I left them to explore the partly done building. The back office was nearly complete and they remained back there for a while.
Outside, I took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air. Sweaty from working inside, I wore one of the bulldog shirts Winnie liked. Yet the cold air had me thinking to get my long sleeve shirt. I was ready to return inside when I noticed Tad walking my direction.
Crossing my arms to deal with the cold, I shared his smile. No matter his niceties, the guy scared me because he could snap his fingers and end my life. Or just ruin me by taking away Winnie.
“You have a minute?” he asked.
“Is everything okay?”
Giving a quick nod, Tad looked around then focused his icy gaze on me.
“Do you know why I have you take a chaperone on your dates?”
Startled by the abruptness of his question, I didn’t answer. Tad ignored my silence and continued.
“It’s not that I’m unaware of modern dating techniques. I wouldn’t think to have a chaperone with Harlow,” he said, scratching at his stubbled chin. “She can tell anyone no. In fact, she often says no first even when she wants to say yes. Winnie doesn’t have that ability.”
Tad gestured for me to follow him. Walking to his truck, he leaned against it before continuing.
“I’m sure you know Winnie’s history. When Kirk brought her to us, she was barely verbal. She refused eye contact and cried if anyone touched her. Winnie told us you know about the baby, so you can imagine what it was like. She cried through every medical exam and had a C-section because there was no way she could handle delivering normally. Hell, she only held the baby once. As soon as he started crying, she started too.”
I didn’t know what Tad saw on my face, but he nodded. “People do fucked up shit in this world and some people can bounce back easier than others. Winnie got healthier. She learned to talk to people and eventually to tolerate physical contact. By the time she was sixteen, she would hug us and talk to people she knew. Therapy helped, of course, but mostly she needed a safe home with people who wouldn’t hurt her. By her eighteenth birthday, Winnie was doing well. I saw you two circling each other and figured dating was coming. Then the Devils came looking for Harlow. Even after killing the fucker, they regressed after being taken. Harlow is angry while everything scares Winnie. If I could kill those bastards again, I would for what they did to my girls.”
Having a bad feeling about where this was going, I kept my mouth shut.
“You’re a good man,” Tad said, surprising me. “I don’t think you’re interested in my girl for quick fun. If you were, you’d have ditched her after the first chaperone date. You also seem to accept Winnie with all her issues. So I know you are going out later in the week and I know you won’t take advantage of Winnie, but I’m sending a chaperone anyway. Not to make sure you behave, but to make sure Winnie doesn’t do anything just because she think she has to.”
“I understand.”
“I’m sure you do, but I worry you think like your old man,” he said and I tensed at the mention of my dad. “A man like him gets what he wants or crushes the person denying him. Like he tried to do with you.”
“I’m not like him.”
“I hope not, but it’s my job as Winnie’s dad to make clear what happens if you hurt her on purpose. Relationships fail and I don’t expect you to kiss her ass to make me happy. However, if you treat her like shit, you’ll only live long enough to finish Cooper’s office.”
“Our relationship won’t fail.”
“Everyone thinks that.”
“Everyone doesn’t mean shit to me. Winnie makes me happy like no one else ever has. I think I make her happy too. We’re not going to fail.”
Tad narrowed his eyes and I realized I sounded like the stalking fucker I was. Winnie was mine and I wasn’t giving her up. Saying this out loud made me sound crazy though.
Whatever he was thinking, Tad kept it to himself before leaving me at the worksite. I imagined him telling Winnie that she couldn’t see me anymore. In fact, I was prepared for the cold shoulder when I arrived that evening.
Instead, Winnie answered the door wearing a big smile. She took my hand and we sat on the back porch for an hour, talking and cuddling. Even relieved, I worried it was only a matter of time before my months of watching Winnie each evening would come back to haunt me.
Chapter Eleven ~ Winnie
Lark’s feet were swollen, so I helped her walk to the back porch and put them up. The dogs ran around the yard, enjoying the slightly warmer weather. After bringing Lark a glass of diet soda, I joined her on the loveseat.
“Did you have problems with your pregnancy?” Lark asked.
“I don’t remember.”
“Do you plan to have children in the future?”