The moment Blessing had waited for had finally arrived. As soon as her cousin Lacey came home from boarding school, she threw her arms around the other girl, sobbing with relief.
Lacey squeezed Blessing just as tightly, making Blessing wonder if her cousin had missed her just as desperately.
"I'm so glad you're home!" Blessing exclaimed.
"I'm so glad, too," Lacey agreed fervently. "I thought I would never get here. The drive lasted forever!"
"Well, you're here now, and boy, I wish I had a million years to tell you everything that's happened since you left."
Lacey was immediately interested. "Ooooh, like what?"
"Well, for starters, Bram's birthday party was so boring. None of my friends were here. Mom said it was 'his night' and that I should be happy for him and not think only about myself. But she just doesn't understand how lonely I've been." Blessing rolled her eyes to emphasize her point. "And talking about Bram, he's such a baby still. All he wants to do is play rock, paper, scissors."
"We're way too grown up for that," Lacey readily agreed.
Lacey squeezed Blessing just as tightly, making Blessing wonder if her cousin had missed her just as desperately.
"I'm so glad you're home!" Blessing exclaimed.
"I'm so glad, too," Lacey agreed fervently. "I thought I would never get here. The drive lasted forever!"
"Well, you're here now, and boy, I wish I had a million years to tell you everything that's happened since you left."
Lacey was immediately interested. "Ooooh, like what?"
"Well, for starters, Bram's birthday party was so boring. None of my friends were here. Mom said it was 'his night' and that I should be happy for him and not think only about myself. But she just doesn't understand how lonely I've been." Blessing rolled her eyes to emphasize her point. "And talking about Bram, he's such a baby still. All he wants to do is play rock, paper, scissors."
"We're way too grown up for that," Lacey readily agreed.
"Exactly! I knew you'd understand!"
"Well, we are the same age," Lacey agreed. "And I have a secret."
Blessing squealed with excitement. The two girls put their heads together and lowered their voices.
"It has to stay our secret."
"I won't tell anyone," Blessing promised, crossing her heart with her fingertip.
"I think I like a boy," Lacey whispered. "His name is Andy and he is so dreamy. He's a couple grades higher, but he is just the cutest!"
Blessing gasped but then giggled. She hadn't thought much about boys yet, but she had been intrigued when other girls had said a certain boy appealed to them.
"Well, we are the same age," Lacey agreed. "And I have a secret."
Blessing squealed with excitement. The two girls put their heads together and lowered their voices.
"It has to stay our secret."
"I won't tell anyone," Blessing promised, crossing her heart with her fingertip.
"I think I like a boy," Lacey whispered. "His name is Andy and he is so dreamy. He's a couple grades higher, but he is just the cutest!"
Blessing gasped but then giggled. She hadn't thought much about boys yet, but she had been intrigued when other girls had said a certain boy appealed to them.
"That's really cool," Blessing said, trying to appear as grown up as Lacey sounded to her. "I don't like anyone right now, but I bet I will soon."
"Oh, it's no big deal. I mean, he doesn't like me back. I just think he's cute. He's smart, too."
Smiling, Blessing thought about what it might be like to have a crush on a boy who was a little bit older and cute. What happens after that? she wondered. But she was too intimidated to ask Lacey that question just now. What if Lacey thought Blessing was the baby, not Bram?
"Oh, it's no big deal. I mean, he doesn't like me back. I just think he's cute. He's smart, too."
Smiling, Blessing thought about what it might be like to have a crush on a boy who was a little bit older and cute. What happens after that? she wondered. But she was too intimidated to ask Lacey that question just now. What if Lacey thought Blessing was the baby, not Bram?
"But don't tell my dad, okay?" Lacey continued. "I'm sure he wouldn't like to know this. He'd probably get really weird about it."
"I think he would, too," Blessing agreed.
"Besides," Lacey said, "it's not like I'm going to see Andy ever again." She sighed as she thought about it. "I'm happy to be home, don't get me wrong, but I think I'll miss him just a little."
"I understand," Blessing confided, although, she really didn't. "He probably lives far away."
Lacey nodded. "Yeah. He does, I think. And he's staying at school until he graduates. And you know how far away the school is."
"It's okay. You'll find boys to like at our school."
Grinning and giggling again, Lacey said, "And maybe if I find one I like, you can introduce me to him."
"I can try," Blessing said doubtfully. She didn't really hang out with any boys. And the boys she knew didn't really hang out with girls either. Frowning a little, Blessing thought that perhaps the school Lacey had gone to had changed her somewhat. Which brought up what she'd been worried about all along. "I have a secret, too. Only it isn't a funny or good one."
"You can tell me."
"I know. I've been waiting and waiting for you to get home so I could tell you." She bit her bottom lip as it quivered with emotion. "I was thinking about how every kid in our family gets sent away to boarding school. First Gracie, then you. Gilbert wanted to go, so he doesn't count, I guess. But what if I get sent away? I think I'd die. And here I am, next in line."
"Aw, don't worry," Lacey soothed as she pulled her cousin into another tight hug. "First of all, I went to boarding school and I didn't die, did I? I didn't want to go, but I found out that I liked it all right." She let go of Blessing and stepped back to look into her eyes. "Besides, I don't think you're going to get sent away."
"You don't?" Blessing asked.
Lacey shook her head. "Nope. I overheard your mom and my dad talking in the car. They thought I was listening to my music. I did have my earbuds in, but the song had finished. When I heard them say your name, I turned the next song down so I could hear what they were saying about you."
"And what were they saying?" Blessing asked with baited breath.
"I didn't hear the whole thing, but they were talking about how Gracie and your mom had a lot of problems but that they were glad it was all better now."
"Well, what does that have to do with me?"
"Because Aunt Livvy said that she hated sending Gracie away just as much as Gracie hated being sent away. I think you're safe."
Blessing let out a sigh of relief. She sure hoped so.
"I think he would, too," Blessing agreed.
"Besides," Lacey said, "it's not like I'm going to see Andy ever again." She sighed as she thought about it. "I'm happy to be home, don't get me wrong, but I think I'll miss him just a little."
"I understand," Blessing confided, although, she really didn't. "He probably lives far away."
Lacey nodded. "Yeah. He does, I think. And he's staying at school until he graduates. And you know how far away the school is."
"It's okay. You'll find boys to like at our school."
Grinning and giggling again, Lacey said, "And maybe if I find one I like, you can introduce me to him."
"I can try," Blessing said doubtfully. She didn't really hang out with any boys. And the boys she knew didn't really hang out with girls either. Frowning a little, Blessing thought that perhaps the school Lacey had gone to had changed her somewhat. Which brought up what she'd been worried about all along. "I have a secret, too. Only it isn't a funny or good one."
"You can tell me."
"I know. I've been waiting and waiting for you to get home so I could tell you." She bit her bottom lip as it quivered with emotion. "I was thinking about how every kid in our family gets sent away to boarding school. First Gracie, then you. Gilbert wanted to go, so he doesn't count, I guess. But what if I get sent away? I think I'd die. And here I am, next in line."
"Aw, don't worry," Lacey soothed as she pulled her cousin into another tight hug. "First of all, I went to boarding school and I didn't die, did I? I didn't want to go, but I found out that I liked it all right." She let go of Blessing and stepped back to look into her eyes. "Besides, I don't think you're going to get sent away."
"You don't?" Blessing asked.
Lacey shook her head. "Nope. I overheard your mom and my dad talking in the car. They thought I was listening to my music. I did have my earbuds in, but the song had finished. When I heard them say your name, I turned the next song down so I could hear what they were saying about you."
"And what were they saying?" Blessing asked with baited breath.
"I didn't hear the whole thing, but they were talking about how Gracie and your mom had a lot of problems but that they were glad it was all better now."
"Well, what does that have to do with me?"
"Because Aunt Livvy said that she hated sending Gracie away just as much as Gracie hated being sent away. I think you're safe."
Blessing let out a sigh of relief. She sure hoped so.
By that evening, Bram, Blessing and Lacey were enjoying the pool. The girls were already in the water, splashing and playing. But Bram stood at the edge with his orange arm floaties on. His mother and Uncle John were just a few steps away, but he was very unsure of himself. To make matters worse, the girls had noticed he hadn't gotten in yet.
"Come on, Bram!" Blessing shouted. "It'll be dark soon and then they'll tell us we have to get out. Don't be such a baby, jump in!"
Bram puffed up his chest in defiance. He was awfully tired of hearing about what a baby he was. He may still be very young, but he had just had a birthday. His big sister wasn't going to get the best of him this time.
"Come on, Bram!" Blessing shouted. "It'll be dark soon and then they'll tell us we have to get out. Don't be such a baby, jump in!"
Bram puffed up his chest in defiance. He was awfully tired of hearing about what a baby he was. He may still be very young, but he had just had a birthday. His big sister wasn't going to get the best of him this time.
Surprisingly, the girls, in their matching bathing suits, clapped and cheered him on as he slowly slid from the edge on his bottom into the water. It felt nice on this hot and sticky day.
The arm floaties kept him above water nicely, too, which helped boost his confidence. He quickly glanced in the direction of his mom and Uncle John, making certain they were still there. He hoped the girls didn't notice.
"Bram, paddle this way!" Blessing encouraged.
"You're doing so good!" Lacey beamed as Bram awkwardly propelled himself in their direction.
Maybe the giggly girls weren't so bad after all.
The arm floaties kept him above water nicely, too, which helped boost his confidence. He quickly glanced in the direction of his mom and Uncle John, making certain they were still there. He hoped the girls didn't notice.
"Bram, paddle this way!" Blessing encouraged.
"You're doing so good!" Lacey beamed as Bram awkwardly propelled himself in their direction.
Maybe the giggly girls weren't so bad after all.
The three children spent the rest of the evening teaching Bram how to float on his back and what they knew about swimming. Before long, he was making proper swimming strokes and truly enjoying himself.
Olivia took her sunglasses off as the sun began to go down. "I've been meaning to ask you something."
John only half heard her as he watched the children in the pool. "Do you think we should get them out?"
"They're fine for a few more minutes. Are you even listening to me?"
He turned toward her, smiling slightly. "Sorry. I guess I'm a little preoccupied."
"You have been that way for some time, I've noticed." When his only response was to raise an eyebrow, she continued. "Okay, I'm just going to say it."
"Please do," he urged. He hated guessing games. Why didn't people just simply say what they meant?
"Okay, I will." She paused as she thought about her wording. The last thing she wanted to do was to irritate him and keep him from opening up to her. "Well... the other night, I couldn't sleep. When I went out onto my balcony to get some fresh air, I saw a dark haired woman leaving your apartment."
"Oh."
"Oh? That's all you're going to say?" When he still didn't respond, she said, "John, was it Elisa? I couldn't tell."
"No," he groaned.
John only half heard her as he watched the children in the pool. "Do you think we should get them out?"
"They're fine for a few more minutes. Are you even listening to me?"
He turned toward her, smiling slightly. "Sorry. I guess I'm a little preoccupied."
"You have been that way for some time, I've noticed." When his only response was to raise an eyebrow, she continued. "Okay, I'm just going to say it."
"Please do," he urged. He hated guessing games. Why didn't people just simply say what they meant?
"Okay, I will." She paused as she thought about her wording. The last thing she wanted to do was to irritate him and keep him from opening up to her. "Well... the other night, I couldn't sleep. When I went out onto my balcony to get some fresh air, I saw a dark haired woman leaving your apartment."
"Oh."
"Oh? That's all you're going to say?" When he still didn't respond, she said, "John, was it Elisa? I couldn't tell."
"No," he groaned.
"Why don't you just tell me what's going on?"
"Why do you have to know everything?" he countered.
She raised her arms in exasperation. "And why is this a secret?"
"Why do you have to know everything?" he countered.
She raised her arms in exasperation. "And why is this a secret?"
He lowered his voice before speaking. The last thing he wanted was for Lacey or one of the other children to hear what he was about to say.
"I've been seeing someone, yes," he admitted. "But we're not ready to go public with it yet. Okay?"
She hesitated before answering. Although they had been close their entire lives, she knew that if she pressed him too hard for information, he would close up.
"Yeah, okay," she said calmly even though inside she was screaming a thousand questions at him. "May I at least know her name?"
"Her name is June," he said firmly, making it very clear with his tone that that was the only question he would tolerate.
"I've been seeing someone, yes," he admitted. "But we're not ready to go public with it yet. Okay?"
She hesitated before answering. Although they had been close their entire lives, she knew that if she pressed him too hard for information, he would close up.
"Yeah, okay," she said calmly even though inside she was screaming a thousand questions at him. "May I at least know her name?"
"Her name is June," he said firmly, making it very clear with his tone that that was the only question he would tolerate.
Before calling the kids out of the pool, she gently touched his arm. "John, wait."
He turned toward her again.
"I just wanted you to know how much I love you. You're such a good brother to me and a great uncle to my kids. You know that's the only reason I ever act so curious about what's going on with you. I really care."
Without hesitation, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her cheek. "I love you, too, Sis. And I know that. When I'm ready to talk about it, you'll be the one I go to, just like always."
He turned toward her again.
"I just wanted you to know how much I love you. You're such a good brother to me and a great uncle to my kids. You know that's the only reason I ever act so curious about what's going on with you. I really care."
Without hesitation, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her cheek. "I love you, too, Sis. And I know that. When I'm ready to talk about it, you'll be the one I go to, just like always."
Jasper surprised Olivia at work the next evening. As she was coming out of City Hall where her office was, she found him standing outside the building beside a black stretch limo.
With an expression of complete delight, she embraced him. "What is this?"
"I am going to wine and dine you tonight. Is that okay with you?" he grinned from ear to ear at her.
"Well, I definitely accept your offer of a night out," she laughed.
With an expression of complete delight, she embraced him. "What is this?"
"I am going to wine and dine you tonight. Is that okay with you?" he grinned from ear to ear at her.
"Well, I definitely accept your offer of a night out," she laughed.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Jasper was displeased to see that Jebidiah Wilson was outside on the patio, with another woman Jasper had never seen, no less. Jasper crassly wondered where Jeb's previous woman had gone to.
"I need to use the restroom," Olivia whispered candidly.
"Go on in, honey," Jasper said as he realized she hadn't seen Jebidiah.
After Olivia entered the building, Jasper could contain himself no longer. He approached Jebidiah swiftly, surprising both Jeb and the woman he was with.
"I need to use the restroom," Olivia whispered candidly.
"Go on in, honey," Jasper said as he realized she hadn't seen Jebidiah.
After Olivia entered the building, Jasper could contain himself no longer. He approached Jebidiah swiftly, surprising both Jeb and the woman he was with.
After Jasper had confronted him rather rudely, Jebidiah played innocent.
"I honestly don't know what you're so upset about. We've gone over all of this before."
Jeb obviously didn't want this new woman to know what kind of a man he truly was, Jasper thought.
"Have we?" Jasper countered. "Because I could have sworn you threatened Olivia's life. You should be in prison!"
"I honestly don't know what you're so upset about. We've gone over all of this before."
Jeb obviously didn't want this new woman to know what kind of a man he truly was, Jasper thought.
"Have we?" Jasper countered. "Because I could have sworn you threatened Olivia's life. You should be in prison!"
Jeb's face turned red. "Now wait a minute," he snarled as he threw his hands up in the air, "I said some things in anger that I normally wouldn't. Everyone's guilty of doing that before!"
Jasper put his index finger in Jeb's face and growled back at him, "You threatened her life and you will pay for it, trust me on that!"
"I'm not standing here and taking this!" Jeb yelled as he grabbed his date's elbow roughly and propelled her toward the parking lot. "We'll go somewhere else."
Jasper glared after them as they got into their car. He didn't move or look away until their car was down the road, out of sight.
Jasper put his index finger in Jeb's face and growled back at him, "You threatened her life and you will pay for it, trust me on that!"
"I'm not standing here and taking this!" Jeb yelled as he grabbed his date's elbow roughly and propelled her toward the parking lot. "We'll go somewhere else."
Jasper glared after them as they got into their car. He didn't move or look away until their car was down the road, out of sight.
Olivia was all smiles when they got home after their date. She hadn't been out alone with Jasper for what seemed like forever. To top it all off, not a single person had bothered them. It was as if the public was aware that they needed privacy and she appreciated being left alone for one night.
"I had such a good time. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening," she murmured.
"I had such a good time. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening," she murmured.
But her smile was quick to disappear when he responded, "Liv, the reason I did all of this tonight was because I don't want you to forget how much I want to marry you."
"Jasper - " she began, but he interrupted.
" - No, don't say anything just yet. I realize you're not ready to make this decision right now. I just don't understand why anymore. I was hoping tonight would remind you that we still have a future together."
"Jasper - " she began, but he interrupted.
" - No, don't say anything just yet. I realize you're not ready to make this decision right now. I just don't understand why anymore. I was hoping tonight would remind you that we still have a future together."
"Of course we do," she assured. But her expression was downcast. "You know, I hate to say it, but I feel a little annoyed that this wonderful night you planned has strings attached."
"No!" he blurted. "It's not like that at all, you have to believe me. I don't want an answer tonight... Well, I do, but I don't expect one. I'm trying to tell you that I just want to understand your reluctance."
Her expression softened and didn't appear as strained. "I can understand that. I really can. Don't get me wrong. I will marry you, Jasper. I will."
"But?" he asked softly, afraid of the answer.
"But until we can talk about certain things, I can't think about marrying you. Not right now."
"You're talking about Winter," he surmised.
"Yes. You refuse to speak calmly to me about her. It's something we just don't seem to see eye to eye on."
"Is that such a crime? How many couples, married or not, see eye to eye on everything?"
"But this is our daughter. And I can't help it, she is my first concern. And I am concerned."
"Sweetheart, I know you are. Do you think I never wonder about how it is going to be for her? But she'll be okay."
"How do you know?" Olivia asked. "You weren't a ghost your entire life. You got to live a normal life. Tell me honestly, wouldn't you want that normalcy back if there was a way?"
He thought about it for a moment and had to admit that she was right. "Yes. That is true."
"Then quit giving me a hard time and help me. You're an investigative reporter, for pete's sake. Can't you help me discover what it is that will help our daughter?"
"No!" he blurted. "It's not like that at all, you have to believe me. I don't want an answer tonight... Well, I do, but I don't expect one. I'm trying to tell you that I just want to understand your reluctance."
Her expression softened and didn't appear as strained. "I can understand that. I really can. Don't get me wrong. I will marry you, Jasper. I will."
"But?" he asked softly, afraid of the answer.
"But until we can talk about certain things, I can't think about marrying you. Not right now."
"You're talking about Winter," he surmised.
"Yes. You refuse to speak calmly to me about her. It's something we just don't seem to see eye to eye on."
"Is that such a crime? How many couples, married or not, see eye to eye on everything?"
"But this is our daughter. And I can't help it, she is my first concern. And I am concerned."
"Sweetheart, I know you are. Do you think I never wonder about how it is going to be for her? But she'll be okay."
"How do you know?" Olivia asked. "You weren't a ghost your entire life. You got to live a normal life. Tell me honestly, wouldn't you want that normalcy back if there was a way?"
He thought about it for a moment and had to admit that she was right. "Yes. That is true."
"Then quit giving me a hard time and help me. You're an investigative reporter, for pete's sake. Can't you help me discover what it is that will help our daughter?"
"You know," he began, "for the first time, I think I understand where you're coming from. All along, I thought you were just upset that she's a ghost and not 'normal.' But now I see why this is so important."
Olivia felt relief coursing through her body. Oh how she love this man. "So you'll help me?"
He nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, I'll help you. We'll do this together - whatever it takes."
Olivia felt relief coursing through her body. Oh how she love this man. "So you'll help me?"
He nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, I'll help you. We'll do this together - whatever it takes."
Blessing had just finished putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. And there was Bram again, asking her to play his rock, paper, scissors game again.
"Can't you see I'm doing grown up stuff right now?"
He frowned. "I wanna be a grown up, too."
"Well, you can't. You're too little."
"I'm almost as big as you," he reasoned.
"You can't play chess," she reminded him.
"I know," he sulked. "But maybe you can teach me."
"It's way too complicated for someone as little as you."
"I said I'm not little," he insisted.
She had to admit that he seemed to be getting taller every day. Soon, she realized, he'd leave her in the dust and she would possibly end up being much shorter than he was.
"Can't you see I'm doing grown up stuff right now?"
He frowned. "I wanna be a grown up, too."
"Well, you can't. You're too little."
"I'm almost as big as you," he reasoned.
"You can't play chess," she reminded him.
"I know," he sulked. "But maybe you can teach me."
"It's way too complicated for someone as little as you."
"I said I'm not little," he insisted.
She had to admit that he seemed to be getting taller every day. Soon, she realized, he'd leave her in the dust and she would possibly end up being much shorter than he was.
It was then that she suddenly understood that someday her little brother may not ask to do anything with her at all. What if one day he decided he was too busy or grown up for her?
"Oh all right," she said, pretending to still be annoyed, although she wasn't any longer. "I'll play."
She couldn't help but smile a tiny bit when she saw his eyes light up just because she had agreed to spend a little time with him doing something as simple as this silly game. He was still a baby in her mind, but maybe he wasn't as bad as she had been thinking.
"Oh all right," she said, pretending to still be annoyed, although she wasn't any longer. "I'll play."
She couldn't help but smile a tiny bit when she saw his eyes light up just because she had agreed to spend a little time with him doing something as simple as this silly game. He was still a baby in her mind, but maybe he wasn't as bad as she had been thinking.
After getting into her pajamas and sliding her feet into her favorite kitty cat slippers, Lacey looked around the two story apartment for her father. She found him in his bedroom.
"Goodnight, Daddy," she said as she entered the room.
He hugged her and kissed the top of her little blond head. "Good night, sweetie-pie. I love you."
"I love you, too. But, Daddy, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Goodnight, Daddy," she said as she entered the room.
He hugged her and kissed the top of her little blond head. "Good night, sweetie-pie. I love you."
"I love you, too. But, Daddy, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Sure, go ahead, pumpkin."
She stared at her slippered feet in response.
John became concerned. "Honey, what is it? You've always been able to talk to me before."
"I know. It's just... this is different."
It hadn't occurred to him until that moment how grown up she had become. Whether it had been being away from home that had done it or whether it was due to her age, he didn't know. He only knew something was very different about her.
"Well, I guess all you need to do is spit it out," he encouraged.
She waited again before proceeding. "I couldn't help but notice that Elisa hasn't been around."
He sucked in air at her statement, making a small noise. "Oh. Uh, yeah. I was going to tell you, but honestly, I didn't know how you'd react." He paused, trying to read her expression, but she was still looking at the floor and he couldn't fully see her face. "You see... um, she and I thought it would be a good idea to not see each other anymore."
"You guys broke up?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm really sorry if this hurts your feelings. Are you okay?"
She shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, I didn't know her very well. You really didn't let me see her too much."
"I know. That was on purpose. To protect you."
"Well, there's something else. When we were playing in the pool, I heard you and Aunt Livvy say something about a lady named June. Is she your girlfriend?"
He groaned inwardly. This kid had ears like a bat. "Okay, you deserve me to be straight with you. Yes, I've been dating a lady named June."
"And when will I meet her? I want to see if she's right for you, Daddy."
He smiled at her and tousled her pigtails. "I understand, but that's not going to happen so get it out of your head."
"I should be able to know who you're dating," she grumbled.
He shook his head. "Nope, sorry."
"Well, why not? I'm not a little kid anymore."
"I know you're not. But it's just a thing I have, okay? You'll have to bear with me." When she crinkled her nose at him, he explained, "Supposing you had gotten to know Elisa really well and had even begun to like her - no, what if you had begun to like her so much, you just loved her to pieces?"
Lacey shrugged.
"Well, if that had happened and then I told you Elisa and I weren't dating anymore, you'd have been really sad and upset, right? It would have hurt you."
"Yeah, I guess it would've," she agreed.
"That's why you're not going to meet June. Not for a very long time. I don't want you getting attached to someone who may not be around forever. June and I haven't been seeing each other long enough to know how this is going to go just yet. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but I still think I should have some say."
"I know, but in this type of situation, you're just going to have to trust that I'm not going to expose you to something that might hurt you."
"Even though I'm almost a grown up teenager?" she asked.
She stared at her slippered feet in response.
John became concerned. "Honey, what is it? You've always been able to talk to me before."
"I know. It's just... this is different."
It hadn't occurred to him until that moment how grown up she had become. Whether it had been being away from home that had done it or whether it was due to her age, he didn't know. He only knew something was very different about her.
"Well, I guess all you need to do is spit it out," he encouraged.
She waited again before proceeding. "I couldn't help but notice that Elisa hasn't been around."
He sucked in air at her statement, making a small noise. "Oh. Uh, yeah. I was going to tell you, but honestly, I didn't know how you'd react." He paused, trying to read her expression, but she was still looking at the floor and he couldn't fully see her face. "You see... um, she and I thought it would be a good idea to not see each other anymore."
"You guys broke up?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm really sorry if this hurts your feelings. Are you okay?"
She shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, I didn't know her very well. You really didn't let me see her too much."
"I know. That was on purpose. To protect you."
"Well, there's something else. When we were playing in the pool, I heard you and Aunt Livvy say something about a lady named June. Is she your girlfriend?"
He groaned inwardly. This kid had ears like a bat. "Okay, you deserve me to be straight with you. Yes, I've been dating a lady named June."
"And when will I meet her? I want to see if she's right for you, Daddy."
He smiled at her and tousled her pigtails. "I understand, but that's not going to happen so get it out of your head."
"I should be able to know who you're dating," she grumbled.
He shook his head. "Nope, sorry."
"Well, why not? I'm not a little kid anymore."
"I know you're not. But it's just a thing I have, okay? You'll have to bear with me." When she crinkled her nose at him, he explained, "Supposing you had gotten to know Elisa really well and had even begun to like her - no, what if you had begun to like her so much, you just loved her to pieces?"
Lacey shrugged.
"Well, if that had happened and then I told you Elisa and I weren't dating anymore, you'd have been really sad and upset, right? It would have hurt you."
"Yeah, I guess it would've," she agreed.
"That's why you're not going to meet June. Not for a very long time. I don't want you getting attached to someone who may not be around forever. June and I haven't been seeing each other long enough to know how this is going to go just yet. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but I still think I should have some say."
"I know, but in this type of situation, you're just going to have to trust that I'm not going to expose you to something that might hurt you."
"Even though I'm almost a grown up teenager?" she asked.
"Are you still too grown up for this?" he asked, making his funniest face at her. As a child, making that face had always left her bent over in uncontrollable laughter.
It still worked, he found. And now, she even made a face back at him.
It still worked, he found. And now, she even made a face back at him.
"You're a good kid, Lacey," he said with true adoration for this child.
"And you're a good dad, too," she smiled.
"And you're a good dad, too," she smiled.