Page 14 of Hers to Hold
“Chastity!” He knelt down. “Hey, baby. It’s daddy.”
“I know who you are.”
Wes chuckled. “Of course you do. Can you open the door?”
“I’m not supposed to open the door.”
“For strangers, honey.”
“For you too. That’s what Mommy said.”
Wes snapped his mouth shut to keep a string of profanity from launching out. His ex was a number of things their daughter didn’t need to know. Chastity peered at him with a pensive look that reminded him of Caroline. Only with his ex, it always appeared more suspicious.
“You gonna let me in, sweetheart?”
She sighed dramatically and opened the door wide. “Can you take me to live with you, Daddy? I’m tired of making dinner.”
“What?” he practically shouted. “You’re making… Caroline!” He stomped inside the house. “Lock the door, sweetie.” He heard his daughter dutifully close and lock the door.
“What the heck?” Caroline Jennings bounded down the staircase to the left clad in the booty shorts she wore to bed and a tank top; no bra. “Wesley!”
“Caroline, why is our daughter not in school? These summer sessions aren’t cheap,” he said about the elite private academy his daughter was attending. After finding out his daughter tested at genius-level, Wes wanted her to get the best education he could afford.
She looked sheepishly at Chastity, who stood near the door as though ready to make an escape. Caroline scratched at her head, her hair hanging on the opposite side of her head in a messy ponytail.
“Did you just wake up?” he demanded.
“So? I worked a late shift.”
Wes pointed to Chastity. “You think our daughter and get ready and get on the bus herself?”
“She can fend for herself.” Caroline lifted her chin. “I taught her that. To be an independent—”
“She’s eight!”
“Keep your voice down!”
Wes shot a concerned look at his daughter, who leaned against the front door, watching the two of them with her arms crossed. He firmly grasped Caroline’s elbow and led her to the kitchen at the back of the house.
“Is my daughter cooking her own dinner?” he hissed the second they crossed the threshold into the kitchen.
“She’s a good cook. She knows how to make mac and cheese and—”
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Caroline!” He turned away with a groan and ran both hands through his hair. “You really have to be kidding me. I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“I was doing way more than that at her age,” Caroline snapped. “I had to take care of two younger siblings, remember?”
He did recall her mentioning that when they briefly dated. It was one of the things that had attracted him to her. She was independent and responsible. A product of two druggies, Caroline single-handedly raised herself and her younger brothers, flying under the Child Protective Services radar so they wouldn’t be split up and lost in the foster care system. He had admired her perseverance and struggle.
What happened to that girl?
He rotated. “So what, you’re done raising kids, is that it? My daughter isn’t in school—Chastity! Go get ready for school baby,” he called out to his daughter.
“I’m already dressed!” the girl shouted back.
“And she has to cook for herself?”
Caroline shrugged. “Do you know how long I’ve been taking care of other people?” Her mouth drooped, hands hung at her sides. She had looked so fresh and vibrant when they first met. A smile that could light up the room. Hair soft and flowing around her shoulders. For the first time, Wes noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes and how stringy her hair looked.
