Chapter 6 #2
He really hoped he wasn’t supposed to recognize the beast. It struck him as a colorful patchwork blend of a unicorn and a bear. “Does your friend have a name?” he asked, hoping she’d give him more to go on.
Her head cocked and she frowned. “Not yet.” She studied the figure in her hands. “I wanted it to take longer, but I got it done too soon.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “Momma isn’t done teaching so I should do more workbook stuff.”
“Maybe your friend needs a friend.” And maybe every time he opened his mouth he was saying the wrong thing. “What kind of workbook?”
“Math.” Cora plopped down on his toolbox. “The numbers are too easy today.” She jumped up, set her creature on his toolbox, and ran off.
He was wary about touching the thing. No way would he risk breaking her build. He was debating how to proceed when she skipped back in with what he could only assume was the workbook. She opened it and held it up. “See?”
He skimmed the pages, startled to see foundational word problems where he’d expected simple addition or subtraction. She was six! And definitely showing signs that she was their kid. “You did these yourself?” Cooper asked, his voice thick.
Her chin bobbed up and down. “I did all the numbers.” She pressed up on her toes to point out one of the problems. “See this one? If the boat goes five miles an hour and the tide is two miles an hour, the boat is actually going seven miles. Or three miles, if it’s going the wrong way.”
“Against the tide,” Cooper supplied on reflex. He stared at the neat, penciled numbers and felt a sudden, sharp pang of grief for the six years of a-ha moments he’d missed.
“You’re exactly right, Cora,” he continued, his voice trembling slightly. “That’s called relative velocity. It’s a very important concept.”
“Are you a teacher?” she asked, tilting her head. “You sound like a teacher. Momma sounds the same, but she works in the office.”
“I was a teacher,” Cooper said. “But I’m on a sabbatical.”
She frowned over the new word. “What’s sub-bat-ical?”
He chuckled. “Just a fancy word for taking a break. I need to figure out what to do in my next chapter.”
“Like a book?”
“Exactly like a book.”
Scarlett appeared in the doorway then, her expression unreadable as her gaze roamed over the room before settling on them.
He wondered what she thought of him sitting here discussing fancy words with their daughter, her workbook in his lap.
The tension was palpable and he wondered who would break it first.
“Hey, Bug.” Scarlett opened her arms and Cora bounded into the hug. “Thanks for your patience this morning.”
Cora giggled. “I made a circus bear,” she declared. “He’s my new best friend.”
So that’s what it was. Cooper studied the Lego creature again with better understanding. He needed to get better with the questions, and fast, to fit into her life.
“And did my math too.”
“Good for you,” Scarlett praised. “Lessons are over. Would you like to have a picnic with the fairies while Mr. Cooper and I take care of a couple of things?”
“Maybe.” Cora sent her mom a sly glance. “After the picnic can we go to the beach?”
“Maybe,” Scarlett said, mimicking her daughter’s tone. “Let’s see how the afternoon goes.”
Invited to help prep the picnic, Cooper washed his hands and then sliced up cherry tomatoes while Scarlett made a peanut butter sandwich, letting Cora drizzle the honey. Soon, Cora was settled outside, telling the fairy garden about her day.
Cooper struggled to tear his gaze away. “She’s incredible, Scarlett. Truly. The way her mind works... it’s like looking at a miniature version of you,” he added softly as they walked toward the back of the house.
Scarlett snorted. “Not even close.” Her guard slipped just a fraction, enough to reveal a flash of maternal exhaustion. “Every day she resembles you more. When I look at her, staring back at me with your eyes, I’m so in love with her and so lost over you at the same time.”
Her honesty surprised him.
“I wish you’d told me.” He stepped closer, drawn to her.
She backed away. “Some days, so do I.”
He could see the faint spray of freckles across her nose and the pulse jumping in the hollow of her throat.
“We could try a fresh start,” he suggested.
“Just two people reconnecting.” Couldn’t she feel the spark?
He was sure the chemistry was as strong as ever, but he wouldn’t push his luck and drive her away before they even had a chance.
“I’m not sure there’s a solution to this one, Cooper,” she whispered.
Just his name on her lips sent a jolt of heat and awareness through him.
On reflex, he reached for her. He’d had that right once.
Now, he needed to earn it back. “Show me what you need.” Her eyes went wide, her lips parting.
“With the house,” he clarified. “I’ll fix what I can today, then we’ll take Cora to the beach. ”
“All right.” She led him around to the back steps and pointed out the bit of rot near the bottom tread. “We had a lot of rain this winter and I haven’t gotten around to it.”
“I’ll handle it,” he promised. He considered this task a win because it meant he’d have to get supplies and come back. “Anything else?”
Scarlett hesitated, then nodded. “The garden gate sticks when it rains.”
“Not for much longer.” With a smile, he went back around for his tool box, taking a minute to chat with Cora.
He marveled at her imagination, her sheer, fresh happiness. She reminded him so much of his youngest sister at that age.
Scarlett was clearly doing all the right things, raising such a bright and confident child, but Cora had extended family who would love to know her, to include her. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
“You’re mad again,” Scarlett murmured, matching his stride as he headed for the garden gate.
“No.” He sighed. “Maybe.” He shook his head. “Not really mad. Just processing all of it.”
Her hand brushed his shoulder, so achingly familiar. “We’ll tell her.”
“Okay.”
But telling Cora was only the start. He wanted to be a part of her life, wanted to give her the world. Scarlett too, if she’d have him. And if he said all of that right now, they’d likely wind up in an argument easily overheard by Cora.
“We need some time alone to talk,” he said. “Soon.”
“I know.”
“Good.” He went to work on the gate and Scarlett eventually walked away. He could just hear the two of them around front. Somehow, he’d figure out the next step. Because there was always a solution. And this problem was worth every ounce of attention and focus he could bring.
Scarlett and Cora were his family. He felt the truth of that in every beat of his heart. He was a father already in love with the little girl who had no idea of his place in her life. And, Scarlett was the one. He’d let her slip through his fingers once, but not again.
Together, they would figure it out. He would prove that she could count on him, beyond today. For more than just part time. He wanted the whole package, a full and complete family, for the rest of his life.
He might’ve lost his career direction, but as he looked around at Scarlett’s home, he realized he was exactly where he was supposed to be.