Right answer, baby girl.
He put a hand on Savvy’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you want to tell me Caleb is planning on asking you to prom?”
She shrugged again. “I just figured you’d freak out. You always kind of get this panicked look in your eyes whenever I talk about college and things like that.”
“Things that mean you’re growing up,” Austin said in a tight voice. “No matter how old you are, you’ll always be my baby girl, Savvy. And I’ll never be ready for you to grow up.”
Savannah grinned. “Does this mean I can go to prom with Caleb?”
“I think you’d better wait for him to ask you before you get too excited.”
“I know,” Savvy giggled.
He pointed a finger at her. “And Debbie and I agreed that you’re going to do additional projects for her to pay for your dress.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Savvy leaned over and hugged him.
Austin blinked away the tears that flooded his eyes. Nope. He definitely wasn’t ready for her to grow up.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, don’t you, honey?” He said when Savannah pulled back.
She nodded but looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry I told Debbie before talking to you. She just happened to be sitting there when Rainey texted me. I was so excited, I just had to tell someone.”
“I don’t mind.” He smiled. “I imagine she was much more excited for you than I would have been.”
Savvy laughed. “Yeah she was.” Then her laughter died, and she looked him in the eyes. “So, what’s going on between you two?”
Austin’s breath hitched. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Dad. You two were kissing. You may not think so, but I listened when you gave me those talks about the birds and the bees and hormones. I remember the lectures on not kissing a boy until I was sure I really liked him and could picture a future with him. Does this mean you like Debbie?”
Of all the things for her to remember.
Yes, he liked Debbie. But he couldn’t see himself ever letting go of his pride enough to make it work between them. Her money would always be a sore spot with him.
“You’re not still waiting for mom to come back, are you?” Savvy asked quietly.
“No way.” He clasped Savvy’s hand. His heart hurt every time he thought about his eleven-year-old daughter’s tear-stained face as she handed him the note Cheyenne had left on their bed.
Just when Savvy was becoming a woman and needed her mother most, she learned that her mom didn’t want to be her mother anymore.
“Me either,” Savvy said resolutely.
Over the years, Austin and Savvy had discussed Cheyenne many times. Without bad-mouthing Cheyenne, he made sure Savvy knew her mom wasn’t rejecting her, she was simply searching for something that would bring her the kind of happiness she thought she wanted. It broke his heart that Savannah had memories—her brothers didn’t have—of a neglectful, often absent mother.
“It’s okay if you like Debbie,” Savvy said quietly.
“What?” Austin didn’t know what to make of her words.
Savvy shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but Austin could hardly breathe. “She’s really nice, and I think she’d make a good mom. I mean, she didn’t even hesitate to jump in the pool after Noah.” Savvy looked out the window. “She cried a little today when she talked about him.”
Austin cleared his throat. “She would be a good mom, but I’m not planning on getting involved with her. Or anyone, for that matter.”
Savvy turned back to him. “If you don’t like her, then why did you kiss her?”
Austin rubbed a hand over his face. “I do like her, but things aren’t that simple. Life is a lot more complicated when you’re an adult.”
Savvy rolled her eyes and reached for the door handle. “Whatever. You could uncomplicate it if you wanted to. Do you really want to end up all alone when me and the boys are gone?”
