Page 18 of Outlaw

“Stevie, this is Jayda. She will get you anything you need. Change the channel for you. Just ask,” I told her. “Jayda, this is Stevie, a very special guest. Take care of her for me. Her mother and I will be in my office if you need me.”

Jayda turned to smile at Stevie.

“You look like Awiel,” she told Jayda. “She’s my favowite pwincess. I like youah hayah.”

“Oh, I much prefer yours. All those beautiful blonde curls.” She glanced back at Branwen. “You got those from your mother, I see.”

Stevie nodded her head, causing the curls to bounce aroundher head.

“We will be just fine,” she said, looking at me, then giving Branwen a reassuring smile.

“Luther went to get her popcorn. Make sure he did it right before you give it to her,” I instructed.

Jayda laughed. “I’m not sure he’s ever done that before. Stevie and I might need to make a trip to the kitchen.”

“This way,” I told Branwen, barely glancing at her before starting toward the office.

“I’m, uh, Branwen,” I heard her say. “Thank you for watching her. You need to know that Stevie is allergic to tree nuts. Popcorn will be fine as long as it is being popped here and hasn’t been cross-contaminated. She will ask for a soda, but it makes her bounce off the walls, as does anything sugary. She likes water and oat milk, if you have it. Dairy gives her a stomachache, and she doesn’t like soy milk. If you have any questions, she knows what she can and can’t have, but please come ask me. Being in a new place, she’s excited, and she might not pay close enough attention.”

I stopped and looked back at her. What happened when she had tree nuts? Was it serious? Finding that there were instructions that came with Stevie wasn’t something I’d even considered. I wasn’t used to food allergies, and knowing Stevie had some concerned me. No, it fucking scared the shit out of me.

“Oh, and she loves grapes. If she asks for them, she is allowed to have them, but I slice them in half. She’s probably old enough to not choke on them now, but it still worries me. If one were to slip down her throat…” she winced. “Please slice them before giving them to her. It’s a fear of mine. The popcorn makes me a little nervous, too, but I let her have it. I just never leave her alone with popcorn, and I watch her while she eats it. If she were to choke, there wouldn’t be a sound, and you wouldn’t know she wasn’t breathing.” She paused, biting her lip and lookingat Stevie nervously. “Vivi Lu, chew the popcorn very good. Don’t put more than one piece in your mouth at a time. Keep something to drink beside you, okay?”

Stevie nodded. “I pwomise to eat it slowly.”

Branwen’s smile softened. “Be good. I won’t be too long, but if you want me or need me for anything, tell Jayda, and she will bring you to me.”

Fuck. Maybe I shouldn’t leave her with Jayda. What if she looked away and missed Stevie choking? I no longer wanted her eating popcorn. Why didn’t we have ice cream? We needed to get ice cream. Wait! Shit. She couldn’t have dairy. My head started to pound behind my eyes as I worked through what was safe for her and what wasn’t.

“I’m trained in pediatric CPR and AED. I used to work as a counselor at a summer camp. And my sister has a peanut allergy. I will be extremely careful and consult you before she has anything. I promise. She is in good hands,” Jayda told her reassuringly.

“That’s wonderful. Thank you,” Branwen replied.

I made a mental note to have Jayda buy oat milk and go through the entire kitchen and get rid of anything with tree nuts. There was a weird, anxious feeling in my chest that I wasn’t familiar with. We needed to get to the office and handle things, but even with Jayda’s assurance that she had this, I wasn’t sure I wanted Stevie out of her mother’s sight.

Did she leave her at a preschool? What if someone else didn’t watch her as carefully as Branwen obviously did? Who watched her when she was at work?

She turned to me. “Okay, we can go now.”

She seemed more relaxed about leaving, but for the first time, I was questioning Jayda’s ability to do as she had been told.

“Nothing happens to her,” I said sternly, making sure Jayda understood.

“I will guard her with my life,” she replied.

“I have an EpiPen in my purse if, by some chance, she does get ahold of tree nuts or something cross-contaminated. She will begin projectile vomiting and wheezing immediately. I’ll need to inject her leg while an ambulance is called. Don’t hesitate to bring her to me.”

What the fuck? My entire body stilled as I stared at the little girl I’d just found out was mine hours ago. The horrific image that Branwen had just put in my head wasn’t helping. Had that ever happened to her? Branwen had explained it as if they had experienced it before. My throat was tight as I stared at Stevie. Was this a good idea? Could we do this meeting in front of her? No. That wasn’t acceptable. She was a kid.

Jayda didn’t look as if she was doubting her ability to handle things. I needed her to be more concerned. She didn’t look alarmed.

“Jayda, I need a word with you.” There was a hard edge to my tone that she didn’t miss.

Quickly, she hurried over to me. “Yes, sir.”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her farther away from my daughter’s earshot. Staring from Stevie, who was now hugging Branwen, back to Jayda, I had to unclench my teeth.

“That girl is mine,” I told her. Jayda’s eyes widened, and I continued, “Nothing happens to her. Do not take your eyes off her. Not for a fucking second. Am I clear?”

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