Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,26
the only one who doesn't, and I don't want to be different. When Topher asked Mommy to marry him, they said we're going to be a family now.”
A stray tear leaks out and slides down her cheek. I reach over and wipe it away with my thumb.
“If that's a good thing, why are you crying?”
She turns to me with a heartbreaking look on her face that threatens to break me into a million pieces. “My dad didn't want me.”
My bottom lip starts to quiver, but I hold it in. “Why do you think that?”
“Because if he wanted me, I would know who he is. He would come to my birthday parties and see me on Christmas. He would sing me lullabies and tuck me in at night. But I've never met him.”
I don't know what to say. Anything that comes out of my mouth right now would only give away the fact that I'm her dad. So instead, I pull her in close and kiss the top of her head.
“I'm sure he has a really good reason, B,” I whisper. “Anyone would be crazy not to want you.”
That night, I tuck her into bed and sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star until she's sound asleep.
I'M JUST FINISHING CUTTING up Brenna's waffles when the doorbell rings. I put the plate in front of B and go to answer the door. As soon as I open it, I frown. Saige looks utterly exhausted. Her face is clean of the makeup she wore last night, but her hair is in a sloppy bun, and she looks like she barely got a wink of sleep. And somehow, she still looks beautiful.
“Have a good night?” I question.
She nods. “How's Brenna?”
I open the door wider for her to enter. “Come see for yourself.”
We both walk into the kitchen and see our daughter happily digging into her plate of waffles. Saige walks over and kisses her cheeks before taking a bite. When she's done, she turns to me.
“Chocolate chips and whipped cream?”
My grin widens and dimples show for some extra leverage. “She's hard to say no to.”
Saige laughs and rolls her eyes. “Such a pushover.”
It's such a calm morning that I hate to do this, but after last night, it has to be done.
“Can we talk a minute?” I ask, nodding toward outside.
'Yeah, sure.” She ruffles Brenna's hair. “We'll be right back. Finish your waffles, because we have to leave soon.”
We walk outside and far enough away from the door that I know B won't overhear. My palms are sweaty and my nerves are out of control, but part of being a parent is trying to do what's best for them. And that is exactly what I'm doing.
“What's up?” Saige asks, sensing how anxious I am.
I take a deep breath. “We need to tell Brenna the truth, about me being her dad.”
“Excuse me?”
“Last night, she cried and told me that her dad didn't want her,” I argue. “She thinks that something is wrong with her and that I don't want her. She needs to know.”
She scoffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “Whoa. You've spent all of like five minutes in her life—”
“Yeah? And whose fault is that?” I snap back. “She deserves to know the truth!”
Saige's eyes burn with rage. “So, you have her alone for one night and suddenly you're a fucking expert on what's best for her?” She shakes her head. “Fuck you, Colby.”
As she turns around, I can already tell she's going to storm out of here, and who knows when I'll get to see Brenna again.
“Saige, stop.”
She doesn't listen to me as she rips the backdoor open and grabs Brenna's bag off the couch. “Come on, Bren. We're leaving.”
Brenna pouts. “But I didn't finish my waffles yet.”
“I'll make you more at home. Let's go.”
It's obvious she doesn't want to go, but she's a good kid and listens to her mom. Before they can leave though, I go over and pick B up into my arms. We hug each other tightly, and I try to commit the feeling to memory. If I have to, I'll take Saige to court and make it so she has to let me see my daughter, but that could take a while.
“Be good, little B.”
She lets go and steps back when I put her down. “Bye, Colby.”
I watch them walk out, and Saige puts Brenna in the car. Before getting in herself, she gives me a dirty look that silently tells me to go fuck myself.
Yeah, noted.
9
SAIGE
How could