Page 84 of Forfeits

Look what they got me! Kitten emoji, starburst emoji, heart emoji

I sat up and texted back, silently telling myself not to overreact.

A kitten?

My phone rang. I hit Accept.

“They got you a kitten?” I tried to channel surprise more than irritation, as my gaze met Aiden’s. “A kitten?”

“I know, right? Her name is Lilly, so kind of close to my name. She’s so cute! Dad, you’ve got to see her when you pick me up!”

“Is she…?” I swallowed hard. “Is she going to live at their place?”

“Yeah, so I can play with her when I’m here. That’s going to be hard, though, because I’m usually with you and the dogs. But it will be great when I’m visiting! Maybe I can stay with Granny and Grandpa more often…”

My gaze met Aiden’s. “Yeah. Sure.”

“Are you okay, Dad? You sound weird,” Lucy said. “Ow, Lilly get your claws out of my leg.”

“I’m fine. Just tired. I was out late,” I admitted.

She gasped. “On a date?”

“Yeah.”

“With Aiden?”

“Of course, with Aiden.”

“Cool! Anyway, I have to go because we’re going to Cora’s for breakfast. See you later!”

“Yeah. See you later. Love you.”

I hit End Call and sat there staring at my phone, trying to process.

Aiden came and sat down beside me. “They’re playing dirty.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, Fletcher.”

“How am I going to compete with that?” I asked. “I should just give up now and let them have her.”

Aiden stiffened. He reached out and turned my face to his. “Hey,” he said. “Come on, now. You can’t just give up.”

“Can’t I?” I said, not feeling any will to fight. Perhaps submitting to Aiden hadn’t been a good idea after all. “Maybe she’d be better off living with them.”

Aiden’s face fell. “You don’t really believe that.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. I’m sure I haven’t been the perfect father.”

Aiden gave me a stern look. “Doesn’t exist. There are no perfect parents,” he said. “There are parents, and there are grandparents. And parents are supposed to raise the children.”

“Not in all circumstances,” I said.

“In most. Look… I’ve been a supply teacher for a few years now, and I can tell you that committed parents are the best thing for a child.”

“Parent,” I said, feeling lower than I had in a long time. “It’s just me, Aiden. And I’ve been floundering. And I’m so disorganized. And Lucy, and the dogs. It’s a lot.”

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