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Her words hit me full force. I stared at Felicia. “What? Did she tell you that?”
“Yes, she told me that. She’s bloody miserable.”
“She loves me?” An amazing sense of relief and elation poured over me.
“Yes. Now I probably shouldn’t be interfering but I have watched her talk about you for a year now and you two are being very thick about this whole thing. In the beginning when I first met my husband, I was being an idiot in my relationship and I had a helpful push from my friends, so I figure I need to pay it forward. Just take a risk, Brandon. Take a leap of faith and see where you land.”
For a second, I just stood there, processing Felicia’s words. I had been one hundred percent convinced Dakota wasn’t in love with me, didn’t want a future with me. Then I remembered that night in bed, when she had asked what would happen if we just got married and I thought she was proving the fact that we were stuck doing what we were. Which was hiding our relationship. What if she had been trying to tell me something different and I’d failed to pick up on it?
“Where is she?” I asked.
“She’s back at her old apartment. I guess the new tenant didn’t work out.”
I had fond memories of that tiny apartment. That incredible first night we’d spent together there haunted me at night. “Thanks, Felicia.” I impulsively reached out and hugged her. “I have to go.”
“Don’t text,” she called after me as I started jogging toward the girls’ school. “Call or do this in person.”
“I’m not going to text,” I said, turning around. “Texting is for boys, not men. I have something better in mind.”
I did. But first I needed to talk to my daughters.
“Good luck, I’m rooting for you!” Felicia waved.
Heart racing, I finished the jog to the school, forcing myself to focus on this meeting. I had a totally different attitude about it. Now I was feeling optimistic about everything. Life. Love. My future. I had a chance and I was going to take it. I wasn’t letting Dakota go without a fight.
Poppy is a wonderful student but she talks too much in class.
That was the gist of the conference with Poppy’s teacher. Not a shocker.
Willow is an average student lacking in confidence. She’s improving since she started playing soccer.
Also exactly what I was expecting. Soccer had been a huge piece to try to fit into the puzzle of our schedule, but it had only been a month and it was worth the massive inconvenience. Willow was standing straighter, laughing more, finding her attitude and voice again.
The girls were waiting for me in the school computer lab, so I went and signed off for their release and ushered them out for the walk home.
“What did my teac
her say?” Poppy said.
“That you’re an excellent student but you talk while she’s doing her lessons. Knock off the jibber jabber.” I gave her a stern look.
Poppy made a face. “I can’t help it.”
“You can so help it. Everyone can control their own behavior if they try.”
“Then maybe you should try to be less grumpy,” Willow said.
“Hey.” She wasn’t wrong, but still. “Remember who you’re talking to.”
“It’s true. You’ve been a grump since Dakota left. I miss her. Did you know she got back yesterday?” Willow said. “Can I go see her?”
My daughter had handed me the perfect opening. “Yes, of course you can see her. Text her and see when she’s free. But, speaking of Dakota, I need to be honest with the two of you. I care about Dakota and I would like to date her, if she’s interested. Would that bother you?”
“Are you serious?” Willow asked. She had her hands shoved in the pockets of her coat, the wind stinging today, but now she removed them and grabbed my arm with both hands and jumped up and down a little. “That would be so awesome, Dad.”
“Really?” I was a little surprised. I had been nervous they would want Dakota all to themselves. “You wouldn’t mind? What if it got serious?”
“If it keeps you from being grumpy, I’m all for it. She likes you, too, you know. You guys weren’t exactly fooling anyone.”
