Page 69 of Anchor Point

It wasn’t until we pulled into the ice cream shop parking lot that I even thought about being out in public with Olivia and Rosie and what the implications and ramifications might be.

“Is this okay?” I kept my voice low so only Olivia could hear it as we made our way to join the end of the line.

She took stock of the people in line and squared her shoulders. “We’re allowed to take our daughter out for ice cream.”

It wasn’t a real answer and didn’t do much to alleviate the sudden indecision I had about being out together.

It wasn’t that I wanted to hide her away, it was that I wanted to hold her hand as we walked up. If I wanted to nuzzle her neck on a public sidewalk, I didn’t want one of us to lose our job over it.

“Mac!”

I slowed and turned toward the familiar voice.

Great. Kylie, Jordan, and Leah were walking across the parking lot.

Kylie was a pistol-ball on the best of days. It was not a good thing for her to be here, because she was the one who originally found the TikTok video that started this whole life change I was going through. There was no telling what she might say.

But Kylie had her own story, and she and Thoren were part of the larger family, so I couldn’t act like I hadn’t heard her.

“Kylie,” I greeted. “Jordan, Leah.”

I also couldn’t be rude, because as the fire chief, Olivia would eventually meet them at the station. So I sucked it up and made the introductions.

“Ladies, this is Chief Hawkins and ou—her daughter, Rosie.” Fuck. That wasn’t supposed to come out like that. I barreled forward, hoping they wouldn’t catch my slip. “They’re new in town, so I’m showing them all the best places.” Why did I add that last part? It made it sound like a date.

“I love your hair, Chief,” Jordan spoke first, her own blond curls fighting to be free from her ponytail.

They devolved into a discussion of curl care, and Rosie had Leah in a discussion, which left Kylie the perfect opportunity. She turned her back to the others and looked at me with wide eyes. “Mac, is that…?” she muttered, jerking her head in Rosie’s direction.

I couldn’t dim the pride that swelled in my chest. Didn’t want to. “It is.”

“Holy shit, Captain.” Kylie gripped my arm, her eyes wide, expression stunned. She had a way about her, not scared of anything, and definitely not scared of me like the others seemed to be. “That video was for real?”

I simply nodded and checked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “She’s my daughter.”

“But you introduced her as yours and the chief’s daughter—oh my God. That’s, like, the biggest news of the year. How is it not all over town yet?”

“Because it’s no one’s business.”

“And there’s nothing going on with the mom? Just you meeting your new daughter?”

“Also no one’s business.” It felt wrong to deny Olivia, even though we were supposed to be keeping this a secret. Things had been quiet for her with administration. I didn’t want to give them any reason to focus on her again.

But Kylie wouldn’t shut up unless I was blunt. In fact, she’d probably appreciate what I otherwise shouldn’t say.

“Olivia and I are friends. We are learning to navigate this new situation. I’d appreciate you helping us keep it on the down-low. Not trying to hide anything, just don’t need any added outside interactions.”

Her eyes bounced back and forth between mine, and I let her see how important this was to me.

In a fleeting moment of clarity, I knew Kylie understood my need for privacy.

“I hear you, Captain.”

“Thank you, because if people make a big deal out of this, jobs will be on the line—mine and hers.”

“But that’s not fair. You guys should be able to co-parent.”

“I agree. So we’re going to prove that it can be done before anyone comes for us.” I was making stuff up on the fly, but as I said the words, I felt them in my soul. I believed in us. We could do this. And hopefully by then, we would have a solution, and neither of us would lose a job.

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