“I liked to tag-team with Patty in the morning when I could. I hope that’s okay.”
“This is your house. Of course it’s okay.” I moved around him and got a pan from the cupboard.
“Becky …”
At the sound of my name on his lips, I turned to face him, pan in hand.
“I want you to feel like this is your house too. I want you to move freely around this house as you would your own house. That’s what I told Patty when she moved in with us that very first day. And I want you to be open with me—about the kids and about you, what is bothering you, about how we can make this transition easier for all of us.”
I stared. Because I couldn’t say anything. No one had ever really wanted to take care of me like that. Put me at ease, make me feel at home. Not a man anyway. Never in my life.
When I didn’t answer, he tipped his chin. “Can you do that?”
I nodded. “I think so.”
He proceeded to pack on the mayo and ham as he made the girls’ sandwiches.
“Patty wasn’t kidding. You’re a very hands-on dad.”
His eyes met mine briefly before focusing on his task at hand. “I try to be. I don’t want them to feel like they’re missing anything by not having their …” His voice trailed off, and he paused for a second before packing the sandwiches into brown paper bags. Then, he proceeded to the pantry to get some chips. “It’s the one job I can’t fail at.”
Now, that I understood better than he’d ever know.
Chapter 12
Charles
The last time I had gotten a call from school, Sarah had sprained her ankle. So, when the principal called me to tell me that Sarah had gotten in trouble, I was driving ninety on the highway, rushing to the school.
I had called Becky, but she hadn’t answered. When I’d told Brad and Mason that I was leaving work early to head to the school, they had wanted to come with me, overly concerned for the kids, but I’d flat-out told them no.
Adrenaline pumped in me as I turned into the parking lot, my heart beating a mile a minute. Sweat beads lined the back of my neck as I jumped out of my car, got to the entrance, and rang the buzzer for them to let me in.
When the door buzzed, I yanked it open and didn’t stop my quickened stride as I made it to the principal’s office. I stopped mid-step, hearing Becky’s heightened voice beyond the principal’s door, which was slightly ajar.
“So, there are no repercussions for the other girl? None whatsoever?” Becky’s back was toward me, her hands fisted by her sides.
I walked straight into Carol, the principal’s office without acknowledging the secretary, noting Sarah was sitting in the chair in front of her desk.
“That’s straight-up bullying, and this is bullshit. You can’t reprimand Sarah for sticking up for herself.”
“What’s going on here?”
My voice had everyone—Becky, Carol, and Sarah—turning in my direction.
“Charles …” Carol stood from behind her desk and adjusted her red suit jacket. “Sarah got into a fight this morning with Jennifer O’Neal.”
My eyes flickered to Sarah before landing back on the principal.
Becky took a menacing step toward the principal. “You can’t start the narrative like that!” Her eyes were blazing fire, the green popping. She flipped toward me. “Charles.” She tilted her head and clenched her teeth in a sarcastic smile. “Let me start the real narrative here. Jennifer O’Neal decided to pick on Sarah’s half-ponytail today and make fun of the fact that it wasn’t perfect, but it was okay because she didn’t have a mom to fix her hair.” She threw up both hands and then turned her attention back to Carol. “Let’s just tell it how it really is, right? And why isn’t Jennifer O’Neal in here, getting reprimanded, huh? Why is she not in here? I think her parents should get a call, too, because she’s a bully.”
Carol pulled at her suit jacket and placed a hand on her lip, leaning in. “Jennifer wasn’t the violent one in this situation.”
I breathed through the next seconds, searching Sarah’s face but she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
Becky screeched, “Violent? She pushed the kid who was getting in her face. I would have done more than push her. Unbelievable. You’re …”
Before Becky got out her next words, I lightly took her forearm and ushered her behind me.
“Is that what happened, Carol?” I asked, eyes devoid of