I won’t. Honest. But if you say yes, I’ll totally take care of it. You won’t have to do anything.”
“Famous last words,” I mutter as I park and lead Gabby up to our penthouse. I owned a house with Darcy, still do actually, but I haven’t been able to live there since she passed.
There are just too many difficult memories there.
I should sell the house, but I haven’t been able to do that, either.
So Gabby and I live in this penthouse in Manhattan, which is big and modern. More than comfortable.
“Can I stay up to watch Netflix?”
“No, ma’am. You have school in the morning. Go take your shower and get ready for bed.”
“Darn it.”
“Actually, hold on a second. Let’s have a chat.”
“I swear, I haven’t done anything.”
I laugh and kiss the top of her head. “I know. I just want to talk to you for a minute.”
“Okay.” She sits on the couch and pulls her legs up under her, waiting expectantly.
“Gabby, I want to know what you think about the idea of me starting to date.”
She frowns. “Uh, I think it’s gross.”
“Because you’re afraid I’ll try to replace your mother?”
“No, because you’ll probably have sex and stuff, and that’s disgusting.”
I laugh, covering my eyes with my hand. Yep, she’s hilarious.
Then, my head snaps up. “Wait. What do you know about sex?”
Gabby rolls her eyes and sighs deeply as if I’m the dumbest man on the planet. “Dad, I’m twelve. I’m not stupid.”
“You’re the smartest person I know,” I reply immediately, meaning every word. “But you’re only twelve, and I should know how much you think you know.”
“I took health class.” She shrugs one shoulder. “They explained the basics, and it sounds gross.”
“It is. Keep thinking that. It’s awful. Horrible. And something you do when you’re thirty.”
She giggles now. “You’re weird. I don’t care if you date. I don’t think. Unless it’s someone dumb. I mean, you can’t date someone that I hate.”
“Obviously.”
“Because my friend Sara’s mom starting dating this total douche nozzle. No douche nozzles.”
“I think we can manage that. In fact”—I clear my throat—“I would like to start dating Nora.”
Her whole face breaks out into a big smile. “It’s about time! Dad, Nora’s awesome.”
“I know.”
“I told her the other day that she should date you, but she said it’s complicated.”
“Well, it is a little complicated,” I concede. “But I like her very much, and I’d like to spend more time with her outside of work.”
“I can spend more time with Grandma,” my sweet daughter offers, and I tug her into my arms for a hug.
“I think we’ll invite you to come with us most of the time, Gabs. You’re my daughter, my family, and if I’m dating any woman, she’ll need to get to know you, too.”
“But you’re going to want to do romantic stuff, and that’s not my idea of a good time.”
“Yes, I hope to have some romantic times, but we’ll have lots of times when we’re just hanging out, and there’s no reason that you can’t be with us.”
“Yeah, I guess that could be fun,” she says. “I’m happy for you, Dad.”
I stare at my daughter. She’s growing up so fast. Way quicker than I’m comfortable with. And she looks just like her mother.
Darcy loved her, and it makes me sad that Gabby is missing out on having her mother as she grows up.
“Are you okay, Gabs?”
“I told you, I like Nora.”
“I don’t just mean that. I mean, are you generally okay?”
She sighs and sits back against the cushions. “Yeah. I’d be better if I could watch Netflix tonight with my new dog—”
“Don’t push it.”
“I’m good. Thanks for asking me if I’m okay with the gross dating.”
“We’re a team, baby girl. We need to be on the same page or this doesn’t work.”
“Like last year, when I was such a royal brat.”
“You were just a little brat.”
She laughs. “Hormones.”
“What, exactly, do you know about hormones?”
Gabby groans as she shoves her face in a pillow and says, “Daaaaad.”
“What? I need to know these things.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too, Gabs.”
“So about Netflix.”
“Nope.”
“I had to try.”
Chapter Five
~Nora~
“Good morning, Nora,” Carter says in greeting as he walks into the office Friday morning. He’s wearing those navy blue slacks I told him I like, and that left dimple is firmly in place as he grins and places a manila folder on my desk. “I have some notes for the Dickinson case I need you to look over right away.”
I frown up at him. He never asks me to look