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“They’re not my friends if they’re not nice to my dad,” Kendrick said, sniffing. She picked up the brush and went back to the dog.
Peyton had to smile at her spirit and her attitude. For a little girl, she was very opinionated and determined. Peyton figured she probably got that from her dad.
“Maybe your dad doesn’t want you to have to choose between loving your friends and loving him.”
“I’ll tell Dad I don’t care about my friends. I just want to be with him.”
The little girl’s words made the back of Peyton’s throat close. So sweet. And so sad.
She sent up a little prayer that God would work things out for this small family and that Kendrick and her dad could be together. Whether it was here, or whether it was in South Carolina.
She didn’t like the way that last idea made her feel. Empty and fluffy inside.
“I know your dad will listen to you, so tell him anything you want to.” Peyton felt like she was copping out a little but also knew that conversation wasn’t hers to have.
“He won’t listen. I’ve asked him to let me live with him, and he always says no.”
“I can tell you for sure, for absolute certain, that your dad loves you. And that’s the reason he said no. Because he thought he was doing the best thing for you.”
“What about you? Why are you allowed to live with Dad and I’m not? It’s not fair!” Daisy whined as Kendrick yanked the brush through her hair.
“Wait. I’m not living with your dad.” Had Kendrick really misunderstood?
“You’re here. You’re staying the night. Owen is here too. Maybe Daddy would love me if I was a boy.”
Her words made Peyton’s eyes widen, and she glanced up to where Bryce and Owen were throwing the ball. The last thing, the very last thing, she wanted was for Kendrick to think Owen and Peyton were trying to take her place.
“I promise you. I’ve never stayed here before in my life. I’m working in the library. Normally I don’t leave it except to maybe eat in the kitchen, and I’ve never come out here to stay over. In fact, this is the first time Owen has been here. I promise you, you will see that Owen and I don’t stay here.”
She looked down at Kendrick while she spoke, but when she was done, she lifted her eyes again.
This time, Bryce was looking at her, and she lifted her brows, trying to make her face say “you need to come here,” without saying anything.
“You will be soon. Daddy will send me away, and you’ll take my place.”
“No one could ever take your place. Your daddy loves you, loves you so much that he would sacrifice being with you in order to give you the very best. At least what he feels is the very best.”
Kendrick’s lower lip jutted out, but she seemed to be thinking about what Peyton had said. She was a sweet girl, and she was also intelligent. Peyton thought she might understand and realize that her dad was doing what he was doing because he loved her.
Hopefully she would also realize that she could probably change his mind.
“Is everything okay over here?” Bryce asked, startling Peyton who hadn’t realized he walked over.
“You’re spending time with Owen and you’re letting Miss Peyton live with you, when you won’t even let me. You don’t love me!” Kendrick stood up, her eyes filling with tears again as she gripped the brush so tightly her knuckles were white.
She didn’t run away. She stared up at her dad, as though daring him to contradict her.
Bryce’s jaw flexed, and his eyes went from Kendrick to Peyton, who shrugged, hoping he understood she’d been trying to help and not telling Kendrick lies, then he looked back at Kendrick. “Peyton doesn’t live here.”
“That’s what she said.”
Owen had followed Bryce over, and he spoke up immediately. “We don’t. We live in town. We have a bookstore, and Mom makes food to sell sometimes. I don’t have a nice yard like this to play catch in. Although Mom and I play catch behind the store sometimes.”
“What? Do you live in your store?” Kendrick said, and not very nicely.
“We live above it. Mom sleeps on the couch, and I have a bedroom.”
Bryce’s eyes opened wide like he was surprised to hear that Peyton slept on the couch. It wasn’t something she would have mentioned to anyone, but she never told Owen not to say anything.
