Page 103 of Your Soul to Keep

28

Face the Sun

Aftershowinghimtheblankets, he tucked me into bed and climbed in after me.

With Marlena taking over, I took the rest of the weekend off and went to Gabe’s early. Gabe canceled Dylan’s usual Sunday sleepover at her grandparents, and we spent the day with her. Monday morning, after Gabe left for the shop, I took Dylan to daycare.

And I picked her up.

I loved picking her up.

Like every other time, she came barreling out the door. Only this time, she dragged her smiling teacher along by the hand.

Stopping right in front of me, she looked up at me and beamed.

Joy bubbled up in my chest and burst out of my mouth. “Hello, Dilly-bar.”

She turned her little head back to her teacher. With her chin tipped back, she pointed at me and exclaimed, “This Shibaby. This mine mommy.”

I choked.

Unable to meet the teacher’s eyes, I hunkered down to my haunches and opened my arms.

Dylan fairly leapt into them.

Hugging her close, I stood and finally faced her teacher.

An older woman, face soft, she smiled. “Dylan is very proud of you. She talks about ‘Shibaby’ all the time.”

I laughed weakly. “She gets that from her daddy.”

A smile breaking over her face, she wagged her eyebrows. “And what a daddy he is!” She shook her head, her smile warm and friendly, putting me at ease. “If I was twenty years younger, I might give you a run for your money.”

My smile, now genuine, widened. “He’s pretty wonderful.”

“He is.” She nodded. “He’s incredible with her. A good man.”

“The best,” I agreed.

Why couldn’t Gabe overhear those kinds of comments?

On the drive home, my head churned while my heart by turns soared to the heavens and plummeted back to earth. Dylan chattered away, until, having missed their regular Sunday sleepover with her, Maeve came by the house to pick her up.

Which was just as well considering what I had to tell Gabe.

When he strolled in the door shortly after five, I was waiting for him in the kitchen.

His face brightened when he saw me. “There’s my girl,” he exclaimed softly. Stopping beside me, he tugged my ponytail back and tilted my face up for his kiss. “How’re you doing, Shae-baby?”

I sighed into his mouth. “Hmm.”

He drew his hand down the length of my hair and winked at me. “There’s more where that came from.” Looking around quickly, he asked, “Did my ma come by for Dylan?”

“Yes.”

He looked down at his hands, his brow furrowing as he turned them over and studied his nails.

He turned to the sink and flicked up the faucet. My eyes dropped to his butt. The way that man filled out a pair of jeans was criminal.

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