“That’s sweet of you, but it looks like April could use some alone time.”
April shoots me a humorous stare. “April can speak for herself, and it’s fine.”
“I kind of figured you are a special friend of daddy’s.”
I rub the back of my head and debate what to say. “Is that a problem?”
“No.” Hadley seems unfazed and unconcerned. “But Nova said special friends sleep in daddies’ rooms, so why is April staying here?”
April sets her brush on the bed and kneels down to Hadley. “Because I was just a friend of your dad’s, and just friends stay in the guest room.”
AndI’m tapping in.
“But now she is a special friend, so it will change. I’m sure April was just visiting this room for old times’ sake.” This is our opportunity to smooth the sails and make the transition, plus I want to be a selfish man tonight. Something inside of me wants to dive in, but that’s always the case when April is around.
“Or April is in here because we didn’t agree on the timeline for this conversation,” April mumbles to me.
I touch Hadley’s shoulder. “Are you okay with all of this, sweet pea?”
She looks between us. “Am I ever! I get a dog.”
“Well, you don’t exactly get Pick—” April cracks out an attempt.
I’m quick to intercept with a smile. “Pickles is yours most of the time.” We have to keep this convo smooth.
April gives me a comical warning glare because I shouldn’t be throwing out false promises.
“Nova also said that there are special friends and there are girlfriends. Which are you?” she asks April.
“Nova’s father has been busy,” April tells me, and I have to agree. She returns her focus to Hadley. “I’m…”
April looks to me for a clue, and I answer for us. “April is more than a special friend, a lot more.” I’m not going to put her any peg lower because sheismore; she makes me happy and fits into our life.
“Like she will be my new mommy?”
Fuck, an arrow through my heart. I knew this would come up, how can it not when you’re a child? It’s just a harsh reminder that I need to tread carefully because I have the ability to break both of these ladies’ hearts if I don’t approach our dynamic with care.
In this moment, I have no words because my head is spinning at the reminder that Hadley doesn’t have a mom, and I feel my mood sink. Not for any reason April would guess.
“Wow, aren’t we full of questions today," April says. "You know, getting a mommy is a big deal. It requires a lot of time and sparkly powder before you can welcome a mommy into your life. Even if we enjoy being around someone, we have to wait before we can welcome them into our life that way. I had the exact same experience as you when my mommy found someone.”
“Okay, I’ll ask again later.”
“Like a few months later,” April suggests before tapping Hadley’s nose. “Now I think it’s way past your bedtime. Is Pickles already waiting?”
“Yep. Will you help me tuck him in?”
April stands and offers her hand to Hadley. “Always.” She gives me a reassuring half-smile.
Lucky for me, April answers with the type of care that makes me wonder if long-run us isn’t so crazy.
* * *
Standingin the middle of my bedroom, I stare at April who is standing in the doorway giving me a curious smile.
“You’re not in bed?” she wonders and steps into the room.
Truthfully, I’m too anxious to settle under the covers. I’m a smart man to know that it’s because of what just went down half an hour ago with Hadley. Maybe I’m slightly shaken.
