“Yess!” She jumps up and down. “Let’s make whatever your favorite dinner is,” she exclaims, then pauses. “Well, as long as it’s not salmon. I hate salmon.”
Her excitement makes me laugh. Today is going to be entertaining. Exhausting but still fun. “I don’t like salmon either.”
She lets out a dramatic breath like she was scared I would say it was the best thing created.
Harrison is in the corner getting his personal items together. When he messaged that Robert was picking me up, he told me he would need to leave immediately.
“What are you doing?” Claud walks over to inspect.
“I’m leaving. You’re still okay with this, right?” Harrison whispers, crouching down to look her in the eyes. “If you’re not, it’s okay. Just tell me now.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m soooo excited.” She puts her hand in mine and swings our arms eagerly. I look down, not able to keep the smile off my face. “I was asking because you didn’t give Juliette a tour.” She huffs, annoyed, sounding more grown-up than she is.
Little does she know, I know this place like the back of my hand.
Harrison chuckles. “You can do it later. Come here, my precious angel,” he says, opening his arms.
She flings herself into him but keeps her hand in mine. Harrison glares at us, not missing her attachment.
Is this weird for him? I unlock our hands, feeling like I’m overstepping, and then walk into the kitchen while they say their goodbyes.
Right after, Harrison runs up the stairs, Claud following behind him. He’s late, so he’s hustling.
“Daddy! What the heck are you doing?” she cries.
“Claudina, I told you to stay in the kitchen.”
I hear her tears from here. “Don’t take those down. They’re my favorite ballerina pictures. What are you doing?” she screams again.
The second the words are out of her mouth, I’m up the steps, racing toward her room.
“Claud, it’s fine, angel. I am going to have them cleaned.”
“Harrison. No.”
His head snaps toward me, and I’m shaking my head frantically. “No. It’s fine, I’m fine.”
“You’re not, though,” he whispers. Claud’s head is bouncing between the two of us.
“Come on, sugar plum. Daddy will put them back while we go downstairs.” Luckily, she listens, sniffing and rubbing her eyes.
I turn back and mouth to put the pictures of me back in their place.
Warmth runs through me at the idea of him protecting my feelings, but taking pictures off a little girl’s bedroom wall also puts it into perspective that something needs to change for me.
Harrison returns to the kitchen, saying goodbye to Claud one last time. I can see he’s struggling, but he’ll be in trouble if he doesn’t leave now. “Bye, angel, finish your breakfast. I need to speak to Juliette before I leave,” he tells her, then points to the foyer.
When we’re out of earshot of Claud, I quickly ask what’s wrong, hoping he hasn’t changed his mind.
He lifts his muscular arm, reaching into the closet to grab his bag. I watch in awe as his biceps contract against his tightly-fitted shirt. I’m surprised they make shirts that can even fit him.
What do scrawny men do, swim in their shirts?
Who am I kidding? He gets these professionally made to fit him perfectly…and that they do.
“Jules.”
Rolling my lips, I attempt to hide my smile. “Sorry.”
