Chapter 10
Brooklyn danced with excitement as Caden poured batter into the waffle maker they found waiting for them on the front porch. Caden loved her animated expressions as she chattered about what the waffle would look like.
“I wonder where they found this? I’ve never seen one shaped like a ladybug, Daddy! I wonder what other patterns they have? Do you think they have a bunny?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but we can search for one,” he told her.
“That would be so neat. I bet we could dye the batter and make the ladybug red. But how would we make the black spots?”
“Chocolate chips?”
She stared at him as if he’d cured cancer. “Yesssss! That would work! Do you have chocolate chips and red food coloring?”
He shook his head ruefully. “I’m sorry, little girl. I am woefully under-prepared to create colorful waffles.”
“That’s okay. We can see what kind of waffle iron we can find. Then we’ll get the stuff to jazz everything up.” She paused for a moment, and the enthusiasm disappeared from her face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made plans to spend money. I’ve got some. I can help pay.”
“That won’t happen. I have plenty of money to feed you and to buy a waffle iron. We won’t buy six waffle irons, so you’ll have to make sure you choose the best one.”
“I don’t like being a leech.”
“You couldn’t be a leech if you tried, little girl. How about if you let me worry about finances?”
“Do you promise you’ll tell me if I become too much of a burden?”
Caden’s heart skipped a beat. Her tone absolutely gutted him. He recognized then that her prior life contained more than an abusive ex who’d stalked her. The delicious scent of a waffle made him act quickly. He flipped the waffle off the griddle and onto a plate before addressing her request.
“Come to the table, Brookie. We’ll eat this waffle while it’s hot and talk.”
“Am I in trouble? I didn’t mean to offend you. Do you want me to leave?” she asked.
Hating the sight of the fat tears welling in her beautiful brown eyes, Caden wanted to nip this train of thought in the bud. “Come eat, little girl.”
She slid off the stool at the island and followed him silently to the table. Caden cut a pat of butter from the stick and stabbed it with a fork before handing it to Brooklyn. “Here, baby. Rub this over the waffle. You can show me how much butter you like.”
When she had taken the fork and pressed it to the golden creation, he calmly told her, “Good job, little girl. While you butter, I’m going to ask you some questions. Okay?”
“Sure,” she said, looking up at him in concern.
“You are not in trouble. I’m trying to think of a scenario where you would be or when I would ask you to leave. Maybe if you had an affair?”
“I’d never do that!” she exclaimed, forgetting her job and letting the butter melt on one section only.
Caden wrapped his hand around hers and guided the butter pat to another spot. “That’s what I think, too. But if you fall in love with someone else, I’d hope you’d talk to me. May I explain my definition of a daddy?”
She nodded.
“A daddy is more than a passing relationship. It’s not like having a boyfriend or girlfriend. For some, it’s more than a husband or wife.”
“More?” she repeated, puzzled.
“A more intimate relationship,” he clarified.
“Oh! I guess I can see that.”
“Is that enough butter?” he asked, checking out the puddles of melted butter pooling in the waffle’s dents.
“Yes. But we need syrup.”
“Of course we do. Tell me when,” Caden said as he popped the top off the bottle. He poured until the waffle swam in the thick brown concoction.
“When, Daddy.”
He stopped immediately and set the container down to cut her a bite. Holding it up to her mouth, Caden said, “Try this and see what you think.”
“Mmm! This is the best waffle ever!” she mumbled around the bite. “You try it.”
Caden helped himself to a sizeable chunk. It was over the top in sweetness for him, but this treat was for Brooklyn. He fed her another bite. “We did well. I didn’t know ladybugs were so delicious.”
“Daddy! It’s not a real ladybug. That would be gross.”
“Protein is protein, little girl.”
She looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “Gross, Daddy. Don’t tell me you’ve eaten insects.”
“Surviving is the most important. In many places in the world, bugs are a treat. Fried termites. Cricket flour. Human creativity nourishes a lot of people who would otherwise starve.”
She studied the waffle suspiciously. “Cricket flour?”
“Your waffle is safe, sweetheart. I might sneak some veggies into lasagna, but I promise no insects in your food.”
“Thank you.”
“I can also promise you I won’t kick you out. You’re safe here.”
“Is that because you’re my daddy?” she asked.
“In part, yes. But even if you’d not had a little side, I would have welcomed you here. Years ago, I was in a bad spot. I haven’t ever met my dad. My mom took care of me until my sixteenth birthday. That day, she decided I was grown enough, and her responsibility was over.”
“That’s horrible.” Brooklyn bristled as she stiffened in outrage.
“It was. My possessions dwindled to what I could stuff in my hall and gym lockers. I slept on the wrestling mat in the back of the gym until the coach caught me.”
“Oh, no! What did he say?”
“I thought on my feet and lied that I was there early to talk to him about being a wrestler. His expression alone told me that he didn’t believe me, but he made me one of the team managers.
That got me a key to the gym, where I could sleep and shower.
There was even a washer and dryer that I could use overnight. ”
“He didn’t take you home?”
“No, he was gay. Allegations that something fishy was going on could have cost him his job. I was fine. He made sure of that. I made it through high school graduation and joined the military. I’ve been there since.”
“Do you like being in the military?” she asked.
“Yes. My team is my family.”
“I really want to get to know them better now.”
“They’re going to be happy to spend time with you too. So I’ve told you my life story. Can you tell me yours while I make us another ladybug?” Caden asked.
“Let’s call it a waffle, please. By the way, we aren’t choosing an insect for our waffle iron.”
He loved how Brooklyn had used the term our. It sounded like she planned to stick around. “Good idea.” He stood and walked to the waffle iron to concoct another. Would she talk to him?
After a quiet pause as he prepared the griddle and poured the batter, Brooklyn said quietly, “My life was boring. I have parents who love me and were active in my life. I should have listened to their warnings when I met Brent. They picked up on something… Something off about Brent and his family long before I did.”
“And you rebelled, ignoring their pleas for you to stay away from him?” Caden guessed.
He could see this happening as if it were in real time.
He forced the hatred he had for Brent into a controlled box inside him, so he wouldn’t scare Brooklyn.
No one threatened or manipulated his little girl.
He closed the top of the waffle iron and walked back to her side.
“I was so stupid. Looking back now, I don’t understand how I didn’t pick up on the signs as well.”
“You were young, and Brent was your rebellion.” He smoothed a hand down her arm to reassure her. Brooklyn was not at fault here.
She shrugged. “You’re too good at this. I wish I had been that perceptive. Anyway, Brent’s family welcomed me. They were so nice in the beginning. Then they weren’t. His family hasn’t chased me for a while. Brent won’t give up.”
“I’m sorry, little girl. He won’t bother you now.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt by him.”
“I think I can take care of myself. And you, little girl. If not, I have an entire team of trained covert-military men who’ll back me up.”
“Hopefully, he’ll decide to go back home now. Things can’t be going well for him. He used to drive a fancy silver sports car. I noticed he was in a bashed-up blue car.”
“It’s hard to keep a job when you’re harassing someone a couple of states away,” Caden said.
“From what I hear from my parents, the word around our small town is that he’s working as a day laborer now and living in that car. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see that his crappy life results are from his decisions. Everything is always my fault. He hates me so much. It’s scary.”
Caden moved back to the griddle and rescued the golden waffle. “Round two. I vote we concentrate on this golden deliciousness and worry about Brent later. He’s affected your life enough.”
“Do you want to butter this one?” she asked, smiling up at him.
“No way. You’re the expert.”
Brooklyn concentrated on her task. Caden smiled as the tip of her tongue appeared at the corner of her mouth. Her life should always be this enchanting. He had to make this end for her. The team would help. They’d consider it a training exercise in handling urban threats.