Rugged Daddy

“You’re welcome.”

“Do you want anything else to eat?” I asked.

“This is okay,” she said. But I could tell something was on her mind.

“Are you sure you slept okay last night?” I asked as I sat down.

“Mhm.”

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” I asked.

Her eyes trailed over to me, and my heart stopped. I knew it. She was confused about what was happening with her father and me. My body braced for impact and for the questions I knew would roll off the tip of her tongue. Did I need to go wake up Cameron? He should be here for this conversation so I didn’t stick my foot in my mouth.

“You’re like someone,” Audrey said.

I furrowed my brow as I studied her face. “Who am I like?”

She looked down the hallway, almost like she was afraid Cameron would come walking up on our conversation.

“It’s just you and me,” I said. “I promise anything you have to say to me is alright.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” I reached out and took her hand as a smile crossed her cheeks.

“You’re like the mommies at the park.”

I brought her hand to my lips to kiss before I released her grasp. “I’m glad I remind you of them.”

“Does that mean you’ll be my mommy?”

Shit. There it was. “I think that’s a question for your father.”

“He said it was up to you.”

I nearly choked. “When did he say that?”

But before she could answer, I heard Cameron’s low tones from down the hallway. Audrey clammed up and continued eating her breakfast as my mind swirled. I was touched by her sentiment, but I had no idea what to think. It sounded like she had already brought the issue up with her father, and he directed it back to me. Why?

I really needed to talk to him about this. Audrey was getting attached to me, as I was to her, and I still didn’t know where we all stood with what was going on.

I got up to fix Cameron a plate. I’d lost my appetite and no longer felt like eating. I set the plate on the table as he emerged from the hallway, but he looked terrible. There were bags underneath his eyes, and his skin had grown pale. He leaned against the wall like he needed the strongest support he could get to hold him up.

“You made breakfast,” he said.

“I did. Sit and eat.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not a problem, but you look like you could use some coffee.”

“Make a pot and stick a straw in it.”

I giggled at the idea as I turned the pot on.

Breakfast was relatively silent, and after shoveling in almost two whole plates of food, Audrey got down from her chair and ran off to her room. I reached for the orange juice to pour myself a glass but immediately felt a heavy presence behind me.

I turned around and took in Cameron’s form as he leaned against the kitchen island behind me.