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“It’s exactly seventy-five dollars.”
Allie bounced on her toes, looking over at him. Fucking perfect.
“My dad has my money.”
“Great. How about you go over to the end of the cases. Do you see that shelf in the corner? You can pick out the perfect box for the necklace.”
Without hesitation, Allie darted across the store, and Hades stepped up to the counter.
“How much?”
“One hundred and ninety-five.”
Damn, my girl’s got expensive taste.
“Ring it up.”
Hades was paid up by the time Allie came back with a light blue box. Vanessa wrapped it up and put it in a small bag.
“Thank you,” Allie said as she took the bag.
“You’re welcome, Allie. Your mom is going to love it.”
Yeah, Vada will.
Hades followed Allie to the door and opened it wide as she darted out with the bag.
“Congratulations.”
Hades glanced back at Vanessa. Her interaction with his daughter reminded him of Vada and Allie’s first. It was a bit nostalgic in a sense. Kindness went a long way, and he didn’t see it often from strangers.
He dipped his chin. “Thanks.”
Hades walked out but looked back through the window at the girl. She was putting the necklace tray back in the jewelry case. There was something about her. An odd premonition. As if this wouldn’t be the last time he saw her.
*
Hades’ only plan for the evening had been to take Allie to the jewelry store and out to dinner afterward. But halfway through their meal, he’d gotten a text from Dobbs telling him the parts he’d been looking for were available at the junkyard. It was perfect timing. He had one more job to get done before he was officially off for the next ten days.
Their honeymoon was going to be split into five days for just him and Vada and the second half with Allie. Hades could’ve done the whole week with his new wife, but Vada insisted they include Allie. Their family dynamic would change when they added more children to their family. Vada wanted Allie to have a special memory of when they were a family of three.
Hades pulled into the junkyard lot and parked. Allie was out of the truck before Hades even turned off the engine. The yard was like a playground for her. He watched her run up to the door, swing it open, and disappear inside. These days wouldn’t last forever. At some point, she’d lose interest in coming to the yard with him. She’d get older, and hanging out with her old man wouldn’t hold as much excitement. He’d take all the days she gave him.
Hades got out of the truck and glanced through the fence. Allie was running past and slipped in between two cars.
When he walked inside, Gage was standing at the door leading to the yard, smiling. Hades knew who he was watching. In less than a year, Gage would be a dad, and having kids hanging at the yard would be his new normal. If he had to guess, Dobbs and Ivy wouldn’t be far behind in expanding their family. Ghosttown’s population was going to have quite the spike in the next few years.
“Hey.”
Gage turned and lifted his chin. “How’s it going?”
“Good. Dobbs said you got the parts?”
Gage pointed to the corner of the room and walked around the counter. “Got your parts right there and got my suit all ready. Picked it up yesterday.”
Hades stilled and slowly turned. Suit?
“Don’t worry, brother, I’ll try not to outdo the groom, but I mean, we all got our jobs. Mine being the father of the bride.” Gage wiggled his brows. “I gotta look good.”
