Penny comes up to me and climbs my lap, placing her head on my shoulder.
“She’s really good,” she whispers as she watches the performance with me. I hold my little girl and kiss the top of her head. Sometimes I wonder if she’d be different had she had a mother in her life. Would she still love to go horseback riding with me and hang out at the ranch? Would she be more girly?
“Yeah, sweetheart, she is.” I sway her to the beat of the music and sing the songs I know into her ear. Knox and Ainsley play some of their songs, but then they switch to oldies, including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
“Wanna dance?” I look down at Penny, hoping I’ll hold the place of dance partner in her life for a little while longer.
“Yeah.” Her face lights up.
Our friends join us, singing and dancing along as Knox and Sutton give us an amazing performance, either singing duets or solo performances. When a slower song comes on, Penny hugs my body and steps on my toes like she’s seen girls do in television shows and movies before. I smile down at her and move us around the dance floor as she giggles.
After a few more songs, Knox and Sutton thank the crowd and step off stage to a wave of claps and cheers.
“I’m thirsty,” Penny says as she leans into me.
“Let’s get you some lemonade.” I walk her over to the drinks table and serve her a cup of lemonade from the pitcher.
“Oh, I want popcorn, too.” She eyes the table next to us that has some snacks placed already. Grabbing a prepared bag of popcorn, we head back to the table.
“Oh man, did I take your seat?” Sutton stands.
“No, stay.” I motion for her to remain seated and turn to the table next to us. “May I?” I ask the couple sitting at the table.
When they give me the okay, I bring the chair over. Before I can tell Penny to sit, we hear her name being called from across the room. She leaves her lemonade and uneaten popcorn and runs off to her friends.
I drop on the seat with a loud sigh and run a hand down my face.
“She’s quite the social butterfly today,” Abbie mentions.
“I know. I have no idea when she came out of her shell.”
“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You were Mr. Popular in school,” Abbie smirks, and I roll my eyes, taking a drink of pop. I may have been popular in high school thanks to my football talent, but I was always more reserved than the rest of the guys.
“Really?” Sutton scrunches her nose next to me.
Before I can answer, Abbie cuts in. “Yeah, Gavin was always making up a reason to get together with friends.”
“Captain of the football team, too. He took our town to State,” Axel pipes in.
“Interesting.” Sutton looks at me with curious eyes.
“That was a long time ago. People change.” Silence falls over the table, pity smiles directed at me.
“And they can change back,” Abbie challenges me. I stare at her with narrowed eyes.
“Oh, I love this song.” Sutton jumps up, breaking the tension around the table and dragging Ainsley to the dance floor while asking her if she knows something about hand jive.
I turn to look at them as more people head to dance, enjoying the party. Penny races up to Sutton, leaving her friends behind, and cackles at the hand dance Sutton is doing with Ainsley.
Taking her time, she teaches Penny each move from slapping her thighs to crossing her hands and throwing her thumbs over her shoulders. Penny gets mixed up a few times, looking up to Sutton and trying to follow along. Sutton slows down, not caring that the music is a faster beat, and keeps in time with Penny.
“She’s something,” Abbie whispers next to me.
“Yeah, she definitely is.” I nod, keeping my eyes on my daughter and the woman who has entered our lives unexpectedly.
“Ohhhh, are those hearts I’m seeing in your eyes?” Abbie teases.
I turn to glare at her. “You’re a pest,” I deadpan.
“Not the first time you tell me that.” She puts her arm around my shoulder and places her head against mine. “I want you to be happy, Gav. It’s obvious Sutton likes you, and if you haven’t noticed, then you’re more blind than I can help you with.”
I take a deep breath and remain silent.
“And I think you like her, too, but you’ve been stuck on this idea that you can never be happy with another woman that isn’t Hadley that you aren’t even being honest with yourself.” Abbie is right. When Hadley left, I vowed to never give my heart to another woman, but that’s only harmed Penny and me.
“I’ve thought about asking her out after we went fishing on Sunday,” I confess. “But I don’t know, Abbs. Look at her with Penny. She’s already so attached.”
“That’s a good thing. I know you’d probably want to first get to know a woman before getting your daughter involved, but you do live in Everton. Privacy is impossible.” We both chuckle at the truth in her statement.
“I think it’s good that Penny gets along with her. She’s growing up and more mature than you give her credit for. You can talk to her openly and explain that you and Sutton are getting to know each other. I don’t know, word it like a dad would, that’s why you are one,” Abbie laughs. “You know how to talk to Penny, but give her and yourself more credit. You both deserve it.”
I nod, pensive. “Thanks, cuz.”
“That’s what I’m here for, to
