AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I need this gone before Cassie sees it.”
Ravi smirked. “Sophie showed the post to me. Do you think there’s any way my wife hasn’t alerted your baby mama?”
Ryan cringed. He hated when people referred to Cassie that way. Technically, the term fit, but it cheapened her role in his life. Yes, she was his daughter’s mother, but she’d also been his best-friend once upon a time. Even if sleeping with her had shot that friendship to hell.
“You think she’ll be upset? You hook-up with women all the time. Cassie doesn’t care what you do.”
True. Sometimes he thought maybe he did half the stupid shit he did just to see if hecouldmake her care. “But I’ve never skipped out on a holiday or upset Ellie this bad.”
Every time he’d called to talk to his daughter during his two week absence, she’d cried and begged him to come home. He should’ve done as she asked. But, he had had a job to do . . . most of the time.
“How’d Cassie act at Thanksgiving? Was she mad?” When he’d told her about the job, he’d expected her to get angry or try to talk him out of going. Instead, she’d simply asked if there was any possibility he could get away for the holiday. When he’d said no, she asked if he’d explain his absence to Ellie. No anger. No guilt. No theatrics. He should be happy, right? Cassie made mixing parenting and freedom so easy.
Ravi lifted a shoulder. “You know Cassie. She’s used to taking care of everything.”
His friend’s words sank like lead in his stomach. He didn’t want Cassie to take care of everything. Sometimes, he wished she’d give him hell for taking off. She never would though. Four years ago, when she’d told him she was pregnant, she’d also made it clear she didn’t expect anything from him. Apparently, she still didn’t.
The doors of the pre-school opened. Ellie’s teacher, a sunny young woman with pale skin and golden hair, held the door as the four and five-year-olds filed out in an orderly line. Ellie’s head swiveled as she searched the parking lot. When she spotted Ryan, her brown eyes widened, and she sprinted away from the class toward the street.
“Ellie.” Her teacher streaked after her.
Ryan ran forward, catching his daughter as she launched herself at him.
“You came,” she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Of course I did.” Squeezing her against him, he met her teacher’s gaze over his daughter’s shoulder.
The woman smiled at him.
“Sorry,” he told her. “I’ll talk to her about waiting next time.”
“It’s okay.” She patted Ellie’s back. “She’s been excited about seeing you today. She’s missed you. I’m sure it won’t happen again. Right, Ellie?”
“Yes, Miss Tracy,” the girl replied morosely, just before her mouth spilt into a grin. “He came.”
Why did she keep saying that? He’d never let her down. He loved her too much and cared too much about her feelings to make promises he wouldn’t keep. After telling her he’d pick her up today, nothing could’ve kept him from following through.
The teacher gave another small smile, then returned to Ellie’s classmates who’d waited obediently for their parents.
With Ellie in his arms, Ryan turned back to his truck. “You can’t run away from your class. You could get hurt. Plus, Miss Tracy has to make sure you go home with the right person.”
Ellie’s lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry. I’m just happy because you’re finally here.”
Ryan’s heart squeezed. As if he didn’t already feel like an ass for upsetting her about Thanksgiving, now he felt about two feet tall for chastising her for her reaction to seeing him. Cassie always made parenting look so easy. Damn if he knew her secret.
Chapter Three
Cassie stood, perusing the field of dark green Christmas trees and chafed her hands over her arms to ward off the chill. Around her, children, bundled in hats and scarves, chased each other, and haggard parents pulled wagons carrying family Christmas trees.
A young family moved toward her. The mother carried a child on her back papoose-style, while two others, twins from the looks of them, ran ahead. As the father carried a tree on his shoulder, the mother watched him hungrily. The woman spoke, and the man turned, flashing a quick, crooked grin from the middle of his bearded face, then leaned down to press his lips to his wife’s.
Cassie’s vision blurred. She’d once hoped for a life like that – a house full of kids and a husband who looked at her as if she held the key to his whole world. But life—and Ryan McLeod—had changed those plans.
“Mommy. Mommy.”
She turned, catching the flying bundle of a four-year-old as Ellie crashed into her. Laughing, she pulled her daughter into her arms and gave her a tight squeeze. “Hey, Ellie Boo.” She inhaled the fruity scent of her daughter’s baby shampoo, relishing in the sweet, all-consuming embrace of the best thing that had ever happened to her.
“Daddy says we get to pick any tree, and he’s going to cut it down with asaw.” Her high voice was filled with wonder.
