“Pez’s!!!” she cries, jumping up and down. I watch as Pez’s eyes widen in shock, but the huge grin on his face comes almost instantly. Yeah, he’s in deep with my girls. I just hope he doesn’t fuck it up.
“I’ll just get?—”
“I’ll get it, Skittles,” Pez murmurs. I can see the way my girl looks at him. It’s a little uncomfortable for a dad to see, but still, I’d much rather Daphne ends up with a good man like Pez over that fuck-head Dane. I never did like that guy. I put up with him because he seemed to spoil my girls. Daphne seemed like she was happy. After what I saw today, I’m going to make sure he’s completely out of the picture.
“What’s with all the candy nicknames?” Annie asks with a huff. There’s the Annie I’m more accustomed to seeing lately.She’d probably feel better if she ate some candy instead of injecting Botox. “I’m gaining weight just hearing the names.”
“I remember you used to have a sweet tooth. Cookies were a regular dessert at our house,” I add. I know I’m an asshole for bringing it up, but I hate this bitchy side of her that I see anymore. Annie wasn’t always like that, and I miss the young girl she used to be.
“He’s right, Mom. I always liked your chocolate chip ones. They were my favorite,” Daphne says, having no idea that I’m referring to anything but the kind of cookies that you put in the oven. I smirk at Annie. She’s doing her best not to give herself away in this conversation, but I see the anger glowing in her eyes.
“I wike chock-et chip,” Cammie says.
“What were your favorites, Dad?” Daphne asks.
I give Annie a wolfish grin. She narrows her eyes, telling me without words that I better shut up. It’s her fault if she doesn’t remember that I rarely hold back.
“I like the cream filled cookie she used to serve,” I reply blandly. I can feel Annie’s body tighten next to me. I fight the urge to laugh.
“I don’t remember those,” Daphne answers, sounding sad.
“I quit making them,” Annie injects immediately.
“How come?” Daphne asks.
“It’s one of those recipes that you don’t make that often, so you get rusty on the ingredients and before you know it, they are dry and tasteless because not enough love goes into them. It’s part of the reason I gave up baking them altogether,” she says.
Her hidden barbs are definitely hitting, but I brush off the feeling. I can’t let her get the last word. “Well, back then you were buying the cheap ingredients. I’m sure with Nathan’s money you’re buying the extremely expensive ones these days,” I respond, just as Pez comes back–armed with two medium sizepresents wrapped in paper covered in a snowman. Not sure who he is, but he’s sure not Frosty.
“You’re an asshole,” Annie murmurs quietly next to my ear while the others are distracted.
“Takes one to know one, baby,” I purr back.
“I think I liked you better as a drunk,” she says while Daphne and Cammie laugh over Cammie trying to decide which of the two presents to open.
“Even more reason to stay sober,” I quip, before turning my attention back to my girls.
“Okay fine. Since you’re both ganging up on me,” Daphne laughs looking at Cammie who is now sitting on Pez’s lap. Yeah, I need to help this guy get his head out of his ass. I’ve been living that way for too many years. I don’t want to see him do it, not when his shot of happiness is staring him in the eyes. I suppose I’m more invested because I think Pez can make my daughter happy in ways that fuck-head Dane never could.
“Yay! We won, Pez!” Cammie yells excitedly, practically jumping up and down in Pez’s lap. I notice he’s got a firm hold on my granddaughter, though. He’s not about to let her get hurt. Yeah. He’s got it bad. Maybe Drew can help me push Pez towards Daphne. It’s worth mulling over.
“That we did, Pixie,” Pez replies as he helps steady the present in Cammie’s lap. “This one isn’t actually from me,” Pez says. “This one is from Papaw Sabre.”
My gut gets tight, because I know I failed here. Pez saved my ass and honestly, I owe him. That’s not the reason I want him with Daphne, but it’s a nice bonus just the same. It’d be good if this time I got a son-in-law I actually like and respect. I don’t think I’d feel quite so alone if I could go to Daphne’s for the holidays and feel comfortable. I never did with Dane here and his snooty-ass family. They didn’t want to be associated with a biker, and it showed. Perhaps it’s time I start digging deeper inthe file I have on Dane. I made one when he and Daphne first got involved. I couldn’t find anything really bad, but there were signs. I stopped looking because he seemed to spoil Daphne, and my girl was happy. Now, though? Maybe I can get Pez’s help.
“Papaw you got me Olaf paper!” Cammie cheers. Well, I guess I know the name of the silly looking snowman now.
“It’s your favorite,” I guess.
She giggles. “I love Olaf!” I seemed to have guessed right.Yay me. I’ve been such a dick. Cammie starts digging into the present and once the wrapping comes off, she just stares at the box for a minute, as if she doesn’t really know what it is.You and me both, kiddo.Then, all at once her hands start slapping on the box. “It’s Olaf dance-off, Mama! Papaw got me Olaf dance-off!”
Olafwhat?God, I hope that’s good.
“He sure did, baby,” Daphne says with a huge smile.
She practically shoves the present at her mom and jumps from Pez’s lap. She runs over to me, throwing her hands out. I pick her up at once and she hugs me tightly. “Thank you, Papaw. I wanted it so much!”
Fuck, the feeling of this child in my arms, hugging me the way she is, while calling me papaw, makes tears gather in my eyes. I can feel their sting. I don’t mind them though. I let them flow out unchecked. I just soak the moment up.
