Chapter 6
Something isn’t sitting right with me about Mia’s situation. Actually, nothing about Mia’s situation is sitting right with me. She’s running from something, and if I took a wild guess, I bet I know what from.
I know beyond a doubt that there’s no place safer in the world than in my radius of influence. Folks around here are more afraid of me than a loaded pistol.
But having a strange woman and her child moving into my small home, exposing my daughter to unvetted individuals, has my protective instincts screaming.
Mia’s not giving off serial killer vibes, but I’ll feel better once I run her through my system, which I’ll be doing as soon as I get to work.
“Mama! Kindy-garden is ‘mazing! I have my own chair! It’s red! And a hook for my pack-pack. And I get to bring my lunchbox!” Excitement is vibrating off Everly’s tiny frame. Her hair’s grown so wild, it’s bigger than she is.
It hasn’t been that long since Harper was starting kindergarten, and a twinge of nostalgia hits me straight in the chest. My little girl’s growing up; I miss when she was this small.
“That’s amazing, baby! Are you so excited to come back on Monday?”
The sheer joy Mia has for her daughter’s happiness is both wonderful, and baffling. I can already tell she’s an incredible mother. But she’s also perfected pushing her struggles aside and not putting them on Everly’s tiny shoulders.
I know a thing or two about that—as the parent, and as the child who was crushed beneath the weight of a parent’s problems.
“How long to Monday?” Everly asks.
“Couple of days, but it’ll be here sooner than you think.” Mia smooths her daughter’s wild hair to no avail.
“Alright dearies, you’re all set to go! I’ll keep an eye out for those documents in the next few weeks,” the secretary chirps.
“Thank you so much for your flexibility.” Mia’s relieved but I can tell she’s struggling with her circumstances.
I have a visceral urge to solve all her problems at any cost. But that’s absurd. She’s no one to me other than my kid’s new nanny—that is, if it even works out.
I’m lost in thought as we exit the school, leading the girls to my truck on autopilot. Mia beats me to the door and buckles Everly in herself.
“My god, it’s hot today!” Mia huffs, plopping into the passenger seat. The wispy golden curls framing her face have dampened from sweat in the hot summer morning.
I grunt in agreement, unable to form a better reply, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Everly talks a mile a minute as we head back to the ranch. It’s a huge detour during my work day, but I do what needs to be done, as always.
“I’m sorry you had to go out of your way for us this morning. I promise we won’t be an inconvenience moving forward.” Mia’s meek voice is barely audible over Everly’s excitement from the back seat
“No inconvenience,” I grumble.
The drive is uneventful. Everly and Mia share a comfort between them I can’t help but admire. Harper and I have a good relationship, but there’s something about a mother’s love I can’t replicate no matter how hard I try.
My mood sours the moment Vanessa crosses my mind and curdles when thoughts of Meredith follow. By the time we’re back at the ranch, I’m drowning in the poison of my memories.
I flip the truck around to back in like I always do. My right arm shoots out to hold the passenger headrest, to look over my shoulder while I reverse. Mia flinches away so violently, I rip my hand back from the headrest and slam on the brakes.
Heart pounding out of my chest, I look over to see her doubled over, shielding her head with her delicate arms.
My first instinct is to help her, but I don’t think it’d be well received. Instead, I turn around in my seat to check on Everly. She’s trying to unbuckle herself, unsuccessfully, unaware of what just transpired in the front seat.
Wasn’t planning on going in, but I can’t leave Mia like this. I hop out and help Everly with the last buckle. She leaps from my truck and bounds into the main house, in search of Harper, I'm sure.
I pause beside the rear passenger door, trying to collect myself. The only reason any human would react the way she did…makes me sick. It adds a layer of texture to the picture of Mia’s past my mind’s been painting, stroke by stroke.
She’s sitting tall in the passenger seat, staring straight out the windshield. I open her door and step well out of the way, hoping she feels safe enough to come out.
When she doesn’t unbuckle, I dip my head and force myself to walk up to the main house, hands balled into bone-cracking fists in my pockets.
Cecelia has the girls on the tall stools at the island, digging in to whatever baked creation she made while we were at the school.
“Daddy! Can I play with Everly all day?”
It wasn’t until seeing Harper light up around Everly that I realized how profoundly she lacks age-appropriate companionship. Outside of school, she’s surrounded by adults. It’s rare she asks for a playdate, and being an anti-social prick, it’s not like I’m setting them up for her.
“Yes, ma’am,” I answer my little love.
Kids were never in my life plan, though I don’t regret Harper for a second.
Does she want a sibling? Should I have tried to get Vanessa to come back? Should I have put myself out there to find a suitable mother for Harper and grow our family?
Hypothetical questions do nothing but drive you crazy, and I mentally smack myself for allowing the ridiculous thoughts.
Placing a kiss to the top of my daughter’s head, I nod to Cecelia. “I’ll be back late afternoon. I’m closing the store early to get Mia and Everly situated.”
Her warm smile barely penetrates my icy exterior. I flip around to stalk out of the house and stop in my tracks.
Mia stands in the doorway to the kitchen, hands clasped in front of her, honey waves obscuring most of her face, watching our interaction like an outsider.
If I thought she’d meet my eyes, maybe I’d try to say goodbye. Instead, I side step past her and out the front door.
A heavy sigh escapes my tight lungs the second I’m enclosed in the truck cab.
It’s time to do some research on Mia Whitaker.