Chapter 19
Kandace
“ Y ou’re both beautiful,” Dad says as Molly and I come down the stairs.
I’m wearing a sundress with a light sweater and sandals, and Molly is wearing pink shorts, a pink and white striped top with a big flower over her tummy, and a white bow in her hair. My lips are pink, and I’m wearing mascara.
“Is it too much?” I ask as Mom walks in the room.
“It’s perfect.”
My stomach is in knots as I fasten Molly into her car seat. Before I back away and shut the door, Molly reaches up to my cheek. “If you don’t like your old friend, we can eat ice cream at home.”
Tears threaten as I stare into her gold eyes. “I do like him.”
“Then why aren’t you smiling?”
Leaning closer, I kiss her forehead and smile. “You’re right, sweetie. I should smile.”
“Miss Pollard says our smiles tell other people we’re happy.”
Miss Pollard is Molly’s teacher. She was also my teacher long ago. That’s the way it works here.
“I’m happy because I’m with you.”
When I get in the front seat, my daughter continues talking a mile a minute. It’s hard to think of her as anything other than a child, yet each day she shows me how intuitive she is and how eager she is to learn.
“Dax is a funny name,” she says.
I look at her in the rearview mirror. “His real name is Daxton.”
“Like Abby. Her name is Abigale, but we all call her Abby.”
“Yeah, like that.”
“And sometimes people call you Kandi, but your name is Kandace.” She looks out the window and back to the mirror. “How come I don’t have two names?”
“Because Molly is the most perfect name. There’s no need to shorten it.”
She nods. “Yep. Where’s he been?”
“Who?”
“Dax. I only saw him at Joyce’s. If you know him, where has he been?”
Her question twists my heart. “He lives in Chicago.”
“With the dinosaurs?” she asks excitedly.
I grin. “Not with the dinosaurs in the museum, but yes, in that city.”
“Can we visit him and go to the museum and the big lake?”
“I don’t know about that.”
“But I liked the big lake.”
“It’s Lake Michigan.”
“Is Chicago in Michigan?”
I shake my head and giggle. “Chicago is in Illinois.”
“Then why is the lake called Michigan?”
Just when I think I’ve answered every question thrown my way, we pull up to the parking lot near the Tastee Freeze. I half expect to find Chloe and Mick sitting at one of the picnic tables. There are quite a few people but no sign of them. The clock on the dash tells me we’re a few minutes early.
Before I can get out of the SUV, there’s a knock on my side window.
Turning, I see my old friend.
“Look, Mommy, it’s Dax.”
My cheeks rise as my smile broadens. “It is.”
I unlock the doors, and Dax opens my door. “Hi.”
It’s not fair what he does to me. My heart is racing, and my skin feels clammy.
Standing here, Daxton Richards is sex on a stick.
His cheeks are red from the sun, and his blond hair is damp and combed back.
His smile glistens and letting my gaze sweep lower, I notice how the Dri-FIT shirt stretches over his shoulders and wide chest. He’s wearing khaki shorts and cloth loafers.
“Hi,” I say back.
“I was afraid you would change your mind.”
“I did about a hundred times.”
His smile grows as his golden orbs stay focused on me. “Then I’m glad you didn’t do it one more time.”
He offers me his hand, and I get out of the SUV. He steps back as I open Molly’s door.
As I unbuckle her, I say, “Molly, this is Dax, Mommy’s old friend.”
“Hi, Dax,” she says excitedly. “You don’t look old. Not like Grandmom did.”
Dax and I both laugh.
Once she’s out of the car, Dax bends his long legs and gets down on his haunches. “Hello, Molly. I’m very glad to formally meet you.”
I bite my lip to keep my tears at bay as I watch the two of them looking at each other with the same color eyes. My heart leaps; my chest feels tight. I’d never dared to dream that this would happen and now here it is, more than I ever imagined.
Molly offers Dax her hand.
He glances up at me.
All I can do is nod.
Taking her hand, he shakes it.
“Hi, Dax,” she says.
“How about some ice cream?” I say as I take Molly’s hand.
The whole evening feels surreal as if I’m in a dream.
The Tastee Freeze is located next to a small stream. The ground in between is covered in white pebbles with several picnic tables and benches. There are lights strung over our heads for after dark.
I reach for my purse after I order for myself and Molly, but Dax won’t have it. He adds a blueberry shake to the order and insists on paying.
The three of us sit on a bench facing the stream as Dax asks Molly questions and she tells him everything and more. At some point, he lifts his arm over the back of the bench, and it stretches from him over Molly to me.
My thoughts are filled with Hallmark stories despite telling myself to not have hope. It’s exactly what I do have.
Next door is a small playground near our library.
After our ice cream is done, Dax and I walk Molly to the playground and find another bench where we can watch her. She runs off with a smile as she sees Amber, a friend from school.
“You’ve done an amazing job,” Dax says. “She’s perfect.”
I shake my head. “I think she is, but she isn’t perfect.” I smile at him. “She’s amazing. Each day I feel like she’s growing and comprehending so much more.”
He scoots closer and lifts my hand. “I’m sorry you had to take care of her alone.”
I contemplate retrieving my hand, but I don’t. “I haven’t done it alone. My parents are wonderful. Ruth was fantastic. Chloe and Mick are great.” I grin. “And so is Justin.”
Dax releases my hand and rubs his jaw. “Yeah, so your brother punched me this morning.”
My eyes grow wide, and my fingertips go to my lips. “He didn’t.”
Dax nods with a grin. “I deserve it. If the roles were reversed, I’m not sure Mick and Ricky could have kept it to one punch.”
I reach for his chin and turn his face toward me. “Are you hurt? I’m sorry.”
His smile grows. “I’m fine. I’m glad you care.”
My gaze goes out to the playground where Molly and her friend are climbing a slide. “I’ve always cared.”
This time, it’s Dax who reaches for my chin, bringing my gaze back to his. “You’re more beautiful than I remember.”
“Yeah, well, you’re not as handsome.” I laugh. “You’re more, too.”
“Justin has made his feelings about me clear. Should I expect the same from your parents?”
I shake my head. “No. There was a time, but I’ve been completely honest with them from the beginning when I found out” —I look out at Molly— “that she was coming. They know that I never contacted you. That’s on me. They also want me to be happy.”
“I want that too. I hate that I’m the cause of you being unhappy.”
“I’m really not, Dax. Molly is…” I take a deep breath. “She is a light, and as sad as I was that you weren’t here, having her with me makes me happy.”
“Tell me when, and I can go out to the farm. Your dad deserves his chance at me too.”
I laugh. “Dad won’t punch you.”
“Speaking of parents, I called mine before coming here tonight and made an offer on Grandma Ruth’s house.”
My heart skips a beat. “You did what?”
“I meant what I said: I want to be a part of Molly’s life. I can’t expect you two to drive to Chicago every weekend.”
“You want to live here?”
“I want to be here. The living thing is still up in the air. For now, I’ll keep my apartment in Chicago.” His golden orbs shimmer. “Maybe you could visit, and we could have a grown-up weekend in the city.”
He’s doing it, making me feel the way I felt when we were younger. Turning away from him, I find Molly. She and Amber are running in circles. “Molly will be nice and tired tonight.”
Dax’s focus goes to the girls. “Is that Cory and Judy’s daughter?”
“How do you know that?”
“I met her after the softball game. The one where you disappeared. That’s how I knew your SUV. I saw Justin talking to you before you drove away.”
Exhaling, I sigh. “He was mad I was there.”
“I picked you out of the crowd right away.”
“I didn’t notice you,” I lie.
Dax grins. “I figured.” He again reaches for my hand. “May we see each other?”
“I see you, Dax.”
“Dinner?”
“You’ll be at the store, won’t you? For Ruth’s stipulation.”
He nods. “I’ll be there Monday.”
Monday.
Tomorrow.
All day.
“Okay.”
He looks out at Molly. “When can we tell her the truth?”
“Before you leave.”
That answer seems to satisfy him.
Letting go of his hand, I stand. “I really should get her home. She has school in the morning.”
Dax stands. “I feel like I’ve missed so much. What grade is she in?”
“Kindergarten.”
“What about college? Does she have a 529?”
“Let’s take this a step at a time.”
Dax expounds on the benefits of early investing as together we walk toward Molly. At the same time, Cory and Judy appear. Judy smiles at me. I know what they’re thinking, but I don’t have words.
Cory slaps Dax on the back. “Good to see you two together.”
“Baby steps,” I say.
The two girls are at our legs when Amber looks up at Dax and says, “I didn’t know you was Molly’s dad.”
My stomach sinks as Molly’s expression sobers and she stares up at Dax.