Millionaire Daddy (Freeman Brothers 2)

Not that it was something I would want to readily admit to anyone, but it bothered me I didn’t know anything new about her life. I figured if we were going to be friends, that would mean getting to know each other better. That’s what friends were supposed to do. Share. I learned that one right there in kindergarten.

But I didn’t want to force it. She seemed very happy in her new position and was working hard every day, but there was still that feeling that if I crossed the line, she could leave again. That definitely wasn’t something I wanted. The first time she left wasn’t because of me. It was what she had planned all along. That didn’t change that I didn’t want her gone again, and I certainly didn’t want to be the cause of her being chased off the complex.

Since there was no way I could smoothly slip asking her about the phone calls into our conversations, I only really had one coping mechanism: extra workouts with Colby. Every morning I got up early and met him at the gym, and many nights I ended up back there again. It worked out well for me from two angles. Working out let me burn energy and work on my body so I could be trimmer, stronger, and in more control when I raced, which was the whole point of starting the workout program in the first place. It also gave me the chance to funnel my anger and jealousy into a useful outlet while also venting to Colby about everything that was going on.

To his credit, Colby had been an amazing friend throughout the whole thing. The extra business was good for him, and he wasn’t turning his nose up at me paying for the workouts, though I knew for a fact he wasn’t charging me as much as he would have charged anyone else for the amount of time I was spending in the gym and his professional services. Beyond that, he was always willing to listen to me ramble on and have arguments with myself about what was happening and how I was supposed to interpret it. He would give his input occasionally, but for the most part, he stayed quiet and just let me talk, throwing in an acknowledging sound or shake of his head when it felt appropriate.

He really deserved all the beer for how much I had been bitching.

14

Kelly

Being back in the garage working with my hands was even better than I thought it was going to be. I knew I was looking forward to getting back into the action again and had enjoyed my first few weeks, but I didn’t know just how fulfilling and exciting it was going to be to have a job to go to every day again. Of course, there were also parts of it that were even harder than I thought, too. It was more difficult to leave Willa every morning and be away from her all day than I’d prepared myself for. I knew I would miss her, and it would be a major change not being home with her every day like I had been since she was born. But I didn’t anticipate just how often I would think about her or how many times I would have tears spring to my eyes just because I was thinking about her and couldn’t go into the next room to give her a cuddle and a kiss.

At least she was doing well. For the first few days I was at work, Flora said she was lonely for me and asked for me a couple of times. But she quickly got into a routine and became accustomed to not having me around except for in the evening. She enjoyed the playtime and attention she got, especially after Flora had to leave for a school program and I replaced her with my next-door neighbor. I’d known about the upcoming study-abroad program from the beginning of her watching Willa, so it wasn’t a surprise when she had to leave, but I worried my little girl would get upset without her. Babysitters, nannies, and getting shuffled around from person to person wasn’t something she was used to. Ever since she was born, she was either with me, Kira, or my mother.

The neighbor next door, Pam, was a retired schoolteacher and had been sweet and welcoming when we moved in. She was the first person to come over and welcome me to my new home. Her plate of chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars was a glimpse at the friendliness and hospitality I was hoping I’d find in our new home, and since then she’d become a friend I looked forward to seeing. As the time came for Flora to leave, I approached Pam about watching Willa for a little bit while I looked for another care provider, and she immediately shut the idea down, saying she would be happy to watch her during the day. It was an incredible relief that I would never stop being grateful for. At least knowing Willa was at home with someone who cared about her and who she had so much fun with took some of the edge off being so sad being away from her. Our daily talks in the afternoon before I headed to lunch eased it as well.