Only Her

“I wasn’t speeding Isaac. Was there a reason you pulled me over?”

“Sky, you pissed somebody off. I just wanted to warn you that we’ve been told if we catch you going one mile over the limit we’re to pull you over and ticket you.”

She knew who had told the officers of Haley Cove to do that. Tag was going to be vindictive because she didn’t return his feelings. Skylar, Brett and Isaac were in the same class together all through school. Tag was two years older. She shook her head sadly and glanced out the window at Isaac. “I get it. Thanks for the warning.”

He nodded. “Have a nice day Sky. Next time you decide to leave the house you might want to get dressed,” he teased her. She just sighed. Then he sauntered back to his car and climbed inside. Isaac turned off his lights and waited for her to pull away from the side of the road.

Skylar gave him one last look then she drove back onto the street and headed home. Home, where Luka Shaw waited with their daughter Ava.

**

Luka was trying to pay attention to Ava but his mind was on her mother. He couldn’t figure out where she went dressed in her pajamas with no driver’s license and no shoes on her feet. He couldn’t understand what had happened that made her run. She only did that when she was upset.

Skylar had always run to him though. When her mother said something upsetting to her. Skylar ran to him. When her father turned his back to her pain Skylar ran to Luka for comfort. Him or Brett. Maybe she went to Brett?

Luka had comforted her when her tears wouldn’t stop. They were going on another trip leaving her home with her three sisters to care for. She was only sixteen. Ramona only fourteen. Roxy twelve and Chloe seven. They left them money and told them they would be home in a week. They were going to another horse show.

Luka let her know that she was wanted by him. His family let all four girls know they were loved when her own parents were disinterested. His father was a bastard to everyone but these four girls. Luka shook his head clearing it of the memories that were clouding his mind. “Daddy, are you listening to me?” Ava asked.

They were sitting together at the breakfast table in the kitchen eating the food they had prepared together. Pancakes and bacon, Ava’s favorites. She was stuffing a piece of bacon in her mouth when he glanced down at her. He saw so much of himself in her. He wanted to turn back time and be there for both Skylar and Ava from the beginning. He wanted to hold his newborn baby in his arms.

It wasn’t possible though so leaned over on the chair where he was sitting and kissed her cheek. “I missed it sweetheart,” he told her. “What were you saying?”

“I have a soccer game tomorrow afternoon. Will you come watch me play?” She asked.

“Of course I will,” he promised.

“What do you do?” She asked him. She had been asking him questions all morning.

“Do you mean for work?”

She nodded as she downed several bites of pancakes. One eyebrow raised he gazed at his daughter with something akin to disgust. Her mouth was so full she looked like a chipmunk. Then he started telling her about what he had been doing with his life for the last ten years.

“Cage fighting? MMA?” She sounded skeptical as she repeated the words he was telling her about his job. “Did you get hurt?”

“Sometimes,” he told her. “Usually I won though.”

“So have you retired?” She asked uncertainly. “I don’t think we have MMA fighting in Haley Cove.”

He chuckled at her innocence. “No, we don’t. Yes, I have retired.”

“So what are you going to do now?”

“Get to know my daughter and drive her mother crazy,” he teased.

He didn’t know that Skylar was standing behind him. She cleared her throat both he and Ava both glanced over their shoulders at her.

“Momma, where’d you go in your pj’s?”

“I went to see Aunt Ramona.”

“In your pj’s? Why?”

“Because I needed to talk to her about something,” Skylar took a seat. “Did you two save me any food?” Luka handed her a piece of bacon. “Thanks,” she replied sarcastically.

Skylar munched on the bacon. The three of them were quiet; running out of things to say to each other. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence though. Maybe a little awkward but not uncomfortable. Finally, Ava piped up. “Momma, Daddy is coming to my soccer game tomorrow.”

“That is wonderful Ava. All four of your uncles are coming too and Grammy.”