Everwood

"Bryce is a very talented violinist," his dad said trying to find some way to connect with his son.

"Gee, thanks, Dad. Way to make me look like a total geek in front of Shania who already probably thinks I'm a geek," he said while looking only at Shania.

While he did have a bit of geeky look to him, she nevertheless found him very...appealing. He had warm, gentle, sad-looking eyes and a boyish smile that framed a set of perfectly straight, very white teeth. His hair was dark, thick, and full and kind of hung down in a shock over one side of his forehead. He was maybe 5'11' and likely around 160 pounds soaking wet. Between his slight build and boyish face, 'geek' wasn't an unreasonable conclusion although it wasn't one Shania would have drawn on her own.

"You don't look like a geek to me. You look...thoughtful and intellectual. I think playing the violin well is an amazing accomplishment. I'd love to have talent like that," she said sincerely.

"He doesn't just play well," his dad said. "He was a fairly well-known prodigy back in New York and by the time he was ten, he was giving solo performances."

"Oh, my goodness. Bryce, that's amazing! Maybe you could play for me sometime," Shania gushed.

"Yeah, maybe," he said. "Anyway, I was just letting my dad know I'm meeting someone for lunch."

"There's no school today," he told Shania. He turned to Bryce and asked, "Would this someone be a girl from school by any chance?"

"Why? Is it really so impossible that a girl might like me?" he said just to be contrary.

"No, not at all," his dad replied trying to be diplomatic. "Um...have a good time?"

"Yeah. Sure," he said. He looked at Shania then said, "Nice meeting you."

"You too, Bryce," she said politely and sincerely as she offered him her hand. They shook hands and she smiled at him before he walked away. She went inside and sat down and waited for what she hoped to be her future employer to begin asking questions.

It only took about fifteen minutes for Dr. Harper to hire her.

"Tatum is 11 and almost able to look after herself. But almost is just that—almost. I feel pretty confident she'll be able to be on her own for a few hours until I get home next year, but not yet. So although you don't have any formal experience, your confidence to ask me for the job along with your background—and the very important fact that my daughter likes you—make me feel confident about giving you a chance."

"So...you're hiring me?" she said trying not to get too excited.

"Yes. I'm hiring you. Can you start next Monday morning?" he asked.

"I can most definitely start next Monday morning and thank you, Doctor Harper! I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"Same here, Shania. This is important for me, too. I had my own private practice in New York but I haven't practiced since my wife died last summer. I'm going to work at the local hospital for a while to kind of get back into the swing of things and then I plan to open my own practice here in Everwood. There's only one family practice doctor in town and although I'm a neurosurgeon by trade, there isn't much need to remove brain tumors here." He smiled before continuing. "You're making that possible for me so this is one of those win-win kind of agreements. Oh, and I will definitely pay you for your first week. I don't believe in slavery or even indentured servitude so no freebies."

Shania thanked him again profusely and stood up when he did. Tatum was camped out a few feet from the study and the second the doors opened she was on her feet with a look of hopeful expectation on her face.

"Tatum. Shania is your new nanny."

"Really?" she squealed. She ran to her dad and hugged him like she hadn't hugged him in a very long time. "Thank you, Daddy! I love you so much!"

"Wow. I should have hired you sooner," he said with a happy smile.

She took two steps then hugged Shania the same way.

"Come on! Let me show you my room, okay?"

"Honey? Shania isn't starting until next week on Monday morning."

"What? But that's like four days from now," she said her disappointment showing through.

Shania looked at Dr. Harper and told him, "It's okay. I don't have any more classes today so I can spend some time here. It would probably be smart for me to at least see where her room is."

"Good point," Dr. Harper said. "Tatum? Can you also show Shania the laundry room and kitchen?"

"She can stay?" Tatum asked once again hopeful.

"Yes, she can stay," her dad said.

Tatum grabbed Shania's hand and said, "Yay! Let's go!"

Tatum pulled on Shania's hand so hard she almost lost her balance. "I guess I'll see you on Monday, Doctor Harper!" she said as she disappeared around the corner.

Tatum gave her the grand tour of the entire house explaining anything and everything they saw whether Shania needed the explanation or not.

"Can you stay for dinner tonight?" Tatum asked when they were done.

"Oh, I don't think so, honey," she said apologetically. "I'm not part of your family and your dad didn't invite me."

Without warning, Tatum bellowed out, "Dad!? Can Shania stay for dinner?"

He came back out of his study and found them in the kitchen. "Um...sure. But that's several hours away. Please don't feel obligated to stay and entertain my daughter. You have studying to do, I'm sure."

"I do, but I brought my books with me. If Tatum will let me study quietly for a couple of hours, I guess I could hang out until dinner." She quickly added, "Which I'll make for you, of course. At no charge."

Tatum was smiling brightly and looking at her dad.

"Okay. That's fine with me, but as I said—no freebies. I'll definitely pay you for your time."

Tatum started clapping and gave her dad another hug. "Just give Shania her privacy, okay, honey? When she asks for quiet, you need to be quiet. Can you do that?"

"Dad, I'm not a little kid," she said matter of factly.

"No, I guess you're not," he said with a gentle smile. "I'll be in the study if you need me."

After finding out what was and wasn't in the kitchen so she could decide what to make, she took Tatum out to her car, grabbed her books, then went back inside. Just as she promised, the younger girl sat quietly next to her new nanny and either listened to music on her iPod or read a book of her own.

Dr. Harper came in for a glass of orange juice and saw Tatum reading and just stopped and stared. "I haven't seen her do that since..." He didn't want to say 'before her mother died' knowing how painful her death had been for all of them. "You're a very good influence on her, Shania."

She looked at him then at Tatum then said, "She's a sweet girl. I think we're gonna get along just fine."

"I'm glad. Now if you can just do the same thing with Bryce..."

Shania laughed then told him, "I can't relate to what he's been through but he seems like a very nice boy. Sorry, young man."

"No, that's okay. He is still a boy in spite of him being as tall as his old man. He really is a good kid, though. He's incredibly smart and as I said, he's very talented. He's not into sports but there's pretty much nothing else he doesn't know something about. Both of my...our...kids always loved to read. I used to think they had books attached to their hands. Well, back then anyway. This is...really nice."

Tatum even smiled at him the way she used to and Andrew Harper was feeling hopeful himself that things might one day get back to normal or at least some kind of happier new normal.

Once the studying was done, Shania agreed to watch a movie with Tatum during which they talked quit a bit just getting acquainted. After it was over Shania let her know she'd have to get started on dinner and Tatum couldn't wait to help.

"Well, okay. You're hired!" Shania told her.

Tatum was an excellent assistant who not only showed the new 'chef' where everything was located, but was happy to help out in any way at all. Once again, Dr. Harper came into the kitchen and just marveled.

"We're making dinner, Dad!" Tatum announced when she finally noticed him.

"I see that," he said still smiling.

For the first time, he noticed just how attractive Shania really was. At 47, he didn't feel old or even look his age, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness remembering the sight of his own beautiful wife making dinner for them. The sadness came from having to admit that as a neurosurgeon, he was gone more nights than he'd been home. He knew she was lonely but she'd never complained. Now here he was trying to actually just get to know his own children in a new home in a new place, and yet his daughter was bonding with someone else. That it was with another attractive woman wasn't lost on the man. And yet if he wanted to get back to work as a doctor, let alone as a neurosurgeon someday, he'd have to have someone to help out.

Everyone heard the sound of the front door opening and closing followed by footsteps.

"Hey, Bryce," his father said when he walked into the kitchen.

"What's going on?" he asked as he looked around before going to get something out of the refrigerator.

"Shania's making dinner for us!" Tatum told him. "And we watched a movie together and hung out."

"Cool," was his one-word response. "Need any help?" he asked.

His father was so surprised he knew it showed.

"What? I can't offer to help out?" Bryce said defensively.

"Of course you can," his dad said. "I'll just get a cup of coffee and leave you all alone." He poured a cup, smiled, then left.

"I like your dad," Shania said to Bryce.

"Yeah, he's okay, I guess," he replied.

"So...earlier you mentioned relationship advice. Anything specific?" Shania asked but not in a nosy way.

"Bryce is in love with Amanda Collins," Tatum said jumping into the conversation.

Bryce just shook his head.

"Well, you are. You talk about her all the time. Amanda is so beautiful. Amanda is so smart. Amanda is..."

"Tatum? Mind your own business, okay?" he said sharply.

"You're not in charge," she said defiantly. "Shania is."

"No, sorry. I'm not in charge of your brother." She looked at him, smiled, then said, "He's an adult and can take care of himself."

"Thank you!" Bryce said while giving his little sister the eye.

"So...Amanda?" Shania said.

"I don't know. I'm just not sure how to...you know...tell her how I feel."

"Have you tried just telling her?" Shania offered as she diced some carrots.

"Yeah, I don't think that'd work with her. She's like..." Bryce stopped for a moment then said, "Sorry, I know kids always say 'like' when they talk." Shania smiled at his efforts to sound grown up then he continued. "She's by far the prettiest girl in school, and she just broke up with her boyfriend. We were working on a science project together yesterday and she told me she really enjoyed talking to me."

"Nice," Shania said. "Did she say why?"

"I don't know. Something about being mature and considerate. I was just trying to be myself, you know?"

"Then being yourself is obviously making a very good impression on her. Was her boyfriend immature and inconsiderate by any chance?" she asked.

"Maybe. I don't really know him all that well. He's a pretty big guy. Football player. Big neck, square jaw. Muscles in his shit..." He immediately looked at Tatum and knew what was coming and yet it didn't.

"What?" Tatum said. "I've heard that word before. I'm not a kid, you know."

Shania managed not to laugh as she saw the surprise in Bryce's eyes.

"Anyway I guess he's kind of the opposite of me in a lot of ways."

"Some girls prefer the quiet intellectual types, Bryce. I know it seems like the cutest girls all go for the hunkiest guys in high school, but I can assure you a lot of them will change when they get a little older and can appreciate what's really important. And having a ripped body isn't important."

"What's ripped mean?" Tatum asked.

"A guy who's got muscles in his shit," Bryce told her with a smile.

Tatum laughed so hard she almost cried.

"You know, like me," he said bending over and flexing his arms in an Olympic-like pose. Tatum laughed again and Shania couldn't help but join in.

"I didn't know you guys got along so well," she said as she dropped the vegetables into a pot of water.

"We don't," Bryce said. "Or we haven't since..." Just like his dad, he stopped speaking, too, being saying the 'D' word. "We used to joke around all the time, right Tater-Tot?"

"Yeah, but that was before you became such a butthead," she told him.

"Okay, but I'm only a butthead because you're such a Beavis."

Tatum cracked up again and Shania said, "You guys know who Beavis and Butthead are?" They were popular when she was a kid and didn't think they'd know who they were.

"We used to watch them on Nickelodeon together all the time back in New York," Tatum told her.

"You guys are full of surprises," she said as she got out the chicken and started seasoning it.

"So anyway, why not just tell this Amanda how you feel? Maybe she has feelings for you or could have if you showed some interest. Pretty girls are often lonely," she said.

"How so?" Bryce asked.

"Well, guys assume the prettiest girls are out of their league so they never ask them out." She stopped then said, "Okay, maybe that's not true in high school. It's been a few years for me just in case you couldn't tell."

"You look pretty great to me," Bryce said before his brain engaged. He felt his cheeks turn the slightest shade of red and Tatum jumped on it immediately.

"You're blushing!" she said pointing at her brother. "You like Shania!"

"Why don't you...shut up?" he said more angry at himself than at his sister.

"He was just being polite, Tatum," Shania said coming to his rescue. She smiled at Bryce then said, "Amanda should consider herself very lucky to have such a really nice guy interested in her. I say you should go for it and see what happens."

"Maybe I will," Bryce said feeling not only heartened but confused by the way Shania's kind words made him feel.

Dinner was on the table at 6:30 and everyone was very impressed.

"It's just baked chicken and boiled vegetables," she said after a round of compliments.

"We eat a lot of fast food and take out around here so trust me, this is really great," Dr. Harper told her sincerely.

"My dad's right," Bryce said. "We haven't a real home cooked meal since Mom..."

A hush feel over the room for several seconds before Shania said, "We have chocolate and vanilla ice cream for desert. Anyone care for some?"

"Chocolate, please!" Tatum said and with that the scene once again returned to normal.

It was almost 8 o'clock before Shania was able to leave, and she found herself almost hating to go. She thanked Dr. Harper again for hiring her and he in turn, thanked her for dinner. Tatum gave her a big hug and Bryce asked if he could walk her to her car.

"Oh. Well, sure. Thank you," she said with a smile.

It was very dark and downright cold when they walked outside. Bryce opened her door and Shania thanked him. "You're a really great guy, Bryce. Don't underestimate your appeal." She smiled then said, "Tell her how you feel, okay?"

He shut her door and waved as she backed out and for the first time he felt a real surge of confidence. "Okay, I will," he promised himself.

The following day he worked up the courage to tell her and two minutes later she agreed to go see a movie with him. Shania wasn't just beautiful. She was a genius!

The almost overnight turnaround in attitude wasn't lost on Dr. Andrew Harper who saw his children talking, laughing, and actually getting along again. And if that wasn't enough, Bryce even said, "Mornin', Dad," on Saturday before breakfast.

"Where is my son and what have you done with him?" he said with disbelief.

"I took Shania's advice and told Amanda how I felt about her," he said with no small amount of pride.

"And?"

"And...I have a date with her tonight."

"Nice!" his father said. "And well done, Andy," he said to himself for his having hired this very attractive 'relationship expert'.

The New Nirvana was still in full swing Monday morning when Shania arrived at 6am.

"I didn't expect you quite so early," Dr. Harper said when he let her in. "I made a key for you, by the way." He helped her take off her coat then handed it to her.

"Thanks," she said accepting the key. "I want to make sure everything's ready." She inhaled deeply and smelled the unmistakable aroma of coffee then said, "Looks like I'm too late."

"I'm up at 5am seven days a week. Always have been. No worries. But...how about a cup of coffee?"

"Oh, that sounds heavenly!" Shania said. Dr. Harper led her into the kitchen then went to pour her a cup.

Shania quickly stepped in and stopped him. "Oh, no! That's my job," she said sliding in front of him.

"Well, okay!" he said putting his hands up. The scent of her perfume and shampoo hit him unexpectedly and caused an immediate, familiar stirring. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath knowing she couldn't see him. He exhaled then came back to reality.

"You look very nice for 6am," he told her as she handed him another cup then picked one up for herself.

"Oh, thank you so much! It's just so cold outside."

She wondered if perhaps she'd overdone it for her first day. After all, she was just making breakfast and driving Tatum to school. She probably didn't need the white blouse with the French cuffs, let alone the silver cufflinks under the very dressy blue sweater. And then there were the matching earrings and the silver necklace and...

"Morning, gorgeous!" she heard Bryce say a micro-second before kissing her on the cheek. He startled her so badly she spilled some coffee on the countertop.

"Oh, my gosh! You scared me to death, Bryce!" she said, not at all upset. She looked at him, smiled, then said, "Someone's in a good mood today."

"Someone had a date with Amanda on Saturday and that same someone is hanging out with her at her place tonight," he announced proudly.

"See! I told you!" Shania said equally proud of him. "Sometimes you just have to let a girl know how you feel!"

"Speaking of hotties," Bryce said pouring himself a cup of coffee, "You look amazing. Do you have a hot date, too, or something?"

"Me?" Shania asked feeling even sillier now. She'd also styled her hair and put on makeup, something she didn't do very often. "No, not hardly."

Bryce took a sip then just before walking back upstairs said, "You were right about that, too."

"I was?" she asked completely clueless.

"Yeah, about how the prettiest girls often don't get asked out because the guys think they're out of their league."

"Ahhh! You just made my day, Bryce Harper!" she said.

"He's right, you know," Dr. Harper told her. "You're a very attractive young woman."

"Well...thank you too, Doctor Harper. You and your son really know how to make a girl feel good about herself. Especially one who hasn't been on a date in...um...let's see now..."

"Shania!!" they heard Tatum call out. She was still in her nightie and robe as she ran over and gave her a hug. "I missed you so much!"

"Same here, friend!" she said hugging her tightly.

Her dad got the second hug. "You're up early," he told her.

"I heard Shania's voice, and I couldn't wait to see her," she said stepping up and taking the barstool between them.

"What would you like for breakfast?" Shania asked her.

"She's a cereal eater, seven days a week," her father said for her.

"Can we have French toast?" Tatum asked surprising her dad.

"You better believe it!" Shania told her. "That's my #1 specialty. How many pieces for each of you?" she asked as she got up and went to the pantry to grab a loaf of bread.

Tatum could do pretty much everything but prepare a meal and drive herself to school. Shania only needed to keep her focused and on task and be there in the event of an emergency. With five minutes to spare, Tatum was dressed and ready for school.