25
Jude
Jesus fucking Christ. I stood in the middle of Petal’s small apartment alone. April had just given me goodbye sex and expected me to go along with it. And, I was beginning to think I would. I was sick and tired of being the only one trying to salvage what we’d lost. I’d wanted to regain her love before I knew about Maya, but now that I did know we had a daughter, I’d wanted it all. April, Maya, a family. But clearly, April didn’t.
I stalked out of the apartment, and instead of going through the main part of the bakery to exit, I left through the back door off the kitchen. I didn’t want to see Petal.
The good news, I supposed, was that April planned to bring Maya to visit with me. At least she wasn’t trying to get in the way of me spending time with my daughter. I realized I didn’t have a lot of food or toys, so I ran out to pick some up. I did a quick Google search for home made science experiments too since she enjoyed science.
I’d just put the groceries away when April arrived with Maya.
“Hi daddy!” Maya rushed in jumping into my arms. I savored her enthusiasm and love for me. I wanted more. I wanted April too, but this, my child wrapping her little arms around me and kissing my cheek, it was hard to feel sorry for myself.
“Hey sweetie.” I held her tight for a moment and then shifted her on my hip as I looked at April.
“I brought her a change of clothes, in case you want to have her overnight.”
I studied her. “What’s going on April?”
“I just have things to take care of. I can come back later tonight to get her if you want…I just thought—”
“She can stay.”
“Yay! Can we make crazy cakes tomorrow?” Maya’s hands pressed my cheeks, pulling my head to look at her.
“Whatever you want,” I said. I’d find a way to give her the fucking moon if I could.
“I’ll pick her up tomorrow to take her to camp.”
“Then you’ll be at work?” I remembered this whole afternoon started by my hunting her down after her resignation.
She looked down. “It’s better for everyone if I don’t.”
A string of expletives rattled in my brain, but I held them back so Maya didn’t hear them.
“We can talk later,” April said.
Yeah, like we did earlier, I thought.
“You have fun with your daddy, okay baby?”
“’k mama.”
Like a flash, April was gone.
“Do you like pizza?” I asked Maya, pushing my irritation at April aside so I could focus on what was important at this moment.
“You know I do, daddy.”
“Have you ever made pizza?”
Her blue eyes twinkled. “Are we going to make pizza?”
“If you want to, yes. The dough and all.” I set her down and she ran to the kitchen. “Plus if you want, I got some stuff for us to do science experiments.”
Her eyes and mouth rounded. “Really?”
“I bought things to make a rocket balloon, rock candy, and slime.”