Father to Be by Marilyn Pappano

an interesting man.
    He turned the corner into his driveway, then parked beside her car. “Do you want to come up and talk to the kids again?”
    “No, thanks. I’ll stop in soon for the first home visit.” She paused. “About our misunderstanding … I really am sorry, Dr. Grayson. I don’t usually make mistakes.”
    “Everyone makes mistakes.”
    Simple words, presumably meant to reassure her. Somehow they didn’t. “In my job I can’t afford many mistakes. It won’t happen again.” It was a promise to herself more than to him—a promise she would do her best to keep.

Chapter Four
 
    J .D. watched Kelsey drive away, then slowly, reluctantly, turned toward the house. He could think of a hundred places he would rather go than inside, a hundred things he’d rather do than face those kids. With Mrs. Larrabee, they were certainly in more capable hands than his own. They wouldn’t miss his presence for a few more hours.
    But when he moved, it wasn’t toward his truck and escape. No, he walked to the bottom of the stairs, climbed up one step at a time—the way he’d learned to live again. The way he would learn to live with these kids. One step at a time.
    The apartment was quiet. With four kids inside, he found the silence unnatural. Uncomfortable.
    They remained where they’d been when he’d left them, sprawled together on the sofa in front of the television. Mrs. Larrabee sat in the easy chair near the window, using the afternoon light to do her needlework. When she saw him, she smiled, removed the half-glasses that had slippedto the tip of her nose, and tucked her work into its tote before joining him in the hallway.
    “Is everything all right?” she asked quietly. “Was the social worker satisfied? Is she leaving the children with you?”
    He glanced over her head and caught Caleb’s scowl. “Yes, she is.” Though why in the world he’d wanted her to was beyond him.
    Obviously, Mrs. Larrabee didn’t share his misgivings. “Wonderful. I have no doubt you’ll give them exactly what they need. I’ll run along now. If you need anything, just give me a call. Children, I’ll see you later.”
    The offered no response but merely watched her go.
    What was he supposed to do now? Sit with them while they watched their sixth or eighth hour of the Disney Channel? Retreat to his room? No doubt, that would make them happy, but it wouldn’t go far toward resolving anything.
    He studied them a moment longer, taking in the solemn stares, the shaggy hair, the worn clothes. He knew that they were clean and so were their clothes, but they still looked like urchins. They still looked shabby. So doing something about that was as good a place to start as any.
    “Turn off the TV,” he said, pulling his keys from his pocket, “and let’s go shopping.”
    None of them moved. He pushed the off button, then waited expectantly.
    “I never been shopping,” Noah murmured softly, then shrank back against the cushions.
    It was the first time J.D. had heard him speak in more than twenty-four hours. J.D. summoned a faint smile for him. “Then it’s time you went. Come on. Let’s go.”
    When Gracie would have risen from the sofa, Caleb tightened his hold on her. He signaled the other two with a look to stay where they were. “Shoppin’ for what?”
    “Clothes.”
    “We have clothes.”
    “New clothes.”
    Gracie’s eyes lit up, and there was a hint of interest in Noah’s. Jacob took his cue from Caleb, who said, “We don’t need new clothes.”
    J.D. kept his tone level and friendly even as he sent a warning glance Caleb’s way. “You seem to have misunderstood, Caleb. I’m not making a request. I’m telling you what we’ll be doing for the next hour or two. Get up and let’s go.”
    Caleb didn’t move. The other kids looked from him to J.D. and back again. If Caleb refused, there was no question they would also refuse, leaving J.D. with no choice but to back down.
    And backing down, he was sure,