“Thank you, Harrison. You have no idea how much those words mean to me.” I run my hands through his stubble. “I think we were meant to meet and help each other.”
My thought is interrupted by movement on Harrison’s baby monitor, which I find adorable he still uses. He had told me once he kept it because Claudina would wake up and play independently, not wanting to disturb Harrison if he was still sleeping or working early in the morning.
Of course, Harrison doesn’t want to miss any Claud time.
“You better get dressed and get out there. Something tells me she won’t want to miss a second with you this morning. I’ll be right behind you.”
I pause in the doorway. “Harrison,” I call.
He turns, and his eyes shine bright as he smiles. “Yes, baby?”
“When I was younger, my dad told me.If he wants to…he will. I didn’t understand it at the time. You came back for me when I needed you the most. Thank you.”
I place my hand on my heart to show him how much I care.
Only words could never express how much.
19
Harrison
“Noooo,”Claud begs, clearly upset about the idea of Jules going home. She rarely acts like this when she doesn’t get her way. I’ve tried my hardest with her to teach limits so she doesn’t become a spoiled rich kid.
The Morales are billionaires, though they come from humble beginnings and have never let their kids forget it. Despite my parents’ generational wealth, Rosa didn’t treat me any differently, and I have always wanted to instill the same in Claudina.
When she doesn’t stop her whining, I intervene. “That’s enough, Claudina. What have I told you about that?”
She ignores me, which is a first. “Don’t go home, Juliette. Please come see my mommy with us!”
I still, and the room goes silent, except for Claud’s hopeful feet bouncing up and down.
Juliette glances at me and smiles softly, then crouches down so they’re eye to eye. “I can’t go today, sugar plum. Maybe Daddy can bring you in for a special treat later?”
“Come,” I spit quickly, without thinking. Then takes Jules’s arm to lift her upright, staring deep into her sultry brown eyes. “I’d like you to come with us.”
“Are you sure?” she whispers. “It’s okay if it’s not, Harrison. This is something personal between the two of you.”
“Please,” I beg.
Doesn’t she understand? It’s not just Claud and me anymore? It’s the three of us.
She hesitates. “Okay.” Then she turns to Claud. “Let’s go, sugar plum. I’d love to come meet your mom.”
Claud skips ahead, looking back every so often, smiling so bright she may burst. I knew she adored Jules, but this is some next-level shit.
She would only hold Jules’s hand when we crossed the street and changed her outfit twice so she could find the perfect skirt and white shirt,just like Jules.
“Daddy?” Claud calls. “Can we get lunch when we’re done?”
“At a restaurant? Or a dirty water dog in the park?” I ask, my attention focused on Jules.
She blushes, casting her eyes down, hiding a smile.
“I don’t want dirty dogs. Gross!” She scrunches up her nose in disgust while Jules and I laugh.
“It’s what us New Yorkers call hot dogs. We get them from those stands, sugar plum.” Jules points to the cart in front of us, selling hotdogs and pretzels.
Claud shakes her head like she can’t believe it and runs off again.
