Page 13 of Eloise's Daddies
“Are you worried they won’t support your idea?”
I swallow. “I don’t know that either.” It’s the truth. I don’t know what they will think of my plan. “I’ve only been with them a few months and they’ve given me the world.”
“It does look like they adore you to pieces. They haven’t stopped looking at you since they sat down over there,” she agrees.
I draw in a breath. “I used to work on the Ranch in the cafeteria. Everyone loved my desserts.”
“That sounds like fun. I know I loved eating the desserts when I visited. I bet I might have even eaten one of yours and didn’t know it.”
“Maybe.”
“Is that what you want to do? Make pastries or something?” She dumps her bucket of sand out, creating a perfect little castle from the shape of the bucket. “I bet your desserts are masterpieces like this castle.”
I chuckle. “Hardly. The problem is that’s what everyonethinksI want to do, and I know my Daddies aren’t pressuring me. Intellectually I know they will support me no matter what, but I feel strange springing something new on them. What if they think I’m loony toons?”
“I don’t think you’re loony toons. I bet they don’t either. You just need to talk to them.”
“When I moved in with them and started working on my GED, I stopped working at the cafeteria. I usually work on my studies from home with one of them while the other one works.”
“What do they do?”
“They both work for the security team.”
“Oh, so different shifts?” Felicity asks.
“Yes. Sometimes I get to go with them to the Ranch so I’ll get fresh air and a break from my studies. I’ve been going to the barn a lot.”
“Oh, I remember the barn. Do you ride horses?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m not really interested in horses. I like to play with the barn kitty.”
She grins wide. “Oh, how fun. What does it look like?”
“She’s got stripes in all different shades of gray. Her name is Maisie. Travis and Wren look after her.”
“Oh, I remember Travis. He’s so nice.”
“Yeah. He is.”
“So, uh, I’m confused. Did you decide you want to play with kittens all day?” she teases.
I giggle but look at her and shrug. “Sort of. I don’t think I have the energy to become a vet or anything, but Wren says veterinarians always have helpers called vet techs.”
Felicity claps her hands together. “That sounds so fun. You really would get to play with animals all day.”
“It was Wren’s idea really. I didn’t tell her I’ve been contemplating it ever since she casually mentioned it, but she noticed how much I love playing with that kitty. One time, Maisie got sick, and I sat with her and fed her by bottle to be sure she got enough fluids until she was better. I even gave her the medicine drops the vet left for her. Wren pointed out how good I am with animals, and she thought I might like to do something working with them. I did some research. I think she’s right. I never expected I would have the kind of opportunities I have now, but I don’t want to be presumptuous. I’m so happy. Why must I ask for more?”
Felicity takes my hand and squeezes it. “Do you really think your Daddies wouldn’t give you the world?”
I smile at her. “I know they would. They would support me no matter what. I just don’t want to be greedy, and also I know they like having me with them. They smother me with their love. I’m afraid they might not like the idea of me spending so much time in the education building. And what if—”
My breath hitches. I can’t finish that thought. I look away toward the ocean.
“Surely you don’t think they would decide they don’t want you just because you went to school during the day,” Felicity says softly.
I shrug, trying not to get emotional. “When they asked me to live with them, they couldn’t have foreseen me deciding I wanted to do something so drastic. I was a naughty, mischievous Little girl at the time. They helped me become a better person. I don’t want to be ungrateful or for them to think I don’t appreciate what they’ve done for me. I don’t want them to think I don’t like to spend time with them.”
Or that I don’t love them both so much it hurts.
