Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
KADE
Things really could be worse. The allergic reaction is mostly gone at this point.
It’s not the first time it’s happened to me—thankfully it’s not severe and meds will clear it up.
The itchiness on my face is an annoyance.
The worst part? Poppy’s poor face. It was a gut punch.
I know she wanted to surprise me and it didn’t go the way she planned.
I don’t want her to feel any worse, so pulling open the door to the general store, I’m hoping I can find something for her to lift her spirits.
I mean, what does a five-year-old girl even like?
Pulling out my phone, I call for help.
“Should I be offended you come back to town and I barely see you?” Grace says by way of answer.
“It’s not my fault I’m working out at the ranch all day every day.”
“That’s not what I hear.”
“What do you hear?”
Looking around, I make sure there’s no one close by to overhear this conversation.
“That you’ve been spending time with your old flame. Is that why we don’t see you?”
I scrub a hand down my face. It’s not like Presley and I have been keeping what we have behind closed doors. But we spend a lot of our time out at the ranch.
“So?” Grace asks, pulling me back to her.
“Look, we’re feeling this out.”
“Feeling it out?” I can feel the eye roll over the phone. “Please, Kade. You’ve been in love with her since you first met her.”
“And she’s still separated and getting divorced. I have the ranch and my job to worry about back in Seattle.”
“Cop-out.”
“I didn’t call to get a lecture,” I say.
“Then what do you need?”
“What do I get a five-year-old girl?”
“For Poppy?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“What does she like?”
“Well, she loves Lollipop, milkshakes, and a very specific brand of macaroni.”
“Easy,” Grace says. “Get her a stuffed horse.”
Walking up and down the aisles, I find the aisle I need. Right there, front and center, is a brown stuffed horse. “Now that you say it, it seems so easy.”
“I’m the best gift giver.”
“You’re the best. Thanks, sis.”
“I know. Now come over for dinner this week before Mom freaks out and thinks you moved again.”
I wince. “I deserve that. How about tomorrow night?”
Even if it means not spending the time with Presley.
“Great. We’ll see you then.”
She ends the call, and I take the stuffed animal to the checkout before heading to Presley’s. It’s then real life calls.
“Kelly. How are things going out there?” I ask, taking her call.
“Good. How are things at the ranch?”
“Moving along.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
Isn’t that the million-dollar question? It’s one I keep weighing. Things are going well here with Presley and Poppy. But are we in the honeymoon phase? Is it only good because things are easy right now?
There’s nothing making it hard and that’s what worries me. Back in high school, the first time things got hard, I left. I’m not that same kid. But I also have a life in Seattle.
A well-established life that I need to get back to.
“Kade? Are you still with me?” Kelly asks, breaking my train of thought.
“Sorry, I’m here,” I say.
“Contracts are going to be signed next week for the Brissett account. I’m forwarding to you for one last review before signatures. I’ll get that on the calendar for you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate all you’ve been doing to help me while I’m out.”
“Anything I can do to make this easier for you,” she says. “That’s all I have right now, unless you need anything else?”
“No. I’ll review the contracts soon and let you know. Thanks, Kelly.”
“Talk soon.”
She ends the call and I stuff the phone in my pocket. Checking both directions, I jog across the street to head up to Presley’s apartment, bag in hand.
I hope Poppy will like my surprise.
I don’t even have the chance to knock before Poppy is pulling open the front door.
“I saw you coming from across the street.”
Her face is still pink from her earlier tears.
“Did you see I have something for you then?”
I hold up the bag as I kick the door shut behind me.
“I have something for you.” Poppy hands me a picture.
I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at, but it’s bright and colorful. “Thanks, Poppy. I love it. I’ll hang it up in my office.”
That brightens her face.
Good.
“This is for you.”
Poppy unfurls the curled top and pulls out the brown stuffed horse. “It’s Lollipop!”
“I hope Strawberry likes her,” I say.
“She will.” Poppy bounds over to her room, my guess to get Strawberry.
Presley is watching from the kitchen, a smile on her face.
“You didn’t have to get her something,” Presley says, wrapping me in her arms.
“I know, but I felt bad for her. It wasn’t her fault.”
“It looks like everything has cleared up.”
Her fingers ghost over my cheeks. My eyes close as I lean into her touch. I don’t know how I lived without her for so long. Or how I can live without her again.
“I’m fine.”
Presley peers over my shoulder before giving me a quick kiss. “I’m glad.”
“Is it time to eat?” Poppy asks.
Jumping back from Presley, I knock my knee into the cabinet and wince from pain. Jesus. Today is not my day.
I don’t think Poppy saw because she’s currently setting up Lollipop and Strawberry on the table to eat with her.
“I’ve got the good macaroni, broccoli, and fries,” Presley says.
“I don’t like broccoli,” Poppy whines.
“You have to eat a vegetable, Pop.”
“But I don’t want to.”
“You know who likes vegetables?” I interject, grabbing the plates and walking over to the table.
“Who?”
“Lollipop. Carrots are her favorite.”
“But that’s carrots,” Poppy says.
“You need to eat them if you want to ride horses. Get big and strong,” I tell her.
She sighs. A long-suffering sigh that only a kid can give you. “I guess.”
Poppy stabs a fork into a piece and eats it, a begrudging look on her face.
“At least she’s eating her veggies,” Presley whispers. “She usually gives me more grief.”
I smile at her. “Guess she likes me more.”
“You’re a likable guy.”
I wish I could pull her into my arms and kiss her. But straying eyes from the table might spot us, and I don’t want to have to explain to Poppy what our relationship is.
I know Presley isn’t ready for that either. But that’s okay. Because I’m content with what we have right now.
“Do you want broccoli with your macaroni?” Presley asks, pressing my plate into my hands. “You get the choice.”
“There’s no strawberries in it,” Poppy’s voice chimes in.
“Thanks for looking out for me.”
I grab both plates and head into the dining room and take a seat next to my daughter. Presley sits on the other side of her.
“Macaroni is my favorite food. I wish we didn’t have to eat broccoli.”
“Let me guess what you like more.” I tap my finger to my chin, chewing my own bite. “Pizza and fish sticks?”
She nods her head. “And milkshakes.”
“Milkshakes are good,” I confirm.
“What’s your favorite food?” Poppy asks. “Mom’s is some yucky burger.”
“Yucky burger? It’s good,” Presley defends.
“What burger is yucky?” I ask, taking another bite of mac and cheese.
“She said it was spicy.”
“Spicy, huh?” I cock a brow across the table. “Would that happen to be what Rex made?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A knowing look is on her face. It’s definitely the burgers Rex made us.
“Huh. I guess you’ll have to make me some.”
“Or maybe you can bring them for me…” she trails off.
I rest my elbows on the table and lean closer. “Does that mean another dinner?”
Presley leans closer. “I guess it does.”
“Do I have to eat yucky burgers for dinner?” Poppy asks.
I smile at her. “Only if you want to try them.”
She cringes. “I don’t like spicy things.”
“You’ll learn to like them,” I say.
She stuffs the last of her fries in her mouth. “I don’t fink so.”
“Poppy.” Presley scolds. “What have I told you about talking with your mouth full?”
She swallows. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Now, finish your broccoli and then you can play before we watch a movie.”
“We get to do fun stuff with Kade here.”
“I like being here,” I say.
And I do. I like getting to spend time with these two. Eating dinner and discussing favorite foods? It’s the most mundane of things, but it’s something I’ve been missing.
Life in Seattle was rote. Boring, even.
I would wake up, go to the same coffee shop, head to the office and make a deal, then spend too much time there and not enough time at home. Work was my life.
Pinecrest? There’s a balance. Sure, I have a hell of a lot of work to do at the ranch, but I have help. People I can trust over there so I can take some time to be with Presley. Time to try and recapture that magic we once had.
“I’m done. Can we watch a movie now?”
Looking at Poppy, I chuckle when I see there’s two stray pieces of broccoli sitting in front of her stuffed animals.
“Poppy. You can’t give your veggies to your animals to eat,” Presley scolds her.
“That’s their dinner.”
I reach across her and fork both of them and eat them. “She’s done.”
Poppy giggles and Presley rolls her eyes. “You’re not helping, Kade.”
“Thanks,” Poppy whispers, giving me a hug before grabbing her toys and running into the living room.
“She likes me, so what can I say?”
“You’re cleaning up then,” Presley says.
I smile at her. “That I can do.”
Presley goes to help her get her movie turned on while I clean up the kitchen.
I love getting to watch the two of them together.
I hope at some point Poppy and I have a relationship like they do.
I think we’re on the right track so far, but she doesn’t know who I really am.
I don’t know when Presley will want to tell her, but at least we have this time together.
“Kade, can you sit by me?” Poppy asks, head popping up over the back of the couch.
Squirting the soap into the sink to let the dishes soak, I rinse off my hands and walk over to join them.
“You got it.”
She snuggles into my side, putting Lollipop in my lap before her eyes go wide on her goose.
“Wait.” Poppy pulls Strawberry back. “Can you hold her?”
“Why couldn’t I?”
“Because the milkshake made your face bumpy.”
“Strawberry is a goose, so I’m okay.” I smile at her.
“Are you sure?”
I nod, grabbing Strawberry to give her a kiss. “See? I’m okay.”
I don’t think she believes me, so she takes her back. “I’ll keep her.”
Presley plays the movie and snuggles in with us. Poppy curls into my side with her legs kicked out over Presley. It’s a visceral need I have—to keep this.
I don’t know how I am going to make this happen, but I need to. I’ve never needed anything more in my life than these two right here.
It’s a thought that carries me through the entire movie, with Poppy laughing and singing along. It’s the best sound in the world.
I don’t want to lose this. But I don’t know how I’m going to keep it.