Chapter 20
Dax
M y eyes go as wide as Kandace’s as we both turn to Molly who is looking up at me. Her usual smile is replaced with her lips agape.
“I’m sorry,” Judy says. “We thought…” She reaches for Amber. “Come on, honey. We need to go home.”
Cory tilts his head. “Man. Sorry.”
For a moment, the three of us are left speechless until Kandace bends down and reaches for Molly’s shoulders. “Amber is right; Dax is your father, Molly. We were going to tell you after you got to know him.”
Molly looks from Kandace to me and back to her mom as her eyebrows pinch close together. “Dad? My dad?”
Kandace nods. “Yes, he is.”
“You said he was gone.”
Kandace takes a deep breath. “He was, honey. Now he came back.”
It’s my turn to get down on my haunches. “Molly, if it’s okay with you and your mom, I would really like to get to know you better.”
Her little nose scrunches. “Are you going to live with us?”
I shake my head. “Not right now. First, can we be friends?”
She looks at Kandace. “You like Dax?”
Kandace nods. “I do. I have since before you were born.”
Molly turns back to me. “Okay. We can be friends.”
It isn’t until that moment that I remember to breathe. My gaze goes to Kandace as we both stand, and she takes Molly’s hand. “I think that went well.”
Kandace shrugs.
I’m walking with them up to Kandace’s car when Molly looks up at me and with a smile reaches for my hand. As the sun lowers in the sky, our shadows stretch out over the parking lot. Like paper dolls, we’re all connected, and I’ve never felt more whole in my entire life.
After Kandace has Molly buckled into her car seat, I lean in and say, “See you later, Molly. Thanks for being my friend.”
“Will you be at Joyce’s tomorrow for my breakfast?”
“If you want me to be.”
She nods.
“I’ll be there.”
Once Kandace closes the door, I fight the need to hold her, to pull her against me. Yes, I’m capable of big business deals and even baling hay, but staring into her blue gaze, I’m scared to death to ruin what has been one of the best evenings of my life.
“You like me?” I ask with a grin.
“I do.”
“I like you too.”
Her breathing deepens as her breasts push against the bodice of her dress.
‘Don’t fuck this up, Richards,’ I tell myself.
Instead of acting on what I want, I stuff my hands in the pockets of my shorts and say, “I’ll see you at Quintessential Treasures tomorrow.”
Kandace nods.
Her lips are pink and perfect for kissing. I’m thinking about the text I sent, and I wonder if she is too. For a long moment we stare at one another. Finally, she grins and backs away. “See you tomorrow, Dax.”
I open her door and watch as she buckles her seat belt. Her legs are tan and shapely. My gaze moves up to her trim waist and round breasts. When my gaze meets hers, she grins as if she’s caught me checking her out. Without a word, she starts the SUV.
“Tomorrow,” I say as I close the door.
Standing in the parking lot, I watch as the two of them drive away, and I know in my heart and soul that I don’t want to be a weekend dad. I want the entire package. I lift my face to the sky. “Thank you, Grandma.”
I’m floating on air as I get back in my car. My phone pings, and the screen on the dashboard tells me I have a text message from my assistant, Gena. I hit the button allowing the car to read it to me.
“Mr. Miller wants the brief for the Swanson case, yesterday.”
Shit.
My mind has not been on work, not since I turned off my computer Friday late afternoon. Doing the math, I know I have at least three hours of work to put into it. So much for floating on air. I guess it’s a good thing Molly needs to be in bed early.
I reply.
“I’ll have it to you by morning.”
Sitting at my computer in Grandpa’s office, I look around at the empty shelves and imagine them filled with books and the house filled with laughter. My vision isn’t complete without Kandace.
I tell myself I’m moving too fast, but am I?
We have a daughter.
The next morning, the brief is done and sent to Gena. Leaving my car in the garage, I walk toward Quintessential Treasures. As I approach, I see the pulled shades and closed sign. It isn’t until I knock on the door that I hear someone from within.
Kandace’s smile warms me from the inside as she unlocks the door.
“I suppose you should have a key,” she says as she lets me inside.
Her hair is piled on her head, and she’s absolutely gorgeous in a light blue Quintessential Treasures t-shirt and blue jeans.
“I need a shirt,” I say as she locks the door.
“For two days? I think what you’re wearing is fine.”
“Where is Molly?” I ask, looking around.
“Next door.”
“Do you want to join us for breakfast?”
“Nah, I have things to do here. She’s expecting you.”
“Thank you,” I say as I stare at Kandace.
“You better hurry.”
I do, going out the front door and heading to the diner.
Molly is sitting on the same stool as she was on Friday morning.
Her hair is in pigtails, and she has a stack of pancakes in front of her.
The stool to her side is empty. As I walk toward her, I notice a few familiar faces.
The round table in the back is still empty.
“Is this seat taken?” I ask.
Molly’s golden eyes turn and look up at me as she grins. “I saved it for you.”
Joyce comes to the counter from the kitchen with a smile on her face. “Coffee?”
“Yes, and I think I’d love some pancakes.”
“You like pancakes?” Molly asks, bouncing on the stool.
“I do. I also like blueberry ice cream.”
“Me too,” she replies with glee. “Grandmom used to make it. I miss her.”
“Did you know that she was my grandma, too?”
“She was?”
I nod as Joyce brings me my coffee.
“She was really nice,” Molly says. “Mommy cried when Grandmom went to heaven.”
“I think,” Joyce says, “your grandmom is smiling right now.” She gives me a wink.
As we both eat our pancakes, Molly tells me about her teacher, Mrs. Pollard, and gives me the first names of most of her classmates. Finally, Joyce comes out with a lunch sack.
“It’s time to get you to your mom,” she says. “You have school.”
Molly nods. Before she gets down, she turns to me. “Mommy said she likes you.”
I smile. “I heard her.”
“Do you like her?”
My heart beats in double time. “I do, very much.”
“Why didn’t you come here sooner? If you like someone, you want to be with them.”
“That’s a great question, Molly. I should have been here. I hope you and your mommy will let me make that up to you.”
“Okay,” she says matter-of-factly. “I’m glad you’re mommy’s and my friend.”
I look at Joyce. “I can take her back to Kandace, if that’s okay.”
“Molly, is it okay with you if Dax takes you to your mom?”
Molly grins and nods. “Yep.”
When I stand, I pull a twenty from my wallet and lay it on the counter. “Thanks for a great breakfast.”
“I think it was the company,” Joyce says with a grin.
Before we’re out of the restaurant, Molly reaches for my hand as she did at the Tastee Freeze. Immediately, I can tell it’s sticky with syrup and simultaneously, I don’t care. As the bell above the door jingles, Justin Sheers walks in.
“Uncle Justin,” Molly says, letting go of my hand and running up to him.
He crouches down and lifting her, gives her a hug.
As he sets her down, he looks at me. “Richards.”
“His name isn’t Richards. It’s Dax,” Molly corrects. She reaches again for my hand and adds, “And he’s my dad.”
I swear on all things holy, my heart melts right there in the middle of the diner.
Sheers smiles at Molly. “And I’m your uncle. Don’t you need to get to school?”
“Yep.” Molly tugs my hand, and we make our way down Main Street to Quintessential Treasures. “Joyce usually uses the back door. This front one is locked until the store opens.”
I knock on the door again.
“Do you like this store?” I ask as we wait.
“Yes.” She looks up at me. “Mommy is going to make a house upstairs for me and her. I’ll have a playroom and a bedroom.”
The door opens and Kandace grins at both of us. “I smell syrup.”
“Yes, there was a lot of syrup,” I say.
She ushers us both inside and relocks the door. “Well, Miss Molly, let’s get your hands washed and teeth brushed.” Kandace looks at the bag in my hand. “Did Joyce send lunch?”
“It’s better than the school’s,” Molly says. “Their pizza is gross. And the apples have worms.”
“They do not have worms,” Kandace says.
“That’s what Tim said. And I tasted the pizza. It is gross.”
“It’s hard to argue with that,” Kandace says as she takes Molly to the back of the store.
This is the first time I’ve been in the storefront in years. Walking around the room, I notice the products. Not only the items themselves, but the way they’re displayed. It is new and inventive while still having the retro feel of nostalgia.
“Dax,” Kandace says from the doorway. “The store doesn’t open until nine. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Help?” Her blue eyes shimmer. “I thought you were working.” She lifts her chin to the back room. “The totes and boxes you brought over are in the way. And I won’t need that merchandise for a few months. For now, I can store them upstairs. Do you know anyone who could carry them for me?”
“You’re really going to make me work?” I joke.
“Damn right. I recently found out my offer on this store has been accepted. My to-do list is a mile long.”
Molly tugs on Kandace’s hand. “You said a bad word.”
“Oops. You’re right.”
With a sexy grin, Kandace turns, giving me the pleasure of watching her round ass in her blue jeans do a little sway.
The back door closes and I go to the bathroom to wash the syrup from my hands.
Above the sink is an old medicine cabinet.
Opening it, I see two toothbrushes and other personal items.
How many hours a day does Kandace spend here, I wonder.
Back to the piles of tubs and boxes, I lift the first tub. It’s been years, but I remember where the door is to the upstairs. Opening the door and turning on the light, I look at the dust-covered staircase and begin my ascent. Once at the top, I set the tub down and take in the space.
Kandace wants to make this a home?