29
Ajay
Telling Whiskey about the condo I’m renting and how the James’s went shopping for the girls in my life is something for me to be proud of, but the real highlight comes when I watch Whiskey’s face as we drive through the complex and pull into my driveway.
Of course, as soon as the limo parks, Chandler’s outside and waiting in my yard for us to get out of the car.
“Who’s that?” Evelyn asks as she gets out and stands next to me. I half expected her to leave her Minnie Mouse in the car, but she’s holding on to her tightly. Better yet, she’s talking to me and that makes me feel good. I want her to like me — no, I want her to love me — because I want to be in her life as her dad. I want her to grow up knowing she had a dad that wanted to be in her life.
“That’s my friend, Chandler. Her dad and I work together.”
“Oh,” Evelyn says.
“Chandler this is Evelyn. Do you want to show her where she can put her stuff?”
Chandler nods and comes forward, reaching for Evelyn’s hand. “Your room is pink, come on let me show you.” Evelyn looks back at me, making me wonder if she’s seeking my approval or wants me to follow. I choose to follow and pull Whiskey right along behind me.
“Is this Keane’s daughter?” Whiskey asks me quietly.
“Yep, when the place next to him became available he told me about it and I put in an application.” We follow the girls in, and as much as I want to show Whiskey around, I want to see how Evelyn likes her room. Chandler is talking to her the entire time they’re climbing the stairs to the second floor, telling her about the playground and that there’s a bunch of kids to play with. Chandler talks about the swimming pool and how she takes lessons there a couple days a week and asked Evelyn if she wants to go swimming with her.
Evelyn doesn’t answer her and I think it’s because she’s stepped into her room. I wish I could take credit for the room, but I can’t. It was all Miss Katelyn and Peyton, explaining little girls love pink, but it was Chandler who suggested the daisy comforter to go with the white bed because girls like flowers too.
“Ajay…” Whiskey gasps. Her hand is covering her mouth as she takes in the bedroom. “You did all of this for her?”
I nod and wrap my arm around her shoulders. “I want her to love it here.”
“And what about me?” she asks.
I motion her to follow me down the hall. The room next to Evelyn’s is mostly empty minus my new drum kit. I show her the bathroom, which has a stepstool in there for Evelyn so she can reach the sink, and finally the bedroom at the end of the hall.
“Wow,” she says as she steps into the master bedroom. The king size four poster bed is in the center of the room with a white and navy color duvet. There are windows on each side of the room — one facing the front and the other facing the back of the condo. The walk-in closet is separated nicely with my clothes on one side, and her new things on the other. Her fingertips trail over the hangers of her new garments as she walks into the bathroom Where there’s a stand-up shower built for two and a jacuzzi tub, along with a place for her to do her make-up.
“Ajay, this house is amazing.”
“It’s a good start,” I tell her as I lean against the counter.
“A start? I’d say this is a home.”
“You haven’t seen the rest of it. Come on, I’ll show you.” I take her hand and we head back down the hall, stopping briefly to check in on the girls, who are on the floor playing with the dolls I ordered to make sure Evelyn had things to do while she’s here. I know it’s only for a few days, but I want her to be comfortable.
Downstairs I show Whiskey the living room with the sectional couch we always talked about owning because we said that we’d host parties once we had our own house and need the seating.
“Is there anything you haven’t thought of or remembered?” she asks.
“No, I have a fairly good memory.”
“Yeah, I remember.”
Our next stop is the half bath, the laundry room, and I even show her the linen closet before taking her into the kitchen. She runs her fingers along the stainless appliances and stretches her arms over the granite countertop.
“I think I’m in love.”
“Hopefully with me,” I say as I pull her into my arms. My hand cups her cheek and I guide her until our lips press together. I try to keep things PG, not wanting to heat up the kitchen, especially with the girls upstairs, but it’s hard. I’m beyond happy that she’s here, in my house which I want her to consider her own.
“Did you do all of this for me?”
“For us. For Evelyn. I know I said before I left that I won’t ask you to uproot your life and interrupt hers, but I want you here. I know I’m not her dad, but I want to be, and I want us to be husband and wife… maybe even expand our family someday if that’s something you would want.”