Page 123 of Who's Your Daddy
“Oh. You’re worried that she can’t work for you because she’s your girlfriend now?”
I clear my throat. “That’s a dumb thing to freak out about, right?”
Murphy shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m six. But I think maybe what we all really want is to know that we’re safe.”
I nod. “Right. And she’s safe because she has a job.”
Slumping, my son lets out a weary sigh. “No,Dad, she’s safe because you love her.”
That word sends a jolt of excitement through me. It’s such an easy thing to admit. “I do love her.”
He gives me a proud smile, as if he’s the parent and I’m the child. “I know you do. And what happens when you love people?”
I grimace. “I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”
“Well, you love me and you gave me a place to stay. So,” he prods, “if you love her…”
I jump to my feet. “Oh my God. I’ve figured it out.”
“Finally,”he mutters, dropping his head back.
Heart bursting, I point at him. “I’m going to propose.”
His eyes bug out of his head. “I wasn’t going there.”
“No, this is brilliant.” I stalk to one end of the room, then turn on my heel. “Then she doesn’t have to work.”
“No,” he groans. “That’s not where I was going at all.”
I stop in front of him and hold out a hand. “You are the best son ever,I love you.”
He lets me pull him to his feet. Then, to my utter shock, he loops his arms around my waist. “Love you too, but I’m not so sure about this whole plan.”
My heart triples in size at the gesture. And his words. I smile because not a thing could go wrong now that I know my son loves me and he’s officially mine to keep. Now we just need to make sure we can keep Lola too. I wave a hand, completely relaxed. “It’s genius. We’ll even get Fuzzy involved. Lola will love it.”
Chapter 44
Lola
“Cal,” I call as I get to the top of the stairs.
Please, please, please let all the plants be alive. The fish too.
All was well when I popped up here to check while Cal took Murphy to school. Though I can’t imagine the plants would wither this quickly, the same cannot be said about the fish.
He’ll be fine one minute, thenbam, he’s belly up at the top of the tank. We’re currently on fish number six. Damn Madame E and her prediction. Every day it gets a little harder to doubt the woman.
Though this fish has been hanging on for almost two weeks, I don’t dare to hope.
At least I know the cat’s okay. Brian and the cat that definitely thinks its name is Damnit returned from their afternoon walk fifteen minutes ago. How he managed to get Fuzzy to come upstairs afterward rather than curl up on the couch in his office is a mystery, but he managed it.
If Brian hadn’t been such a dick about Cal and me, I’d feel bad. Instead, I can’t help but believe this is karma.
“Cal?” I call again as I turn the doorknob.
Sully insisted I come up here, but from the silence that greets me, I don’t think Cal is here.
As the door creaks open, my jaw drops to the floor.
