Sarah
Cailin and I walk to the car after school. The photographers gave up after a week of not seeing her, but we don’t want to take any chances.
There’s still a buzz around the town that a rock star is moving here, but since he’s not arrived yet, everyone is guessing as much as I am about how this is all going to work out.
My father brought the photos up to me, saying how sad it was that I got mixed up in Adam’s madness, only to be plastered on the internet like that. He didn’t see how amazing it was that Adam had changed his entire schedule to dance one song with his daughter. All he saw was that Adam wasn’t there to be with her every day like a parent should be.
I guess it’s all about perspective, but to my father, he’ll always be right.
As I try to focus on the now and what’s to come, I’ve enjoyed my time with Cailin these past few days. Since I don’t allow her to sing in class, we’ve made our car rides home full of singing. The funniest songs are those by Devil’s Breed. She tries really hard to sing like her dad, and when there is a cuss word in the lyrics, she skips it but keeps up the tempo exactly the same as if it were still there.
When we pull up to my place, Linda’s not there, so we head up to my apartment where I offer Cailin a snack.
As we eat our cookies dipped in milk, there’s a knock on the door. I swing it open, holding up my sugary goodness to Linda, showing the milk running down it, almost to my fingers, saying, “It’s cookie ti—”
My mind can’t complete the rest of the sentence when I see Adam standing in front of me instead of Linda. His tall frame fills my entranceway, but his eyes feel like I can see right through them.
“Daddy!” Cailin screams, running straight for him, spilling her milk all over my counter.
“Sugarplum,” he says as he swings her around in a tight embrace.
His eyes close, and his face glows with pure happiness.
When they pull back, she places her hand on his face, saying, “My Chestnut.” They hug again. “I thought you weren’t coming home until tomorrow.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“That’s not very nice, Daddy. I wanted to wear my new dress for you, so I’d look my best.”
Adam and I both laugh. He runs his hand down her hair. “You’re gorgeous in any outfit.”
She rolls her eyes and hits him in the chest. “You have to say that; you’re my dad.”
He chuckles under his breath as he puts her down and notices the spilled milk. “Let me help you clean that up.”
He enters my small apartment, and I finally snap out of my shock.
“No worries. I can get it.” I run to the kitchen and grab some paper towels.
Adam takes them from me and starts to mop up the mess. “I don’t mind,” he says, looking straight at me.
I rip off another paper towel and wipe the floor. When Adam leans down, placing his hand over mine, I freeze.
“Please, let me get it. You’ve done so much for my daughter; let me do something for you.”
He’s staring directly at me, and I have to think real hard to keep my body from swooning at his touch.
My mind needs to stop going there.
I can’t get my mouth to function, so I slide my fingers from under his and nod before standing and getting Cailin more milk.
“Can I get you a cookie and milk too?” I ask.
I guess I’m used to offering kids stuff like this, so of course, this is my go-to.
“I’d love one.” He pulls out a chair from my kitchen table as I get him a cup and pour some milk.
Cailin crawls up on his lap without a second thought.
