Page 14 of Promised Summer
“Who’s your little friend?” Jones bent over in hisseat to get a closer look. Karla didn’t answer, but her eyes were shining as she pushed the stuffed animal into Jones’ hands.
“That’s Puppy. She’s been so excited for you two to meet that she’s been bouncing off the walls since last night. Isn’t that right?” I said, patting my girl’s head. She nodded and giggled, the sound music to my ears.
“I’m so happy to meet you, Puppy,” Jones said to the stuffed animal, so serious in his greeting that he made Karla laugh again.
I had to tear my eyes away before he made my heart beat out of my chest. This man really wasn’t good for my health.
“We should probably head out,” I said suddenly. “Karla, wave goodbye to Nana and Gigi.”
Karla was already jogging toward the door but stopped and turned around to wave her little hands over her head. I laughed as I followed her, picking up my backpack along the way. I wasn’t going to be caught outside unprepared again and had filled the bag with all the essentials a kid would need.
“Let me move the booster seat from my car,” I said when we left the house.
“Actually, you don’t need to do that. I already have one set up in my truck,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You bought a seat for Karla?” I asked incredulously. Who did that for a kid they met once?
Under the bright sun, I could faintly see Jones’ cheeks turning a shade darker.
“I mean, sure, I invested in a booster seat. I might need it one day, you know? My cousins are popping out kids like there’s no tomorrow, and my brother and his partner said they might want some of their own in the future, so I’m gonna need one if I want to be their favorite uncle…so it’s an investment,” he finished, sounding more unsure by the second.
I let the wave of emotions wash over me, warming me quicker than the summer sun ever could.
“Thank you,” I murmured, because how else could I reply to such a thoughtful gesture from someone who had every right to hate me, even if he was denying doing it for Karla’s sake?
“Like I said, didn’t do it for you,” Jones muttered, even his ears darkening now. I smiled but didn’t call him out on it.
Karla was eager to hop in her seat and was happily kicking her legs as I double and triple checked she was securely fastened in.
It took some time to even get her inside a car again after the accident, and now she could ride in a car like the accident had never happened. In fact, Karla was a sunny kid for the most part, and nobody could tell she’d ever experienced something so traumatic.
I wished I was as strong as she was. My solution to my problems was to run away, and Jones was the prime example of that.
The drive to the animal shelter went by quickly with the sound of Karla happily humming to her stuffed animal. Jones drove steadily, eyes focused on the road, and a smile gracing his face as he tapped in beat to Karla’s humming.
All the while, I kept glancing at the back of the cab to check up on Karla. It definitely wasn’t so that I could sneak a peep at Jones without making it obvious. Definitely not.
While I continued lying to myself, Jones pulled into a parking lot outside of a building that had a sign with a dog and cat painted on it.
Karla squealed when she saw it and chanted “Daddy” in that soft voice she now used on the rare, cherished moments she chose to speak.
“Okay, I’m coming. What’s the rush? The animals aren’t going to run away,” I commented. Her giggles were the last thing I heard before I slipped out of the passenger side of the truck.
Jones was already helping Karla out of her seat when I got around to their side. She looked adorable, clutching her plushie tight, and her head rested on Jones’ chest familiarly.
He would make a good father. A selfish, delusional part of me imagined Jones and me raising Karla together. I had to remind myself that he was probably being so nice only because I trauma dumped on him yesterday, and being Jones, he felt bad for us.
Except, the way he was laughing, soundinggenuinely happy as he kept a tight hold on a wiggly Karla, fed my delusions. Maybe pity wasn’t the only reason he’d invited us out?
“Thanks, I can take her,” I said, stepping up to hold my wiggly girl. With her being this excited, it was better to carry her inside than risk her running around and falling in the middle of the parking lot.
Jones patted Karla on the head, a gentle expression on his face that had the stupid idea of us raising her together appearing in my mind again.
“We should head in before Karla turns into a worm with all her wiggling. Isn’t that right?” Jones’ teasing had Karla giggling with an infectious sound that had me smiling.
“I’ll go check in,” Jones said, then walked up to the front desk.
Karla was already patting me, hard, and pointing toward the wall of cages where smaller animals were being kept.
