Page 34 of Black Roses

“What are we, in high school?” He laughs.

“What’s so funny,” Skylar asks from across the table.

“Nothing,” Griffin replies. “I was just noticing what a good mood my friend here was in.”

All eyes turn to me. Then one by one they go across the table to Piper, who instantly blushes and looks slightly forlorn by the attention.

“Must be this fantastic weather,” her dad says.

“Must be,” Skylar adds, winking at me.

Piper gives her a dirty look. I think she must have kicked her under the table, because Skylar whispers loudly, “What?”

I look around the table and see exactly what I want for my future. For my daughter’s future. The Mitchells are one big happy family. Bruce and Jan have taken me in as one of their own. If they only knew how much I wished that were true. They did an impressive job raising three incredible daughters.

Bruce is a big guy like me. Intimidating as hell sometimes, but once you get to know him, you realize his bark is far worse than his bite. Still, I’m not sure I’d want to be on the wrong side of a conversation with him. I’ve heard enough about how that can go from Gavin and Griffin. They both had to earn his trust the hard way, after abandoning his daughters.

Jan shared the gorgeous color of her eyes with both Skylar and Piper, and she dotes on Hailey as much as she does her own grandchildren. It makes me sad that I can’t have my daughter with me every day. The more I’m around the Mitchells, the more I realize what true family is. Perhaps it’s time to think about hiring the lawyer I always threaten Cassidy with.

As if my thoughts conjured her up out of thin air, Cassidy walks through the front doors of the restaurant, carrying Hailey in her arms. This must be a coincidence. No way would she have been invited here. She fits in with the group about as much as square peg fits into a round hole.

When she sees me, Hailey squeals, “Dada!”

My eyes instinctively go to Piper’s to see her reaction. For a split second, her eyes light up and her face brightens. Then as quickly as it happened, her eyes fall to the table in a sad stare. In my mind I convince myself she was delighted to see my daughter but not so happy about the woman holding her.

I get up from the table and walk over to greet my little girl, pulling her into my arms for a big hug.

Everyone at the table greets Hailey, fawning over her pretty dress and stylish hair. Almost everyone.

Finally, someone acknowledges her mother. “Oh, hey, Cassidy,” Skylar says, trying to be polite.

“Hi,” she says, her eyes perusing the table, stopping dead when she sees Piper. If looks could kill, Piper would fall forward into her half-eaten cheese omelet. Cassidy raises her hand, pointing a ridiculously long and manicured fingernail at Piper. “You. You’re that girl from the benefit.” She looks around the table at Baylor and Skylar. “I knew you looked familiar. You’re one ofthem, aren’t you?” she says, her expression filled with bitterness. “You’re a Mitchell sister.”

Baylor says, “I guess you haven’t been formally introduced. Cassidy, this is Piper, our younger sister.”

Cassidy snorts, mumbling, “Piper, Skylar, Baylor . . . how very cute,” without any regard to the parents that named them who are sitting right here with us. “You’re the one in the picture.”

Piper looks confused. “Cassidy showed me a picture once,” Baylor explains. “She thought it was a picture of me but I told her it was my little sister.”

“Interesting.” Cassidy’s eyes dart between Piper and Baylor. “You could almost pass for twins.” She gives a pointed stare at Piper. “That is if Snow White would have stayed away from the dime-store hairdresser.”

Piper rolls her eyes and pretends not to be affected by her words as she rises from the table. “If you’ll excuse me,” she says, irritation pinching her brow. “I have to take my dime-store hair along with my God-given boobs to the bathroom.”

I watch her walk away, wanting to yell at my Ex but not in front of our daughter. “Cass, that’s enough. We’re trying to enjoy brunch. Is there a point to you being here?” I ask.

“I promised Hailey take-out today. Apparently you’ve gotten her addicted to the chicken nuggets here.”

I smile at my daughter. “You like Mitchell’s, sweet pea? You’re a smart little girl.”

Hailey claps her hands. “Mit-tels. Yummy Mit-tels.”

All those at the table laugh with delight. I put her down so she can be showered with kisses from everyone present. Everyone but the one person I want to see my daughter warm up to.

Mindy, a waitress and good friend to Skylar, comes out with Cassidy’s packaged order. She hands it to her along with the bill and crouches down to greet Hailey. “Hello, Miss Hailey. How are you today? I like your pretty dress.”

“Go poopy,” Hailey says without a care, now straining into her diaper.

Mindy laughs. “I’d love to help you out with that, sweetie, but I’m serving food today and I don’t think my bosses would appreciate it very much.”

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