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“I still don’t know how to cook.”
“Placing fish sticks on a baking sheet is easy peasy.” I snapped my finger dramatically. “They’re Nova’s favorite.”
“Baby, I’ll go where you go, and eat whatever will make Nova happy.”
“You sure are sexy right now.”
“Why?” He caressed my ass. “Because I agreed to eat fish sticks?”
“Because you’re willing to do what it takes to help Nova.”
“I’ll always do what my girls need… within reason.”
“Of course. Let’s get started on supper. She likes to eat by four-thirty.” I took his hand and got off his lap.
“Isn’t four-thirty early to eat supper?”
“It is, but then she likes to have a bowl of cereal around seven before she goes to bed.”
“Lady M never let us eat after supper.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “My guilty conscience made me give into her a lot. It wasn’t like cereal is expensive. I saw it more as dessert, and it made Nova happy, which is all that had mattered to me.”
“You’re a terrific momma.”
“That means a lot, but I’m afraid I’ve fucked up our daughter.”
“Where did this potty mouth come from?” He swatted my bottom. His intense eyes traveled over my face while his hands roamed my body.
“It’s been a rough seven years.”
“I can see it’s made you a badass bitch.” He tapped his finger on my nose ring. “Piercings, tattoos, a mouth more lethal than mine. You’re perfect for me.”
“You think so, do you?” I brushed my hands down his chest.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything.”
“Just don’t betray me, Abe. I’m warning you.”
“I won’t, baby. I promise. But if you ever leave me again and take my kid, I will hunt you down.” His eyes darkened. “And I will find you, Karma, then I’ll chain you to a fuckin’ wall so you can never leave me again.”
“That’s brutal.”
I knocked on Nova’s bedroom door. When she didn’t reply, I opened it. She’d been in her room for over thirty minutes. It was time to check on her, and supper was ready.
“Nova, how are you, baby?” I sat on her bed and rubbed her back. She was facing the wall, curled into a tight little package.
“Not good.” Bless her heart for telling me the truth. Nova had always been an open book when it came to her feelings. I wasn’t like my parents, who tried to push what they wanted on me or chastised me for having my own opinions. I had encouraged Nova to express herself however she wanted.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing.” I ran my fingers through her dark hair. She liked to wear pigtails to be different from the other girls in her class. Most of them had blonde hair.
“Why did I call Stein dad if he wasn’t my dad?”
“I’m so sorry about that.” I was a horrible mother for letting her believe Stein was her father. I couldn’t change the past, but I could do better from here on out. “I just never corrected you. It was wrong of me.”
“The man out there is my real dad?” Her questions told me she’d been thinking a lot about everything and working it out in her head. She was more pragmatic than most adults when dealing with a difficult situation.
“Yes, baby. He’s your real dad.”
