Caleb leans in slow and gently presses his lips to mine. “Yes, it was. I just wanted you to know I’m ready for the next step.”
“So am I.” I’m ready for a whole lot more.8Caleb“Daddy?” Alyssa says my name quietly as she sits on the countertop, swinging her legs back and forth, although her heels really have nowhere to go except to slap into the cupboard doors.
“Alyssa?” I’m standing next to her, tying and retying my tie. I can’t seem to get the knot right. I haven’t worn a tie in over a year, and I don’t miss it.
“Tonight is important, right?”
“Yes,” I say slowly, wondering what she has planned. “Why are you asking?”
“I’m just wondering since I’m wearing a really pretty dress.” She picks up the first couple of layers of ruffles. I never realized I was a dad who could pick up a dress for his daughter, but when I saw this one, along with the Christmas dress, I had to get them for her. Giving them to her and watching her face morph into surprise and elation gave me so much happiness. It proved I can do this single dad thing, even though I feel anything but. Bree and I have only started dating, but she’s slipped into a role as Alyssa’s caregiver. Last week when my daughter wasn’t feeling well, it was Bree she wanted to take care of her, and Bree did, without hesitation.
“And Bree is going to be there?”
I pause and glance at Alyssa. She’s not looking at me but everywhere around the bathroom. She’s a little schemer. “Yes, Bree will be there, but—”
“I don’t like your buts,” Alyssa says, laughing.
Setting my hand down on her knee, I squeeze it to get her attention. Alyssa finally looks at me, and for the first time since her mom passed away, I see a sparkle in her eye. Her brown eyes had dimmed so much when my wife died. “But,” I say as softly as possible. “Bree has to work. This is her job, and it’s how she pays her bills, so as much as you want to take up all her time, you have to let her work. You have to be respectful, polite, and the cutest little girl I know you to be.”
Alyssa nods slowly, which doesn’t send a wave of confidence my way.
“You know, I hear Santa might make an appearance at the show. You wouldn’t want him to see you acting poorly, would you?”
She shakes her head slowly.
“What happens if he does?”
“I get coal in my stocking.”
I nod, acting like I’ve had it happen before.
“But . . .” Alyssa holds her hand up so I don’t interrupt her. I can’t imagine where she’s learned this. “But if Bree wants to be with me or calls me over, I can go, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Okay, phew,” she says, wiping her forehead. “I’m not worried then.”
I can’t help but laugh. “What do you mean?”
Alyssa throws her hands up. “I’m irrestible.”
“Irrestible?” I question, and she nods. The smile I sport is so wide, my cheeks hurt. “You’re irresistible.” I make sure to enunciate the word so she can hear me say the word correctly.
“Yes, that’s the word. I’m irresistible!”
“That you are.” I tickle her. “But, and yes, I know you hate my buts, Bree is working tonight, and while I know she loves you and wants to spend time with you, I need you to show all those people tonight just how important Bree is to you and be on your best behavior. Okay?”
Alyssa smiles widely and nods. “She loves me?”
“Yeah, she does.” I don’t know if this is accurate or not, but every vibe I get from Bree says she does. I can’t imagine someone not falling in love with Alyssa, but on the other side, I can’t imagine what must go through Bree’s mind when she’s with her. Bree competes with my wife’s memory, someone Alyssa talks about often, and Bree embraces and runs with whatever Alyssa is saying. Not once have I heard Bree discount Alyssa’s feelings, only encourage them.
I give up on tying my tie and leave it dangling around my neck. Wrapping my arm around Alyssa’s waist, she scolds me for trying to wrinkle her dress but still loops her arms around my neck and allows me to help pull her off the counter. She links her hand with mine and looks at me.
“I love you, Daddy.”
My eyes mist and I crouch down, so we’re the same height. “I love you, Alyssa. More than anything in this world. You’ll always be my number one girl.”
“Forever?” she asks.
“And always.”When Alyssa and I arrive at the gallery, there is a line of people waiting to get in. It’s damn cold out, and they’re waiting for Bree to open the doors to see what artwork she’s acquired for this event. Bree told me to walk right in, despite the sign on the door saying she’s closed. As soon as I set my hand on the door handle, panic sets in. These people are going to look at my photographs and judge me. They’re going to frown or smirk when they don’t like one, and I’m going to see their expressions because I have to be here. I have to stand there and pretend like I’m not full of nerves each time I see someone standing by one of my images and pointing. Of course, there’s the off chance that someone in this line will like my work, even love it. The few pictures Bree put out earlier sold instantly, which is surprising. In a million years, I never thought someone would find my vision through a lens worthy enough to pay for it. Bree has proven me wrong.