Chapter 10
Lincoln
Standing in the parking lot, I felt like I was jumping out of my skin. Since Lou had come bounding into my life, things had started to feel different. Then, after meeting Sophie and seeing the two of them together, something inside me had clicked into place, begging me to claim them as my own.
Sophie was beautiful, there was no arguing that, but that wasn’t what had caught my attention. There was something refreshingly honest about her. She wasn’t prettying things up for appearances. Everything you got from her was real, unvarnished.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her at the cookout. Her movements were effortless, but it was clear how much she prioritized her daughter before herself. The more we chatted, the more I learned about her. I was starting to think she was happy to put anyone but herself first.
She was honest about her life, about her dating concerns, and it was refreshing as hell.
If she wasn’t telling you something straight up, it was written all over her face and in her body language.
The way her pupils dilated when her breath caught when she looked at me a bit too long was fucking thrilling.
I wanted to watch every expression as it flitted over her face, to memorize every sign and sound of her pleasure.
I knew she felt it, too, at least physically.
I remembered the moment in the car park, holding Sophie in my arms. She’d fit perfectly, almost like the space had been made for her.
I knew how I felt. The hard part was proving that I was worth risking more than that.
When she invited me to meet her and Lou at the fair, I jumped at the opportunity.
I knew most people would think it was too soon to involve her daughter, but I was thrilled to spend more time with her.
Lou wasn’t a secret to hide, something to deal with later.
I knew we had to be careful of her feelings, to keep certain boundaries in place.
Whether Sophie and I ever became a couple, I wanted to be there for Lou in whatever capacity her mother allowed.
Especially since it sounded like her relationship with her father wasn’t…
conventional. I was trying hard not to pass judgment on people I had never met, but it was hard. Really fucking hard.
Before my anger could carry me away, Sophie’s silver minivan pulled into the lot. We had agreed to meet at the fair since I didn’t have a car seat for Lou. I had taken a look online, and the amount of options and the cost of basic necessities for children blew me away.
Imagining Sophie taking care of all of it alone ate at me.
Who helped her pick out her car? The booster seat, the stroller?
Who does she have to lean on? Those questions and more were lining up in my mind, waiting for the chance to come out.
I felt obsessed, feral with the need to know everything about them, to figure out where and how I could help.
Walking around the back of the car, I made my way over to the driver’s side, eager to help Sophie out.
Grabbing the door handle before she could get to it, I swung it open, only to find myself faced with an older gentleman.
His hair was completely gray, and even dressed in a simple shirt and khakis, he reeked of money.
“LINC!” Lou yelled from the back seat when she saw me standing at the door. I took a step back as the older man exited the vehicle, a wry expression on his face.
“Hey there, Lou. You ready for this?” I asked, enjoying the look of pure excitement on her face.
“Can we play games? And get cotton candy? Will you take me on rides? Pops, too!” she rattled out, barely breathing between words.
Lou had already gotten loose from the booster seat and was impatiently waiting for Sophie to help her get out of the car as the older man and I made our way around to their side.
“Pops, I assume?” I asked, a foreign feeling sitting in my gut. Am I nervous?
“That would be me. Linc the Giant, I’ve heard a lot about you. I hope you don’t mind me tagging along.”
“Not at all. Both Sophie and Lou talk about you all the time. Wouldn’t want you to miss out on the fun.
Plus, something tells me I’m gonna need some help with a sugar-crazed Lou by the end of the night.
” He paused before barking out a laugh. With a pat on my back, he continued heading over to the girls.
“You’re gonna need all the help you can get. Name’s Walter, but you can call me Walt. You’re too old to be calling me Pops. Gotta keep the illusion of youth, eh?” he joked, and I instantly relaxed.
He was concerned. I could tell Walt was curious about me, and he wanted to scope me out. There were two ways to feel about it: paranoid or pleased. I chose pleased because I was beyond grateful that he supported Sophie and Lou. Protected them fiercely. They deserved nothing less.
Once Lou was free from the confines of her booster seat, she was leaping out of the car and into my arms.
“What ride do you want to go on first, Linc?” she asked excitedly, practically climbing up my chest to see further into the fair. In a quick move, I lifted her onto my shoulders, and she gave a squeal.
“Mommy! Pops! Look how high I am! I can see the pirate ship and the Ferris wheel. Mom! They have the slides! Can we do that first? Together!” Her tiny hands alternated between gripping my ears and hitting my head, but her happiness was worth any discomfort.
The three of us approached the fair, and with her assistance, I bought admission tickets for the group.
Once inside the fairgrounds, Lou was ready to let loose.
She giggled when I flipped her off my shoulders, making sure she was steady on her feet before letting go.
Pops stepped forward, a conspiratory look on his face.
“Okay, I’ve taken in the lay of the land, and I think I’ve come up with a plan. I say we head to the back of the park and start with some rides. The slides, the carousel, and the swings are all back there. Once you’re done with those, we can see about getting some snacks.”
“Can we get corn dogs?” Lou asked, her eyes growing big as saucers.
“Of course,” Pops said, affronted at her surprise.
“YAY!” Lou yelled before darting off. I stepped forward, panicked that we were going to lose sight of her in the crowds of people.
Before I could get too worried, she stopped short before running back to us.
Coming to a stop between Walt and me, Lou grabbed each of our hands and attempted to drag us forward.
Dramatically grunting as she tried to pull us, we both gave in and followed her, Sophie walking a step behind with a bemused expression.
The fair was alive with lights, loud music, and the smell of fried foods.
Brightly colored toys dangled from games, and kids were carrying everything from foam swords to live goldfish.
Ice cream and cotton candy stands dotted the entire park by the dozen, and my stomach hurt just thinking about all that food.
“Okay! Let’s go to the slides first. Me and Mommy, while Linc and Pops watch. ’Kay?” Lou asked, hopping from one foot to the other.
“Sounds good to me,” I said as Pops nodded along.
“Look for us! See how fast we go!” Lou yelled excitedly as she pulled Sophie up the metal stairs that led to the top of the slopes.
“So you’re a firefighter?” Walt asked, checking me out from the corner of his eye.
“Yes, sir,” I replied. I had nothing to hide. If questioning me gave him peace of mind, I was happy to oblige.
“You ever been married?” he asked, turning to face me while still keeping an eye on Sophie and Lou waiting in line.
“Once. Right out of high school. It didn’t last long. Been divorced for over ten years now. No kids,” I added, preemptively guessing what questions he might have.
“Ever dated anyone with kids?” he followed up, unfettered.
“No. Can’t say that I have.” Once again, I answered honestly.
“You know about my grandson?” he followed up, and I paused.
“Not all the details. From a few things Lou mentioned, I know that he’s remarried to someone named Nat. That’s about it.” A scowl formed on Walt’s face at the mention of the woman’s name.
“Watch out for that one. She’s a box of rocks that can trick you out of your family jewels. She knows exactly how to manipulate people to get what she wants.” I nodded, a broader picture of the situation developing in front of my eyes.
“What else do you know? Or do you have any questions for me while little ears are out of range?” he asked, and I hesitated.
I definitely had questions, plenty of them, but something told me that Sophie had enough of other people talking about her.
Anything I needed to know, she could tell me directly.
“As much as I appreciate the offer, I think it’s best if I wait until Sophie feels comfortable enough to share her story with me.
From the bits and pieces I’ve managed to put together, it doesn’t sound like an easy situation.
When she is ready, I’ll be there to listen.
Right now, I care more about learning about her and Lou than her ex. No offense.”
I met his eyes head-on, and there was something in his gaze.
“Good on you. I think I know the answer to this already, but I’m too old to waste time or beat around the bush. What are your intentions with my girls? I know you just met me, and all, but those girls have been tossed around enough for their lifetimes. They deserve something solid.”
“I want to be there for them. I want to get to know them. I want to see if we can build something. But all of that is going to be on their terms. Time and patience, I have. This is all new to me, but I’m not one to fight my gut.
” A familiar cheer had us turning just in time to see Sophie sitting down on a burlap sack, Lou in front of her.
Walt got his phone out and started taking pictures as the two girls sped down the slide, nearly flying off as they hit the bumps until sliding into the grass in a giggling ball of arms and legs.