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"So what surprises do you have for me?" Lexie asks.
I chuckle. "Well, one, I have half a red velvet cupcake for you. And two, I met someone today who told me where you can play basketball. We're going to go check it out after the library this weekend."
Lexie cheers. "I love this new town. We can stay here, right? We don't have to leave again?"
My heart aches at the wistful hope in her tone, guilt trying to swamp me, but I shove it away, focusing on her. "Yeah, darling. We're staying here. This is our new home. Hopefully for a very long time. I have no plans for us to leave anytime soon, hopefully not until you're grown and ready to see the world on your own."
"I think I want to stay here even when I'm big." She lifts her face up towards the beaming sun, her nose in the air as she sucks in deep breaths of the town that's starting to smell like home.
"That'll be your choice, darling. You'll be able to go anywhere you want, do anything."
If she's a beta. Which she should be since I'm a beta. It's the reason her father rejected me when I told him I was pregnant, not wanting to have a useless beta child. The piece of shit.
I'm grateful that hewassuch a piece of shit because it gave me the excuse and the strength to leave a toxic relationship I'd grown too dependent on, that I'd jumped into way too young. Nineteen-year-olds aren't the most discerning when it comes to relationships, especially when they're alone in the world, no pack, no family.
Once upon a time, I'd ached for a pack, desperate for the connection and family I'd never had, but that experience taught me an important lesson.
That I'm better off alone.
Except for her, the light of my damn life, the only family I need.
"Did your new teacher give you any homework?" I ask, not wanting to dwell on a painful past.
She shakes her head. “Nope. One of the parents asked him about that and he said he doesn't believe in homework. He said kids should get to be kids when they're not in the classroom."
Huh.
Against my will, I soften a bit towards the man. Maybe he's not so bad after all. At least as a teacher. He's still a prick of a beta and landlord and a snot about art. I suppose with his job as a kindergarten teacher, he might get tired of arts and crafts.
Lexie skips ahead of me on the street as we walk back to the studio, continuing her happy chatter and questions. This move was the right one. Things may not be perfect, but they're as close as it’s gotten in a long time.
Possibly ever.
I can make do with an asshole if it gives me the rest.
#
THE REST OF THE WEEK, I spend finishing up the studio and making friends with other business owners in town in between taking Lexie to and from school.
When the weekend finally arrives, I'm exhausted. But the studio is as ready as it's going to be, the opening planned for the following evening already has plenty of RSVPs. Today, my focus is on Lexie, and us having an adventure together.
I won't have very many Saturdays like this once I open, so I want to make it as fun as possible.
When we arrive at the library, my jaw drops at the beauty of the place. It's inside an old church, stained glass and steeple and all.
Lexie gasps as she takes in the sight of the place, her expression one of awe. Fuck, I love this kid.
"Can we come here every week?" Lexie asks.
Relief trickles through me when I read the hours on the door. They're open every day, so I can definitely make that work.
I nod. "Sure, we can. If you finish all the books you check out, we'll come back and get more."
Library days are something we've always done in every place we've lived. It's been one of the few constants in our lives. One of the few comforts.
I swear I almost hear angels sing when we step inside the hallowed halls. Stack after stack line the old church where pews probably used to be. The sun casts colorful lights across the space as it streams through the stained glass windows.
After shaking off the spell, I smile down at my daughter. "We have an hour before storytime. Want to go find a stack of books before then?"
