Page 138 of Sharkbait
We visited the Liberty Bell.
We rode the carousel in Franklin Square.
We got ice cream at Bassett’s and strolled through Longwood Gardens.
And that was just the first afternoon and evening we spent together as a trio. The rest of the week, I joined them for everything I could too, and I ended up having the time of my life.
I saw corners of this city I didn’t even know existed.
I saw a parent-child bond that I didn’t know was possible.
And I saw a happy family-focused version of myself I never anticipated.
I resisted going on adventures with them the first week Iris was here. I told James I didn’t want to intrude on their father-daughter time, which was true. Mostly, though, I was terrified of getting attached to her. To them.
But let’s face it.
I was smitten with Iris the first time I met her.
And James? I’ve been head-over-heels in love with him for months now, but I’m too prideful and stubborn to say it.
We’ll put Iris on a plane back to her mom tomorrow. James will stay back here to tie up loose ends, but then he’ll join them in Hawaii two weeks later.
Permanently.
And if I’m not careful, he’ll go never knowing how I feel.
“Louise? Are you crying?” Iris asks as we sit hip to hip in the aquarium amphitheater waiting for her father to appear in the shark tank.
“No, sweetie, I’m not. Just got a little something in my eye.” I dab it away with the corner of my sleeve.
I tuck my arm around Iris’s shoulder and pull her close.
Her little arm reaches around my belly and squeezes me back.
“Can I tell you a secret, Louise?”
“Um. I think so?”
“You have to promise not to tell anyone.”
I’ve never seen Iris so serious.
“Hm. On second thought, no, Rissy. I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”
“What? Why not?” she whines and scrambles out from under my arm.
“Because you’re a kid, and I’m a grown-up. When you’re with me, it’s my job to make sure you’re safe and protected. What if your secret is that someone hurt you, but I’ve already promised you that I won’t tell anyone? Then I’m in a real sticky situation, don’t you think? Because as the grown-up, it’s super important I tell your dad and your mom if someone said or did something to you that they shouldn’t have. But sadly, that would mean breaking your trust. And I wouldn’t want to break your trust for anything in the world, kiddo, because you’re precious to me.”
“Oh my gosh, you grown-ups need to chillax,” Iris says.
“Do kids your age say chillax?” I laugh.
“They do now! My mom said it once, and I liked the sound of it. Anyway, I’m not going to tell you something too serious. I hope you won’t tell my dad or mom, but if you have to, whatever, dude. I’ll deal.”
This kid cracks me up. She’s innocence and maturity all rolled into one.
“Alright then, dude. What’s your secret?”
