used to having to constantly wash something sticky off them,” I tease.
“Oh, I wouldn’t doubt it,” he says. I watch as he opens the top bun and checks out what’s on his burger. He catches my eye and adds, “I have to make sure he doesn’t put any weird shi—stuff on it. Sometimes, Jasp gets inventive and we find unusual toppings on our food. But this one’s okay.”
“Ride a Cowboy,” I state, noticing the fried onion rings drizzled in sweet barbecue sauce. I’ve heard it called a western burger before, but nothing like the name on our menu. In fact, all of the burgers’ names are slightly inappropriate or funny.
“My favorite,” he confirms before taking a massive bite, one-handed.
I almost offer to take Lizzie, but I realize he’s not having difficulty. In fact, they seem to both be enjoying their time together. Walker is eating and sharing his fries, and Lizzie is nibbling on them and talking about all the things inside Backpack. He listens intently, asking a few questions along the way, like what exactly is Backpack.
After my daughter gets her fill, Walker glances up at me. “Want some? You can have what’s left.”
I shake my head, my stomach still full from the large fries and double cheeseburger from earlier. “No thank you.”
He finishes off the rest of them and places his trash back in the bag. “Me do it!” Lizzie hollers, climbing down off Walker’s leg and taking the bag to the trash.
“Thanks, Lou,” he says, holding up his hand for a high five. Lizzie gladly obliges, slapping his hand. As soon as he shakes it, as if her smack hurt him, she starts giggling. “Man, you’re a strong girl,” he says dramatically.
She reaches for his hand and pulls on him. When he gets up off the chair, she drags him into the living room. “Com’on, Walk. We watch Dora.”
“Lizzie, I’m sure Walker has plans tonight,” I start, but stop when I realize neither of them are really listening to me. All I can do is watch as Walker sits down on my couch and my daughter curls up on his lap. They watch the child’s cartoon together, both smiling from time to time. Every time Lizzie giggles, Walker smiles, as if he’s hearing the greatest sound on earth.
I happen to agree with him.
When the episode ends, I try to help give him an out. “Lizzie, I’m sure Walker has things to do. He wasn’t planning on having to help us on his only night off.”
He just seems to get even more comfortable. “I had no plans, Mal. Besides, I can’t think of anything better to do than watching Dora the Explorer with this little lady,” he says, playfully tugging on a curl and making Lizzie giggle.
They end up watching another episode, but I can tell she’s getting sleepy. Her eyelids are heavy as she snuggles into his chest more. My eyes are drawn to them, mostly because it’s been a while since someone paid her attention like this, besides me. Devon was a good father, until he wasn’t anymore. Early on, he made sure he was home to help with the pre-bed routine and to tuck her into bed. But things started to change almost a year ago. The man I knew and loved slowly disappeared. Literally. He’d leave and wouldn’t return until the wee hours of the morning, and when questioned about it, he told me not to worry about it.
I did.
Worry about it, that is.
Turns out, I had good reason, even if I didn’t know it at the time.
“I think she’s out,” Walker says, pulling me from my thoughts.
When I glance down, I see Lizzie sleeping against his chest, her jaw dangling open as she snoozes. “I can take her to bed.”
He adjusts his arms and slowly stands up. “I got her, Mal. I’ll follow you.”
I hesitate but end up walking to the hallway and into my daughter’s room. All I can do is stand back, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum as he carefully lowers her into her toddler bed. Lizzie opens her eyes, just long enough to see Walker and smile. “Night, night, Walk.”
Walker grins and kisses her forehead. “Night, night, Lou.”
When he stands up, I make sure her purple princess blanket is pulled up to her chest and her favorite teddy bear is in her arms. “Love you, sweetie.”
“Night, night, Mommy,” she says through a sigh before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
Walker leaves the room first, while I