Read Online Next Door Daddy by Debra Clopton - Free Book Online

you do isn’t any of my business. I’m sorry.”
    She met his gaze and her expression softened. “No, I overreacted. I can take care of it at first, I’m thinking, and can hire help if needed. Rose can pick Gil up from school for me when I need her to. It would be a great blessing if I did need help immediately.”
    The school came into view up ahead. Nate hadn’t meant to sound discouraging. He thought she’d do well. “It could certainly happen. I’ve never seen anything like the way people flood into town for one of the festivals the ladies put on. Miss Adela is always turning people away at her place. Even with having moved out to Sam’s and having the extra room to put another weekender up, she’s still turning them away. At least, that’s what I heard.”
    â€œThat’s what she told me back when I was deciding if this was a viable place to move. Still, the summer and weekends will be busiest. Because of that, I feel like I can give Gil the attention he deserves.”
    She paused, and Nate glanced back to see she was biting her lip, seemingly worrying about something. “You’ve thought it all out. Sounds good.” He had a strong need to encourage her.
    She sighed. “I need to support myself and Gil. Gil is my first priority. He’s lost one parent. He certainly doesn’t need to feel like his mom is too busy, but I have to do this for us. I don’t really have a choice.”
    She folded her hands in her lap. Her knuckles were white. It struck him that she sounded as if she was trying to convince herself.
    â€œYou’re doing what you need to do,” he said. “God’s going to take care of you. Have you always worried this much?” he added, because he was curious—despite not wanting to be.
    â€œMarc. He always said I was a born worrywart. I…” She hesitated and Nate glanced at her as he pulled into the school parking lot. “I hate it, actually. But I can’t seem to help it. There is so much…” Her voice trailed off and she turned her face to the window.
    Nate reached out and tugged gently on a strand of her curly hair. “You’re doing good, Pollyanna.”
    She glanced back at him and gave a small smile, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I hope so. I really hope so.”
    Nate didn’t know what to say. He could only imagine the weight she must be feeling.
    He wondered how she was financially. She’d said she needed to support herself and Gil. But how bad was it? Not that it was any of his business. She didn’t look as if she were in a bind. That big Victorian hadn’t been cheap, and she’d had professional movers move her in. Still, appearances could be deceiving. He hoped for her sake and Gil’s that her husband had had the good sense to look out for their best interests in case of his death.
    Nate slowed the truck. He’d always been a hard worker, and Kayla had teased him about being a miser. But even with that, he’d made certain to have a life-insurance plan in place that would have provided for Kayla and their children, if they’d had any, in the event of his death. The way he looked at it, a man’s duty to provide for his family held whether he was alive or dead.
    Of course, that was just him. He hoped for Gil and Pollyanna that Marc had felt the same way. But if that were so, it didn’t stand to reason that she’d be so worried.
    He reined in his thoughts, telling himself again that this wasn’t his business. Pollyanna was his neighbor, and he was helping her out. But that was where her business and his business ended.
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    His hero. The thought sent an uneasy tremor through Polly as she listened to Gil and Nate talk. She had to admit she liked the way Nate interacted with Gil. No wonder Gil had exploded with excitement upon seeing Nate.
    The man had gotten more than he’d bargained for when they’d