14
14
Bryce
The girls and I entered Sugar Bliss Bakery in Winters Township. I hadn’t wanted them to see Connie in our house in case the visit went badly. The last thing I wanted was for my babies not to feel comfortable and safe in their home.
But also, I didn’t want to meet Connie in Bastion where we could bump into Sadie. After what happened last night, when my ex showed up unannounced and showed her bitch colors, I didn’t want to take any chances.
I hated how Sadie thought I’d chosen Connie over her—never in a million years. Connie was a toxic tornado on a pair of long legs. She’d nearly destroyed me and the girls. I wouldn’t allow that to happen again.
“I want a cinnamon roll, Daddy!” Cat pointed at the glass cabinet and bounced on her tiptoes, bubbly as ever. “And hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles!”
“Me too. Me too.” Tori patted the back of my neck. She beamed with excitement in my arms, and I suddenly felt sick.
They hadn’t a clue Connie was in a booth not fifteen feet away. I’d only told them we had a busy day. When they’d asked if Sadie was coming over, I’d distracted them and said she didn’t work on the weekends. I’d been a coward for not telling them the truth, and I was about to pay the price for it.
Once our order was placed, I ushered Cat to where Connie was seated. The place was decorated with fall leaves and pumpkins and smelled delicious. Although, I doubted I could stomach a bite with my ex-wife nearby. She couldn’t be trusted. Just another reason I had wanted to meet in public.
“Well, good morning, Cat, and Tori. Would you like to join me?” Connie asked. The sugary way she spoke, I hadn’t heard before. It actually creeped me out. It sounded fake and manipulative, nothing like Sadie’s natural sweet voice.
Cat froze and grabbed my hand. “Who’s that?”
“You don’t remember her?” Not surprising. They were so young when Connie left, but not too young to have scars from the neglect and emotional abuse they’d experienced. Plus, Connie’s hair was red now, instead of blonde. They likely didn’t recognize her from the photo in the living room.
“No.” Cat moved closer to my legs.
“Aww, I’m your—”
“She’s Connie, a friend.” I stopped her from telling them she was their mother. She might have given them life, but that was it. “She’s passing through town and wanted to spend the day with us. After we eat, we’ll go to the pumpkin patch.”
“Yes, doesn’t that sound fun?” Connie said with a forced smile.
Though both guarded, the girls nodded their heads.
I set Tori on the bench seat across from Connie, then hoisted Cat beside her.
“Oh, but wouldn’t she like to sit by me?” Connie looked desperate to have one of them next to her.
I put my hand on Cat’s back. “She is Catherine,” I hissed. Had she forgotten who was who?
“Yes, of course. Would Cat like to sit next to me?”
My precious girl stared at me with big doe eyes and shook her head.
“That’s okay. You can stay with me.” I sat, blocking both girls in my side to protect them from their wicked birth giver.
“Okay, then.” Connie’s smile disappeared. She should have known the girls would be uneasy and shy. She was a stranger to them.
Tension filled the air while Connie and I made small talk. It was more than a little awkward. We’d never had much in common, even physically, we hadn’t meshed. Nothing I’d done had pleased Connie, and the same had been true for me with her. From the get-go, we’d been all wrong for each other, but she’d gotten pregnant…
The girls quietly ate their gluten-free pastries and sipped their cocoa, neither appearing happy to be there. I felt a little guilty for bringing them to the bakery they loved. Wouldn’t want the place to be tainted for them. Bad job, dad!
“Did I cause a rift between you and her last night?” Connie asked.
“No.”
“What’s a wiff?” Curious Cat turned her adorable face toward me. I smiled as she licked whipped cream off her upper lip.
“It’s rift, sweetie. It means to break something.” I grabbed a napkin and wiped her face, then did the same for Tori.
“Oh. What did Connie try to break?”
Connie jolted in her spot. “Nothing, sweetheart. Are we finished? Let’s go to the pumpkin patch.” In typical fashion, she avoided answering for her wrongs.
“But Sadie is going to the pumpkin patch with us.” Cat scrunched up her face as she would when frustrated.
“Yes, let’s go. You can follow us.” I helped the girls down, took their hands, and led them out of the bakery. I hated lying, but I honestly just wanted to get today over with and not piss off my ex-wife.
Once in the truck, I typed out a quick text to Sadie.
Bryce: Hi, beautiful. I miss you something awful.
After spending an hour with Connie, I realized how fucking lucky I’d been to have met Sadie that day in the restaurant. She could’ve not stopped there, could’ve sat in the dining room or by another man. It’d been fate. The right place at the right time.
I felt more for Sadie than I ever had for another. We were magic from the start, and I believed we could have a wonderful life together.
My phone pinged with a notification.
Sadie: Miss you more and the girls. Can’t wait to see you all!
Right there. She always thought of my daughters and included them in everything.
“When are we going?” Cat asked.
“Right now.” I tucked my phone into my coat pocket and pulled out of the parking lot. I wanted the weekend to be over and Connie out of our lives, so I could be with Sadie. We had a lot to discuss and figure out.
“I won’t return to Minnesota.” Connie leaned against her rental car. It was Sunday afternoon. After having lunch together, I put the girls down for a nap. They knew Connie was leaving and wouldn’t be back. I hadn’t told them she was their mother.
“Where will you go?” I couldn’t help but ask. It blew my mind that a mother would want nothing to do with her children. How could she just abandon them?
“Do you care?”
I tilted my head. “I’m just curious.”
“To Europe. Are you and the nanny serious?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms over my chest and squinted. The sun was bright and behind her, blinding me. We hadn’t discussed Sadie. I’d been waiting until Connie broached the topic. Just before she left seemed like an odd time to bring her up.
“Like marriage serious? Is she going to be my girls’ new mother someday?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I looked away. It was too early to know if Sadie was the one. But I had a strong feeling about her, and Cat and Tori like her a lot. If I were a betting man, I’d say there was a good chance Sadie and me would end up together.
Connie reached for my arm, but I stepped back. “I want you to end it with Sadie.”
“What the fuck? You don’t get to dictate who I see or anything else about my life.”
“I can tell the girls like her. She’s going to replace me. Just stop seeing her before they call her mommy.”
“This is all your doing. You left them before and now you’re leaving again. They deserve to have a mother, and if Sadie is it, at least they’ll know they can depend on her.” My words were harsh but honestly, she was being selfish as always.
She sighed and shook her head. “Are you in love with her? She’s not your type.”
“Yes, she is. That’s why you don’t like her. Because she’s everything and more than you’ll ever be.”
“You don’t have to be an asshole.” She opened her car door.
“And you don’t have to be a bitch. Stop trying to control me.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “You know I can’t help myself.”
“Some things never change.”
“But you’ve changed a lot.” She studied me with a flirty gaze. “It’s like you’ve grown up, or rather, manned up. It’s sexy.”
“Enough, all ready.”
“You used to be so easy to sway.”
Jesus, I was ready for her to go. “I’ve got things to do, Connie.” I jerked my chin at the car. “You’ve taken up enough of my time. Good luck with your European adventures.”
“So, you won’t end it with Sadie?”
“Nope.” I turned on my heels and headed for the house.
“Must be love!” Connie shouted as she got into her car and slammed the door.
Maybe it was love…