Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,11

you need me.”

“Uh-huh.” She continues to read the paper. “Have a good day.”

We grab our stuff and head out the door, so I can walk Jade the three blocks to school. We don’t finish walking one block before Jade asks a question that has me wanting to come to an abrupt stop if I weren’t already so late.

“What kind of dad is Daddy?”

“Kind?”

Jade jumps from sidewalk square to sidewalk square. “Yeah, like he used to be Weekend Dad because I only saw him on the weekend.”

“Where did you hear that expression?” Damn Google. My seven-year-old daughter thinks she’s seventeen.

She shakes her head adamantly. “Nowhere.”

I shoot her a look with my chin down, eyes wide. Basically, the stern mother look.

“Promise.” She holds out her pinky. “Swear.”

I pinky swear with her. Knowing my daughter would have crumpled like a cheap suit if she was lying.

“Your dad is just your dad. He’ll come and visit, maybe we’ll go back and visit him from time-to-time. He might not be able to come every weekend, but that’s what’s so great about technology.”

I say this even though the dipshit has only Skyped with her four times in the past two months. Whatever, I’m being the bigger person here.

“Yeah, but at school, Valerie says her dad is the Date Night Dad. Every Wednesday he picks her up from school and they go to dinner and a movie. He always has a present for her.”

“That’s nice.” My heart clenches over the fact that she doesn’t, and likely never will, have that type of relationship with her father.

She says nothing.

I knew this move would be hard on her. Miles away from a dad who never really put her first to begin with, his eye set on making partner at his firm and nothing else.

“Maybe my dad is a Sometime Dad?”

The line of cars on the road ready to drop off their children signals we’re nearing the school. The giggles of children mix with the hollering of mom’s I love yous. Teachers are ushering kids in through the front doors when we approach, but I stop Jade and bend down to her level.

“Jade,” I say, squeezing her shoulder. “Your daddy misses you and I know sometimes he works too much to call, but always know, he’s thinking of you. You’re his little girl.”

She nods. “I get it. He wants to be successful and make a lot of money because Nana and Papa didn’t have a lot.”

I ignore the spark of anger inside me. Pete needs to watch what he tells her. Money is not everything in life. No one gives a shit what your bank account balance is when you die.

“He just wants to make sure you have everything you want.” I tuck a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.

I don’t add in that he also wants a new sports car for himself, the condo on the beach, and all the other material things that attract the women whose biggest goal is to score a rich husband.

“He said he sent me a present.” Her eyes light up and I really hope she receives it this time around.

“See, he’s always thinking of you.” I open my arms and she rushes in squeezing my neck.

“Love you, bug,” I whisper in her ear.

“Love you, Mommy.”

We part ways and she skips ahead of me. “So, Sometime Daddy then?” she asks.

Should’ve known I couldn’t deter her from defining her daddy’s role in her life. She’s persistent.

“I’d prefer just Daddy, but...”

“Yeah, I’ll tell the kids I have a Sometime Daddy.”

We reach the steps of St. Patrick Catholic School, the buzz of early morning in full force. Two familiar moms stand at the bottom of the staircase sipping their coffees and having their usual morning chat about every other parent’s incompetence in the school.

“Victoria,” Darcie coos, pushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Jade,” she says my daughter’s name like she’s been bouncing on the balls of her feet all morning to see her.

“Darcie. Georgia.” I bend down and tighten Jade’s ponytail, smoothing out the wispy unruly hairs. “Have a great day. Grandma will be here after school.”

“Okay. Love you, Mommy.” She gives me a looser hug than she did moments ago and before I’m standing upright again, she’s with a red-haired girl talking nonstop as the two venture up the stairs.

“Have a great day, ladies.” I turn to leave and head to the train station.

“Oh, Vikki,” Darcie says. I knew it would be asking too much to sneak away.

I smack on my court