Page 45 of Promised Summer
“I’ll see you next time, Mom,” Jones said, eyes shining with mischief as he looked my way.
“Oh, my,” Mom said with a hand over her mouth, clearly enjoying this.
“The world is against me,” I groaned and glared at them, which only had them laughing harder.
The sound of little feet pattering on the hardwood could be heard right before a little force crashed into my legs. “I’m on Daddy’s side!” Karla shouted, hugging my legs.
I picked up my sweet girl and plopped a loud kiss on her cheek, which had her giggling. “I knew I could count on you, baby girl.”
She puffed out her chest in pride, and I smothered her face with more kisses until she was laughing hysterically.
We had another round of hugs and goodnights before heading back to Jones’ cabin.
“You forgot to put on sunscreen before our hike,didn’t you?” Jones asked when we returned to his place. He cupped my cheek, and I flinched back at how his touch stung slightly.
“Sam’s gramps gave me some of his miracle aloe vera gel. Let’s put some on before you completely turn into a boiled lobster,” Jones said with a shake of his head as he rummaged through one of the kitchen drawers.
Karla padded to my side and started chanting “boiled lobster” while running in a circle around me.
“That’s right, baby. You have to remember to put on your sunscreen unless you want to turn into a boiled lobster like your daddy,” Jones teased and slathered my face with the slightly cool gel.
“You didn’t put any on,” I muttered, enjoying the relief the aloe vera gel was bringing me. Ithadto be miracle gel. Maybe that was the reason Annabelle was so interested in the stuff, and my mom was just gossiping for no reason.
“My melanin is my natural sunscreen, and where’s yours?” Jones teased, looking from his dark skin to mine, which was the color of a blank sheet of paper.
“Fine, fair point,” I muttered again.
His eyes sparkled as he glanced at my fair skin. “Don’t even make the joke,” I warned with a finger pointed at his face.
He nipped at it playfully, then screwed the lid back on the aloe vera gel container. Karla thought we were playing around and was now pretending to be a sharkswimming around our legs, getting ready to go in for the kill.
“Oh, no you don’t!” Jones snatched her up in a fit of giggles. “What’s our little sharky going to do now that she’s been caught?”
Karla laughed and shouted, “Papa!”
Jones froze for the briefest second before smiling wider and continuing to play with her.
I knew I should step in and correct her, but they looked so freaking happy…and I had to admit I couldn’t squash the little blossom of hope that welled inside of me that maybe, just maybe, one day he could really be her papa.
And then Jones opened an arm my way, Karla called out for me to join them, and Jones calling us a family on our rock echoed in my ears.
A year ago, I was happy living in the city with a job I didn’t hate. My days were pretty much filled with work, day in and day out, but I had my best friend and goddaughter. Life wasn’t too bad.
Now, my best friend was gone, and I missed her like hell. I thought I’d be lost struggling to raise a daughter since I’d never even thought of having kids before. I’d agreed to be Karla’s godfather because I knew I would always be in her life. I was like the fun uncle who didn’t have any responsibility.
We never thought that something would actually happen to Kassy, and then all the responsibility hadlanded on my head. And now here I was, still missing Kassy like hell, but somehow, we were okay.
Karla and I were okay.
With each passing day, we were moving forward. The scars left by Kassy’s passing might never smooth over completely, but they were hurting less.
We were healing.
And I knew a huge part of that had to do with my community in Kither Springs and the man who’d helped opened both of our hearts.
We returned to my mom’s the next morning, much to Jones’ and Karla’s displeasure. I hardened my heart and told Jones to have fun at brunch with his friends.
Jones had an early morning tomorrow for work, so I hoped he could get some rest today. Plus, there was a lot I needed to do as well.
