“Until what?” she challenged me, and I knew Kellie thought she had me. She’d never learn. I wasn’t one who ever backed down from a challenge. I hadn’t before, and I had no intention of starting now.
With a quick peck against her lips, I answered her with brutal honesty. “Until I get to call you my wife.”
ChapterThirteen
Kellie
Thanks to the farewell party for one of the ladies who’d worked there all of five minutes, I was late getting home,. If I could’ve come up with a good excuse to make an early break for it, you better believe I would have. But Taylor, who I thought was my friend, begged me not to leave her there alone so we showed up, signed the card, and offered fake farewells before hightailing it out the door as soon as it was appropriate.
Turning into the drive, I found an oversized Dodge truck parked in my spot.
“Oh shit,” I swore as I bounced up onto the grass before grabbing my stuff and racing inside.
“What’s happened?” I asked, surprised to find Mom sitting on the couch looking completely relaxed.
“Happened?”
“Jake’s truck is out the front,” I told her as I rifled through my bag looking for my phone. I swear I hadn’t heard it while we’d been at the café, and I’d checked it religiously. “I didn’t hear your call.” I finally grabbed my phone and checked only to find it strangely silent.
“I didn't call.”
“Then why is Jake…”
“Jake stopped by to say hi to Cassie. I didn't think you’d mind.” Mom shrugged as she rose from the couch and headed into the kitchen.
My head was spinning.
I’m sure steam was billowing from my ears.
Didn’t think I’d mind? Didn’t think I’d mind? In which fucked-up universe wouldn’t I mind a practical stranger stopping by to hang out with my three-year-old daughter. And I know Jake wasn’t really a stranger. Hell, for a long time Mom considered him family, and technically he was Cassie’s father, but dammit, I was still her mother. I was the one who’d raised her. I got a say.
Following Mom into the kitchen, I watched as she pulled a meatloaf from the oven, the smell alone had my stomach rumbling. Whoever thought finger sandwiches were a good idea was an idiot. There’d been barely enough food at the farewell to feed a sparrow, and now I was home and could see the flaky pastry I knew Mom had made from scratch, I was starving.
“Of course I mind,” I hissed bitterly.
Turning to face me, Mom tugged the mittens off her hands and set them on the counter before folding her arms across her chest. Her lips were pulled into a tight line, and I had the sinking feeling that whatever she was about to say, I wouldn’t like it.
“Kellie Louise Knight. You listen to me, and you listen good. While you’re living under my roof, you will not disrespect me. You hear me,” she started, her chest puffing out.
“Sorry, Mom,” I apologized quickly, knowing I’d overstepped.
“Now, I understand this is hard for you, but it’s hard for Jake too. Until recently, he didn’t even know he had a daughter, so it’s only natural he’s curious.”
“But Cassie is…”
Mom held her hand up, silencing me. “Cassie is your daughter, I know that. But she’s Jake’s daughter too, and no matter what happens between you two, Cassie’s needs come first. Always. Now, I did not let a strange man in the house. I did not let someone I did not know near Cassie. She hasn’t left the house, and other than the sound of her giggles and some splashing, I haven’t heard anything to cause me to be alarmed. Jake’s a good man and whether or not you’re ready to admit it, he loves Cassie because that’s who he is.”
“I know,” I conceded, feeling like shit.
Dropping the seriousness, I sighed heavily, wishing I could open the bottle of wine in the refrigerator calling my name.
“Sweetheart, it’s going to be okay,” Mom softened. “It won’t be smooth sailing because life’s never easy, but I have no doubt you and Jake can figure this out.”
“Glad you’re so sure.”
“Of course I am. Because you’re both amazing parents, and you’re going to do whatever it takes to make that gorgeous little girl of yours happy. And if you're together, then that’s okay. If you’re co-parenting, well… that will be okay too.”
“Shit! Co-parenting,” I repeated. I hadn’t really given it any thought.
