Page 98 of Baby Daddy
“It wasn’t your fault.” The same words as Drake’s.
“I should have come out and said that I wasn’t really engaged to Drake.” I took another sip of the hot tea. “I don’t know why I didn’t.”
“Bullshit. Of course you know why. It was wishful thinking. You’re madly in love with him.”
Lulu’s words struck a deep chord inside me. We’d never talked about my feelings, but my sister was right. I was head over heels in love with Drake Hanson. And it wasn’t because of all the great sex we had. It was because of all the great moments we’d shared. All the fun. All the laughter. And above all, because of the way he’d taken to Tyson and she’d taken to him. Their magical bond. Oh, God. What was I going to tell her? She was going to be heartbroken not seeing him again. The only pain worse than my own was seeing my baby girl suffer. I loved her more than life itself.
Almost on cue, her sweet, raspy voice broke into my despair.
“Mommy, what are you doing home?” she shouted out, running up to me.
I took her in my arms and gave her a hug. She stared at me with her earnest eyes. Concern filled the rims.
“Mommy, have you been crying?”
“Um, uh…no.” I’d never shed a tear in front of her, well at least when she could see me crying. Being brave for my daughter was part of my job.
“Yes, you have!” challenged by astute little girl. “What’s the matter?”
My sister came to the rescue. “Tyson, honey, it’s late. You shouldn’t be up. Let’s get you back in bed.”
“Lou, it’s okay.” I ran my fingers through my daughter’s silky hair. She might as well hear the truth. Or some child-friendly version of it. “Cupcake, I had a fight with Drake.”
Ty scrunched up her face. “What kinda fight?”
“A grown-up fight. He said a lie about me.” A lie that I wish could be true but would never be.
Though I’d lied to Ty about her father her entire life, I’d instilled her with the value of telling the truth at all costs.
“I’m not going to work for him anymore.”
Ty frowned. “Does that mean you’re never gonna see him again?”
“I’m not sure.”
“But, Mommy, you have to. At my graduation, he promised he was gonna take us to New York at Christmas to skate at Rockerfellow Plaza. And he promised he wouldn’t break his promise.”
Her words gutted me. “Well, maybe not this year.” No, not ever.
My little girl defiantly crossed her arms. “I think you and Drake should kiss and makeup.”
Uncontrollably, at her words, my eyes grew watery. The mere thought of Drake’s lips on mine sent my emotions into a tailspin, and I couldn’t stop a few tears from falling.
“Oh, Mommy, are you crying again?”
I sniffled as she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me. God. Here she was taking care of me when I should be taking care of her. Gnawing guilt succumbed to gratitude. How blessed I was to have this incredible little girl. She was my temple. Sacred and special.
“It’s gonna be okay, Mommy. Just wait and see.”
The warmth of her body and her loving words brought me much needed solace. I kissed the top of her head.
“Dee, is there anything I can do?”
My sister. I glanced up at her.
“Lou, I’m going to put Ty back to bed and call it a night. Thanks for everything.”
We hugged. A short ten minutes later, I was ready for bed too. I tucked Ty in.