Page 19 of My Mistake To Make

My eyes widen, and I swallow hard as she simply winks and taps her fingers on my notepad.

‘Now, tell me what pissed him off so much about these renovations you have planned.’

‘Well, it was when I told him which house was mine.’

Jesus, Fuck. She’s Pretty

Doug

‘Mother fucker,’ I curseas the hammer comes down on my thumb... again. My head is not in the game today.

‘Daddy.’

Shit.

‘Sorry, honey.’

I put down my tools and take deep breaths. There are two things I fucking hate more than anything in the world: being angry when I’m with my daughter and working when I’msupposed to be with my daughter, and today, both of those things are happening.

‘Are you okay?’

Her little hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to look up into brown eyes, a little darker than mine. My stomach falls through the earth at the concerned look on her face.

‘Yes, sweet girl. I’m fine. Go on and play with your toys. I won’t be long here.’

I watch her reluctantly turn away and go to sit on the porch swing, and I carry on fixing the broken steps.

‘Hey, sunshine.’

The unmistakable tone of my sister in one of her annoying moods has me rolling my eyes before I turn to face her.

‘Auntie Zo.’ Bowie runs to get to her auntie, and I hold up my hand to stop her.

‘Honey, the steps.’ She freezes and grimaces.

‘Hey, BoBo.’ Zoe steps over the broken steps and wraps my girl up in her arms. ‘I didn’t know you were coming over today.’

‘Mama had to go into the city.’

My sister side-eyes me over the top of Bo’s head, and I get back to work. I don’t have time to waste thinking about my ex and her desperation to get away from our kid at every opportunity.

‘I see. You could have done this another day,’ Zoe says to me. ‘You know I’d understand.’

I promised Zoe I’d fix the steps on Saturday. Today is Saturday, and since she’s paying me, despite me telling her I don’t want it, it’s work, and I don’t cancel work.

‘Bo loves being here, so I didn’t see the problem. Where’ve you been all morning?’

‘Did you eat lunch yet?’ Zoe ignores my question, and Bowie shakes her head. ‘Well, come on inside then, both of you.’

I know that tone. It wasn’t a request. My sister is about to mama bear me and make me stop working to eat.

Zo made us all turkey ham sandwiches with all kinds of salad and stuff Bo loves, and I have to admit, they look great. My stomach lets me know lunch was a great idea as we sit at the table.

‘Your hair is cute today, sweet girl.’ Zoe says, smiling as she reaches over to gently tug on one of Bowie’s braids.

‘Thank you. Daddy did it.’

‘He did?’ Zoe gives me a proud smile, and I roll my eyes. I’m a girl dad, and I have two sisters. Of course I can braid hair.

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