Page 47 of Baby Daddy

“Maybe tomorrow. Open your other presents.”

The next present was from her friend Chandra. A Furby doll, something I had growing up. There were two remaining presents—both from me, well sort of. Ty went for the bigger of the identically wrapped boxes.

“Is this from you, Drake?” she asked.

“No. Open the card first.”

Dee lifted a surprised eyebrow as Tyson did as I asked. “Ooh, it’s so cute,” she cooed as she handed Dee the card, which featured a little bunny wearing ice skates.

Dee read the card and smiled. “It’s from Drake’s mother.”

Upon unwrapping the box and removing the layers of tissue paper (my mother was a meticulous wrapper), Ty’s face lit up like a Christmas tree and she let out a loud squeal. Then, she turned to me.

“Wow! A skating costume just like your mommy’s!”

“How thoughtful of your mother,” commented Dee before I could say a word.

Ty held up the sparkly purple costume against her body. “Oh, Mommy! Can I put it on?”

This time I got a word in. “Go for it. I’ll take a picture and send it to my mother. I’m sure she’ll love to see you in it. Oh, and by the way, the costume comes with a year of skating lessons.”

Another “wow.” Without wasting a second, Ty skipped off, clutching the costume. In a few minutes, she was back wearing both the costume, which fitted her perfectly, and the ice skates I’d bought her.

“Look, Mommy!” she exclaimed, twirling on the toe picks and swirling the skirt.

With my iPhone, I snapped a photo and then emailed it to my mother.

A few moments later, I got a reply.

So darling! xo

I replied with a happy face emoticon. My big-hearted mother had developed a fondness for Ty from the moment she’d met her. I’m sure the connection to my sister had something to do with it. Regardless, it was her idea to bestow the skating outfit when I told her about Ty’s sixth birthday, a birthday my mother never got to celebrate with her little girl. When I suggested the ice skating lessons, my mother readily agreed to them. Little did she know that it was a ploy on my part to keep Dee and Ty in my life, long after Dee stopped being my temp.

There was one present left. Mine. As Ty reached for it, my pulse quickened. After my mother’s perfect present, I wondered if she would like it. My eyes stayed on her as she peeled off the wrapping paper and took my gift out of the box. The puzzled look on her face made me uneasy.

“What is this, Drake?” she asked, examining the piece of red fabric.

“It’s my magic cape. My father gave it to me when I turned six.”

“That’s so cool! Does it have magic powers?”

I smiled, feeling more relaxed. “In fact, it does. When you put it on, it protects you against evil and you can be anything you want.” I watched as she unfolded the crimson triangle and flung it over her skating costume. Dee helped her fasten it and then gasped as Ty leaped into the air.

“Oh, my goodness! Tyson, you’re going to hurt yourself!”

“No, I’m not, Mommy,” retorted Ty, after another leap. “I’m Mighty Girl!”

Dee shot me a frightened look as I chuckled out loud. “Yes, you are!”

Ty leaped all over the living room, and when things calmed down, we all devoured the delicious cake. Shortly afterward, Chandra’s parents came by to pick her up. Ty begged for her to sleepover, but unfortunately her classmate had her yearly checkup scheduled in the morning before she went to school. While Brock wanted to take Lulu to a movie, Lulu insisted on staying to help Dee clean up. Dee told her there was no need to since there was little to do. There were hugs all around, and as Brock ushered Lulu out the front door, he looked over his shoulder and fired me a conspiratorial wink. My face scrunched into a what-the-fuck expression as he formed a circle with his left forefinger and thumb and then repeatedly plunged his right-hand forefinger in and out of it.

“What’s Brock doing?” asked Ty innocently.

“Jesus!” exclaimed a mortified Dee.

“Um, uh, it’s just his special way of saying goodbye to everyone,” I quickly said, covering up for him. Fucking smartass! His way of telling me to get some pussy.

The door closed behind him, and it was just Dee, Ty, and me.

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