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That got my morning started and running in a different direction. Between interviews and meetings, I made phone calls to Kennedy and Patrick. I’d already started converting the closest room into a space for J.B., but now I had to have as much completed as possible. My little girl was now my responsibility, and I wasn’t ready for that.
I had to figure out a way to rearrange meetings and interviews as quickly as possible. There are three more hours in the school day, and I was running out of time.
Forty minutes later, I have all, but one interview rescheduled. It’s for one of the major publications so GiGi is chomping at the bit to make sure we get this one done. It’s the only reason I don’t cancel it all together. The only problem is it’s directly after J.B.’s pick up time.
“I can do this. It’ll work itself out.”
Graham and GiGi have been holed up in my office. I ask them to get a variety of toys and games together. They have a different job title. Today, they get to be babysitters.
I arrive on time to get J.B. but I forgot about the teacher who wanted to speak to me.
Thirty-eight minutes. She talked to me for thirty-eight minutes about the class expectations. The last three minutes were her expressing her concerns about change and how it could affect a child. I wanted to tell her it isn’t exactly a picnic for the adults. I refrained.
“Daddy, will you go away too?”
That question, that one question tabled all plans I had for the day. I wished I could call Brooklynn and tell her to come see her baby. Our daughter needed to know she hadn’t gone anywhere. I can’t. That’s not a fucking option because we might lose her forever.
“Baby Girl, Daddy is going to do everything in his power to make sure he’s here with you for as long as he can be. Is that good?” Her big, beautiful eyes looked up and caught my gaze in the rearview mirror before she nodded. I had a question of my own. “Did your gran ... Pippa tell you she was leaving?”
J.B. nodded.
“Julie told me today that Pippa wasn’t coming back, and I would go live with you. I hear the sniffles and immediately start looking for a place to pull over. “What if mommy can’t find me because I’m with you? I want to be with you, but I want mommy too.”
I pull over just as she finishes her statement. I’m parked, out of the car, and holding my sobbing baby girl in my arms before the first tear hits her cheek.
“We’ll make sure Mommy knows where to find us, okay Baby?”
She hiccups and sniffles.
“You promise, Daddy?”
“I promise.”
I end up calling for a car because my little girl is tightly wrapped around me and she’s not letting go. We talk the entire ride to Hope House. I let her know I have to do something really quick for work. I remind her where my office is then show her how far away I’m going to be before I leave her with Graham and GiGi.
How my parents handled this with three of us is next to amazing. Each one of us had our own version of demands and our parents fielded every one of them.
I cross the hallway to the room where I expect to find the interviewer only to find it empty. I hear conversation closer to the conference room near Hope’s office. Shooting Graham and GiGi a text, I let them know I’m in another area.
Graham:All good. Building withLegos.
Instead of immediately entering the conference room to interrupt the women, I take a minute to gather my thoughts. I straighten my clothes then turn the corner. I’m frozen in place as I take in the room and faces inside it. My eyes dart up the hall to where a certain little girl is currently playing.
Gray eyes focus on me when I look back in the room. I don’t know what my next step is. All I know is I don’t think my daughter can handle her mother melting down in front of her today.
I pull out my phone to send a text when Hope turns to face me.
“Finally. I though you were going to be a ‘no show’. Daire Deville meet ...”
“Paris Isabel Kelley. We’ve met.”
P.I.K. has always been one hell of a storyteller. She does that almost as well as she takes photos. The two come so easily to her. She has a nose for knowing what her audience wants. I’m not surprised Graham convinced her to come down from New York to do this photo shoot and interview. GiGi told me she wants it featured on the website.
“Not only have we met. We know each other quite well. Don’t we, Mr. Shaw?”
“Yes.” I usually don’t mince my words, but I don’t want to shred Hope’s brother in front of her. “Glad to know you’re no longer working with L.A. or this interview would be over before it begins,” he tells her.
“We are going to take that as our cue to leave. Ladies, let’s leave them to it. Brook, you can follow me. We can talk in my office.”
