Page 52 of Fight for Me
I look down at my attire and quickly put my arms over my chest. I have on a black tank top, my sleeping shorts, and no bra. Great.
“I think Aunt Syd could go just like that.”
I glare at him. “Funny.”
“Well, what do you say? You want to come to the fair?”
“Of course she does!” Hadley answers for me.
I guess I don’t really have a choice. “The child has spoken,” I say with a smile.
“She does that a lot.”
I giggle and nod. “Yes, she sure does. What was it that really brought you by, though? I know we’re all meeting later for the joint party, but I wasn’t expecting anyone this early.”
“I figured I would stop to put the for sale sign up in the yard, and I wanted to give you the paperwork. You are officially on the market as for sale by owner.” Declan lifts the lawn sign that was resting on the other side of the door.
“Oh, wow. I mean, this is great.”
He looks back at my chest and then turns away. “Why don’t you get dressed while Hadley and I take care of putting the sign up?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I head upstairs to my room, feeling a little dizzy at how quickly my plans for the day have changed. Ten minutes ago, I was going to eat, try not to puke again, and then lie in bed with a book before I had to go to the concert. This sort of screws it all up, but I can’t seem to say no to Hadley.
After getting dressed in a pair of leggings and an oversized sweater, I head downstairs. I’m far from glamorous, but at least I’m comfortable.
“Are you ready?” Hadley bounds forward.
“Easy, Monster, give her a second to get off the stairs.”
I smile down at her and push her light brown hair back. “I’m ready.”
“I want to eat everything they have. I didn’t get to go to the fair the last three years. Dad, er, Kevin,” she corrects, “didn’t let us go, and Mommy didn’t want to make him mad, but I could smell the food from my house. If I went all the way to the back fence, I could hear the music, and it was so nice.”
This kid never fails to make my heart break just a little. She has the most beautiful spirit of any child I know, and I shudder to think what her life would’ve been like had Connor not found her.
“Well,” Declan says with a tightness in this voice. “I think we might have to stop at every stand, food, and craft, to see what we can find.”
I can see the hurt and love he has for her. His lips part a little, and his chest rises and falls heavily. It’s hard to see anyone hurt Hadley, but it’s clear that Declan cares and will do everything he can to protect her, which is his thing.
The protector.
The one who will deny himself everything if he thinks it’s for the greater good.
He’s an idiot.
However, today, I don’t want to fight. I want to enjoy the time with Hadley and give her happy memories of the fair I grew up attending. She should smile, laugh, and be spoiled by people who love her.
“Where are Connor and Ellie?”
Declan looks around and then shrugs. “I think they had something to do or had to go get something. They’ll probably meet up with us later.”
Oh, they’re doing something, all right. “You gave them some alone time, huh?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “I mean, I wouldn’t doubt it, but no, Connor took the truck and had to pick something up.”
Whatever that means. “That’s good for us then, huh?” I ask Hadley as Declan opens the back door to his Jeep.
