I wasn’t sure how to feel right now.
Should I feel betrayed?
Or should I be pleased that Naomi was making an effort to connect with Mabel?
This was such new territory for both of us—all of us.Which way was north?Was any of this normal?
Her hand rested on my arm, and she gave it a gentle squeeze.“If things got worse, I would have called you.But I think we managed to get it under control and comfort her.She has a fear of abandonment, and by usnotinvolving you, we showed her that it’s not just you two against the world.You have a village.We’re here for both of you.”Her eyes softened.“If you’ll let us.”
Clenching my molars so I didn’t say something I’d ultimately regret later, I simply gave her a soft nod.But she still looked hurt.
Crap.
I stepped back over to my daughter.“Ready to go, kiddo?”
She finished the last bottle, then stood up.She folded the heavy, gray weighted blanket before setting it on the booth bench.“Thank you for allowing me to sit with you and for helping me with my panic attack.While I still worry about becoming an orphan and Kyla coming back to kill my dad, I appreciate your attempt to help me worry less.”Her words—as always—were wooden and without inflection.It didn’t mean that she wasn’t sincere; it just conveyed her still minimal grasp on emotions and social context.She wasn’t making eye contact with anybody in particular, but rather just staring at the bowl of pretzels on the table.
“You’re welcome here anytime, sweetheart,” Gabrielle said.“You’re a hard worker.If you want a job this summer, we’d definitely hire you.No interview or résumé required.”
Mabel looked up at the vineyard matriarch.“What does it pay?”
Several people snorted around the room.
“W-well, um … you’re how old?”
“Almost fourteen.And technically, I’m not allowed to legally work in the state of Washington until I’m fourteen.At which point, the minimum wage for fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds in the state of Washington is $14.56 an hour.”
“Are you okay with $15 an hour, under the table until you’re fourteen?”Gabrielle asked, hesitation in her voice.
“Under the table is illegal.It often implies tax evasion or bribery.Are you trying to evade paying your taxes?”
I let out a deep sigh and snagged Jagger’s blue eyes.They were full of amusement.The man was trying not to laugh.“Mabes, she’s just trying to offer you a job before your birthday.Nobody is trying to evade paying their taxes or bribe anyone.”
My daughter’s back went straight.“I must politely decline.I am not comfortable doing anything illegal.However, should you still require an employee after I turn fourteen at the end of June, then I should very much like to discuss procuring a job here.Thank you for the offer.”Her cheeks went pink.“I have done illegal things before, and they make my stomach very ill.”She glanced at me.“My father made me drive home when he had a headache and a panic attack.I didn’t like it.”
“We should get going,” I said with another sigh.I met Naomi’s face.She seemed unsure, and still a little hurt.“Thank you for watching Mabel and keeping her safe.I really appreciate it.”
Her smile was small.“Anytime.”
“Yes, thank you,” Mabel said, following me to the front door.
“I … um … I’ll walk you out,” Naomi said, wringing her fingers together before prying her feet off the wood floor and following us.
The breeze was warm as it swept across our cheeks, bringing with it the scent of honeysuckle and salt air.I glanced around in search of honeysuckle, only to realize it was all over the pergola and gazebo that made up the tasting room patio.
Mabel climbed into the front passenger seat and sat there, dutifully waiting for me.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I leaned against the driver’s side door.“Thank you,” I said again.“This is all very new.I thought that when I started dating someone—ifI ever started dating someone—that I would wait a considerable amount of time before I introduced them to my kid.Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”
Her mouth twisted slightly, and she shrugged.“This is all new to me too.”
“And considering I’ve never dated anybody before, and you’ve already met my daughter, and I’ve met your kids, we’ve all hung out together, this feels like it’s moving at warp-speed.”
“Do you want to slow—”
“No!”Lobbing a breathing, mirthless chuckle, I cast my eyes up to the stars for help.“We’re already taking it slow.”I met her gaze again.“In other ways.And while none of this is conventional or how I thought it would go, I don’t want to go backward either.”
“I would never do anything to hurt Mabel.You know that, right?”
