Page 59 of Those Two Words

Fucking Booth.

Patrick: If it makes you feel better, I have to entertain a 4-year-old on only two hours sleep.

Patrick: Also, I haven’t told him anything. I swear.

Johanna: I don’t think he needs to be told anything. He keeps doing this weird thing with his eyebrows.

Johanna: What are we gonna do about the cameras?

Fuck. I didn’t even think about the security cameras at the bar, and I hope to god Lenny doesn’t check the footage. Lottie won’t be happy about being dragged to a bar before the park, I’ll just make it up to her with sugar and watching Tangled as many times as she wants. I totally get the infatuation about women with long blonde hair.

Patrick: Leave it to me. Can we talk next week?

I tap the side of my phone in anticipation, waiting for her response. When I drove us back from the bar, I felt intense relief that we were on the same page. I know I can’t rush for answers, and I need to set some boundaries where Lottie is involved. Slow and steady, it’s how this needs to go.

Johanna: How about Tuesday?

Patrick: Sounds good.

“Daddy, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”

I almost choke on the bite of ice cream at Lottie’s question. It’s harmless, but my child only has one volume setting and we’re sitting in the middle of the park.

As I suspected, when I told her we had to take a detour before heading to the park, she laid on the guilt thick. It didn’t matter that I told her we would only be twenty minutes, because twenty minutes is a lifetime to her. Her frown turned upside down when I promised her ice cream, though.

I paid Lenny one hundred bucks to hand over the security footage, and I respect that he didn’t question why I needed it.

It’s a warm day, the sun is shining on us from our spot on the grass, watching the ducks paddle around in the small lake in front of us.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Nora’s mommy and daddy don’t live together. Her daddy has a girlfriend, and she says it’s like having another mommy.”

It’s a fair observation from her, and something I should have seen coming. I know Carrie has been on a few dates over the years, and introduced one boyfriend to Lottie before they went their separate ways. My last girlfriend was in my freshman year of college and it didn’t last long. I’ve never introduced anyone to Lottie, but it’s hard to do that if you don’t go on dates.

I attempt to change the topic and point to the lake where some ducks are diving under the water. “Hey, did you see that one?”

She takes a few licks from her chocolate-chip ice cream that’s slowly melting down her fingers, but the scrutiny in her eyes makes me nervous. She’s obviously been spending too much time with my brothers.

“I’m gonna find you a girlfriend,” she declares, tone final.

I lean over and wipe the melted ice cream dripping from her chin. “I don’t need a girlfriend, spud. I have everyone I need in my life. You, Grandma, your uncles, and Aunty.”

“And Poppa George!” she says excitedly. George has played a huge part in Lottie’s life since the moment she was born and loves Lottie like she’s his very own grandchild.

“How could I forget Poppa George.”

“Is Poppa George a daddy?” she asks and nibbles on the waffle cone.

“He is. He has two little girls, Johanna and Harriet. You know Johanna, or JoJo as you call her.”

She gasps, hand dropping to my arm in a sticky grip. “He’s Rapunzel’s daddy?”

Chuckling at the number of nicknames she has for Jo, I nod. “He is, yeah.”

“I like her hair.”

She looks thoughtful for a second and then jumps to her feet. Her mouth gapes open like a goldfish, and I gape right back at her, which makes her giggle. I think she’s past trying to play matchmaker, but as always, this child keeps me on my toes.

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