shoes.”

  Lia did so while Gabe called out. “Hey, it’s Gabe. Anybody home?”

  When nobody answered, he lunged. He had them peeled out of jackets, scarves and clothes in two seconds flat and kissed Lia thoroughly senseless up against the door. He boosted her up and over his shoulder, gave her bottom a whack that made her squeal, and headed for the stairs.

  Not Mike’s bed. That really wouldn’t be right. Gabe headed for the small room, the one where he usually crashed whenever he visited. He put Lia back on her feet, steadied her when she swayed, and then said, “Okay. I’ve pulled over somewhere quiet and private. Now what?”

  Her grin was slow and yeah, maybe just a little dirty. “On your knees, please.”

  Both of his eyebrows shot up and he was pretty sure his heart stopped for a few seconds. Then his own grin flashed when he reached for the zipper on her jeans. “You’d better hold on.”

  *

  They’d made it back to Bayside only twenty minutes after Mike had unlocked Gabe’s apartment.

  “Good morning,” Mike greeted them.

  It sure was.

  “What?” Mike asked, eyes darting from Gabe’s to Lia’s.

  Lia jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’ve got to get to work, too. Give me a call if you need something. I can pick up food for you later or whatever.”

  “Sure. Whatever,” Gabe echoed, smiling at her.

  “Bye, guys!”

  “Bye.”

  When the door closed after Lia, Mike snapped his fingers at Gabe. “Okay, break time’s over, you slacker. Jesus, you’re like almost half an hour late. What did you do, stop for sex somewhere?”

  Gabe headed for the bedroom, saying nothing. Mike followed him.

  “You did. Shit, Ivers, you did stop for sex somewhere. You son of a bitch.”

  “You got laid, man? Nice,” Alphonse said with a nod of approval. He and Isaac were finishing the long desk opposite the beds. The TV was already fastened to the wall. All three guys ragged on him some but Gabe didn’t divulge a single detail. In an hour, they managed to get the work all done, raised and lowered the beds a few times to test them, and then shifted focus to finishing details like covering all the exposed screw heads, sanding any rough edges.

  “Well, that’s that.” Mike stepped back, scrutinized the work. The beds in their cabinets lined the wall opposite the door. In front of each bed, when closed, were two small love seats covered in a bright blue fabric, surrounded by shelves. The beds opened right over each love seat, between the shelf units. The shelves could hold knick-knacks or books.

  On the short wall, between the windows, they’d built a desk with more shelving. The girls’ dresser that Gabe had refinished back when Kimberly was first born stood opposite the beds. Above that, bolted to the wall, was a new TV. The large closet in this room had also been revamped with new organizers to help separate Kimberly and Olivia’s clothing, as well as store some of Gabe’s large items, like his tools.

  “I like the white wash finish on the bed cabinets.” Mike ran a hand down one of the doors.

  “Figured it was easiest. The girls can do what they want with colors. I can pick them up a rug or two.”

  “Hey, Gabe. Want me to run power to this desk for their hair curlers and stuff?” Isaac asked.

  He was a tall, lanky kid with serious eyes who looked barely old enough to drive. Gabe liked him. He was quiet, did the work, left the wisecracks to Alphonse. Gabe joined him at the desk, studied it. “What’d you have in mind?”

  “Drill a hole here and here, run a power strip up through here, screw it in place, add the extension cord. Might want to do the same for the beds. You’re blocking four outlets with these built-ins.”

  “Good idea,” Mike put in.

  “Do it. It’s a great idea. Mike, let’s take a look at the bed cabinets.”

  “I did already. All we have to do is put some power strips up on the shelf, screw them down. The girls can plug in reading lights, alarm clocks, whatever.”

  “Great. I’ll pick up some strips later. Let’s start the living room.”

  Gabe and Mike worked in silence for a while, unpacking materials, organizing tools and hardware. Gabe’s conscience began to prickle.

  “Mike.”

  “What?”

  “We did stop.”

  Mike looked over at Gabe. “Figured as much. Can’t hold it against you. That girl is pretty awesome and you deserve it.”

  Gabe nodded. Sighed. “We stopped at your place.”

  Mike’s hand froze on the plastic wrap he was cutting. “My place? Hell, Ivers. Did you at least change my sheets when you were done?”

  “Yeah, I did, but we didn’t use your bed.” Miserably uncomfortable, Gabe admitted, “I…I just wasn’t sure I could drive all the way here without—”

  “Understood. Also, understandable. Like I said. Lia’s awesome.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Now, lift that end of the carton.”

  “No. Seriously. Thank you. For all of this.”

  Mike shifted his weight, scowled. “You’re welcome. We done with the chick shit or do we need to friggin’ hug first to get some work out of you today?”

  Alphonse walked into the room at just that moment. “Um, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but not sure Isaac can handle it.”

  Gabe chucked a rag at Mike’s head, laughing. “Okay. Won’t say another word.”

  “Thank God,” Mike said with an eye-roll. “Yo! Isaac. You done in there?”

  “Be there in two.”

  “Al, give us a hand unwrapping the last carton.”

  He did and by late afternoon, the four men had Gabe’s bed assembled and bolted to the wall opposite his kitchen. When the cabinet was closed, the unit resembled built-in shelf units. Unlike the girls’ beds, this unit did not fold. Instead, the two bookcases in the center slid across the two bookcases on either end, revealing his bed.

  “This is awesome. I want one of these things at my place,” Alphonse said, running a hand over the dark walnut finish Gabe had chosen.

  “Name the time, I’ll be there. Owe you guys.” Gabe wiped the dust off one of the shelves.

  A knock on the door interrupted them.

  “Bet I know who that is,” Al said with a chuckle. Gabe shot him his middle finger and opened the door to find Lia struggling with several bags.

  “Got heroes, soda, and beer for you hardworking men.”

  “Yes! Thank you, nice lady. The boss wouldn’t let us take a break until everything was done.” Al grabbed two of Lia’s bags, dumped them on the counter in the kitchen while Gabe grabbed the others.

  “This looks wonderful! Show me how the bed works.”

  There was a snicker from the kitchen. Gabe glared at Alphonse, who held up his hands, surrender-style.

  “Like this.” Gabe slid the center shelves apart until they stood directly in front of the outer shelf units. Then, he pulled down the platform that would hold the bed.

  “Impressive.”

  “Gabe, want to get the mattresses in place?”

  “Yeah. Good idea. Lia, can you let us in?”

  Lia had agreed to store most of Gabe’s stuff. “Sure.” She reached a hand into her pocket, pulled out her key ring and handed it over to Mike. “I’ll get these served up. You head over to my place and grab your stuff.”

  Next door, Mike and Gabe wrestled his mattress down the stairs.

  “Gabe.” Mike stopped halfway down the steps.

  “What?”

  “You need to know how lucky you are.”

  “Lucky?”

  “Yeah. You loved twice in one lifetime. Nobody’s loved me once yet.” Mike wouldn
’t meet Gabe’s eyes and Gabe wished he could find him someone great—as great as Lia because Mike was right. He was lucky. He lifted his end of the mattress, hoping like hell it would last forever this time. The thought made him fumble his end.

  “Easy. Let’s not break Lia’s place, okay?”

  “Yeah. Okay,” Gabe agreed and decided to ask Lia as soon as he could if she had any friends for Mike.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Christmas morning dawned at…five a.m. Lia was afraid Gabe might cry when the girls came downstairs. The construction was finished and everything was back in place at his apartment so he stayed overnight at Linda and Stuart’s, falling asleep the minute he’d sat down.

  She sat beside him on the sofa, the girls buzzing around the room with anticipation, even the logical and practical Olivia, who poked into bags and examined the labels on presents.

  “Can I go first, Daddy? Please, can I? Huh?”

  “Hold on, Maddie. My ears aren’t awake yet.” Gabe stuck a finger in one, wriggled it around.

  Stuart and Linda came down the stairs wrapped in robes and wearing delighted smiles. “Good morning. Merry Christmas.”

  The girls exchanged greetings, managed to sit still long enough for a pre-present photo. Then Gabriel sighed and said, “Okay. One at a time.”

  “Yes, Daddy,” Maddie agreed.

  Soon, the room was littered with ribbon, bows, and paper scraps as the girls unwrapped gifts. Lia began to fidget and worry as the girls’ attention turned to the bag of gifts she’d brought for them.

  Maybe she should have asked Gabriel before she’d shopped.

  Maybe she should have played it safe with gift cards for everybody.

  Gabriel’s arm snaked around her shoulders as she nibbled on a fingernail. She cleared her throat. Okay, then. Too late to second-guess now. “Um, Kimberly this one’s for you.” She lifted a heavy box wrapped in red paper and gave it to her. “Olivia, this one’s yours.” For Olivia, she slid her a light flat package. “And Maddie, this one’s yours.” Maddie’s present was small and wrapped in green paper. “And last but never least, baby Emmy gets this one.” Lia handed the toddler a package of her own.

  “What about Daddy, Lia?” Maddie wanted to know.

  “I have a present for Daddy, too.” Lia stood up, found her handbag, and handed Gabriel the thick envelope she pulled from it.

  Emmy loved the pop-up house and spent the rest of the morning inside it. Kimberly adored her books, a collection of teen best-sellers. Maddie showed her father what was inside her box. Gabriel looked at her in astonishment. “You enrolled her in acting classes?”

  Lia swallowed hard. Oh, she definitely should have checked with him first. “It was just an idea. It’s a six-week offer. If she doesn’t like it, she doesn’t have to continue. I just thought—”

  “I think it’s a great idea.” Gabriel smiled. “Maddie, you get to be on stage.”

  Maddie gasped at this news. “I do? Do I get to wear a costume and—and my tiara, Daddy? Can I sing and twirl, too?”

  “You can ask when you go.”

  “Yay! Thank you, Lia!”

  “You’re welcome, Maddie.” Lia turned to Olivia, who hadn’t said a word.

  “What did you get, Liv?”

  She held up two tickets Lia had printed herself.

  “Let me see.” Gabriel held out his hand. “It says ‘This entitles Miss Olivia Ivers and her father to see the Women in Design exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt on the date of her choosing while Lia Blake babysits.’ Whoa. Sounds cool.” He grinned at Lia. “What do you think, Liv?”

  She shrugged. “It’s not…like clothes, is it?”

  Lia bit back a grin. “Well, I don’t think it’s fashion design. But design can be lots of things. Graphic design, industrial design, even the design of prosthetics. I know you’re really into the scientific contributions women have made so when I heard about this, thought you might enjoy an outing with your dad.”

  Olivia didn’t look convinced but said, “Thank you.”

  Lia’s heart sank. Well, that was a bust. She’d have to find another exhibit, maybe at one of the city’s science museums instead.

  “Okay, my turn,” Gabriel announced and tore into the envelope Lia had given him. Inside was a thin hardcover photo album called Daddy and His Girls. Lia noticed the moment Gabriel realized the cover wasn’t just some stock photograph.

  It was him.

  “Oh, wow,” he murmured, flipping through the pages. She’d filled it with pictures of Gabriel and his daughters, one at a time, that he’d never noticed her snap. The pages were thick and glossy. Some had small images; some had full-page shots. There was one of him kissing Kimberly’s head, taken the day she was sent home from school. Another shot showed just Gabriel’s legs out poking out from under Mrs. Morgan’s sink, Emmy’s legs in the identical position right beside him. A laugh burst out of his mouth and Lia warmed. He liked it.

  He turned the page and stopped at a two-page spread of Maddie captured in mid-twirl, hair flying and huge open-mouth grin on her face. Right after that, Lia had placed a serious photo of Olivia, a thick textbook in her lap, with the most fierce expression on her face. Lia had captured it because she thought it was pure Olivia. That child was going to change the world.

  She’d managed to get Mike in there, too. There was a snapshot of Mike and Gabe clinking beer bottles and laughing. Mike held Maddie and Gabe held Emmy. The next page had a series of pictures arranged like a filmstrip. They were from one of the Ivers’ manicure nights. He laughed again. His hair was pinned up in clips and Maddie held one hand while Liv held the other, each carefully painting his nails. It was one of Lia’s favorite pictures of Gabriel because it was how he looked the day they’d met.

  Finally, he looked up, looked at her. “Lia, this is…awesome. Seriously amazing. How did you get all these pictures?”

  “I got Mrs. Morgan and Jessica Vella to pass the word. Some of the outdoor shots came from them.”

  “It’s… This is…” He gave up and hauled her in for a kiss, which entertained their audience. Emmy squeezed between them, shouting, “Me, too!” Maddie applauded. Kim and Liv exchanged disgusted looks. Stuart and Linda just grinned.

  When all the presents had been unwrapped and all the debris scooped up, they’d had an enormous breakfast with Linda’s famous French toast casserole, scrambled eggs and sausage, enough potatoes to end a small famine, and yummy Mimosas for the grown-ups. Lia had never had a sweeter holiday. It was like something out of a Norman Rockwell scene.

  No icy words. No pointed glares. No passive-aggressive digs disguised as thoughtful gifts. No broken promises and no tears. Nothing but smiles and hugs.

  “What’s wrong?” Gabe whispered, rubbing a large hand over her leg.

  She shook her head. She didn’t want to explain it…didn’t even want to keep thinking as she’d been thinking. The day was perfect. She wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could…as long he’d allow her. At some point, she knew he’d get bored. Or want more than she could give him—like a son. And he’d sit her down in that serious way of his, take her hands in his, and apologize before cutting her loose. He was honorable. That’s how an honorable man would break things off.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Okay? Everything’s fine. Everything’s great exactly the way it is, so stop bracing for Armageddon.”

  She looked at him then, managed a wobbly smile. She was being ridiculous and he was right. It was a perfect day. She’d enjoy it to the last second.

  *

  The last second, it turned out, was shortly after Emmy’s nap, when she woke up after just twenty minutes of sleep with a fever. Gabriel freaked out.

  Lia thought it was sweet until she understood why.

  Janey died. She died after complaining of a headache.

  She took Gabriel’s hands, gave them a squeeze. “Gabriel, look at me. It’s a slight fever. You cannot panic. You need to hold it together so the other girls see this is noth
ing serious, okay? There’s no rash, no cough, no other symptoms, so let’s just treat what we know.”

  “When Janey had fevers, we always rubbed her down with alcohol. That did the trick,” Linda said and Lia felt a shiver run through Gabriel.

  “Oh, no. Rubbing alcohol can cause comas and poisoning,” Lia told her.

  “Still, it can’t hurt to at least try.”

  “Linda. It can hurt,” Lia insisted. “Please look it up. Here. Take my phone.”

  Linda did and a minute later said, “Hmmm. Well, you do what you think is best.” She looked doubtful, though. “Who wants to play in the snow?” she asked, getting Maddie up and shrieking through the house to find her coat.

  “I’ll get the medication from your backpack,” Lia told Gabriel.

  His throat worked but he gave her a single nod, so much like Emmy always did, it sent an arrow of sweetness straight to her heart.

  She fetched the Children’s Tylenol, brought it to him. He filled the dropper, carefully checked to make sure it was the right amount, and coaxed Emmy into swallowing it. She cried, a pitiful uncomfortable sound, and burrowed into Gabriel’s chest.

  “Maybe we should put her in a diaper?”

  “No!” Emmy shouted.

  “Okay, sweetheart. Let’s use the potty then. Come on.” Gabriel took Emmy into Linda’s bathroom, helped her go, then changed her pajamas and wrapped her in her blanket.

  “Gabriel, tell me what you need me to do,” Lia begged, needing to help, needing to make that horrified look in his eyes go away.

  “Just be with my girls, okay?”

  She nodded, went back downstairs and played games with Maddie, talked to Liv and Kim about books and TV shows, and talked to Stuart and Linda about their plans for a European vacation that summer. Twenty minutes went by, then forty. Lia excused herself and went upstairs to check on them.

  She found Gabriel sitting on the floor, staring at a sleeping Emmy, curled up in a portable crib, hugging her favorite blanket. Lia approached quietly, touched Emmy’s forehead, found it cool and let out a breath.