The Daddy Box Set

“Great, actually. She’s been here before, but they were always rush in and rush out kind of visits. We spent all day Saturday wandering around, and it was really nice. I haven’t spent any real time with my mom like that since I was in junior high. You know, before I got too cool to go anywhere with my horrible, ogre-like mother who was so embarrassing,” she joked.

I had to laugh. “Isn’t it funny how we all go through similar stages? We love our parents and can’t be away from them, then we hate them for a while, and by the time we want them back in our lives, they are far away or gone for good.”

“Are your parents around?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No. We lost them both in a car accident about six years ago. It was pretty rough on Jake. He had just graduated high school.”

She looked sad. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting one of her hands on my own. “I can’t imagine that. You’ve really been through a lot.”

I shrugged. “I really wasn’t all that close to my parents. I mean, I loved them, and it was horrible of course, but it wasn’t life-shattering. Now, I sometimes wish I could call them up and chat or visit, but—well, it is what it is.”

“I suppose. I’m glad I have my mom,” she said, standing and clearing the table.

“I can do that. Sit down; you’re my guest,” I told her.

“Nope, you cooked breakfast, I’ll clean up.”

I looked at her, standing in my kitchen, with the sun streaming in through the window over the sink and highlighting her golden hair. How had I been so lucky to have her in my life? She was truly an angel sent to me to pull me out of those dark days.

“You keep looking at me like that and these dishes aren’t going to get done,” she said, with a coy smile.

I laughed. “Sorry, but you’re gorgeous.”

I watched the beautiful blush spread over her face and down her neck at my words. It only took a few minutes for the kitchen to be back in order.

“Stay,” I said when it looked like she would leave.

She shrugged. “Okay. I can stay for a bit.”

I grabbed her hand and led her to the couch where Dexter was sitting.

“This is the cat? You didn’t say he was half mountain lion. The thing is a beast!” she exclaimed.

Dexter thumped his tail and meowed, expressing his opinion of her assessment.

“Is he going to attack me?” she said, concern in her voice.

“Ignore him,” I told her pulling her down to sit next to me. We left Dexter to his own side of the couch where he eyed us with a great deal of suspicion.

“What were you doing when you called earlier?” she asked.

I laughed, a little embarrassed. “Running.”

“Like from a bear or on purpose?” she asked, with a slightly horrified look on her face.

“On purpose. No bears in the neighborhood that I know of. I used to run every morning, but I got out of the habit of doing it. I’m hoping to pick it up again. Turns out I actually enjoy running,” I told her. She didn’t look like she believed me.

“That’s cool, I guess, but please don’t ask me to go with you—ever. I can handle some yoga and maybe a few minutes on a treadmill, but I’m not the kind of girl you will ever see actually running,” she joked.

I pulled her into me. “Good to know and I’ll keep that in mind. You don’t need to run anyway; your body is absolutely perfect just the way it is.”

She reached up and kissed me. “Thank you.”

I sighed in contentment and leaned back on the couch, relishing the feel of her beside me. It felt right.

Chapter Thirty

Tessa