Page 72 of Valentine's Daddy To Go
“But why not?” Madison asks with confusion. She’s got spoon full of ice cream in her mouth, but I still understand her.
“Hmm, I don’t know. Well, I do, but it’s complicated.” I need to stop dicking around and lay this mystery to bed. I’m Nash fucking Keller. When I want something, I take it.
After all, this situation has gone far enough. I’ll let Nellie get back to a normal place, but I won’t just let her slip through my fingers.
“Have you asked Auntie Nell?” asks Mackenzie wisely. “Maybe she doesn’tknowyou want to be her special friend.”
I nod slowly.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll ask her. And I’ll let you two know how it works out. You two are some smart girls, you know that?”
“Yes,” Mackenzie replies. Madison just gives me a thumbs up. Luckily, it seems that I have their approval. I’m sure that’ll mean a lot to Nellie.
We finish our ice cream with much gusto. I got myself a scoop of the strawberry, but the girls both keep glancing at my bowl, so I let them eat my scoop as well. I don’t need the extra sugar any way.
Before taking us back to the car, I look out the store window and see that Nellie has fallen asleep in the car. Her skin is pale and her eyes are closed. She looks absolutely exhausted.
“Are you guys ready to go home?” I ask. Mackenzie and Madison pout and act a little upset, but the two of them get up, and we go outside. Before opening the car, I hold my finger to my mouth, pointing out that Nellie is asleep.
Their little heads nod, and we climb in, as quiet as possible. When I start the car, the rumble is loud but Nellie remains asleep. She must be deep within whatever dream she’s having.
I already know where Brian lives because after Nellie stormed out, I hopped onto my bike and followed her. She was so incensed that I was worried she might get herself into trouble.
Thank God, I did. When Nellie has her head on right again, I’m going to see if I can convince her to press charges against her asshole of a brother.
I literally cannot believe Brian put his hands on her. Who does he think he is? After everything his older sister has done for him, he turns around and assaults her.
It takes a real piece of shit to do that to a woman.
I look in the rearview mirror and see that Madison and Mackenzie have fallen asleep too. I thought the sugar would have the opposite effect, making them all jumpy and jittery, but I really don’t understand children.
Then again, after spending some time with these two, I think maybe I’m ready for babies. I know exactly how I feel about Nellie, and I also know that I want her to have my children. She’d look so beautiful, round and heavy with my kids.
I drive over to the girls’ home. I don’t pull into the driveway because I want to wake Nellie up before her sister-in-law comes rushing out. I’m sure it’s about to be a very emotional reunion, and everyone needs a little bit of time to wake up before that.
“Nellie. Nellie.” I gently shake her shoulder, wanting to rouse her gently. It takes a few shakes, but Nellie starts to stir, moaning softly as her eyes blink open.
“Do you need the address?” she mumbles.
“No, baby, we’re already here.” She sits up in her chair, rubbing her eyes.
“We’re already here?” She looks out the window and sees the house. “Oh, wow. How did you know?”
“I was following you earlier when you came here. It’s how I knew you were at the encampment as well.”
“Oh, I see,” she nods her head, waking up fully now. “Well, we should probably get the girls inside.” She looks into the backseat to see Madison and Mackenzie fast asleep.
“They conked out the second we got in the car. It must have been an exciting day for them,” I say.
“Yeah, exciting is one way to put it,” she says softly. Nellie unbuckles her seatbelt. I can still see the melancholy on her face, but I know right now is not the appropriate time to comment on that. I also get myself out of the car.
Nellie and I are on either side of the vehicle. We look at one another over the hood, and the air vibrates between us.
“Let me carry them in,” I offer.
“Are you sure? I can help by taking in one of them.”
“No, I got this. Trust me. Youdotrust me, right?”
