Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
GAbrIEL
On the drive to my ex’s house, memories of Samantha as a toddler flooded in. Her little feet pounding toward me when I walked through the door after work. Her hand tucked into mine wherever we went. Her serious face as she asked me to check for monsters under her bed.
It seemed overnight those days had disappeared, and suddenly she was a young woman. Taking a deep breath and hoping I didn’t completely screw this up, I went up to the door.
Samantha greeted me there with her overnight bag and backpack. “Hi.”
“Hi. Ready?”
“Yeah. Let me set the house alarm. Hold on.”
Anger flared all over again. My ex had left Samantha alone for the night, even though there were plenty of other options.
But I refused to make this about my ex, or me, or anything other than my daughter.
We didn’t speak again until she was buckled in the car.
“Here.” I handed over the small silver key I’d had made, silently kicking myself for not having done so sooner.
“This is a key to the condo. You can come over whenever you want. I’ll get that rideshare set up for minors, too, so if you ever want to come over, for any reason, you always have the option. ”
Her eyes widened. “But what if it’s not your night?”
“Samantha, I’ll take any night I can get with you, any time. This isn’t about stirring things up with your mom. It’s about you knowing you always have somewhere to go. My home will always be your home.”
She turned the key over in her hand, thoughtful. “But…what if you have company?”
I smiled faintly. “The only company I’d ever have would be the kind happy to see you.” My mind drifted to Charlotte, and I cleared my throat. It wouldn’t do for Samantha to walk in on anything. “But dropping me a text first wouldn’t hurt.”
She giggled, but the sound cut short when her phone dinged. “Mom saw me on the Ring camera leaving.”
“You need to text her and let her know you’re with me, so she doesn’t worry.”
Her fingers flew across the screen before she sighed. “She’s pissed. Says it’s not your night. Wants you to call her.”
Of course she did. “I’ll handle it later.”
“Are you going to fight with her?”
In the past? Absolutely. But I’d grown weary of handing Tanya power by overreacting. “No. But I’ll be honest, I don’t like you staying overnight alone. Not because I don’t trust you, but because you shouldn’t have to. You have too many people who love you to ever have to be alone.”
She picked at the seam of her sweatshirt. “In Mom’s defense, she and Rick are having problems, and they needed a night away. The kids are with his parents, but I didn’t want to be a third wheel at their house ’cause I barely know them.”
Her voice was matter of fact, but my blood boiled.
A thirteen-year-old shouldn’t be privy to the details of her mother’s marriage.
But the zen gods were with me tonight. “I don’t blame you, but next time please, please call me.
You’re getting to the age where you should have some agency in these decisions. ”
“Yeah. I think that’s why Mom is hanging on tighter these days.”
We were quiet for another few minutes, before she asked, “Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t bring up…you know. The thing we’re both not talking about to Mom as the reason I called. Or that I called Charlotte about it. Mom will get weird about it all.”
“Of course. I’ll simply say I realized you were home alone and insisted on picking you up. That work?”
She nodded, relief softening her face. “Yeah. Thanks.”
We rode the rest of the way in silence. Once parked in the garage, I slung her duffle over my shoulder and led her up the elevator and into the condo.
“Charlotte should be here shortly with dinner and, uh stuff. Let me make a quick phone call to your mom, and I’ll be right back.”
Tanya answered on the first ring and launched straight into her tirade. It’s not your night. Custody agreement. Boundaries. I didn’t rise to it. Years of falling into her traps had taught me better. Tonight, I was done giving her my temper.
When she finally stopped, I replied calmly, “I’m not arguing. Samantha’s here for the night. If you want to take it to court, fine. We’ll go there. Send me a text when you return, and I’ll drop her off back home. Good night.” And I hung up.
By the time I returned to the kitchen, Samantha was letting Charlotte in, dinner box in her hands with a small plastic bag balanced on top. My chest loosened at the sight of them together.
They spent some time together in the bedroom, and bathroom while I reheated dinner. I puttered around my living room until they came out.
Dinner was warm and simple, conversation flowing over light topics. When it ended, Charlotte hugged Samantha goodbye, her smile genuine. “You’ve got my number if you need anything, okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks for everything.”
I walked Charlotte to the door, reluctant to let her go. “I don’t know how to thank you for everything tonight.”
Her eyes softened. “You’re welcome. And thanks for dinner.”
I kissed her, brief but certain, and was floored when she kissed me back without hesitation. Progress? Maybe. “Good night, Charlotte.”
“Good night.”
I watched her disappear toward the elevator, my chest heavy with something I couldn’t deny anymore. I wasn’t falling for her. I’d already fallen.
Inside, Samantha was sprawled on the sofa. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I answered honestly, sitting down beside her. “I do.”
“I like her, too. Did I interrupt a date?”
I chuckled. “First, you’re never an interruption. Second, no. We were just spending time together.”
She studied me, wise beyond her years. “But you want to date her?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “But getting to know each other first is pretty nice, too.”
Silence settled as I queued up a movie. But her next question knocked the air out of me.
“Did you ever love Mom?”
I froze, thumb hovering over the remote. Her expression was so earnest, so searching, I couldn’t lie. “I cared for her. A lot. But no, I didn’t love her the way a husband should love his wife.”
“Because she got pregnant and had me, and you had to marry her?”
“Because the circumstances were different.”
“Mom said you didn’t want me. That you discussed abortion.”
Her words hit hard, hollowing me out. I forced a steady breath.
“When your mom found out she was pregnant, we sat down and walked through every option. Not because I didn’t want you, but because I was scared.
We’d only been together a few weeks, and I didn’t know what kind of father I’d be.
But once the dust settled, the only thing that felt certain was how much I wanted you.
That’s why I married your mom. I wanted a family and to be in your life as much as possible. ”
Her lip trembled. “Really?”
I reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. “Really. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. The proudest thing I’ve ever done with my life, and I’m thankful every single day I get to be your dad.”
Tears pricked her eyes, and she whispered, “I want to spend more time here. Not only weekends. Maybe some school nights, too.”
Emotion swelled in my throat. “I’d love nothing more.”