Page 62 of Worth the Fall

My eyes squeezed shut at the memory. It had been awful. And smelled horrendous. And gotten in her hair.

“Oh.” Brooklyn’s tone was soft now. “Did you throw up?”

“Mmhmm.” Clara made a yucky face and shook her head. “Daddy and the uncles call it Pukegate.”

“Very creative.” Brooklyn flashed me a quick grin.

“Haven’t thrown up one time since you started sharing though, have you?” I directed the question toward my daughter, who was growing up way too fast for my liking.

“Nope. Not one time.”

“Then, I think it’s a nice compromise. You don’t get sick, and everyone gets some of your sweets,” I said, and my daughter reluctantly nodded in agreement.

“Do you think me and Waffle Princess can go watch a show?” Clara asked as she pushed her plate away. “I’m full, Daddy.”

I glanced between the two females staring at me, my heart pounding for no damn good reason other than the fact that my daughter was clearly attached to this woman and it was going to break us both if she didn’t feel the same in return.

“It’s fine with me. As long as it’s okay with Brooklyn?” I said, and Clara whipped her head to look at the woman seated next to her.

“Of course it’s okay,” she answered like I’d just asked the world’s stupidest question.

“But only one show and then bed.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

Brooklyn pushed away from the table and stood, gripping her plate in her hands. “I can help clean up.”

“No, it’s okay,” I said with a wave. “I’ve got this,” I lied because I did not even remotely have this.

My sweet Clara took Brooklyn by the hand and led her to the couch. She pressed some buttons on the remote control. She waited for Brooklyn to sit down before hopping right next to her and leaning her head on the woman’s shoulder. Brooklyn carefully maneuvered around for a blanket just out of reach, and when she had it in her fingertips, she pulled it over Clara’s tiny body and tucked her in tight. Her interaction with my daughter was making my heart do somersaults inside my damn chest.

She glanced behind herself for only a second, her eyes crashing into mine, and I swore my legs almost gave out. I wondered if this woman had any idea of the kind of effect she had on me. I decided that as soon as my daughter was asleep, I was going to make sure she knew.

TIME TO END THIS

THOMAS