Page 48 of Hearts Aweigh

S PENCER SCOFFED AT THE VIbrANT Welcome sign posted by the double doors of the Kids Kingdom. “Didn’t feel very welcoming in the lobby.”

Abby’s fervent refusal to be even a temporary nanny to Maddie had thrown him for a loop.

He’d counted on her to provide the same compassionate care as she had the previous two voyages.

Customer service was no help, only confirming that Ms. O’Brien had removed her name from the list of nanny valet participants.

His conversation with them combined with the wild goose chase Emily dragged him on in search of his mother had left him in a muddy funk.

Madeleine tugged his pant leg. “Daddy, can we go in?”

Daddy.

Abby’s wish was becoming reality. Madeleine called him that more often. And whenever she did, he couldn’t refuse her anything.

They entered the large public area where parents dropped off their children. A group of both adults and children crowded on the carpet around a tall, red wooden box about the size of a bicycle. A front panel sat open, showing dramatic black-and-white stripes painted on the inside.

The older man from the bingo night stood beside it with a magic wand. He removed his top hat to reveal red hair streaked with silver. He quipped in his Irish accent, “I’m rehearsing a bit of magic for the big theater and could use some help. Who wants me to make something disappear?”

Energetic bodies bounced as they hollered their agreement.

“Daddy, let’s watch.” Madeleine tugged Spencer over to the show. They settled on the carpet with the others, and he scanned the crowd for Abby. Various employees in purple shirts and khakis serviced the guests. But no redhead.

The magician laughed. “What should we put in the disappearing box?” He placed his hat on his head. “Perhaps flowers?”

A multicolored bouquet appeared in his previously empty fingers, and the crowd oohed.

“No, no.” The man waved his hands, and the bouquet vanished. “That’s much too commonplace. How about”—he tapped his chin with the wand—“a human being? Do I have any volunteers?”

“Me, me, me,” cried the children.

Madeleine sat up on her knees to see better.

“Ah!” The magician gestured behind them. “How about a princess?”

The audience focused on Abby entering a nearby door in her purple ball gown. She froze at the sight of every eye pointed at her.

“Wow.” She laughed. “Did someone throw a party and forget to tell me?”

“It’s a magic party,” the magician called. “Care to be my beautiful assistant?”

Her glance grazed Spencer, but she showed no sign of recognition. He ground his molars at the slight. Had he offended her? How?

Abby’s satin skirt rustled past him. She made her way to the front, bent, and looked in the empty box. “Are you sure I can fit, Seamus?”

“Don’t worry, darlin’.” The man winked. “You won’t be in there long.

I’m dispatching you straight to fairyland.

” He crouched and closed the front door to the box.

“Let me say my special words to get the little people’s attention.

” He tapped the sides of the red wood. “All the trees in the grove. All the fairies in the glen. Get your wings and sparkles on. I’m a’sending you a friend.

” Grabbing a shiny brass knob at the top of the box, he opened a new door.

“Need my help climbing in? You’re a wee one. ”

“You’re not so tall yourself.” She placed her hands on the lip of the box, hoisted herself to sit on the edge, and swung her legs around. “Goodbye, all.” She waved at the crowd. “I’m off to fairyland.” She descended into the box.

Madeleine seized Spencer’s shoulder. She rose to her feet and balanced on her tiptoes. He placed a hand on her back to steady her.

Seamus waved his wand around the box. “Goodbye, dear Abigail. Enjoy your visit.” He touched the short stick to the box, and a poof of smoke emitted. The magician pulled the front door open to reveal the empty striped interior.

Gasps abounded. Children whooped, and parents applauded. Seamus took an elegant bow.

“Thank ye one and all. Fairyland’s so beautiful that my friend may want to stay awhile. In the meantime, my amazing coworkers are ready to check in any young passengers who want to spend more time in the Kids Kingdom.”

Spencer turned to his daughter. “Do you—” His words stalled at the tears trickling down her cheeks. He grasped her by the elbows. “Madeleine, what’s wrong?”

“Abby’s gone,” she whimpered.

People swerved around them in their rush to sign their kids in to the center. A large man bumped Spencer. He moved closer to Madeleine and wrapped his arms around her to shield her from the crush. He stared at her tear-streaked face. Dismay surged.

This was Abigail O’Brien’s fault. She got a person attached and then disappeared without any remorse.

“I-it’s okay.” He patted Madeleine’s back. “It’s a trick. She’s not really gone.”

“Where is she?” Madeleine cried louder than he’d ever heard her. “Abby?” Her voice broke. “Abby!” She dropped her head to his chest and sobbed.

Spencer’s composure crumbled. His panicked gaze darted around the room. Could anyone help him? He was completely out of his element. How did one make a child stop crying?

A thunk and then a rustle sounded behind him. Abby appeared at his side, almost like another magic trick.

“Here I am, sweetie.” She knelt on the ground and wiped Madeleine’s wet cheeks.

“Aaaaabbyyyyyyy,” his daughter wailed. She threw herself into the woman’s arms.

“Shhh.” Abby hugged her. “Everything’s okay. I didn’t like it in fairyland, and I came home quick.”

Madeleine scrubbed her eyes. “Why?”

“Because I missed you so much.”

“You won’t leave?”

Abby cuddled Madeleine closer. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

Spencer waited. Silent. A childhood memory of weeping in his closet, ever so quietly so his father wouldn’t catch him and deliver another lecture, assailed him.

Crying was for losers. It didn’t befit a Masterson.

But as the red-haired miracle worker in front of Spencer coaxed a laugh from his daughter, the thought occurred that his early years might have been very different if he’d had someone like Abby to hug him.

He didn’t intend for his daughter to experience the same abandonment.

His jaw firmed. “You do realize, Ms. O’Brien, you’ve committed yourself.”

She focused on him for the first time. Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You promised my daughter you weren’t going anywhere. That counts as a verbal contract.” He leaned close and whispered so Maddie wouldn’t hear. “But more importantly, if you don’t want to break her heart, then you’ll have to be our nanny for the rest of the cruise.”

Her eyes flared, and she jerked away. “I warn you, sir, those things they say about the temperaments of redheads aren’t unfounded rumors. You’re treading in dangerous waters.”

Was it a coincidence that he was kneeling on the ground? It certainly felt like he was willing to beg.

“Please.” He flinched at her furious eyes. “I wish I knew the right words, but I don’t. I … just … please ?”