She was still watching me as I walked backward toward the door, and she smiled as the words left her mouth. “I’m going to head out to my house tomorrow morning and check on the progress.”
“No more changes, Firefly.” The name slipped from my lips without a thought. She looked at me, but I kept talking like it was nothing. “We’re trying to stay on track so you can get back in your house.”
“Sick of me already?” she said with a smirk.
No, actually. I didn’t mind her staying in the guesthouse in the backyard, even though I liked to pretend I did. Nor had I minded her using my oven. She’d been patient about the fact that the new oven had arrived damaged, and I’d had to ship it back and reorder another one all over again.
So I’d told her to just use my kitchen as often as she wanted.
“Don’t change the subject. I’m serious about not making any more changes. I feel like you’re up to something.”
“Then you know me well, Mr. Huxley.” She chuckled as Montana came running around the corner, looking a little frantic.
Violet informed her that the bathroom was fixed, and she thanked me before telling her best friend that the groom’s brother had just puked all over the groom’s tuxedo.
“That’s my cue. I’ll see you ladies later.” I made my way out to my truck.
My phone rang, and it was Jeanne McAffrey, Lily’s mom. “Hey, Jeanne, how are the girls doing?”
“They’re great. Um, Lily asked if Harper could spend the night. I know she’s never slept away from you, but she seems like she wants to give it a try. I could always call you if there’s an issue.”
I rubbed my face. The McAffreys were good people. I’d known Jeanne since elementary school, and her future husband, Tim, had moved to Blushing when we were in high school.
But my daughter had never spent a night away from me. I didn’t have much family, so she didn’t have grandparents. She’d been close to my cousin when she’d stayed in the guesthouse, but she hadn’t spent the night with her.
I was all she had, and I never wanted her to feel abandoned or not cared for, so it had always been her and me against the world in a way.
I wanted to shield her from every hard lesson life would throw at her.
And so far, I’d been able to do that, to an extent.
“She wants to spend the night?”
“She said she does. But why don’t you speak to her so you can feel it out?” Jeanne said.
“All right.”
Harper’s voice came through my Bluetooth in the truck: “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hey, baby girl. Are you having fun?”
“Yep. So much fun. Lily wants me to sleep over, and she got those bunk beds for Christmas.”
I chuckled. “That’s cool. Do you want to sleep over?”
“I do want to sleep over. But will you be sad if you’re by yourself?”
I’ll never figure out how an asshole like me got lucky enough to have this sweet angel as my daughter.
“You never need to worry about me, Harps. I’m just fine. I want you to have fun.”
“Mrs. McAffrey said if I change my mind, I can call you and go home anytime.”
“Anytime, baby girl. I’ll have my phone on me, and I can be there in five minutes if you get homesick,” I said. “Do you want me to drop off a bag with your pajamas and your toothbrush?”
“Lily has a pair of jammies that I can wear, and Mrs. McAffrey said that they have extra toothbrushes. We’re going to have a slumber party, Daddy.”
I pulled into my driveway after the short trip from downtown and turned off the engine. “Have the best time, and if I don’t hear from you, I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”
