Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,14

the corner of the newspaper to eye me over her reading glasses.

“You shouldn’t be liking any boys.”

“I don’t.” Jade notices me getting ready, stands, takes her bowl to the sink and grabs her jacket.

I hold out her backpack for her and she slides her arms through it.

“Good because—”

“Boys only detour you from obtaining your dreams. Make your own path for yourself before you allow others to walk beside you,” she says in a deadpan voice beyond her years.

“Sorry.” I bend down and kiss her cheek. “It’s the truth though,” I whisper.

Again, the paper peels back, my mom’s face showing her displeasure over what I’m teaching her granddaughter.

Jade wraps her arms around my mom’s neck, pressing her lips to her cheek. “Love you, Grandma.”

My mom pats her arm. “Love you, bug, I’ll be outside at school’s end.” Then she lowers her voice and whispers. I could probably dictate her secret conversation with Jade. She’s telling her to open her heart and see the possibilities this wonderful life has to offer.

It’s a crock of shit that I used to believe, and it landed me right where I am.

“Thanks, Mom. You sure you’re good to meet Jade after school because—”

“I’m good.” Her eyes sternly warn me to let the topic go.

My mom might be a softy when it comes to love, but she doesn’t allow others to question her ability.

Following Jade’s lead, I bend down and kiss my mom’s cheek. “Love you. Call me if 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