“I hope it’s okay, I brought the food I had at home so it wouldn’t go bad.”
“I don’t mind, and that reminds me that I need to place a grocery order. Let’s sit down and do that after we get you settled in. I made space in the closet for you.”
He wasn’t mad, so another good sign. “Okay, Daddy, show me where.” Why was it so easy to be my true self around him? It was likeinstant little, just add the right Daddy.Hehe, oops, did I say that out loud?
“What’s got you giggling, cutie?” Daddy mussed my hair and smiled at me.
“Just something silly I thought.”
“Care to share it? I enjoy a good laugh.”
He’ll for sure think I’m a fool, but here goes. “I compared us to a recipe in my head.”
“How so?”
“He-he, you did the puppy head tilt thing again, Daddy.”
“Guess my job is rubbing off on me. But let’s hear your silly recipe.”
“I was just thinking how easy it was to be me around you and that my little pops right out. So, my head said instant little, just add the right Daddy.” Ugh, saying it out loud was foolish, but when Daddy laughed it made it all worth it.
“I agree with that assessment and look forward to creating that recipe with you.”
Daddy had a way of making me feel special, and not like an imposition, or that I was in the way. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“No need to thank me, sweet boy. I love having you and your things here.”
Gush. Gush. Swoon.
How fast was too fast to fall for your Daddy?
Asking for a friend…
“This closet is ginormous!”
“Yes, when I had the house remodeled, I took some of the space in the office and made it into a walk-in closet. Here, let’s get your clothes put away.”
Daddy even cleared out a couple dresser drawers for me. He really did want me here.
“All done, let’s go figure out dinner.” Daddy picked up his iPad and led me to the kitchen table, then pulled me into his lap after he sat. “Let’s order dinner and then groceries. Anything in particular you wanted for tonight?”
“Nope. But I was gonna cook for us. You know, as my way of helping. I can’t really pay you back. Oh yeah, did you hear anything about my car?” Shoot, I forgot the biggest reason I was here. I got far too comfy way too fast.
“Yes,” Daddy sat the iPad down. “Sweetheart, have you ever put oil in the engine since you’ve had it?”
Blink. Blink.
“Oil? In the engine.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. Which also answers the question of any vehicle maintenance having been performed.”
Blink. Blink.
“You need a new engine and the cost associated with that is higher than the value of your car. Now, I’ll pay to replace the engine if that’s what you want, though I don’t recommend it. The decision is yours, replace the engine or sell the car for scrap?”
“Sell it for scrap? It was Grandma’s car.” I burst into tears. How can this be happening to me? “I can’t afford a new car.”
“Jamie, sweetheart, please don’t cry. I’ll get it fixed if it’s that important to you. I’m sorry I upset you. I’ll tell him to go ahead with the new engine.” Daddy rubbed my back, but it hit me that my words didn’t come out right.
