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I focus back on Haddie. “I’m not sure they would go for that. Both places looked promising, and I have a killer letter of recommendation from the owner of the company I worked for.”
“That’s great. I’ve never seen you so buff.” Her cheeks turn red and she turns away from me.
I decide to lighten the mood. “You think I’m buff?” I then flex my muscles, making her laugh. It’s a sweet sound that does something to my chest.
We go back to eating, it’s a comfortable silence, and it’s not lost on me that we’re both watching our daughter while we eat.
Haddie’s on her third piece when her phone rings. She picks it up. “Oh, it’s work. I need to take this.” Once she disappears into the family room, I start straightening up the kitchen.
The baby begins to fuss. “What’s wrong, sweet girl?” I quickly pull her out of her bouncy seat and bounce her lightly in my arms.
She rubs her forehead against my chest, making me smile. Haddie comes in. “I’ve got to get going. I should be back around five.”
“We’ll be here.” She comes up to me and Madison and leans in, kissing our daughter on the head. “Have a good rest of your day,” I tell her. She smiles at me and then grabs her backpack, disappearing out of the room. I carry Madison into the family room and while I do some pushups, she watches me with her big blue eyes.
Haddie
“Dad, do you have a second?” I step into his office and shut the door behind me.
He stands and comes around the desk to engulf me in a huge hug. “Of course. Is Madison okay?”
I nod. “Of course, she’s with Chloe right now. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”
Dad leans against his desk. “Lay it on me.”
“I want you to offer Chris a job.” Of course, as soon as the words left my mouth, Dad’s face turns to stone.
My dad and uncles have the best architecture firm/construction company in all of South Carolina. Hell, half my family works for them, including my cousin Violet and her husband, Diego.
“Why the fuck would I hire a junkie?”
I stand up. “Hey, that’s not fair. Addiction is a sickness. Is Abby a junkie?” My sister’s drug and alcohol problem were after her assault, and she went into to treatment, just like Chris.
“It’s not the same thing. She was self-medicating after what happened to her.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest.
“You don’t know why Chris used, but he’s sober now and has been for a year. He’s also the father of your granddaughter, whether you like it or not. Doesn’t he deserve a second chance? People gave Abby one.” I sit back down. “He’s trying to make amends. Why can’t you give him a chance to do that? If not for me, what about for Madison? How will that feel for her, knowing that part of her family doesn’t like her dad?”
He doesn’t say anything for a bit and then he nods. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll think about talking to him about a job. That’s the best I can do.”
I stand up and wrap my arms around him. “That’s all I ask.” He leads me down to the offices of my uncles, Dustin and Luke, and Violet and Diego’s.
After saying hello to everyone, I head out to Joe and Chloe’s. My sister-in-law is watching my daughter. I pull into their driveway and climb out. Not bothering to knock, I step inside. “Hello?” I call out.
My nephew spots me and comes running on his little chubby legs. “Ha!” he shouts. I scoop him up into my arms, making him giggle as I kiss his neck.
“How’s my boy?” He smiles up at me and it’s amazing how much he looks like my brother. “Where’s Momma?”
He babbles in his baby language as we walk into the living room where Chloe is sitting on the floor with my daughter in her lap. JJ runs to his mom and wraps his arms around her neck, pulling her to him for a smooch. She smiles up at me, looking like a tatted-up version of Snow White. “Hey you.”
I sit down on the floor, grabbing my nephew, and pulling him down to my lap. “How was she?” Madison stares at JJ like she doesn’t know what to think of him. He’s a good boy, he’s just a wild man.
“Great, of course. Ragnar and Lagertha kept watch while she took a nap.” Those are Chloe’s Maine Coon cats. They’re huge, but so cute, and so sweet. “That one has been a little jealous of Miss Madison here.”
“Uh oh.” I kiss the top of JJ’s head.
“It wasn’t bad, he just wanted in my lap every time I’ve held her.” She looks me over closely. “How are things now that Chris is home?”
This is probably my brother, Joe, asking, but maybe if they know things are going well between us maybe it might help bridge the gap between my brother and his best friend. “Good, awkward. He’s really good with Madison.”
