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Releasin’ a heavy huff, she laces up her shoes, and walks out to my truck. The drive is silent and nerve wrackin’. Within ten minutes, we pull up to my parents’ home. I shut off the engine to the truck, hop out and walk around to open the door for her. As she gets out, I lace her fingers within mine, and pull her toward me. I tilt her chin up, so I can look deep into her beautiful hazel eyes.
“After supper, we’re talkin’, no exceptions. For now, promise me that whatever happens this evenin’, you just roll with it. Promise me you won’t lose your shit.”
“Well now that scares me. What makes you think I’m gonna,” Carly Jo trails off as she hears the front door open and the bubbly voice of the one lady who holds my heart safely, and loves me unconditionally.
“Daddy! Daddy! I’m so glad you’re home! I’ve missed you, Daddy!” Heidi Jo shrills as she jumps into my arms and hugs my neck tight. I swing her around, like I always do and she lets out a heart-warmin’ giggle. As I turn to set Heidi Jo down on the ground, I notice the reaction on Carly Jo’s face. She is as white as a ghost, and I’m fairly sure her spirit has completely died and gone to heaven. She looked broken before, but now she looks empty.
I whisper to Heidi Jo and a sweet smile spreads across her adorable face. She nods, then walks over to Carly Jo, and wraps her tiny arms around Carly Jo’s waist. “Hi, Ms. Carly Jo. My name is Heidi Jo Weston. My daddy talks about you all the time. Come on inside, Mamaw is cookin’ supper.” Heidi Jo says as she begins to tug the still frozen Carly Jo towards the house.
Walkin’ up from behind, I place my palm on the small of Carly Jo’s back and guide her inside the house. Kickin’ my boots off, I walk into the kitchen where Momma is just settin’ the table for dinner. When she looks up and sees Carly Jo, she squeals like a school girl, runnin’ over to hug her. When she releases Carly Jo, she turns her around and around examinin’ every square inch of her.
“Oh my, Carly Jo Simon, I’m so happy to see your pretty face. Lady, things just ain’t been the same around here without you! Sit down and have some dinner. Lord, girl, you look like you never eat,” Momma says to her.
“Ms. Carly Jo, I want you to sit between me and my daddy, please!” Heidi Jo begs with the cutest toothy grin. Carly Jo smiles down sweetly at the little girl and sits down next to her. She still hasn’t said a word. She always loved my Momma, but I think she may have shell shock. Maybe this is all too much at once. We say grace, then pile our plates high with chicken and dumplings.
“How was your day, princess?” I ask Heidi Jo.
“It was fun, Daddy. We got to decorate paper punkins, and I made mine extra sparkly, just for you!”
“Sweet, princess, I can’t wait to see your masterpiece.”
We continue to make small talk throughout dinner, but Carly Jo is still as quiet as a mouse. She watches intently as I interact with Heidi Jo, but a smile never forms on her face. As we finish dinner, she offers to help Momma with the dishes, but Momma declines her offer, of course.
“Carly Jo, you ain’t said two words this entire time. Go on now, get through there and spend some time with Colton and Heidi Jo. I’ll clean up. Scoot, missy!” Momma tells her as she waves her hands, shooin’ Carly Jo away.
“I’m gonna take Heidi Jo for some ice cream, then after I get her cleaned up and tucked into bed, I’ll take you home.” I tell her. She nods, still with a look of terror on her face. Heidi Jo comes struttin’ through the house with her favorite hot pink sparkly tutu on and her flip flops.
“I’m ready, Daddy. I can’t wait to get me some rocky road! Let’s move it people!” Heidi Jo demands. I open the front door, and bow at her request as she exits the house. As Carly Jo walks past me, I grab her hand, lacin’ my fingers through hers and she immediately tenses up. I don’t say a word, because I know that she is freaked the hell out.
Heidi Jo climbs up in the back of my truck, and I snap the seat belt around her little lap, securin’ her in. I walk around to open the door for Carly Jo, but she is already in the passenger seat, safely buckled in, starin’ off in space. I climb in, roar the engine to life, and back out of the drive way. I turn the radio on instantly, because that’s Heidi Jo’s ‘thang’.
As soon as she hears Roar by Katy Perry, she squeals, “Oh Daddy, turn it up, turn it up!!!” She commences to sing and shout and twist and turn in her car seat, tryin’ to bounce to the rhythm of the music.
She misses half the words, but her effort and love for music is adorable, none the less. I look up from watchin’ Heidi Jo through the rear view mirror and Carly Jo is smilin’ lightly. I reach over and squeeze her thigh, and give her a wink. Lookin’ at me, she still looks lost, and I can’t help but feel remorseful for springin’ all of this on her so quickly. But, if there is any hope for Carly Jo and me, I can’t wait another damn second. I want her now. I want her heart, her soul, her body. Carly Jo was made for me, she is mine. I just have to right my wrongs, and pray to God that He shows her the way to forgiveness.
As we pull into the ice cream shop, I grab Heidi Jo from the back seat, then open the door for Carly Jo. We make our way inside, and order three cones. Heidi Jo is bouncin’ with excitement,
she loves her damn rocky road ice cream.
Heidi Jo likes to sit out front of the shop, so we make our way back outside. Carly Jo and I sit down on the bench, then Heidi Jo squeezes between us. “Scoot on over Daddy, don’t wrinkle my tutu!” she cries out.
“Excuse me Princess. What happened to sittin’ on my lap like you always do?”
“I wanna sit next to Carly Jo. She’s my new friend, ain’t ya, Carly Jo? We even have matchin’ names!” Heidi Jo says, just as she wraps her chunky little arms around Carly Jo’s arm.
Carly Jo’s eyes fill with tears, and she just giggles, “Sure am sweets, sure am.”
First damn thing she has said since she laid eyes on Heidi Jo. Tears continue to stream down her face, as I reach up with my hand to caress her soft cheeks. She smiles at me, then takes a lick of her ice cream cone. Carly Jo and Heidi Jo share some laughs over their ice cream, and I just sit back and absorb it all in.
It’s such a beautiful evenin’, watchin’ the loves of my life as they get to know each other. I’ve always dreamed of it like this, but my heart falters at the thought of the discussion I have to have with Carly Jo when I take her home. This can make us, or break us, but regardless, I owe her the honesty.
Chapter 10
Heidi Jo is in a fit of tears when I take her home to Momma. "Daddy, please let me go to Carly Jo's with you, I promise I'll be a good girl, please Daddy!"
It breaks my heart to leave her behind but I need to reconcile with Carly Jo. "Princess, you have to get your beauty sleep, you have school tomorrow. Mamaw is gonna run you a warm bubble bath and if you're extra good she might just let you watch Beauty and the Beast while you eat milk and cookies in bed." I bribe her. She hugs my waist tight, wipin’ her snotty face on my shirt.
Turnin’ to Carly Jo she hugs her tight and says, "You promise you'll come back and play with me soon?"
