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"Come on, Kristy, knock it off." I chuckled.
"Seriously though. I'm shocked. I never thought it would happen. I figured you’d be single forever."
"Well, it did...”
I took a deep breath, not sure I wanted to admit the next part. I really liked Iris.
“But…”
“I'm having some serious regrets over here. I called you to talk me down."
"What's got you all wigged out, big bro?"
"What doesn't? Did I tell you Valerie appeared for dinner the other night?"
"No. What happened?"
"What didn't? She wanted money, and I guess she figured the first time she asked, my answer wasn't what she wanted to hear, so she’d try again. I think she thought I'd bend and give it to her. Instead, her actions ended up upsetting Grace, and that pissed me off even more than I already was."
"I hate to break it to you, but that woman doesn't deserve a dime. You'd be foolish to hand over anything to her. "
I cleared my throat and began shaving. "I wouldn't bend, but I don't like the way she messes with Gracie's head. She conspired with her to make me think the dinner was Grace’s idea, when in fact it was Valerie who’d suggested it to Grace."
"Don’t get me all stirred up. I hated her ever since I met her. Knowing she messes with Grace makes me irate as hell, so I get that, Zach, I do. I'm just glad that you took Grace away with you and that she isn't living with her anymore."
"Same here. It's bad enough I left her for the time I did when Mom and I were buying this place. Thing is, Gracie thinks the woman is wonderful, until she shows her true self. It took me hours the other night to get her to calm down and fall asleep.”
"I know, Zach. It was what I never liked about her; she was always hiding something. You'll have to forgive me, though. I'm confused because I don't know what dinner the other night has to do with dinner tonight?"
I smiled. This was my sister. She had been fighting for me to get back in the ring and date again. She'd been the one pushing and pushing so that I'd do it. "I don't know, I guess I'm just afraid that..."
"You're afraid that this woman will be another Valerie. It's a valid concern. However, you must give her a chance. Don't go paint her with the same brush. Especially when you have gotten no reason to think that."
I walked into the bedroom and heard a tiny knock on the door. "Listen, I have to go," I muttered.
"Alright, just do yourself a favour, get Valerie out of your head and just put your focus on being the best dad out there. Also, have fun on your date," Kristy said. "Oh and don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"Does Grant know the things you wouldn't do?" I chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess that doesn't work so much anymore, does it?" She giggled. "Have a good night. Give Grace a hug for us."
“Will do. Night, and thanks.”
I hung up and threw my phone down on the bed and pulled the bedroom door open. Grace stood there, holding onto her favorite doll. "Hey, Daddy. Can I come in?"
"Of course."
I watched as she made her way over to my bed and climbed up on it. Then she stood up on the mattress. I took a couple of steps toward her, reaching out to make sure she didn't fall, when she surprised me by wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I love you, Daddy." She rested her head on my shoulder and didn't let go.
I pulled her against me and hugged her. "You know I'll always be here for you, right? That I love you too and that you mean the world to me."
She nodded and then pulled away. She then sat down, cross-legged, on the mattress and gave me a once-over.
"Why are you dressed so nice, Daddy?"
I reached for the shirt I'd hung on the chair in my room and put it on, then turned to look at Grace, who sat there with questioning eyes.
