But it’s the sweetest welcome I’ve ever been given.
Becauseshe’ssweet—and comes by it naturally.
Her dad is too.
Rhodes has been really busy with the team and I’ve been doing my best to give the pair space when heishome, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen how lovely he is with his daughter.
And it’s clear he’s been here, been involved her whole life.
He knows Chloe’s favorite things, knows her friends’ and teachers’ names, knows what shows she wants to watch and her favorite book and her favorite stuffed animal.
I’ve been nannying for years and let’s just say…
That’s sadly not the norm.
“Pancakes!”
I grin at her (it’s been pancakes every day for weeks now). “What shape should I attempt today?”
I’d made them to resemble a certain fictional mouse a few days ago and now her requests for pancake shapes have only grown—yesterday it was a turtle, today it’s?—
“A heart!”
Okay, wellthatI can do.
I mix up the batter, attempt a couple of hearts, then relinquish the cup I’ve been using to let her try her hand at making her own shapes.
It’s a mess—because she’s four, not because she’stryingto make a mess.
Her brow is furrowed as she concentrates, the tip of her tongue sticking out as she attempts a heart.
“That’s a good one,” I encourage.
She studies it closely then lifts the cup again. “I just need to practice.” A shrug of one little shoulder. “That’s what Coach Dee says, anyway.”
“That’s good advice.”
I’ve heardallabout Coach Dee, and I have to say, I’m in more than a little awe. We watched part of the Eagles preseason game last night and I spent more time watching her on the bench than absorbing the actual game. She’s inspiring—I love seeing women step into traditionally male roles and kicking ass along the way—and Chloe adores her.
As far as I’m concerned, Dee and I are friends now.
A thought I should probably keep to myself, considering I haven’t actually met her in person yet.
Well, I say po-tay-to, you say po-stalk-er.
Grinning, I dish up the pancakes, we eat, and then I’m driving Chloe to school.
Rhodes left earlier this morning for a meeting with his agent and then he has a full day of preparations for the season—a workout with the Eagles’ strength coach followed by practice with the team—so it’ll be just Chloe and me for the most part.
It’s been Chloe and me a lot.
Not that I mind. She’s a great kid and it’s been nice to settle into a routine—school drop-off and pickup, popping home for a snack, then hanging here for craft time or walking to the park nearby to get her wiggles out. After it’s an early dinner, alongbath (with an emphasis onlong), selecting the perfect pair of jammies, and then lying in bed reading book after book (usually we hit the same one atleastthree times), and then, finally, it’s bedtime.
Though, if the Eagles are on TV like they were last night, I’ve been sneaking in a period with Chloe so she can wish her dad goodnight before she heads off to Dreamland.
Maybe I should mention that to Rhodes—he and Chloe can come up with a signal for him to give her so she knows he’s thinking about her.
He’d totally do it.
