“I wasn’t being rude, Mama. I was being observant, like you.”
Her statement only made me laugh harder. I didn’t even realize that I was in trouble until I rolled to a stop at my front door and looked over to find Faith’s eyes already on me.
“Don’t encourage her, Reed. I’m already working with her and that mouth. She does not need an audience.”
“She’s exactly like you, Faith. What six-year-old says observant?”
“I got it from my mommy. She’s smart!” Jada chimed in, making Faith’s scowl morph into a sheepish smile.
“See,” I said, pointing at Faith. “That’s definitely your child.”
“Can we go inside?” Jada asked as we climbed out of the car.
“Of course, Jada Baby. I’ll take you on a little tour. I guess we’ll start with the movie theater,” I said, unlocking the door with my middle fingerprint. I made a mental note to have Paula create a sign in for Faith.
“You have a movie theater in your house?” Jada quizzed.
“Well, a movie room. Let me rephrase that. I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
I took my time showing my girls around. After the theater room that both Jada and Faith were impressed with, I continued with the tour. I showed them my home gym and the oversized kitchen I never used. I had most of my meals at Cashville. Thankfully, there were plenty of healthy options, because I spent less and less time in the gym these days.
“Oh, and I have a game room,” I told Jada, opening the door.
“Ooo, do you have Candyland?” Jada asked, looking up at me expectantly.
“Not yet. I guess I’ll have to get it now that you’re teaching me how to play.”
“OK, that’s good because you need to practice.”
Faith and I laughed at the same time, as Jada skipped further down the hall.
“That’syourdaughter,” Faith said, shaking her head.
“And I would trade this whole house and everything I got to see her grow up.”
Faith’s expression grew somber. Her eyes dropped to her hands as I stepped closer, closing the space between us.
“Don’t do that. I don’t mean like that. I don’t want you to think that I resent you for keeping her from me. Do I wish we had done things differently? Yes. I’m sure we are in agreement on that. We can’t change the past. The only thing I want to do now is raise our daughter together under the same roof. You’re already wearing my ring. Now I need you here with me,” I said, kissing her forehead before following Jada down the hall.
“All the way to the end, Jada Baby.” Showing my wife and daughter my house was exciting, but we hadn’t even gotten to the best part. “I saved the best room for last,” I explained, resting my hand on the door handle.
“Better than the game room?” Jada asked.
“Way better. This is your room,” I said, slowly pushing the door open.
Jada dashed into the room and flew right over to the bookshelf. She was definitely Faith’s child. From the bookshelf she moved to the big, pink canopy bed. For a while, we just stood there watching her move around the room touching everything. Pink wasn’t my color, but Jada seemed to love it.
“This is so pretty, Daddy!”
“What do you say, Jada?”
“Thank you! I love it.”
“You’re welcome, baby. Anything for you.”
Bouncing on the bed, Jada looked between Faith and me before settling on Faith. “Mommy, can we live here?”
Faith sighed. “Jada.”
