Page 126 of Fierce-Dane

“Not completely,” she said. “Sometimes she thinks it’s all going to be taken away. We are working on it.”

She turned and saw Shiloh filling a huge plate of food at the snack table and elbowed Dane.

“Let it go,” he said. “She’s still very skinny and active. She’s hungry. Could be a growth spurt.”

“Is she worried that that food will be taken away or she won’t have it again?” Mark asked.

“I don’t know. I think she was limited in what she ate and when she did eat, it wasn’t a lot. She wasn’t undernourished but definitely not fed this much.”

“Not like I’ve seen with some kids that have a lot of food at their disposal but are just picky,” he said. “It hasn’t been that long and she has to understand that there will be more there for her.”

“Maybe Tiffani and Tyler can help with that,” Doreen said. “Did you think to ask Tiffani to say some things?”

“No,” he said. “If I do that there is a chance that it gets back to Mel. She doesn’t need to know more than she does.”

Sloane wouldn’t comment on that either. She had no dealings with Mel, but she knew at some point she might. Dane had met both of the men that Mel had dated but said that Mel hadn’t asked to meet Sloane again other than that run-in at the festival.

She wasn’t going to let that bother her. She’d told Dane already there was jealousy there, but she could handle it. She’d leave it all up to him.

“You might have to deal with that problem too,” Doreen said.

“Not the time,” he said. “Can we just enjoy Willow’s party without too many negative subjects?”

“You’re right, Dane,” Doreen said. “I’m sorry.”

She heard Dane being called by Tiffani and waved over to the swing set. “I’ll be back,” he said. “I can tell she wants me to push her.”

“He’s so good with the kids,” Doreen said.

“He is,” she said. “I’d be lost without him right now.”

“It’s hard for you to admit that, isn’t it?” Doreen asked.

“Yes. I know you’re aware of my background.”

“Which means nothing to me,” Doreen said. “Go help Dane, Mark. Let us have some girl talk.”

Oh boy. She didn’t know what was in store for her now but watched Dane’s father move toward the swing set to push the kids. Shiloh was pumping her legs and doing it on her own, then Dane moved over and pushed both girls each at the same time.

“Shiloh has never had a man in her life,” she said.

“And neither have you,” Doreen said. “I’m not judgingand won’t. Dane told you we’ve always been open with our children about their backgrounds.”

“He has,” she said. “I think it’s great. Not many would be that way.”

“There was no reason to keep it a secret,” Doreen said. “I wasn’t lucky enough to have my own children, but both of my kids are mine though I didn’t birth them. If they decide to have a relationship with their birth parents, I’m confident enough to know they still love me.”

“Dane doesn’t appear to want to find out,” she said.

“No,” Doreen said. “He never has. I’m not sure the reason and that is his choice. Mel, she wanted to know and it caused some fights with them.”

Sloane nodded. “I think that should be a personal decision on Dane’s part and no one should or can tell him how to handle it.”

Doreen smiled. “You’re better for him than I thought you’d be.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I think.”

Doreen patted her hand. “Don’t think anything of it. Dane deserves to be with someone who lets him be who he is and understands him. I think he’s got that now. It might be the happiest I’ve seen him in years. The fact he’s putting his foot down with Mel is another thing.Thatmakes me happy.”