7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Jamison
“O kay, Daddy, how’s this?”
I took the rolled-up socks from Darcie and inspected her sock-folding ability. For a five-year-old, it wasn’t bad. It would do for the sock drawer. “It’s perfect, princess. Thank you.”
I tossed them in the growing pile of socks. When was the last time I did laundry? It didn’t matter. We were finally finished. I filled her basket with clothes, and she followed me into her room where she excitedly put the clothes in the dresser while I hung up what she couldn’t reach in her closet.
“Daddy, Madeline is really nice. Me, her, and Lena, are already best friends. I hope she goes to gymnastics; then we will be even better friends and be able to do everything together.”
I laughed at her excitement. She had been like this ever since we got home. I think I knew every little detail of their entire night, morning, and swimming session. I doubt she left any bit out. “I’m glad you girls got along so well. It’s always good to make friends, and with Madeline being new, she’ll need you and Lena to introduce her around.”
“Yep. And we will.” She closed her drawer. “Can we go now? I need to see Aunt Darlene and Aunt Kora. We have things to discuss.”
My eyes went wide. “What do you have to discuss?” I closed her closet and looked at my little girl. Sometimes, I forget she just turned five. The things that came out of her mouth made me a little fearful of what she would be like when she became a teenager.
“Girl stuff, Dad.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on. We gotta go.” She pulled my hand and led me from her room. I barely had time to grab my keys before she pulled me into the garage and climbed into the car.
“Alright, princess. You buckled in?” I glanced in the rearview mirror, saw she was, and backed out. She stared out the window and was quieter than she had been all morning. “What’s got you thinking?”
A soft sigh came from her.
What did my daughter have to sigh about? “Darcie?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just sad for Madeline. I asked her if she missed her Daddy, and she said she didn’t know. He wasn’t ever around much, anyway. Then she said her mom never seemed happy until today. It makes me sad thinking what it would be like if you were never around.”
Wow. Those words were like a punch to the gut. “Well, thankfully, you won’t have to worry about that at all, princess. I’m not going anywhere, and there’s no one I’d rather be with than you.”
“I feel the same way, Daddy. But maybe we can help Lilly be happy.”
Help her be happy? “What do you mean?” I had no idea where my dear, sweet baby girl was going with this. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t totally interested.
“Well, Daddy. Sometimes I see you’re sad and miss Mommy. And Lilly is sad because she’s lonely. Maybe you two can spend time together and help each other not be sad; then I can spend lots of time with Maddy.”
“Umm.” What the hell do I say to that?
I concentrated on the road. Lilly hadn’t been far from my mind ever since we hugged when she entered Kaye’s. Her smile still lit up the room, even when it was slightly shrouded, like it had been Friday when she got in. And then her body. It felt perfect in my arms. Get your head back to the present and out of your pants. Neither of you are looking for anything. “I’ll see what I can do.” That’s all I was willing to promise, for now at least.
“Good. I’m glad.”
Her voice was its typical chipper tone once again, and she smiled and hummed to herself as she looked out the window. That was more like her. Again, it amazed me how she could jump from one feeling to the next so quickly. I wish it were that easy for me.
Lilly’s face floated in my mind, and thankfully we pulled in front of Bryson and Darlene’s, and I could ignore whatever the hell was going on inside my mind.
“It’s so good to see Lilly and Maddy. Kaye and Charles are so excited to have them home,” Mom said. “I know Kaye was going all out for dinner tonight. It’s been ages since she’s cooked for Lilly, and she’s never had that little angel at her table.” She lifted her coffee and took a sip. “I couldn’t imagine.” She tsk tsked and shook her head.
We had just finished dinner, and James and Darcie were headed to James’s room to play.
My mom wasn’t wrong. It had been ages since Lilly had been home, and her family was treating it like a holiday. “I know Lance is glad she’s home,” I said as my stomach curled again at the thought of what kind of husband she’d had. How could a man treat a woman with such disrespect?
“Seems like the kids are glad she’s here. The two of them couldn’t stop talking about Madeline during dinner,” Bryson added.
I chuckled. “Darcie and Lena talked Lilly into letting Maddy try out for gymnastics tomorrow night. You should have seen them cheer.”
“Better yet, hear them,” said Mom. “The squeal they let out was so high pitched, I’m sure all the dogs in the neighborhood started howling.”
“It seems like you might be spending some extra time with Lilly then.” Kora sipped her coffee and peered at me over her cup.
“Why would I?” I met her gaze.
She shrugged. “The girls are friends. I just figured.”
“It’s possible.” I took another brownie from the plate on the table to keep myself from looking more interested than I needed to be. And I can’t lie—I did seem to be a little interested. Which might be a problem.
Kora said, “Well, it seems like Lilly will be cleaning not only the hair salon but also your house.”
I stopped mid-chew. “How the hell did you hear about that ? ” I turned my gaze toward my mother, who shrugged and looked like a cat who ate the canary. I shook my head. Could she ever keep anything to herself?
“Interesting,” Bryson said with a Cheshire grin on his ugly mug. “Wonder what Lance would say about his best friend spending so much time with his little sister.”
“They did look comfortable on the dance floor last night,” Kai said.
Kora smacked his arm. At least I had the women on my side.
I shot him a glare. “Seriously, Kai. Aren’t you still getting used to being a part of this family? It seems you might be getting a little too comfortable.”
“Oh, son. Settle down.” My mom placed her hand on my arm. “There would be nothing wrong with you and Lilly being interested in each other. You’re both single.”
“She’s barely divorced. It hasn’t even been a year,” I said. I needed to stop this conversation before it got out of hand. “And I’ve known her forever. She’s basically like my little sister.”
“Yeah, but she’s not.” Bryson waggled his brows.
“You’re a dick,” I told him.
He laughed deeply. “And you’re getting a little defensive, big brother. Wonder why?”
I stuck my middle finger up at him.
“Jamison Carl.” My mother scolded me.
“Mom, sorry, but he’s being a . . . not a nice person.”
Snickers came from around the table. I rolled my eyes and looked at my phone. Thank God. It was eight o’clock. A good time to get my daughter home and get her ready for bed. I stood. “Gotta go. Darcie has Mother’s Day Out in the morning, and I have to work.”