I wanted to argue but I knew I couldn’t. As much as I hated admitting it, the area of town we lived in wasn’t exactly known for being a big tourist attraction. It was more like the place the tourists drove through with their doors locked and their windows up when they got lost on their way somewhere nicer.
“I know I’ve been a shitty excuse for a father,” he continued, the frankness in his voice and expression tugging at my heartstrings. Damn it, but I was weak. “If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for our girl. I’ve missed so much of her life already,and I know that’s my fault, but I want to do better. I miss her like fuckin’ crazy, Gwen.”
I looked away, unable to meet the sincerity in his eyes as I let out a beleaguered sigh. “What about the parties?” I asked several seconds later. “I won’t let Liddy—”
“Consider them done,” he interrupted.
I felt myself wavering. I knew it was a mistake, but as he continued to plead his case, I felt that hard, protective shield around me being to falter. I opened my mouth—to say what, I hadn’t a damn clue—but before any words could slide out, a knock on the front door interrupted.
“Shit!” I hissed, looking back and forth between the door and Garrett with wide eyes. “That’s Liddy back from her playdate.” I began to panic at the thought of someone finding out who my daughter’s father really was, and the media shit storm that would conjure up. “You need to hide. Please. They can’t see you. If they find out who you are, photographers will camp out in front of her daycare.”
Garrett’s forehead wrinkled in consternation. “Are you serious?”
“Please!” I begged. “You don’t get it. The parents at that daycare are worse gossips than high school kids.” I began pushing his shoulders, trying to shove him out of sight. “Just… hide in my bedroom. Just for a minute. I promise.”
“This is fuckin’ ridiculous.”
“Please, Garrett.”
He spun on his heels and looked down at me with determination as another knock came at the door. “Say you’ll move in with me.”
“What?” I whisper-yelled.
“Say it and I’ll hide. That’s the deal, Gwen.”
Another knock, followed by Liddy shouting through the door. “Mommy! Open up! I wanna show you what I gots!”
“Move in with me or I’m staying right here.”
“Fine!” I whispered frantically. “Fine! Yes! We’ll move in with you. Justhide!”
With a triumphant grin, he headed down the short hall, his motorcycle boots clomping against the thin carpet with each step.
NINE
Letting out a relieved breath,I bolted for the door, turned the lock that Garrett must have engaged when he let himself in, and threw it open with a bright smile. “Hey, monkey! I missed you. Did you have fun?”
“You took too long,” Liddy whined as I scooped her up, giving her a tight squeeze and propping her on my hip.
“Sorry, baby girl. I had my headphones on and didn’t hear you.”
“Look what I gots at the park!” she shouted, her short attention span a blessing at times like this. She thrust her small fist out and opened her palm, exposing the dirty rock in her hand like it was a huge diamond. “It’s for you, Mommy! It’s shaped like a heart!”
“It’s beautiful, baby.” I placed a kiss on her cheek and shifted my attention from my little girl to the only other adult in our group. “Thanks so much for taking her today. How was she?”
Steve, one of the only single fathers at the daycare, smiled kindly as he ruffled his daughter, Michelle’s, hair. He was a great guy and a hands-on father. He and his wife split whenMichelle was only one, and he had sole custody. Unlike a lot of the other parents, I thoroughly enjoyed Steve’s company. He had kind eyes, and the fact that he was attractive wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t want to rock the boat. What I’d told Garrett was true; navigating the social waters of daycare parents was like being thrown back into high school. I once brought cupcakes for a classroom party, and a few of the other moms nearly ripped my head off for not buying gluten-free—whatever the hell that was.
Liddy began to struggle in my hold so I put her down, and she and Michelle ran into the living room toward the basket of toys I kept there. “They were great. Only one minor meltdown when we discovered that one of the swings was broken. But no worries, I taught them the art of taking turns.”
Still shaken from the close call with Garrett, my smile wavered. “Well, I’m glad you were able to get it sorted without any bloodshed. Next time is my turn. I really appreciate you taking them today.”
“Not a problem,” Steve replied. “Honestly, Liddy’s a great kid.” He leaned in close and dropped his voice so the girls wouldn’t hear. “She’s one of the only kids that doesn’t drive me crazy. I dread it every time Simone Clark tries to set something up.”
“Oh God.” I snorted in an effort to hold in my laughter. “Her kid’s the biter, right?”
“Yep.” Steve chuckled. “That kid scares the shit out of me.”
The laugh I’d been working to hold in broke free. Steve’s smile brightened and his gaze grew somewhat curious as he said, “You know, I was thinking that maybe next time we could take them together.”
