After the hot daddy left, I channeled my irritation by calling the hospital and asking for Lance, the head of the volunteer department that I worked for in my charitable duties there. I had a standing agreement to be informed of any children admitted to the hospital who had nobody to visit them. I'd been pissed as fuck when I'd learned about poor Allie. Although, the idea of hot alpha daddy having a soft spot for a sick child had almost made me want to take him up on that dinner offer.

I mean if that was my daughter, I would never—nope. Not going there. Nothing good lay in digging up old shit. While I was tapping my fingers on the counter and waiting to be connected with Lance, the bell over the door jingled and a familiar little blonde imp came strolling in. It only took me half a second, if that, before I placed him.

"Tofer! Tom didn't recognize that adorableness outside of the gilded cage and dressed in actual clothes! Give Tom a sec and Tom will be all yours."

His surprisingly musical voice lilted over me, soothing my ruffled feathers with its beauty. "Take your time, Tommy boy. I'm just here to see you, my friend."

Lance came on the phone right then, and after I'd ripped him a new one, he'd vowed to look into what had happened. It turned out that the child had been in there for two weeks now! And with a cancer diagnosis? That poor baby.

"That's fine, Lance. What's done is done. Put Tom's name down as an approved visitor, and let the social worker know that Tom's home is still approved for fostering. Tom will be happy to foster the broken birdie. Just get Tom in touch with the social worker."

Lance happily agreed to help me. I had a feeling this was because the social services hadn't found her a placement and the hospital wanted to release her when her doctor signed off on it. It didn't matter. I would get my way. A little money and a lot of charm had ways of opening doors, I'd learned.

"What was that about, Tommy boy?" I looked over the elfin-looking dude, smiling at his perky little pointed nose and big almond shaped eyes. I swear on all that's holy he reminded me of the young cartoon guy in the Keebler elf commercials. All he needed was the outfit. Which reminded me... I need another elf for the kids party tomorrow night, and a Santa too.

"That was the hospital. Tom volunteers there in the children's wing, and Tom just found out that there's a sick little girl in there with no family. Tom wants to see if Tom can foster Miss Allie. Tom is already approved by the state to step in for extreme cases, which Miss Allie definitely fits. Tom just has to hope the social worker will make it happen quickly."

"I'm sure it will happen very soon." He smiled knowingly, with a twinkle in his eye. "In fact, it could happen just like that." Tofer snapped his fingers and my cell phone rang. I looked at the screen and my jaw dropped open.

"Holy guacamole! Tom knows this is just a coincidence, but the social worker is calling! Hold on!" I hit answer and lifted the phone to my ear as I heard Tofer mumble something about there being no such thing as coincidences.

I tuned him out and took the call. Leticia, the social worker on the case, hadn't even talked to Lance yet! She had just called me of her own volition. When I told her about my conversation with Lance, we laughed about what a small world it was. I made arrangements to meet her at the hospital in an hour to deal with paperwork and meet Miss Allie.

After I ended the call, I turned to find Tofer doing a handstand against the wall. His eyes were closed and he seemed like he was meditating or some shit. I shook my head and called Lance back to give him the happy news.

By the time all that was accomplished, Seth came wandering in from his break. Finally! I looked over at Tofer with a shrug and decided to leave him be for now. Cute little weirdo. I knew we were destined to be besties already. I dashed back to the kitchen where my adopted little family was gathered eating lunch.

Christian was holding Ollie while Liam and Kent ate. "Hey, boy and baby girl! Tom has to give all the apologies, but Tom cannot stay for lunch today." I breezed through to grab my car keys from my desk in back and shut down my office for the day.

"What's up, Tom? Is everything okay?" Kent looked concerned, the big sweet lug. I went over and wrapped my around his neck and kissed his cheek with a loud smack.

"Tom is just fine! Tom just found out that Tom has a foster daughter to meet over at the Oaks. Miss Allie is a cancer patient with no family." Tears were glistening in my eyes, I couldn't help it. This whole thing was a trigger for me, especially when the social worker had told me that she was nine years old. Just the age that—nope. Not going there.

Liam looked up at me with a trembling smile. "Oh, God! She has family now! Can I come with you?"

Christian was nodding along. "I'll take the rest of the day off, Tom. Tell us what we can do, we're here for you."

I ran around the table putting kisses on all their cheeks. "Tom loves all of you! Just plan on having a nine year old niece for Christmas, and shop accordingly! Tom can't take Miss Allie home for two more days, that gives Tom time to get a room ready for the little doll."

Liam grinned then. "Shopping trip time? I know you have the party tomorrow night, but if you took tomorrow off? I mean... will you even have time otherwise?"

I thought about it for half a second, then nodded. "Tom will call Milo and arrange it. Tom will pick up Liam and Miss Ollie first thing tomorrow morning."

I turned my attention to Kent. "Can Kent handle the shop now? Tom needs to go to the hospital. All the orders have been picked up, and the shop closes in a couple hours anyway."

Liam spoke up before Kent could answer. "Just go, Tom. Ollie and I will hang out in case Kent needs help. We've got you covered, sweetness! Go meet your Allie."

I nodded gratefully and with a quick wave, dashed out of the kitchen. Tofer was still standing on his head against the wall while Seth watched him with fascination.

"Seth, Tom must go. If Seth needs help or a manager, get Kent. Liam will also be here if Seth needs him." I spoke briskly as I walked toward the door. "Come along, Tofer."

I turned back to see Tofer flipping over onto his feet. He brushed off his hands and followed me out the door and to my car while I quickly called Milo and explained what was happening.

Milo insisted on taking over for me over the next few days, so that I could get ready for Miss Allie and get her settled in.

Tofer looked over at me after he got into the car. "Breathe, friend. Everything is about to be as it should be, and how it was always intended to be before other people got involved. You will see, soon enough."

I quirked my brow at the mysterious little imp and fastened my safety belt. Once Tofer had done the same, I backed out of the spot and headed for the Oaks. Hollydale Oaks was a small hospital with a friendly staff. Oh! That reminded me—

"Tofer, Tom needs a favor," I began.

"Yes, I'll do it," he replied easily.

"But Tom hasn't said what it is yet!" I said with surprise. "I need an elf for a party at the hospital tomorrow night. Is the answer still yes?"

Tofer answered easily. "Of course. It's for the children, right?"

I nodded, wondering how he knew that. "Yeah. Tom has the costume at home. Is that okay with Tofer?"

Tofer nodded. "Of course, I already agreed. You can show me when we go home later."

"Okay," I readily agreed before I realized what he'd said. "Wait. What now?"

Tofer shrugged. "It's okay if you say no, but what will be, will be, regardless. You'll be needing a nanny for Allie since she can't go to school, and I need a place to stay for now until things are put in place as they were meant to be."

I thought about it for a second, then decided to roll with it. We were already full up on crazy around here, what was wrong with adding more nuts to the barrel? I grinned over at him as I pulled into the hospital parking lot.

"Tofer is a weird little dude. Tom approves. Tofer may stay with Tom."

The little imp shrugged nonchalantly and nodded. "I knew it would be so. Thanks though, Tom. And I like you too, by the way. You have a big heart, Tom Collins."

I parked and we were halfway up to the children's wing when it dawned on me. Where the hell had he heard my last name? I never told anyone that secret unless they needed to know. My parents thought it was amusing to name me after my dad's favorite cocktail, but me? Not so much.

I looked over to ask him, but he was drifting along beside me so peacefully that I just let it drop for now. I had enough things happening.

* * *

I was happy that Leticia was the social worker on the case. She was a lovely, matronly woman who I'd always found it a pleasure to deal with her over the past few years. Once we'd dealt with the legalities, she took me in to meet Miss Allie.

All it took was one look at the little carrot-headed sprite and I was in love. She grinned up at us with big green eyes and two messy ass Pippi Longstocking-looking braids. Both canine teeth were missing from her lower jaw, giving her an adorable smile.

The biggest shock was hot daddy sitting beside her with the giraffe he purchased earlier sitting on the table beside her bed. Apparently we'd interrupted their visit.

A deck of Uno cards lay on the swinging tray table of her bed that was set up between them.

He looked surprised to see me, but before he could speak, Leticia spoke first.

"Hello, Allison. I've brought your new foster dad to meet you. This is Tom Collins, and you'll be going home with him when you're released. I'm going to let you guys visit, I just wanted to give you the good news."

Hot daddy was looking at me in surprise. I ignored him and swept over to meet my new princess.

"Hello, Miss Allie! The name is Uncle Tom, and this is Tofer. It's a pleasure to be in the presence of a princess, your highness," I said with a low bow and a broad smile.

Miss Allie giggled and got right into the game. "You may rise, good sirs."

I looked over to see Tofer had bowed with me.

Colin looked at Tofer with narrowed eyes. "Aren't you the new guy over at—"

I interrupted him and spoke smoothly before he could continue. Little girls didn't need to hear about clubs and cage dancers. "Tofer is Tom's friend, Colin. Let's leave it at that, hmm?"

"Yeah, Dr. Colin! Don't be rude! Can't you see that Tofer is one of Santa's elves?"

I giggled at her words, but Tofer looked nonplussed and Miss Allie looked serious, so I sobered up and shook my head.

"May I speak to you in the hallway, Mr. Collins?" hot daddy asked quietly.

I grinned suddenly, as I realized the similarity in our names. "Why sure thing, Doctor Colin!"

Tofer immediately took over and eased around me and plucked a shiny quarter from behind the girl's ear, making her giggle. I left them to get to know each other and motioned for Colin to come with me.

We went out into the hall and stepped a few doors over before we both began to speak at the same time.

"What do you mean that you—"

"Hot daddy is a friggin' doct—"

We both stopped and laughed. Colin bowed and extended a palm. "You first, ginger."

"Colin is a doctor? Tom had no idea!"

He grinned and brushed my hair back off my forehead that had gotten mussed in my rush over here. "Maybe if you'd taken me up on my offer for breakfast or dinner, you'd know more about me than what I look like when I—"

I shoved my hand over his mouth and looked around the busy hall. "Hush! Tom is a big volunteer here! Tom's reputation doesn't need sullying, especially now that Tom is Miss Allie's legal guardian."

Hot daddy winked. "Then have dinner with me. You can tell me all about how you managed to become Allie's foster dad in less time than it takes most people to do their weekly shopping while we eat. And also how you ended up with custody of the new cage dancer from the Big O while you're at it."

"Simple. Tom is already an approved foster parent by the state for emergency situations like this one. And Tofer is none of Colin's business. But if hot daddy must know, Tofer is staying with Tom. See? No dinner needed."

Colin was still grinning though. "There must be something you want in exchange for a date, let's barter. Don't make me blackmail you, ginger boy. I admire you too much for that."

"Then why mention it? Although..." I looked at him approvingly. "Hot daddy can solve a problem Tom is having. Tom was going to ask Christian or Kent, but this makes Tom much, much happier."

"And if I do this thing that will make you happy, you'll have dinner with me tonight?"

"Yes. Tom is all Colin's tonight. If Colin will do this one teensy little thing for Tom."

"Name it, ginger boy. Anything is worth a dinner with you."

I grinned mischievously and said, "Good. Tom is throwing a Christmas party here in the children's wing tomorrow night. Colin will play Santa and give out the gifts." I took one look at his horrified expression and leaned closer to whisper. "Tom will give it to hot daddy tonight when Tom is picked up for dinner, hmm?"

Colin took a deep breath and chuckled. "You know how to drive a bargain, ginger boy. But a deal is a deal. I'm your Saint Nick tomorrow. What time? I'll need to make sure I'm off work early enough."

I gave a dramatic gasp. "Hot daddy will leave work early even? Oh, my! Tom definitely approves! Now give Tom your phone."

He readily obeyed, watching intently as I sent myself a text. I handed it back as my phone chimed in my pocket. With a wink, I pulled out my phone and sent a reply. '"There. Now hot daddy has Tom's address and phone number. What time should Tom be ready?"

Colin smirked. "Don't think I'll be forgetting either one, by the way. You're on my radar, ginger boy, and I can't figure out how to get you out of my head."

I stood up on my tiptoes and whispered loudly: "Tom is like a fungus. Tom really grows on people. Be here in the main playroom at six o'clock tomorrow sharp, Santa." I gave him a swift kiss on the cheek and stepped back.

As I turned to go, Colin said, "And I'll see Tom tonight at seven o'clock sharp. Dress pretty for me, ginger boy. I like to look at your little fungi ass."

I looked back and smirked. "Yep. That's Tom. A real fun guy."

Colin groaned at my bad pun while I led the way back into Miss Allie's room. She and and Tofer were in the middle of a cut-throat looking game of Uno. The little freak was sitting cross-legged on the foot of the girl's bed, with the cards between them. Miss Allie was sitting the same way, mirroring him while the two of them were having an animated conversation about reindeer poop.

"Come along, Tofer. Miss Allie wins by default, because Tom must go see about getting a bedroom together that is fit for a princess before her ladyship comes home."

Colin settled back into his chair. "Naw, just pass me your cards, little dude. I'll take over.”

Tofer handed his cards over then somersaulted off of the bed. Miss Allie giggled and Tofer slipped over to pull a large candy cane from behind her ear.

"We'll see you tomorrow, milady. Visit with the good doctor here while Tom and I take care of our preparations for your homecoming. Deal?"

Miss Allie nodded happily, her cheeks flushed with pleasure. "Will you make sure my room is awesome, Tofer?"

Tofer shrugged. "I'll help your Uncle Tom here, but I'm pretty sure he's got what it takes to make a perfect room for a little lady."

I nodded at her skeptical look, but reassured her. "Miss Allie needn't worry. Just rest, pet. Leave everything to Tom and Tofer. Tom promises nothing but perfection will do!"

Miss Allie giggled as Tofer and I bowed again, then turned to leave her to visit with Colin. My heart was full and my head was spinning.

I had a lot to do and little time to achieve it. Oh, and I now apparently had a date tonight that I hadn't been able to allow myself to refuse a second time. Fuck. I was so about to get my heart broken again. I just knew it.

Oh, well, I mused as we walked back to my car. I'd have to make sure and take a ride on Santa's big cane tonight to make up for the future heartbreak. Go big before I go home alone again, right?