Page 5 of Kent's Honor
“I’m Mr. Carter.” Kent stood, taking his daughter’s hand. “But everyone calls me Kent.”
“Hi. I’m Jackie’s niece, Dixie. You must be Elle,” Dixie said, reaching out her hand. Elle stood only a few inches shorter than Dixie. “My aunt talks nonstop about you.”
“Is this her great nephew, Nicky?” Elle asked with the same excitement she had when he’d given her a cell phone for her birthday. “She has pictures of you on her fridge. You’re even cuter in person.” Elle leaned over and patted the boy’s head.
“That’s me!” The little boy danced in the stroller, tugging wildly at the strap over his middle. “Mommy! Out!”
“Say please.” Dixie reached over the stroller, puckering her lips.
“Please,” the boy said, grabbing her face and kissing her.
God, Kent missed when his Elle was a toddler and so willing to show affection. Now, she sometimes pulled away. Not often, but he could see the writing on the wall.
“I’ve got some games and stuff on the porch.” Elle held her hand out to Nicky. “Can I take him to go play?”
“Sure. Just stay where I can see you and make sure he doesn’t put anything in his mouth.”
Kent watched as his daughter, who was really growing into a fine young lady, led the little boy up the steps, standing just behind him. She talked to him the entire time like she was the babysitter. His baby girl really wasn’t a baby anymore.
But he still couldn’t ignore the nerves settling in his gut about leaving Elle with this young woman. It reminded him of the first day he’d sent Elle off to school on the bus. Jackie had to force him not to follow it to school.
“I appreciate you filling in today, but I was just about to see if someone could cover my shift.” He mentally kicked himself for being so curt. “I’m sure you have other things to do, and your husband…” He knew she didn’t have one, so why did he go there?
“I’m not married.” She held up her hand, wiggling her fingers. “And until my aunt gets back, I don’t have a sitter to go look for a job, so please don’t take the time off just because you think you’re putting me out. You’re not. I could use the money, honestly.”
Jackie had spoken about her niece with the adorable boy who had a deadbeat for a dad. Something about constantly being late with child support and recently taking off without a word. What a jerk.
Yeah, Kent didn’t need this drama in his life.
He second-guessed Dixie’s ability to handle his darling, well-behaved daughter and her seemingly rambunctious toddler. He glanced over at Elle. She certainly had it under control, but he wasn’t about to let it go. He couldn’t and he had no idea why. “It’s for the best if I stay home.”
“Why would you do that?”
“My daughter, your son.” He raised his palms to the sky. “It’s a lot for one person to handle.”
“She’s ten, and from what Jackie tells me, an angel. And I’ve been taking care of my son since before he was born. I think I can handle it.”
“I’ve never left my daughter with anyone but my mother and Jackie.”
“Seriously?” She adjusted her ponytail, tugging at her blond hair, which bounced over her shoulders. “You’ve never used a babysitter? What about playdates when she was younger?”
“No to the babysitter and playdates were always at my house or Jackie was with her.” He glanced over his shoulder. Elle had Nicky on her lap as she read him a book. Kent was not ready for his buttercup to no longer need constant supervision. His mother had told him the last time she’d come to visit that he hovered too much and that her walking the few blocks to the park alone would be just fine. The only way to let her spread her wings and find herself was to give her some freedom.
Freedom knocked up a girl he barely knew, making him a dad at twenty. Of course, he had no regrets other than Elle’s mother's passing. He hadn’t loved Eleanor, something he still felt residual guilt over to this day. They dated for about four months before calling it off. She had trouble with him being in the military, and he didn’t care enough to fight for the relationship.
Then she came to him a few weeks after they’d broken up and informed him he was about to be a father. He never once questioned her decision to keep the baby and promised he’d be there every step of the way. They even tried getting back together, but the best they could do would be to co-parent. Only, Eleanor had developed an infection right after giving birth and died two days later, leaving him to raise their daughter alone.
“I’m sorry you came out here, but this doesn’t feel right.” Jesus, what the fuck was wrong with him? He didn’t even have a solid experience with this insanity. Elle was perfectly content. The little boy seemed easy enough.
He’d finally lost it.
Dixie cocked her head, glaring at him as if her eyes were machine guns pelting bullets through the air. “First, I walked what, six blocks? And second. Doesn’t feel right? I’m Jackie’s niece, and she wouldn’t recommend me to you if she didn’t trust me.”
He arched a brow. “She’s my little girl. I don’t just trust her with anyone, willy-nilly.”
“Never said you did, and as a mom, I totally understand. I have always had a hard time leaving Nicky, but really—and I mean no offense—you need to lighten up.”
“Now you sound like my mother,” he mumbled.
