Chapter 14 Dallas #2
Rose and I watch them disappear into the kitchen. “I don’t suppose that was the assignment today?” I mutter low.
Rose winces. “It was to draw your house and your favorite thing in it. I’m sorry,” she sighs. “I thought it was fitting, given . . .”
“I know, thanks. You know I always appreciate everything you’ve done.”
She glances over my shoulder. “She’s been like this since I picked her up.”
“I’ll talk to her.” About a lot of things. My heart hurts at the thought. All that stuff Willow was saying about Ellie not really being difficult but actually trying to meet me halfway in this relationship—is about to blow up in smoke.
There were times Ellie’s acted out a little, but she’s never downright avoided my eyes, or given someone a hard time.
How do I find out what it is without being pushy or demanding? Rose always talks about gentle parenting but I didn’t exactly get the handbook on that from my parents. When I acted out, Dad yelled and Mom hauled us out for yard work.
“Dallas!”
My head snaps up. “Yeah.”
“You’ve got her tomorrow, right? I’ve got an early class in Denver. Maybe I could leave Willow my cart?”
“Cart,” I grumble, shifting my attention. “She know how to drive that thing?”
Rose smirks. “Who do you think walked me through it when I drove it out of your lot?”
I scoff, feeling a strange ease in my chest. “Shoulda guessed.” I glance over my shoulder, wondering what I’m about to walk into, and thankful she’s here to help me through it. “Other than aiding in auto theft, she trustworthy?”
I don’t know why I ask. Maybe it’s a reminder that Willow’s still a stranger. A stranger I’m counting on helping me through a tough moment with my kid.
But her response makes me glad I did.
Rose smiles softly. “Trust her more than myself most days.”
“Thanks for your help with Ellie today. See you Thursday?”
“Definitely.” She winks.
I close the door and go find out what garbage Glenda—or anyone else—has been feeding my child to make her come home sad.
Willow and Ellie are sitting beside the kitchen counter, Ellie’s legs wiggling as she watches Willow trace her scribble.
I tread carefully. “What’s going on?”
Willow’s got her tongue out, eyes fixed on the canvas. “I’m teaching Ellie to make 3-D art.” She stops and admires her work. “OK, so now you shade it in.”
Ellie pushes it back. “You do it. I’m going to ruin it,” she snaps.
“Ellie,” I call and am immediately annoyed at the tone I just took.
Her eyes widen with alarm and my heart stops a little. She recovers quickly with a shrug of her shoulders. “Hi, Dallas.”
I glance at Willow. She doesn’t seem surprised that my daughter is on a first-name basis with me. And by the look in her eyes, she’s not judging either.
I release a slow breath, crossing the room toward them. I rest my elbow on the counter. My voice tender and low. “Something wrong, sweetheart?”
She nods.
“You want to tell me about it?” I wait for it. The accusations that I never wanted her. That she wasn’t made with love. That—
“I think I did something bad today.”
What? Her?
I glance at the art—clearly an act of rebellion. And the next thing comes out easy. Naturally. Because hell, it’s all I want to do. “Maybe I can help?”
She meets my eyes for another half-second. “A lady asked me about Willow and I told her she’s my nanny.”
I glance at the woman behind her. “Why is that bad?”
“It felt bad. Like I shouldn’t have said anything. Like maybe it was just a secret between the three of us for now.”
Kid’s got my instincts.
And while I should be proud, I don’t want to raise a child who doubts everyone.
I look at Willow again, if only as the anchor I need to keep me grounded so I don’t blow a fuse. Glenda used my kid and left her feeling guilty for it. There’s only one way I can see of fixing this.
And that’s to make it OK. To make sure she knows she didn’t betray anyone.
I glance at Willow and it’s clear she’s giving me the choice here. A subtle nod to let me know she’s on board with whatever.
And that kind of support—is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
Shifting my focus to Ellie, I push a loose curl from out of her face. “You didn’t do anything wrong, cupcake.”
She looks up at me, blinking. “I didn’t?”
My insides tumble over themselves at the hope in her eyes. I release an easy breath and shake my head, taking a seat on the chair next to her.
“You know how we’re working on getting you to live here with me all the time?” I press my forehead to hers. “Because I’m your dad and you’re my favorite girl?”
She smiles and gives a small nod.
“Well, some people might think it’s not good for you to be here if it’s just you and me. Some people think you might need . . . more.”
“Like a mommy.”
“Well, yeah. But I know that you and I would do just great, right?”
This time—the nod doesn’t come. Her eyes drift to the space between us.
I swallow hard. Fucking this up already.
I look at Willow and she doesn’t miss a beat, running a hand down Ellie’s arm, grabbing her attention. “Ellie. Why did you bring your stuffed animals here from your grandpa’s house?”
“Because Grandpa can’t take care of them like I can. And I’ll miss them.”
Willow scrunches her nose. “So some people think that your daddy can’t take care of you the way—well, a nanny—or someone like a mommy—could.”
“What people? Rachel and Ms. Glenda?”
“Yes.”
Ellie’s head snaps back to me with a gasp. “I know. We can tell them that Willow’s my mommy.” She perks up and this is where I see the conversation going exactly where I didn’t want it.
Willow wraps a loose arm around her shoulders, leaning in to whisper. “We were thinking the same thing, Slippers.” She holds up a finger. “Just as long as you understand that it’s not going to be—well, it’ll only be for a short while. I might . . . eventually need to go home.”
“Why? Is your house bigger?”
She laughs. “No.”
“Is it better?”
Willow rolls her eyes dramatically. “How can it be?”
Ellie shrugs. “Then why leave?”
Willow’s brows jump around, eyes skittering like she’s close to panicking. “All I’m saying is, after we . . .” Willow winces, “finish playing house . . . I might just go back home. Do you . . . understand?”
Ellie smiles and hops off the stool, racing to the play area in the living room with a spring in her step.
Willow bites her bottom lip and I twist with doubt over the seed we just planted. “What do we do if she tells the wrong person that this is only for a short while.”
Willow huffs like that’s the easy part. “You tell them that it’s our way of easing her into this. In case it doesn’t work out—she won’t be disappointed. I lost count of the number of times my mother would tell me, ‘Daddy’s staying with us again for a while,’ in case he took off again.”
Something about this still doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t want Ellie’s heart broken. Running a hand down my face, I march out into the living room.
“Ellie, you heard what Willow said, this . . . isn’t forever. Willow will be going home.”
The girl doesn’t even blink. “No, Daddy. She said she might be going home.” She grins wide and grabs her backpack, then races up the stairs. “Be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to draw my favorite part of my house like Rose asked.”
My stomach squeezes and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Shit. Did you hear that?”
Willow grins, leaning casually against the archway. “I did. She called you Daddy.”