I sigh and keep my tears trapped behind my closed eyes. Men are supposed to be strong, emotionless, invincible. When your heart is shattered, it bleeds the same regardless of gender or societal preconceived ideas.
“Daddy?” Penny’s tiny voice calls out.
“I’m here, sweetie.” I kneel on the floor by the bed and reach for her. “How are you feeling?”
She sniffles and scoots into my chest. “Bad.” The one word hurts more than losing Hadley.
“I brought the medicine the doctor prescribed. Let’s have it so you can feel great again. I promised Mrs. Engle we’d buy cupcakes when you’re feeling better.”
“Okay,” she sighs, not even getting excited at the idea of cupcakes.
Penny sits up in bed, and I hand her the small cup holding the right amount of medicine she needs to take. She swallows it on a grimace and coughs up.
“Can I have water?” Her brown eyes stare up at me. I smooth a hand down her messy locks and nod, standing.
I grab water and return to the room as fast as I can and hand her the cup.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome.” I smile, seeing some color back on her face.
“What’s that?” She points to the yellow stuffed chick on the chair behind me.
“That’s for you. I saw Sutton at the pharmacy, and when she heard you were sick, she got this for you.” I reach for the chick and hand it to Penny. Her small hands squeeze it as she brings it up to her face and rubs against the soft furry fabric.
“Famous Singer?” Penny uses her nickname for Sutton.
I nod, chuckling softly. “Yeah.”
“Thanks.” She hugs the toy to her and lies down again.
“Are you hungry?” I ask her before she gets too comfortable.
Penny shakes her head, her eyes drooping. “Can you stay with me?” she murmurs and scoots back on the bed.
“Yeah, sweetheart.” I toe off my boots and lie in bed with her, keeping my arms around her as her soft breathing fills the room and she’s asleep again.
Regardless of the shitty hand we were dealt, I’ll never regret having Penny. She’s the light in my life, and the only reason I was able to pick myself up off the floor when Hadley left. She’d already lost one parent, I wasn’t going to let her lose the other.
…
“How’s Penny?” Abbie asks me as she takes a sip of the iced tea my mom made this morning.
“She’s better.” I nod and smile. “She’s been resting since yesterday and taking the meds she needs.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I got worried when my mom told me you went to pick her up from school. I know how nervous you get when she’s sick.” Abbie smiles sadly.
“Thanks. She’s going to be okay.” Right on cue, Penny stumbles out of the room and into the kitchen, holding the chick around one arm. She hasn’t let that toy go since I gave it to her yesterday afternoon.
“Hi, Abbie.” Penny drags her body toward me and climbs on my lap.
“How are you feeling?” I inspect her face, hair, body, looking for any signs. She spent the night throwing up and dry heaving until her tears stopped rolling down her cheeks. She was miserable, and all I could do was hold her.
“Better, Daddy.” She leans her head on my shoulder.
“That’s a cute chick,” Abbie motions to the animal.
“Thanks. Famous Singer got it.”
“Really?” Abbie’s eyebrows shoot up as she looks at me.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I ran into her at the pharmacy, and she bought it for Penny when she heard she was sick. A get well soon gift.” I shrug.
“That’s sweet of her.” Abbie leaves it at that, but the smile on her face tells me she won’t let it rest forever. I’ll be hearing about this again, especially with Abbie’s recent determination to talk to me about Sutton and not-so-subtle hints about how great she is. Sutton may be beautiful and kind, but I’m not looking for a relationship.
After a couple of hours, Abbie heads home to work on photo edits, and I take care of Penny, grateful I was able to stay home with her today.
“Daddy, can I have lunch?” Her soft voice makes me smile.
“Of course. How do toast and soup sound?” I carry her to the kitchen and sit her down on the counter as I bring out the container holding the soup I made last night and a slice of bread.
“Thanks.” The chick sits on her lap, reminding me of the woman who gifted it to her so selflessly.
After warming up the soup on the stove and making her toast, I sit with Penny at the kitchen table and watch her eat, relieved her appetite seems to be coming back.
“You need to take your medicine again after you eat.”
“But I feel better already,” she argues.
“It’ll help make sure you’re completely healthy so we can buy cupcakes at The Mad Batter.”
“Today?” Her face lights up.
I chuckle and shake my head. “How about on Thursday we have a Daddy, Daughter cupcake date after school?”
“What day is it today?” she asks with small eyes.
“Tuesday,” I respond.
I see her doing the math in her head before she asks with raised eyebrows, “Thursday is in two days?”
“Yeah,” I smile, amazed by how much she learns and grows each day. Kindergarten has matured her so much. Preschool was great for her, but this past school year has taught her so much.
“Okay. I’ll be better by then,” Penny nods.
I smile
