Page 26 of Second Chance Baby

“Yeah, tomorrow we will go to the Spirit store. Right, Dad? I want one of those huge skeletons.”

Bridget swiped her fingers under her eyes as Carrington dumped her lights back into the Snoopy bag.

Swallowing hard, I gave Brig’s fingers a bolstering squeeze. “Don’t tell me you mean those monstrous ones people have climbing up their trees and hanging off their roofs? No way.”

“Oh, come on, Daddy, they’re so cool. I heard they were even having a sale,” she teased, knowing that was always my favorite word.

My little girl knew me all too well.

“Those skeletons are amazing. The really huge ones are so scary, but in a fun way. People do so much with them.”

“See? Right. Exactly.” Carrington bounced from foot to foot. “They’re probably all sold out by now since we are so freaking late. Other people have been decorating for weeks. Some even started in August.”

“August is still summer. In August, you were swimming in Uncle Murphy’s pool, not searching for grotesque creatures to drape in blood and put all over the lawn.”

Her eyes lit excitedly. “Oh, I’ve never seen anyone do that. That’s even way better than the Gideons. Macy will turn green with envy. Forget her spider. Spiders are so last season.” She waved a hand and headed toward the door.

“Hey, wait a second, did you forget something?”

She kept walking. “Nope. Let’s go.”

“What about paying for those books? You can’t just sail out of here with them. I gotta pay.”

“Um, no, you don’t. I already did from my allowance when you two were whispering and holding hands.” She held up something over her head that clearly looked like a receipt.

So, guess shehadpaid.

“Let’s go, people.” The door slammed shut behind her with an incongruous tinkle of bells.

I glanced at Bridget, taking in her currently bright red cheeks with a grin. “Could’ve been worse.”

“How?”

“She could have seen you passing me your panties.”

She nodded and gripped my arm. “You’re right. Let’s go before she goes for a joyride in your truck.”

I laughed and followed her out of the store.

Though I had no idea what was happening right now, I was in no hurry for it to end.

SIX

On the way home,Bridget asked me to stop by the hotel so she could change into different clothes. Rather than suggesting she bring all her stuff back with her, I just did as she asked and let the subject alone. Maybe she’d feel better having an “escape” as it were. I had no fucking clue.

I also had no idea what we were doing. But it felt amazing, so I wasn’t going to rock the boat. At least not yet.

Granted, I wasn’t a guy prone to self-examination on any level, but even I could acknowledge mistakes had been made on both sides years ago. Mostly from not indulging in much conversation about our feelings.

Or basically any beside the standard endearments.

At least that was my current best guess how we’d started going so wrong.

Even my stalwart, so-in-love parents were now going to couples’ therapy. If they could need help, we could too. I wasn’t a guy who wanted to explore my emotions, but maybe Bridget would.

If Bridget seemed like she might be on board with such a thing, I’d get the name of their therapist from my mom. And if it would mean I could be with Bridget again, I’d do it.

I’d do anything just for a chance to try to patch my family back together.

---