Page 51 of When We Burn

BRIDGER

“Birdie, you’re going to be late. Let’s go, peanut. School starts in twenty minutes.”

It’s the first morning I’ve been home to take my daughter to school all week. Between my sister, Millie, and Merilee, they’ve handled the drop-off and pickup all week, and I feel guilty as hell about it. I know that I shouldn’t. It’s not my fucking fault that some asshole has decided to torch my town. We’re all on edge and working more than our share of hours.

I finally dragged my ass home at two this morning so I could shower and sleep and be here to take my daughter to school myself.

But she’s whiny this morning, and I get it. She’s like this when she hasn’t spent enough time with me.

“Daddy, I need help.”

“Okay.” I walk down the hallway and find that she hasn’t even gotten dressed yet. “Birdie Mae.”

My daughter frowns and crosses her arms. “What?”

“You’re not dressed. We have to go. Now.”

“You didn’t tell me what to wear.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I set your clothes out on your bed.” I point to them. “Right there.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I’m not arguing with you right now. We don’t have time for this. Come on.” I tug her to me and help her strip out of her pajamas, then I quickly pull the fresh clothes on.

“I hate this shirt.”

“No, you don’t. You told me last week that it’s your favorite.” I sigh, not wanting to lose my temper with my daughter. “What’s up with you today, peanut?”

“I’m hungry.”

“You ate two poached eggs on toast. Try again.”

She doesn’t answer me, just glowers as I try to get her into her shoes.

“Honey, I love you.” I pull her into my arms and hug her tight, but she doesn’t relax against me. “I love youa lot.You know that, right?”

She nods, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Are you sad because I haven’t been home much this week?”

There’s a pause, and then she nods again.

“I know. It makes me sad, too. I miss you. But my job has gotten complicated, and I have to pay extra attention to what’s going on there. Have you been okay with Bee and Merilee and Millie?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is so small, and it makes my heart hurt.

“Listen, I have to go to your back-to-school night tonight, and it’s just supposed to be for parents, but how about if I bring you with me, and then we’ll get dinner at the diner together?”

She raises her head from my chest and watches me somberly.

“Can I have a milkshake?”

“You can have anything you want, even a milkshake. We’ll have a date night. How does that sound?”

“Okay. But what if your work calls you?”

“I’m taking the night off for my best girl.” I kiss her cheek. “Now, come on. We really do have to go.”

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