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I provided everyone with a full-time job—if they wanted it—great competitive pay, health insurance, paid time off, and sick leave, not to mention mental health days. Those were completely separate, and they got three a month.
But even if they needed more, I never batted an eye. But so far, only one employee took more, and it was only because she suffered from severe depression, and so far, every medication just made her sick to her stomach.
I felt bad for her; I really, really did. And she’d been upfront about her mental health issues when I’d interviewed her, so I was never blindsided when she called out.
Once the inventory was done, I got a phone call from Callie, letting me know today wasn’t a good day. I sucked up my own feelings, told her to take as much time as she needed, and I began helping at the counter, making drinks, serving tables, and helping to keep everything moving as easy as possible.
Once I locked up that evening, I walked home, exhausted and worn down. My mind couldn’t take much more, even with my anxiety medication. And I was slap worn down and ready to burst into tears.
I just wanted my Daddy. I wanted Colwyn.
* * *
Colwyn
I nodded oncein thanks to the waitress who handed me my to-go bag of food. I’d ordered a fish sandwich and fries, and I got Raleigh her favorite—shrimp and crab. Shit was expensive as fuck, but she loved it, and since I was too exhausted to make her dinner, this would do.
Especially if it put a smile on her face.
I hadn’t heard from her since she texted me thirty minutes ago to let me know she’d made it home. I was assuming she was taking a shower, something she tended to do to help wash the day away.
I headed straight for Raleigh’s place. I didn’t bother knocking; I never did. I just inserted my key into the lock, and I growled when I found it already unlocked. My hand itched to spank her little ass red, but I never punished her—verbal scoldings were always enough. Sheknewthe rules—doors werealwayslocked,especiallywhen she was home by herself.
I let myself inside, locked the door behind me, and dropped my keys onto the kitchen counter, setting our food beside it. And that was when I heard it.
She was fuckingcrying.
I quickly moved into the living room, my disappointment in her forgotten. She was on the couch, her entire body—including her head—burrowed beneath her blanket, and she was sobbing.
She was crashing—hard. Today had been too much for her.
“No, sweet girl,” I rasped. I quickly gathered her into my arms and settled on the couch, holding her tight to me, making sure she stayed covered. It was a security thing for her, and for the umpteenth time since I’d known Raleigh, I found myself hating her mother for not loving her like she deserved to be loved as a child. “It’s okay, baby girl. Daddy’s here. I’m here.”
The term slipped from my lips before I’d thought twice about it, but when she slowly peaked up at me from beneath her blanket, I knew I’d been right to use it.
Her eyes were red and bloodshot, her face puffy from crying. I tugged her closer to me and pressed my lips to her forehead, holding them there until she sniffled and released a shaky breath.
“That’s my good girl,” I gently praised. I ran my hand over her hair. “You want to tell me about it?”
She shrugged. “Too much,” she mumbled.
She meant today was just too much.
I pulled her back tight against my chest and continued holding her, rubbing my hand up and down her back. Once her breathing was no longer shaky and her sniffles had significantly died down, I tenderly brushed my lips to her cheeks. “I got your favorite food.”
That awarded me a small, wobbly smile, her big, doe eyes looking up at me with so much trust and adoration that it made my heart clench in my chest. “Shrimp and crab?”
“Yes, sweet girl.”
She sniffled again and patted her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
I smiled at her and lifted her into my arms, blanket and all, and carried her to the dining room table. Once she was settled, I took her blanket from her. She pouted, but I bopped her nose with my finger. She released a watery giggle. “What are the rules, little one?”
She huffed. “No blanket at the table,” she mumbled.
“Good girl. You’ll get it back once you’re done eating,” I assured her.
She pouted but nodded her head. I shook my head at her with a soft smile tilting my lips. She had no fucking clue how sweet and adorable she was.
