“This is my second time at one of these events.” She whispered. If the music hadn’t stopped at that moment, I wouldn’t have heard her.
“Is that your daddy?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She gave me a genuine smile this time, and I relaxed. “He made me promise I would try to make friends this time, but it’s hard.”
“Making friends is hard.” I sat up. “But, consider your mission accomplished. I’ll be your friend and you can be mine.”
“Yay!” She raised her hands in the air and clapped them. It made me giggle, and she started giggling, and we both couldn’t stop.
I looked around and found Patrick just off the edge of the play area on the phone. He smiled.
“Is that your daddy?” Annabelle asked.
“No.”
Her face dropped. “Oh, I thought I saw him feeding you and you kissed him.” It was her turn to look concerned. “That’s too bad. He looks like he would make a wonderful daddy.”
“I think he wants to be my daddy, but it’s complicated.” I went back to coloring. “He’s my boss.” I didn’t mean to share that part.
She flipped through the images. “That could be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Oh, you could quit! Then it’s no longer complicated.”
“But I love my job.” I frowned. The news about Cecil Dandridge being stopped made my year. He was a shady character in and out of jail his whole life. After failing as a drug lord and attempting to operate a betting ring, he eventually resorted to running sex parties and human auctions. He was the lowest of low criminals, and I had a part in stopping him.
“You could find another daddy.” She said more to herself. “But from the way he’s looking at you, I don’t think he would like that.”
I sighed.
“You’re right. It is complicated.” Annabelle said.
“Yep. That’s my life.” I nodded. “One big, complicated mess.”
“Well, maybe if we keep coloring, you will figure it out.” Annabelle tapped my paper. “Coloring always makes things clear for me.”
“Great idea, Annabelle.” I patted her hand. She smiled.
We fell silent, coloring our prospective pictures while going over the events of the evening in my head.
I had never felt so encased in my littleness, and never had a Daddy who felt more like a real Daddy. Patrick was the real deal, and if nothing went beyond this one night between us, I was grateful I had the chance to experience it. I suddenly knew what I wanted in my life.
I wanted to let my sister go.
I wanted to live my life again.
I wanted to continue to help those people who can’t help themselves.
I wanted to live a little lifestyle, and I wanted Patrick as my Daddy.
I really wanted Patrick as my daddy. I really wanted Patrick as my daddy.
I clicked my heels three times as I said it for good measure. We were in Emerald City after all.
I just hoped he felt the same.
CHAPTER 26
PATRICK
Istepped away to take a call and returned to find Kylie had made a friend. She was a nervous little girl in what could only be described as a tin man costume if the tin man were a ballerina. She picked at her tutu with one hand while coloring with the other. A man hovered near a decorative pillar, his gaze fixed on her, protective. He leaned forward when I approached. He seemed nervous, too.
