When he notices me sitting on the porch, his footsteps slow. His scowl softens the slightest bit. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
Eli’s eyes stay on me as he climbs the stairs. Under his gaze I feel so darn self-conscious. I resist the urge to smooth a hand down the old college hoodie and ratty zebra-patterned leggings I’m wearing. Given yesterday’s abrupt departure from the Kingston’s home, I didn’t have many fashion options after taking my shower this morning. A load of laundry is definitely up next on my to-do list.
I pull out my earbuds and carefully shut my old laptop, setting down the device on the bench beside me.
My boss pauses outside the screen door. “Where’s Callie?”
Feeling all tangled up again, I offer a timid smile. “In her room. She’s still taking her nap.”
He nods distractedly, his hand reaching for the door handle.
Just before he steps inside the house, I call out. “Wait, um, I made the grocery list you asked for. It’s on the kitchen counter.”
“Right. Good. I’ll order for delivery tomorrow.”
“Well, Callie wants macaroni for dinner tonight, so I can just run out to the grocery store and grab a few things. D’you mind if I go do that before she wakes up?”
“Fine, Jenny,” he mumbles and opens the door.
Jenny? Huh?
I’m living in his house, taking care of his kid—hell, he’s even seen my boobs—and he doesn’t know my name? Lordy, that stings.
I open my mouth to correct him but before I can get a word out, Callie bounds outside. She practically darts between Eli’s legs and crawls into my lap.
The man sets down his box on the front mat and comes over to where I’m sitting with the child snuggled up in my arms. Crouching down to eye level with his daughter, he speaks softly to the girl. “Hey, honey. Did you have a good nap?”
Instead of answering, Callie just buries her head into my arm. She’s always cranky when she first wakes up, especially from her afternoon naps. But I feel for her dad, because I doubt he realizes that. He looks even more dejected than before. He drops his head and sighs softly. He rises to his feet.
I shoot Eli a sympathetic smile. “It takes a while for her to wake up completely,” I whisper.
But his expression tells me that he’s ready to give up. A voice inside me screams, Don’t give up on her. Don’t give up on your little girl. I won’t let you give up. All she needs is time. I’m sure of that.
I smooth my hand down Callie’s bedhead. “I’ve got to run to the grocery store, so I can make your macaroni and cheese tonight,” I tell her. “Maybe you can hang out with your daddy, and I’ll be back in just a bit.”
She steals a quick glance at Eli. She clings to me tighter. “Can I come?” she asks, turning those puppy eyes on me. "I want to go with you."
Callie doesn’t see Eli shaking his head firmly behind her back. I get it. I know he wants to enjoy this one-on-one time with her, so he can bond with his child again. I can see that he’s trying. But he’s got to see that she’s not ready for that just yet.
Baby steps, Eli. Baby steps.
And even if it costs me my job, I can’t just leave this poor terrified girl in a situation where she’s uncomfortable.
I know, deep down, she’d be perfectly safe. Eli loves her. He’s just big and grouchy and has a scary beard.
I turn my eyes to Eli, trying to convey a message, silently begging him to not hate me even more than he already does, silently begging him to go along with the words about to spill out of my mouth.
Lifting Callie’s chin slightly, I smile at her and she blinks up at me. “Give your dad a second to go wash that grumpy look off his face, and then we’ll all go to the grocery store together.” My pulse is thumping when I flick my gaze at the disapproving tower of a man who’s now leering down at me. I know he doesn’t appreciate that I just backed him into a corner with that promise to Callie. Still, I grab my metaphorical shovel and keep digging my grave deeper. “And then, he’ll take us for ice cream.” I smirk in the face of his displeasure.
Callie’s eyes pop. She cheers at my oh-so-fabulous idea.
“Go grab your shoes. The ones with the straps,” I tell her, scooting her off my lap. She giddily skips inside.
My boss shoots me another dark glare.
I innocently lift a shoulder. That’s right. No backsies, Eli.
He trails his daughter into the house.
A trip to the grocery store followed by an ice cream run is clearly the last thing Eli wants right now. But it might just be exactly what he needs, what Callie needs. The only thing that matters is that the man continues to make an effort with his daughter.
And I know he didn’t ask for my opinion. But I just want to help.
12 Eli
I can think of at least a dozen places I’d rather be. All the stares. All the whispers. A small town grocery store is more about neighbors trading gossip on the latest local scandal than buying fresh produce. With a convicted felon in their midst, it’s the perfect fodder for the gossip mill.
The nanny picked the worst possible time to drag me here. After my shitstain of a day at Kingston Realty, I just wanted to bury myself in my dark, damp basement and forget this day even happened. I just wanted to hide away and feel sorry for myself.
But when I saw my daughter’s nervous reaction about spending even an hour alone with me, my own problems were forgotten. Callie is everything. My
