Page 52 of Quintessentially

“I picked you out of the crowd right away.”

“I didn’t notice you,” I lie.

Dax grins. “I figured.” He again reaches for my hand. “May we see each other?”

“I see you, Dax.”

“Dinner?”

“You’ll be at the store, won’t you? For Ruth’s stipulation.”

He nods. “I’ll be there Monday.”

Monday.

Tomorrow.

All day.

“Okay.”

He looks out at Molly. “When can we tell her the truth?”

“Before you leave.”

That answer seems to satisfy him.

Letting go of his hand, I stand. “I really should get her home. She has school in the morning.”

Dax stands. “I feel like I’ve missed so much. What grade is she in?”

“Kindergarten.”

“What about college? Does she have a 529?”

“Let’s take this a step at a time.”

Dax expounds on the benefits of early investing as together we walk toward Molly. At the same time, Cory and Judy appear. Judy smiles at me. I know what they’re thinking, but I don’t have words.

Cory slaps Dax on the back. “Good to see you two together.”

“Baby steps,” I say.

The two girls are at our legs when Amber looks up at Dax and says, “I didn’t know you was Molly’s dad.”

My stomach sinks as Molly’s expression sobers and she stares up at Dax.

ChapterTwenty

Dax

My eyes go as wide as Kandace’s as we both turn to Molly who is looking up at me. Her usual smile is replaced with her lips agape.

“I’m sorry,” Judy says. “We thought…” She reaches for Amber. “Come on, honey. We need to go home.”

Cory tilts his head. “Man. Sorry.”

For a moment, the three of us are left speechless until Kandace bends down and reaches for Molly’s shoulders. “Amber is right; Dax is your father, Molly. We were going to tell you after you got to know him.”

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