I tilted my head slightly, trying to be as honest as possible. "I wouldn't go that far. I mean, if I think it will help you more to speak up, then I'll do that. If I think there's other ways to make your life a little better? And in my book, having someone to listen counts as that, then no. That also doesn't mean that I won't do my own things to help."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. And the first thing I want to try is having you talk to a counselor." I held up my hand before Faith could protest. "Mainly because I need a guinea pig. I want to hire someone for Southwind, but I want to find a psychiatrist the students feel they can trust. If you get a little something out of it, then we both win, right?"
"And Dad doesn't need to know?"
I waggled my head from side to side. "He'll know. We don't need to tell him exactly why - so long as you don't feel the need to keep cutting, right?"
"Oh." Faith's eyes dropped to the table. "But what if I do? I mean, sometimes it just feels like I have to let it out somehow."
"Then you call me. Or your father. He'll listen, Faith. He's been trying to find a way to help, but you're shutting him out, and I think he just doesn't know what to do."
"Yeah." Faith took a drink, one hand playing in the condensation on the counter. "I hope Dad does date you. You'd make the coolest step-mom ever."
And that felt really good. Dipping my head, I let out a giggle, nodding. "Well, never had a daughter before, but I think you'd make the coolest step-daughter ever. Granted, that's really putting the cart before the horse." Then I sucked in a long breath. "But I do like him, Faith. I've liked your dad for a long time. Since I was about your age."
"How come you never dated him, then?"
I lifted my hands then let them drop. "Because I wasn't cool enough. He was in high school and I was just the dork in junior high. He was popular, and I was doing my best not to get beat up by the mean girls in my class - and usually failing. Even back then, though, he was still the nicest guy I'd ever met, and I think he's only gotten better while I was gone."
"You got bullied?"
"Bad," I assured her. "Oh my god, I was such a dork. I liked horses and books, because Gran didn't let me watch a lot of TV. Never mind that my mom dumped me with my grandmother and bailed. And Gran had no idea of what the word 'cool' even meant. She thought fashion was a waste of time."
Faith's mouth was hanging open. "But you're so pretty! I want to be pretty like you."
I slowly nodded, a plan hatching. "How about we make you pretty likeyou?Get you some clothes that show off what those baggy t-shirts don't, teach you how to do your hair without so much product in it, and maybe talk about some makeup?"
"Dad says I can't wear makeup. Said I'm too young."
"Oh, he did?" Grinning, I pushed myself up and waved for Faith to follow. "Well, we have a little time before he's back, and I'll take the blame for this. Let's see if we can change his mind, huh?"
Faith almost tripped getting out of her chair, she was moving so fast. Yeah, maybe Luke would be pissed, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Besides, if Faith felt beautiful, she'd have a little more confidence, and I intended to show the girl that pretty wasn't anything at all like slutty. I had a funny feeling Luke wouldn't mind at all.
Chapter Seventeen
By the time I got back, it was truly dark out. The house was aglow in lights, including the ones upstairs, and the silhouettes darkening the curtains proved that was where my girls were. Chuckling, I jogged to the front door and knocked.
Nothing happened.
Next, I tried the doorbell. Scuffing my feet, I was debating just yelling up at them when my phone vibrated. The text left no room for doubt.
Violet:You don't have to knock, silly. Come in. You're always welcome, but you have to wait in the living room.
Well, it didn't get much clearer than that. I stepped in and immediately heard the giggles from upstairs. They weren't soft. Violet and Faith were almost howling with laughter, and I couldn't remember the last time my daughter had done that. I'd have to remember to thank Violet later.
Then, the pastel vixen stepped into view at the top of the stairs. Her eyes landed right on me and she smiled. "So, your daughter let me play dress-up with her. I highly recommend you sit down."
Ok, maybe this hadn't been as good of an idea as I thought. Violet was gorgeous and seductive. Faith was twelve. Those two things did not go together at all. And if Faith got her hopes up that I'd let her wear the same kind of things Violet did? Yeah. I was going to end up the bad guy by the time tonight was over. I dropped heavily into the closest chair.
"Ready?" Violet asked.
Unable to do anything else, I nodded.
What came around the corner was nothing at all like I expected. Faith's dark hair was loose, held away from her face by a cute flowery headband. She was wearing the same jeans she'd ridden in, but they'd been cuffed at the ankle. Her lace-up boots were completely visible, but not as awkward-looking as they would have been if she'd tucked in her jeans. Then there was her shirt. I was pretty damned sure that it didn't belong to my daughter, but it was perfect.
The sunset colors made her look brilliant - or maybe that was the massive smile on her face. The cut of it made her look lean and tall, but it wasn't tight. There was something weird about the seam at the sides that made the fabric bunch up across her chest and belly. That was almost enough to make me miss her face, but her lips glistened just a little too much.
