Page 45 of Pucking Daddy

And suddenly, everything I do feels… insufficient.

Not enough.

I drag a hand through my hair again, pacing once more.

Schedules. Structure. Consistency.

I’ve built everything around that.

And it still might not be enough.

My chest tightens.

Across the room, Zara shifts slightly.

I glance at her.

And everything slows.

Because she’s standing there in my kitchen.

Already part of this space. Already part of Lily’s day.

Already—stable.

The thought slips in before I can stop it.

Lily likes her. And that’s not a small thing.

And Zara—

She’s incredible with Lily. I can already tell she cares about her. She stepped into the role like she’s been here for months.

It already feels like she belongs here.

I exhale slowly.

This is crazy. No—this is completely insane.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

And I don’t know that I have any other options.

My lawyer made it clear I don’t.

My brains spins through scenarios in record time.

What if this could really work? What if this is exactly what I need? What could help me keep my daughter safe?

I shake my head slightly, like I can physically dislodge the idea.

“Everything okay?” Zara asks.

Her voice is careful. Measured.

I look at her.

At the way she’s standing there, composed but alert. At the way her eyes search mine, not pushing, not demanding—just… present.