12. Alexis #3
I bite my lip. Oops. “Oh, no, no,” I say, holding up my hands. “I’m not getting in the middle of this. You guys can hash this one out.”
“A cat is a big responsibility,” Gabriel says, turning to his daughter. “Maybe we can talk about… a fish. Or a hamster.”
“No, not a fish!” Peyton pouts, her lower lip sticking out. “You can’t snuggle with a fish! I want a kitty!”
“It’s harder to take care of a kitty. And when you have an animal to take care of…
when there’s another living being depending on you…
that can be a lot of pressure.” Something flits across Gabriel’s face, a depth of emotion that doesn’t fit the conversation.
Then, in the blink of an eye, it’s gone, and he’s back to his fondly exasperated expression.
Peyton considers for a moment. Then she says, “I’ll do all my homework.”
“You’re supposed to do your homework anyway,” Gabriel points out.
“I’ll read an extra chapter book every month.”
Gabriel purses his lips. “This isn’t a negotiation, you know.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I murmur. Gabriel shoots me another sideways look, and I have to suppress my smile.
“I’ll clean the leaves out of the pool all summer,” Peyton offers. “I’ll—”
Gabriel holds up a hand to halt the flood of promises. “Alright, alright. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I think we’re getting a little carried away.”
Peyton’s shoulders slump slightly, but she doesn’t miss a beat. “So… is that a ‘maybe’?”
Gabriel sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly torn. He glances at me as if searching for backup, but I keep quiet. I’ve done enough damage already. “Maybe one day. When you’re older.”
Peyton groans, flopping her arms dramatically. “Daddy, I’m already old!”
Gabriel raises an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face. “Six isn’t quite cat-owner old. Now, it looks like your chili bowl is empty. Why don’t you bring your dishes to the sink?”
Grumbling, Peyton slips down from her chair, gathering her dishes. She throws one last hopeful glance over her shoulder, but Gabriel just gives her an expectant look, and she slouches off toward the kitchen.
Once she’s out of earshot, Gabriel shakes his head, a weary smile tugging at his lips. “She’s relentless.”
“It sounded like that conversation has happened quite a lot,” I say, resisting the urge to laugh.
“Oh, you have no idea,” he sighs, rubbing his temples. “The negotiations have reached advanced stages—chores, promises, even handwritten notes slipped under my door. Get ready for those, by the way.”
“Maybe she deserves some points for effort.”
“Not a chance,” he says with a chuckle. “I’ll think about letting her get a fish. I’ll think about it—that doesn’t mean I’m ready to take a trip to the pet store.”
Silence descends over the table, a surprisingly companionable silence.
I pick at the last few spoonfuls of chili, a question forming in my mind.
I’m not exactly sure how to word it, but I decide to just go for it.
“If… if you’re up for it,” I start hesitantly, “I could spend some of my free time with Peyton. Take on a few of Margaret’s tasks. Pick her up from school, or…”
I trail off at the look on Gabriel’s face. Abruptly, all of the amusement has vanished, leaving his expression guarded, wary. He studies me, and for a second, I wonder if I’ve overstepped. Maybe this was too soon—too personal, somehow.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” I say quickly, feeling a slight flush creep into my cheeks. “I just thought, since I’m here anyway…”
He exhales, running a hand over his jaw, seeming to choose his words carefully. “It’s not that,” he says finally. “I appreciate the offer. Really. But I’m… I’m still figuring out how to handle this. I’d rather not confuse things too much.”
“Oh.” I do my best not to let it show on my face, but that hurts. It feels like a rejection, even if he’s not intending it to be.
I’m never going to measure up. Never going to be a real wife to him. This marriage was always nothing but a show, and already, he can’t wait for it to be over. He’s counting the days until he’s free from it. From me.
I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I… I understand. No worries.”
I hear the patter of socked feet on the wood floor. Peyton comes running back into the room, bursting the tension between us. Gabriel’s serious expression is instantly replaced with a warm smile.
“Did Daddy say I could have a kitty?” Peyton asks eagerly, her eyes wide with hope as she looks at me.
I force myself to smile. Peyton is adorable, which helps with that. “Not yet,” I tell her. Then, with a flicker of some feeling I can’t place, I lean toward her and drop my voice to a conspiratorial, carrying whisper. “But we’ll keep working on it.”
I don’t know why I did that. I don’t know what came over me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Gabriel’s face stiffen, and that sends a jolt of panic through me. I’m fucking this up. I’m supposed to be a good wife. If he doesn’t want me to bond with his child, then I should just let it go.
But when Peyton beams at me, I can’t quite bring myself to regret it.
Just this once, I think, sitting back in my chair. Just this one little thing.