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He shrugged as he opened his car door. “Don’t know what to tell ya. Not my problem what a thirteen-year-old girl is telling people. Like I said,” he reiterated as he slid into the driver’s seat, “you need better sources. An adult, maybe?”
He closed the door before she had a chance to reply and gave her afuck yousmile before putting the car into reverse.
Although he knew he’d loved her once—passionately, if he recalled correctly—as he shot another look at her glaring at him, it was now hard to remember what he ever saw in her in the first place.
At least she was a good mom, and he never had to worry that his kids weren’t being taken care of. The girls even seemed to like Bjorn, once they got over blaming him for the divorce. Hopefully, they didn’t get too attached, because unless the tennis pro actually started winning tournaments and making money, Aiden didn’t think his odds were good for Susan keeping him around much longer. Then again, what did Aiden know? It shocked him they’d lasted this long.
With a final wave at the scowling woman, he drove off.
The thing about divorce that didn’t suck?
Not having to stick around and listen to her tirade.
That part was pretty sweet.
Chapter Five
Dakota
“Nana!”
Asher barged through her kitchen door and ran to her with outstretched arms. Chloe entered a few seconds later.
“There’s my guy!” Dakota exclaimed as she kneeled and scooped him up. She looked over at Chloe watching them and told her, “This will never get old,” as her grandson wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a kiss on her cheek.
The week after she found out she was going to be a grandma, she sold her condo and bought a house with a guest house.
Her original intent had been to let the kids live in the main house, and she’d live in the guest house, but then she meditated on it and realized that would be a mistake. It would take away Chloe and Todd’s sense of accomplishment they’d get when they could buy their own place.
In the meantime, they could live cheaply in her guest house while they saved for a down payment, and she could be available to help with her grandson while still maintaining some boundaries.
Today, Dakota was the one asking for help.
She set Asher down and told him, “Thank you for taking care of Barney while I’m gone. You are doing me such a big favor, and I really appreciate you helping your mom and dad with him until I get back.”
“Barney is my friend,” the three-year-old declared authoritatively. “Mom said he can sleep in my room with me.”
She glanced at Chloe. “You guys are welcome to stay here. I know you’re already cramped enough without adding a pit bull to the mix.”
Her daughter shook her head. “It’s easier at our place. All of Ash’s stuff is there.”
“I need to get a toddler bed for his room here. Probably some new T-O-Y-S that are more age appropri—”
“Mom,” Chloe interrupted. “You don’t need to do anything. You already do too much for us as it is.”
It was the least she could do, considering how the two of them had started out. At sixteen, Dakota couldn’t even afford a crib for her daughter; the best she’d been able to do was a playpen she’d found at Goodwill.
Fortunately, twenty-three years had made a world of difference financially, so Dakota was more than happy to try to make up for her shortcomings early on.
But what they may have lacked in monetary goods all those years ago, Dakota had tried to compensate for by ensuring her daughter knew she was loved. Something that wasn’t always easy to do when she was working two jobs and trying to finish high school, then eventually massage therapy school.
While she’d been too proud to accept when her parents tried to give her money, she did take them up on their offer to help with daycare. Knowing Chloe was safe, happy, and well taken care of had been more important than her pride.
She waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t do that much.”
Chloe cocked her head with pursed lips and Dakota ruffled Asher’s hair, her voice going up an octave as she innocently widened her eyes.
“Wh-at? It’s true. I think you guys help me as much as I help you.”
