Page 6 of Endless Southern Love

School starts tomorrow and I still haven’t finished the paperwork. According to my mom, these should’ve taken me an hour, but I’m dragging my feet.

Everyone knows why. Including me. I’m just unwilling to admit it.

I sign my name a half dozen or more times and put the last form in the pile. From where I sit at the table, I can see Goldie. She sits on her swing at an angle, allowing herself to pull one leg up while her toes push the swing slowly back and forth. She misses her mom, which isn’t uncommon when she comes to visit, but this time even she knows things are different.

Ana was released from the hospital after two days. I ended up staying with her until her dad arrived, sleeping in the chair in her room. I had called my parents and asked them to come get Goldie. I didn’t want Ana to be alone and I definitely didn’t want Franco to show up. When Ana’s father arrived, I pushed Ana out to the car and told her to call when she got back to Wisconsin, and then drove home wondering what the fuck happened. So many thoughts ran through my mind on the drive back and some still do. The shock I feel about the situation turns to anger each time I think about it.

I look down at the two notes on my kitchen table and groan. I’m happy I have the school landscaping job for another year, despite someone’s failed attempt at getting me blacklisted. I get it, the principal hates me, but her hate is displaced. Not that she’d listen to anyone who told her as such. Aside from securing one of my biggest clients for another year, we have Meet Your Teacher Night tonight. And I know the unhappy principal will be there.

The real question is how long can I go without running into her?

“Forever,” I mutter to the empty room.

With Magnolia Grove being a small town, you would think I’d run into my biggest hater every time I ventured outside or got off my zero-turn mower.

Nope.

The universe shines down on me and protects me from her wrath and I am forever grateful.

My front door opens, and my mom calls out.

“In here,” I say as I scoot my chair back. My mom, Taryn, comes in with bags hanging from her arms.

“What’s all this?” I ask as she sets them down on my table.

“School supplies and clothes.”

“For?” I ask, even though I know who they’re for.

“Goldie,” she says with a shrug.

I roll my eyes.

Hard.

My mom doesn’t miss a beat and starts unpacking each bag, placing the items on my table.

“Mom, she doesn’t need all of this stuff.”

“Yes, she does.”

I love my parents. They have supported me ever since I broke the news to them about Ana being pregnant. They welcomed her into their home and treat her as if she’s part of the family and not just Goldie’s mom or my one-night, life-altering stand.

They absolutely adore Goldie and love being grandparents even though they weren’t ready.

“Where’s my granddaughter?”

“She’s outside.”

My mom brushes past me and goes to the back door. She opens it, and before I can count to five, my daughter is screeching at the top of her lungs and running toward the house. I’d understand the exuberance if they hadn’t seen each other in a week or longer, but they saw each other yesterday and even though my parents live in town and not far from me, my mom and Goldie FaceTime at night.

Goldie comes into the house, kicks off her flip flops, and makes her way toward me. Her long, curly, chocolate colored hair with natural blonde highlights—thanks to her mom—is tied into a ponytail. I’m grateful Ana taught Goldie how to do this because I’m not that great at it, and I refuse to try the vacuum technique. Mostly because I’m afraid I’ll damage her hair. The videos make it look simple but I’m still leery.

“Hi, Daddy,” she says. She rests her head on my shoulder after she kisses my cheek and leans into me. I know she wants to go through everything her grandmother bought her, but she also wants to cuddle. I wrap my arm around her and give her a tight squeeze.

“How’s your swing?”

She shrugs.

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