“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept it. She’s my child, my responsibility.”
“I’ll respect your decision, but I honestly don’t mind. You’re already running late, and I’ll be here anyway, so I don’t see the point in rushing to get you both ready while I sit around the house all day.”
She glanced down at the princess who pleaded while bouncing on her feet, arms still latched around my leg. “I would…it’s just the whole bathroom thing.”
I understood what she meant without any further explanation. Even though she’d never said it out loud, I was well aware she wasn’t comfortable having me change her daughter or help her use the bathroom—and honestly, neither was I. “That won’t be an issue, I promise. She’s capable of doing her thing on her own, right?”
“Yeah, but she still needs help wiping.”
“What better way to make her learn how to do it by herself?”
It didn’t appear she liked that answer much.
“Okay…so you’d just have a pair of underwear with skid marks to clean when you get home.”
Or that one, either.
“I’m just trying to help, Jade. You don’t have to take it. I won’t push it on you, nor will I get upset. You’re the parent, and like I’ve always told you, you make the call, and I’ll back it up.” I held her hand, needing her to feel my truth.
“Fine. Okay, yeah.” She nodded. “But you better call me if you need anything—and I mean anything. Got it, Cash?”
“I think I’ve got this handled.” No one could say I didn’t have confidence. Even when fear trickled into my head, I remained steadfast in my decision. I could do this. It was only for a few hours—or six—and Aria was an angel.
Jade raced against the clock to shower and dress in order to make it to the library on time. After a quick goodbye, she dashed out the door…only to run back in a minute later, defeat painting her face red. “My car won’t start. Seriously…why today? I don’t have time for this.”
I stood from the couch, where Aria and I watched Barbie’s Dreamhouse while she ate her breakfast. I dug my keys out of my pocket and tossed them to her. “Take mine.”
They landed at her feet. She didn’t make one move to catch them, just stared at them flying through the air and watched as they crashed to the floor in front of her. Her large eyes, completely filled with fear, met mine. “I can’t drive that thing!”
Confused, I asked, “Why not? It’s a car…not a tank.”
“Yeah, a car that’s worth more than…more than…” She glanced around as if searching for something to use as a comparison. Not satisfied with anything, she waved her arms by her sides in irritation and said, “Everything I own put together.”
“I’m not following what the cost of the car has to do with you driving it.”
“Uh…because I can’t pay to have it fixed or replaced if something happens.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have insurance.” I pointed to the keys at her feet. “Take it.”
Reluctantly, she did, and with a sheepish grin, she waved and left once more.
“Looks like it’s just you and me, Tyke.” I settled back into the couch and soaked up her infectious giggles at her nickname.
17
Jade
I pulled around to the back of the house, anxious to get inside to check on Aria. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Cash with her, but I’d never left her alone with anyone other than Stevie. This was all new to me, and other than wanting to hold my daughter and shower her with kisses, I had a growing list of questions for Cash. I eagerly climbed out of the SUV and set the alarm.
The second I opened the door, I was hit with a wave of something delicious. It felt like a lifetime since I’d last come home to the smell of dinner cooking in the oven, and it made my heart skip a few beats. The living room was empty, and when I went around the corner toward the hallway, I’d noticed no one was in the kitchen, either. The timer on the stove was set, and all the preparation items were put away, so I assumed Cash had started supper and took Aria across the street while the timer counted down. But after I slipped off my shoes and set my purse on the bed, I heard the familiar baritone coming from down the hall, followed by an ear-piercing squeal and Aria shouting, “No!”
I ran out of my room, making it to Aria’s in only a few steps, frightened at what I’d walk into. I’d done my best to keep her safe, and all I could think of was how I’d failed at the one and only task I had as her mother. A desperate demand to leave her alone stopped short of coming out when my gaze landed on Cash—on his knees, cleaning a black square on the lower half of the wall—and then on Aria, a fat piece of pink chalk clutched in her tiny hand. While he calmly explained to her that he had to make room for more art, I stood still and regarded their interactions, neither noticing my presence with their backs to me.
“Okay, Tyke…let’s try this again.” He sat back on his haunches and lifted Aria off the ground to set her in front of him, closer to the now-clean space. “Draw me a picture of Mommy.”
My heart melted, completely and utterly turned to mush. I watched in awe as Aria scribbled her version of a picture, which took up the entire area, none of it resembling any actual shape or form.
“I think this one’s even better than the last.”
Aria pointed to her masterpiece and explained what everything was. “Dat’s Mommy. Dat’s me. And dat’s you!”
“Oh, yeah? Where are we?”
She turned to the side, giving him the “are you for real right now” face with her hands on her hips and head cocked to the side. But before she could effectively ream him out for what she clearly deemed a stupid question, she caught sight of me. Her face lit up, no longer showing any traces of the attitude she’d just worn, and she ran to me.
Her excited chatter filled the small room as she took my hand and led me to her artwork. Cash stood, wiped his hands on his cargo shorts, and leaned down to press a chaste kiss to my cheek. It was sweet and almost made me swoon…the only reason I didn’t was because Aria started explaining her drawing, catching me by surprise when she said, “And dat’s Daddy!”
Cash and I both swung our heads toward the bouncing child between us.
“No, Aria…I’m Cash,” he corrected her, and it tugged at something inside me. He wasn’t her father, and we’d only just taken the first step toward a relationship about twelve hours ago. Yet hearing him correct her felt wrong.
I shook it off, reminding myself that this wasn’t something I even needed to contemplate right now, and effectively changed the subject before any more was said. “I hadn’t expected to come home to supper. It smells amazing.”
“Yeah, Tyke and I have been busy today.” His eyes widened and he held up one finger, as if remembering something important. “Oh, and I got you something while you were gone.”
“How? You didn’t have a car.”