Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
KIKI EMMERSON
M y mouth goes dry, and I struggle to breathe. Tobias looks at me like he can’t figure me out. I shake my head. “I don’t have a story.”
“I’m a pirate!” Skyler calls up from below. “Watch me, Kiki!”
Grateful for the distraction, I wave and lean over the railing. “I’m watching!”
Skyler runs around the grassy area as Micah runs after her. They play chase for a minute, then Skyler jumps on a large rock by the shore. Tobias stiffens. “Don’t climb on the rocks,” he calls. “It’s not safe. Stay in the park.”
Skyler obediently slides off the rock and runs toward the swings. Micah joins her and they both hop on. They compete to see who can go higher but Micah has a huge advantage being so much bigger so of course he wins. But he jumps off his swing and pushes Skyler. I love to see how much her uncle adores her. She’s growing up surrounded by family and that makes me happy.
The clouds turn orange with the setting sun, and I gaze out at the ocean. “What a great view. I can see why Skyler loves it here.”
“It is nice.” Tobias looks at me, his gaze hooded. “But you evaded my question. Everyone has a story. What brought you to Willow Shade?”
I stare down at the railing. “I was looking for someone.” As soon as the words are out, I regret saying them. I can’t tell him my story. Guilt rises in me, but I swallow it down. I’m doing this for Skyler.
He raises his eyebrows. “Who?”
“A relative.” I turn away. For some reason I don’t want to look at him while I lie. “She’s not here.”
He studies me a moment. “Why were you looking for her?”
I shift, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. “I guess I was seeking a connection.” At least that’s the truth.
He nods and turns, facing the sunset. “I understand. Everyone needs connection. I’m sorry you didn’t find it.” He slides his hands into his pockets. “You must have been searching for a while. It seems like you’re down on your luck.”
For some reason, tears prick at my eyes at how perceptive he is. Down on your luck is a nice way of saying I look like I’m two steps away from stealing a shopping cart and sleeping under a bridge. He’s not wrong. “Yes,” I say quietly.
“What happened?” He doesn’t look at me, but I feel how intently he’s waiting for my answer.
I sigh, knowing what I’m about to say is embarrassing, but at least it’s the truth. “Before I came here, I was scammed.” I pinch my lips together as emotion builds in me.
Tobias exhales and his chin drops. “Wow. I’m so sorry. That’s horrible. How much did you lose?”
“Two thousand dollars. It was half of what I’d saved up ever since I—” I stop mid-sentence. I can’t finish. I was going to say ever since I got out of jail. I swallow trying to come up with a good lie.
“Since you what?”
“Since I started working in childcare. You know, childcare workers don’t get paid a lot.”
“I figured.”
“I’d saved for almost five years.” I seriously need to shut up now. I’m saying way too much. It’s easy to get scammed when you’re hiring shady people to do shady things. It’s a miracle I finally found Skyler. It took the rest of my savings to do it.
The sky is now a deep orange with purple stretching overhead. The gentle lapping sound of the water hitting the rocks just adds to the atmosphere.
I force a laugh. “Wow, that was depressing. I sure know how to kill a conversation.”
He looks at me, his grey eyes darkening. His jaw works a moment before he speaks. “No. You didn’t. I asked you to tell me your story.”
“Well, my story sucks.” I laugh again, but he doesn’t join in. “Luckily, I met you. Now I’m living in a mansion making five hundred dollars a week. I think I’ve hit the jackpot.”
Tobias actually smiles at that, and my heart does a little flip. A drop of rain hits my arm, and I look up. “Oh, you were right. It is going to rain.”
He peers down at Skyler and Micah on the swings. “They’re having so much fun. I guess a little rain won’t hurt them.”
Another drop hits me, and I rub it, forgetting I have makeup on my arm. It reveals a smear of red from the bird tattoo on my right wrist. It looks like blood. Tobias lifts his eyebrows. “What’s that?”
I shift my arm. “Nothing.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then let me see it.”
I bump my fist on his shoulder. “I’m fine, really. It’s nothing. We’d better get going. I think it’s going to pour soon.”
I head down the stairs before it can get more awkward. Tobias trails after me. I exit the lighthouse and call to the kids. “Let’s go. It’s raining.”
Skyler hops off her swing and runs to me. “Can we get ice cream?”
Micah grins as he joins us. “I vote yes.” He’s at that awkward stage where his body is growing into manhood, but he still begs for ice cream.
“Please, Daddy?” Skyler says, clasping her hands together.
“Sure,” Tobias says, and I wonder about the Popsicle incident and if he really watches Skyler’s sugar all that much.
We pile into the car and drive through the Ice Cream Shack and get some treats. As Skyler licks her cone, I chance a look at my wrist. It’s not too bad. You can only see a small tip of one wing. It’s only noticeable because it’s bright red. I hold it to my stomach as I eat my ice cream.
Tobias pulls into the garage and cuts the engine. I excuse myself to run to the bathroom and fix the makeup on my wrist. I walk into the kitchen and Skyler finishes her treat. I clean her face with a washcloth, and then she tugs me into the family room. “Play Barbies with me.”
“Okay.” I sit on the floor beside her, and she pulls out a tub filled with naked dolls and clothes. Tobias comes in the room. I expect him to sit on the couch, but he joins us on the floor.
“You can be Ken.” Skyler gives the male doll to Tobias.
She hands a doll to me, then grabs one for herself. “Let’s go to the store to shop,” she says in the voice of her doll.
“I’ll have to get dressed first,” I say as I wiggle my naked doll.
Skyler giggles. “Me, too.”
“Don’t I get clothes too?” Tobias says as he moves Ken.
We dress our dolls, and they go to the store. Ironically, we go to the store to buy more clothes. It’s fun to see Tobias get into the role, playing with Skyler on her level. My heart fills with joy that she’s had such an attentive father in her life.
Tobias nudges me. “What’s wrong?”
I blink back tears. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. “Nothing.” I quickly wipe at my face to get rid of any evidence that I was a total bawl baby.
He squints at me, and it seems like he’s unhappy with my response. But he doesn’t press me. We continue to play until Tobias glances at the clock. “Woah, it’s late,” he says to Skyler. “We have to do a quick bath and then bedtime.”
“Aw,” she complains. “Five more minutes?”
“No, we’re late for bed. Clean up time.” Tobias picks up the dolls, and Skyler reluctantly joins in.
“Can I have toys in the bath?” She holds her hands in a pleading manner.
“I can give her a bath,” I jump in, just in case Tobias was about to deny her of her toys.
“Thanks,” he says as he continues to clean the toys off the floor.
I grab Skyler’s hand and take her upstairs. I get the bathtub ready with warm water and I dump the bucket of toys in. Skyler gets in the bath quickly and starts to show me all the bath toys.
About twenty minutes later Tobias sticks his head in the bathroom. “Time to come out.”
Skyler objects, but I side with Tobias. I’m worn out. “It’s late, sweetie. Why don’t you show me your pajamas? I bet you have cool ones.”
“They’re Bluey!”
I have no idea what that means, but I nod and smile at her. “Great!”
It takes another twenty minutes to get her dry, in pajamas, and teeth brushed. She climbs into bed, and I smooth her hair, my heart too full to speak. This is my amazing little girl. She is precious beyond belief. I can’t believe she’s right here, in front of me. When I take hold of my emotions, I kiss her forehead. “Want me to read you a story?”
“Yes! The one without pictures.”
I look at her bookshelf. “Which one is that?”
Tobias enters the room. “She means this one.” He picks up a book titled The Book With No Pictures and hands it to me. He leans against the door jam while I read the book to her. I get really into it and read it with voices, and she giggles at the funny parts. When I look up, even Tobias is grinning. Not a little half-smile either. A full-on movie star smile complete with one dimple on the left side, just like his little brother.
I realize I’m not reading anymore but just staring at Tobias when he waves a hand at me. “Don’t mind me. Keep going.”
I finish the book and kiss Skyler once more before I turn off her light and leave. Tobias joins me in the hallway. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. You’re great with kids.”
My throat swells at the compliment. I open my mouth in fake shock. “You doubted my skills?”
He chuckles. “A little. Yeah.”
“I had no idea. I mean, it wasn’t obvious or anything.” I roll my eyes at him.
He stops and looks at me. “I’m sorry. I misjudged you. I shouldn’t have. You’re obviously not what I first assumed.”
“And what was that?” I lift an eyebrow as a challenge.
“I don’t know.” His cheeks turn pink.
“You do. You’re just too polite to say it.” I head down the hall toward my room, but he grabs my arm.
“I’m sorry,” he says again. His eyes search mine, and something stirs in me. His sincerity burns through me. “You’re obviously not fresh out of jail or anything. I was wrong.”
I swallow, guilt surfacing in me. I’m an ex-con. He was right about me. Who am I to make him feel guilty for wanting to protect Skyler? “It’s okay,” I whisper, wiggling out of his grasp. I enter my room, tears pricking my eyes.
Tobias comes to the doorway. “Are you okay? I was trying to tell you how glad I am that I hired you, but it looks like I messed it all up.”
I swallow back my guilt and wipe at my tears. I turn to him. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Are you hungry? Violet left some banana pudding in the fridge.”
I shake my head, even though I am hungry and now all I want is banana pudding. “No, thank you.”
He stares at me another moment before he nods. “All right. Good night, then.”