Page 49 of Baby Daddy
I processed her words. Had Dee shared her personal feelings about me with her precocious daughter? I fought the urge to probe and instead asked what book she wanted me to read.
“A fairy tale.”
“Which one?”
“Cinderella. That’s my favorite.”
I searched the bookshelf and found it readily. Thank God, it wasn’t the Disney version. Disney was my father’s biggest competitor though ironically he’d started his lifelong career in animation there.
Holding the book, I scanned the small room for a place to sit. The pickings were slim—either Dee’s bed or a wicker rocking chair, which was occupied by Froggie. Ty made the decision for me.
“Sit on my bed, Drake. That’s what my mommy does.”
“Um…okay.” Apprehension was rising in my chest. I’d never read a goodnight story to a kid before.
Doing as she bid, I sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the book, making sure to position it so Ty could see the pictures as I read it. She leaned forward to make sure she could, brushing against me.
“Once upon a time…” I began. To my astonishment, by the third page, I was really into it and acting out all the characters. Ty giggled at my sugary sweet impersonation of Cinderella and broke into laughter at my falsetto voice for the two stepsisters and drag queen impersonation of the evil stepmother. It felt so good and natural to entertain her; I almost didn’t want the story to end, and when I got to those two words, my heart sunk a little.
“Drake, read me another story!” Ty begged. “Please, pretty please?”
I inhaled a deep breath. “I wish I could, but I promised your mommy only one book.”
I expected the feisty little girl to put up a fight, but instead she asked me a question.
“Do you like my mommy?”
I faltered for an answer. “Sure. She’s really nice.”
Ty folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head. “No, I mean do you really like her? The way Prince Charming liked Cinderella and wanted to marry her.”
My throat and chest both tightened. I was at a loss for words. A wry smile curled on Ty’s ruby lips.
“I saw you and Mommy kissing on the roller coaster today.”
I gulped. “You did?”
Her saucy smile widening, she nodded. “Yup.”
I held my hands up in surrender. “Guilty as charged.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I really like her.”
“Are you going to be her boyfriend like Brock is with Aunt Lulu?”
Boyfriend?“Do you think your mommy really likes me?”
“Totally!”
Again at a loss for words, I changed the subject. “Listen, your mommy isn’t going to like me anymore if you don’t go to sleep.”
“Okay. Tuck me in.”
“Do you want to take your cape off?”
“No. I’m gonna wear it all the time. Tonight, I’m gonna be a princess like Cinderella. Thank you for giving it to me.”