“They’re not. Should they be?” she asks, curious.
“You gave them makeup.” My tone is accusing, and that’s okay because the girls sold her out, so we know she’s guilty.
“I did. They promised me they wouldn’t use it unsupervised.”
“Mom,” I groan. “They’re four.”
“But they are very smart for four.”
“You can’t give them makeup and not tell me about it. I need to keep it hidden, just like the Play-Doh. There are times for that kind of playtime. This morning when I have errands to run is not that time.”
She laughs. Laughs! “Calm down, Gray, it’s just a little makeup.”
“Tell that to my daughters who are covered in the shit and my poor bathroom.”
“Daddy, dats a bad word,” Hayden points out.
“Daddy slipped. I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“Dats okay.” Harlow forgives me for both of them.
“How about I come over and help?”
“You don’t have to. You’ve got sh—stuff to do as well.” I’m on edge because I have to go to the bank, the post office, and the grocery store. And I’m missing Laken something fierce.
“It’s fine. I was actually calling to tell you that you could drop them off earlier than planned. Your dad and I are headed to Billings, and we wanted to take the girls with us. I promised them a new outfit.”
“You spoil them,” I state the obvious.
“You’re damn right we do,” my dad chimes in.
“Hi, Dad. I didn’t know you were listening.”
“We’re already in the truck, son. We’ll see you in a few.”
I swallow my pride. “Thank you.”
“See you soon,” Mom says.
“Well, Nana and Pap are on their way over. So we better get this bath out of the way. Then, the two of you are going to give me all of your makeup.”
“Don’t frow it away, Daddy,” Hayden pleads.
“We wove it,” Harlow adds.
“I’m not going to throw it away. However, if you get into it again without permission and supervision, it will be in the trash. Got it?”
“Got it,” they reply.
A half an hour later, I’m in my truck and heading to town. My parents have the girls at my place. They found the makeup all over the bathroom amusing. I didn’t bother to remind them that if I had pulled a stunt like that when I was younger, I’d be grounded for life. It’s no use, not when it comes to my girls. They spoil them rotten. Normally, I’m okay with it, but makeup? Really? They’re four. I can’t believe Mom really thought that they wouldn’t use it unless supervised. She’s delusional.
Sighing, I make my way into the city limits of Mason Creek. My first stop is the post office. I need to mail a few bills that I can’t pay online, and I’m out of stamps. I keep my head down and don’t make eye contact with anyone. I don’t have time to chat. I need to get to the bank before it closes as well.
The drive-through is packed, so I opt to head inside. They won’t refuse to help me if I’m in the building. Yes, I know this from personal experience. The cool air conditioning hits me as I stand in line behind Tucker.
“Hey, man,” I greet him.
“What’s up, Gray?” he asks.
“Errands, you?”
“The same. One more after this. Gotta get my girl some ice cream.”
I nod. “I remember those days.” When Holly was pregnant with the girls, I was always making trips for anything and everything she might have had a craving for. That’s the least I could do.
“I saw your girl earlier,” he says nonchalantly.
“Oh, yeah?” I hope I sound casual. That’s what I’m going for. I don’t want to show him the jealousy that stirs in my gut. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this level of jealousy before.
He’s just making casual conversation. He doesn’t know I haven’t laid eyes on her since Wednesday. He doesn’t know I’m going crazy not seeing her or that tonight is date night. He doesn’t know I’m tempted to lock her away in my house and ravish her. I might want to do that, but I won’t. It’s bad enough we’re hiding us from the girls. I don’t want her in any way to think that she’s some dirty little secret.
He nods. “I stopped at One More Chapter and picked up a couple of books I asked Laken to order for me. Justine is reading all these mommy pregnancy books, and I feel like she’s learning things I need to brush up on my knowledge, so I asked Laken to order me some dad books,” he says, running his fingers through his hair.
“You’ll be fine, Tuck,” I tell him. “Trust me. If I can raise two on my own, you and Justine are going to kickass as a team of two for one baby. Besides, you already have a great teenager, you obviously know what you’re doing.”