Then she turned back around, and I continued brushing her hair, my hands moved automatically through the motions. Being so young, Gina didn’t know the effect of some of the things she said. And like when Mom asked about me and Noah, I had no idea what to say this time either.
Noah and Mom entered the house, and I turned my attention back to Gina’s hair. I smoothed it down with the brush and quickly twisted it into a loose braid. Lately, her hair started to go a little wild so keeping it back, even at night, helped with tangles.
“Daddy!” Gina said leaping off the bed.
Noah stood in
the doorway, and he smiled down at his daughter. He scooped her up into a hug and whirled her around.
“You smell good enough to eat,” he said then growled against her neck.
I couldn’t help but laugh as she squealed at him to let her down.
He pretended to bite her a few more times before he let her to the ground. She came over to the bed and hopped up again. “Daddy, I want to sleep with you tonight.”
Noah sobered then glanced at me.
I nodded but said nothing. I could go one night without sleeping with him. Besides, I knew when we got back, Noah’s time would be filled with work again. He needed this time with Gina for the both of them.
“Sure, honey,” he said then looked at me again. “Your mom wants to start up the barbecue but needs some matches. I’m going to hop in the shower and get this sand off me.”
“Okay,” I said, heading out of the room.
He touched my arm. “I’m going to set Gina in front of the television. Your mom wanted to speak with you privately.”
Of course, she did. Probably to tell me to knock off my attitude. I was right, and I planned on making that perfectly clear.
“Thanks,” I said.
Gina shoved passed us toward the living room.
I kissed Noah lightly on the lips.
He smiled. “What was that for?”
I shrugged. “Just because.” Then I headed into the kitchen for the matches before I lost my nerve.
Mom was cleaning the barbie when I got out there with the matches.
“Thanks, love,” she said, taking them from me.
“I want to talk to you about earlier,” I said, diving right in. I wanted this to be resolved before dinner as I didn’t want to leave us in an awkward position for our last night.
“Love, it’s a conversation you need to have,” she said.
“You need to stay out of my business.”
“This is no longer just your business.” She took the matches from my hand and clicked on the starter. “You brought a little girl into my life and like hell am I going to let you hurt her.”
“How am I going to hurt her?”
“You’re lying to her. And if things go badly between you and Noah, Gina is going to be heartbroken. It’s better to hash this all out now and save yourself heartache down the line.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m a big girl.” Yet why did she continually make me feel like a child? I wondered if that would ever stop. But as long as she was alive, she’d mother me until the day she died.
“All I’m saying is I want you to be careful and know what you’re getting into before Gina gets too attached to you.”
“It’s a little late for that, Mom,” I said.