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"Hey, sweetheart, there isn't any need to cry," Melody said softly.
The little girl jumped with fright and backed away from the fence. Now, she held the teddy as if it were a shield.
"I…I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," the girl said, her eyes wide. They were so like Jake's that Melody immediately knew who had fathered her. And that knowledge made her heart ache even more.
Not only did he have a partner, but he had a kid she didn't know about, either. But why would she? It wasn't like they'd really talked much that night.
Trying her hardest not to think about that fact, she focused on the little girl. Still able to hear Jake and the woman yelling, though not quite able to distinguish what they were saying, Melody hoped that the girl couldn't hear them either.
"I'm not really a stranger, sweetheart, I'm your daddy's neighbor," Melody said softly. She leaned over the fence a little more and held out her hand. "My name is Melody, and I'm very pleased to meet you."
The girl remained uncertain, though she did drop the teddy to her side.
"What is your name?" Melody asked, still holding out her hand.
"S…Sally," the girl stammered, though her mouth started to twitch upwards in the beginnings of a smile.
"What a lovely name," Melody smiled, and was glad when the girl finally stepped up to give her hand a little shake.
The girl's mouth spread wide and proud then, and she announced, "It was my grandma's name."
"Oh, that's great," Melody said, hoping to keep the conversation going for as long as possible in order to distract her from what was going on in the front garden.
Yet it turned out all she had managed to do was distract herself. The next thing she knew, Jake had flung himself down the side of the house and grabbed up his daughter.
He glowered at Melody over the fence and demanded, "Just what the hell do you think you are doing?"
"I was just checking that Sally here was doing okay," Melody said, straightening her back with great difficulty as she perched on the trash can.
"That's none of your business!" Jake snarled back at her, holding his daughter tight to his chest.
"Maybe you should think of that the next time you and your lady friend are arguing in the middle of the street for all the world to hear," Melody retorted. She regretted it almost immediately when she saw the anger that blazed in Jake's blue eyes. It was the hottest of blue flames, burning her to her core.
She opened her mouth in order to apologize for speaking out of turn, but before she could do so, Jake whipped around and stormed back down the side of the house.
Over his shoulder, Sally looked at Melody with a smile upon her face, the tears gone from her eyes. And with a sweet little wave of goodbye, she once more reminded Melody of all the little children she had cared for over the years.
It made her heart ache to think of them, but she forced herself to remember that they'd all found more suitable homes within the Silverdale community. She could barely look after herself, how was she supposed to care for anybody else?
Jake was right. It wasn't any of her business, and yet she still felt as though she had been dragged through a meat grinder.
Why did Jake have to be as infuriating as he was handsome?
Chapter 3 - Jake
That night, hours after his ex-wife had turned up on his doorstep to drop their daughter on him, Jake sat on the edge of Sally's new bed and stroked her black hair away from her face. She looked back at him with big, blue eyes that were round as the full moon, and though some time had passed, he still felt guilty.
"I'm sorry for arguing with Mommy, little wolf," he said with a sigh, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead. "You shouldn't have had to hear it."
"That's okay, Daddy. You and Mommy always argue," Sally responded, shrugging her shoulders. Her words made him feel quite sick. If it were down to him, he would never have another argument again. But his choice of mate had made that impossible.
"Well, we are trying not to," he told her, patting her gently on the leg. Tucking her in just a little tighter, he added, "I will be right outside if you need me. I just have one last thing I need to do before I head to bed myself."
"Okay, Daddy," Sally smiled and clutched her teddy bear close. "Good night."
"Good night, my little wolf."
Jake stood and wandered to the door. He paused with his hand on the light switch when Sally said, "Daddy?"
