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I pull her into my arms and rock her back and forth. “Fender doesn’t hate you.”
“He doesn’t want to be my dad,” she wails.
This is why I don’t date. This is why I don’t trust men. They flee at the first hurdle and leave you all alone to deal with the aftermath.
Stupid men. I shouldn’t have asked Fender inside yesterday.
Lesson learned. No more men. And, this time, I’m sticking to it.
Chapter 22
Ice cream – the yummiest of distractions
Leia
I’m about done with Isla moping around the house. And I’m beyond pissed at Fender. He doesn’t want a relationship with me? Fine. But he can’t cut my child out of his life with a snap of his fingers. I won’t let him.
Time for a distraction. “Why don’t we go for some ice cream?”
“Ice cream?”
The tiny thread of excitement in Isla’s voice is enough for me. “Get your shoes on. Let’s go.”
“But we haven’t had dinner yet.”
“We’re making an exception today.”
“Okay.” She shrugs and goes to find her shoes. So much for ice cream cheering her up.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we walk toward Main Street. Main Street in Winter Falls is adorable. It’s lined with small, unique mom-and-pop stores you won’t find in a suburban mall such as a candle store that sells sexy candles, a bookstore specialized in smutty books, and a small grocery store that accepts barter instead of cash.
It’s also completely safe for pedestrians – and kids who don’t pay enough attention to where they’re going – since most cars are banned. Except electric cars like the one Fender has.
Fender. I swallow my irritation with the man. My daughter needs my attention now not some fickle man who flees at the first bump in the road.
We reach Unleashed, the pet store, and Isla tugs on my hand. “Can we go in? Can we?”
I usually stay far away from pet stores considering my daughter’s been begging me for a puppy since she was old enough to say the word. As if I have time to care for another living thing.
“Okay,” I say now since I can’t deny her when her eyes are still red from crying most of the day.
“Good afternoon, Wilson family,” a man greets when we enter. I’m starting to think the residents of Winter Falls were given a briefing with all of our essential information before our arrival considering everyone seems to know our names. “I’m Forest.”
“Forest?” Isla giggles. “You have a silly name.”
“Isla,” I warn. “We don’t judge.”
“Isla is correct. My name is kind of silly.”
“I think it’s cool,” I say to make up for my daughter being all judgy-face.
“Are you an animal lover?” Forests asks Isla who’s gazing around the store.
“I want a puppy.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have any puppies at the moment.” Her shoulders slump. “But I do have a squirrel. Do you want to meet Sammy?”
“Yes!” She bounces on her toes.
