The Single Dad's Virgin Wife. Susan Crosby

feels. I’ve never had a sibling, so I have nothing to compare it to.”

      “And I only know my brothers and I didn’t have it. So, everyone got all their work done?”

      “Yes. If you’d like to see it, I can bring it to your office later. Or I can meet you in the classroom.”

      “I’d like a summary, but I don’t need to see the actual work. If you can come to my office right after the children go to bed, that would be great. I won’t take up much of your time.”

      “All right.” She stood. “For now I’d like to go to my room. I’ve been on duty for almost twelve hours.”

      He hadn’t considered how long she worked. No wonder he lost nannies all the time. But Cora was supposed to keep an eye on the kids during lunch, giving the nan—teacher a break before afternoon activities. “Cora didn’t relieve you for a while?” he asked.

      “She offered, but I didn’t want to interrupt the flow of the day. I’ll let her from now on. I hadn’t realized how tired I would be without a break.”

      “Good.”

      With a quick goodbye, she left. She hadn’t looked tired. Her blond hair still held its curl, her eyes were as clear as ever. She wasn’t slouching. In fact, her posture was perfect, her shoulders back, her breasts a tempting sight he tried to ignore, which was hard to do since her form-fitting T-shirt showed off every curve.

      Noah usually ate dinner alone, which was fine with him. Tonight it bothered him. Maybe because he was sitting at the dining room table instead of standing at the kitchen counter. He finished up in a hurry, then debated what to do about the dishes. There were no leftovers. He should’ve left some stew so he could just put some foil on top and stick it in the refrigerator.

      In the end, he put his dishes in the dishwasher but left the pot soaking in the sink.

      He wandered into the family room. Zoe was playing a soccer video game on the small television. Adam was intent on his handheld Game Boy. Zach and Ashley were watching something on the Disney Channel, a movie about teenagers and basketball, with a lot of singing and dancing involved.

      Noah sat on the couch next to Ashley, who moved a few inches away, her lips pinched. He didn’t know what to do with her. It seemed like everything he did these days was wrong, and she was so quick to judge him. And vocal. That was new. Before, he could guess by her expression when she was upset with him. Now she told him, as well. He should be grateful not to have to guess anymore, but it left him confused, too.

      “When this is over, would you come to my office, please?” he asked her.

      She waited a few seconds, then nodded.

      He wanted to escape, but he made himself sit there, trying to be part of their world. He didn’t have a clue how they usually spent their evenings after dinner. Like this? Watching TV, playing games?

      What did they used to do, as a family?

      Well, really, did the past have any bearing on now? They were older. Life had changed.

      “Where’s Miss Tricia?” Zach asked during a commercial.

      “In her room,” Noah answered.

      “Why?”

      “I guess she had things to do.”

      Zach eyed Noah like he was responsible, like he’d ordered her to her room, or something.

      “Oh,” Zach said glumly. “Will she come down later?”

      “I don’t know. She’s off duty as soon as I get home.”

      All four of the children turned and looked at him for a few long seconds before they went back to watching television and playing video games without uttering their opinion.

      “Would you like to play a game?” he asked the room at large. He knew the cabinet held tons of board games.

      “Why?” Adam asked, not looking away from his Game Boy.

      “To spend some time together as a family. Having fun.” He tried not to sound defensive.

      “It’s too close to bedtime,” Ashley said. “We probably couldn’t finish.”

      No one else commented. No one made a move to play a game. So he sat and watched the rest of the movie with Ashley and Zach, trying to seem interested.

      “I’m ready now, Father,” Ashley said, getting up and heading out.

      “What’s she ready for?” Adam asked.

      “I want to talk to each of you individually,” Noah answered, including all of them in the answer. “It’s nothing bad. I just want to know about your day and what you learned.”

      “Like you used to,” Zoe said, not taking her eyes off her video match.

      “Yes.” So they remembered. Guilt came to sit on his shoulder.

      “Are you going to test us?” Adam asked.

      Noah almost sighed. “No. Just talk.”

      “For how long?”

      “For as long as it takes. Ashley’s coming first.”

      “Ashley always goes first,” Zach muttered.

      What happened to his agreeable, obedient children? When had he lost control? Or maybe it wasn’t a matter of control but that they felt he’d abandoned them.