“I don’t want to.”
“I know you don’t want to right now, but one day you might.”
“No.” Her wide eyes darted to the rearview window. “I don’t want to ever.”
“We’ll see.” I gave her a wink. “For now, how about we forget the dad talk and figure out what we should have for dinner?”
“Okay.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Pizza?”
“Pizza sounds good. I’ll order some as soon as we get home, and then we can get that math homework done.”
Cat nodded with a smile, and I knew she’d put the worrying over her father behind her—at least for the time being. As soon as we walked through the front door, she took her backpack over to the kitchen table and started on her homework while I ordered our dinner. I was about to empty the dishwasher when there was a knock at the back door. I was surprised to find Celeste standing on my back step.
Without waiting for an invitation, she waltzed into the house and announced, “I’ve got good news!”
“Oh?”
“Joan asked me to go to the Bahamas with her.”
She and Joan had only gone out a couple of times, and I knew Celeste was crazy about her. I just wasn’t sure if Joan was as equally crazy about her—until now.
I closed the door. “You’re kidding?”
“I’m being totally serious. She’s got a work trip and asked me to tag along.”
“Oh my God!” I threw my hands up in the air. “That’s so awesome.”
“I know. I’m very excited. I’ve never been to the Bahamas before.”
“Well, tell me all about it.” I started grabbing paper plates and glasses from the cabinet. “When are you going, and what will you do when you get there?”
I carried everything over to the table and listened as Celeste told Cat and me all about her upcoming trip. When the pizza arrived, I invited her to stay and eat with us. As soon as she put a slice on her plate, Celeste leaned over to me and smiled. “So, what’s the word on your sexy biker?”
“Actually, there is no word.”
“What?”
“I haven’t heard from him since the night he brought dinner over.”
“Oh?” Concern marked her face. “Did something happen?”
“I don’t know.” I’d thought about that night a million times over in the past few days and the horrified expression on Thatch’s face as he raced out of my house. I’d hoped he would’ve called to let me know everything was okay, but I hadn’t received so much as a text from him, and it was worrying me to no end. “He got a phone call and had to rush off, and that’s that.”
“Have you tried calling him?”
“Yes, but he hasn’t called me back.” I glanced over at Cat and cringed when I realized she’d stopped eating and was staring at me with panic-filled eyes. Hoping to ease her mind, I quickly added, “I’m certain Thatch is fine. He’s probably just busy with the club or something.”
Cat’s voice trembled as she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, baby. I’m sure.” In hopes of changing the subject, I turned back to Celeste. “So, what are you going to pack for your trip?”
“Oh, I haven’t even thought about that.”
Celeste and I continued talking about the Bahamas, and it didn’t take long before Cat became bored with our conversation and excused herself from the table. After a few more minutes of chatting, Celeste decided it was time for her to head home.
Once she’d gone, I went upstairs and filled the tub for Cat’s bath and then headed back to the kitchen to clean up our mess from dinner. By the time I’d returned, she’d already finished bathing, had put on her pajamas, and was getting into bed. “Well, aren’t you a big girl?”
“I’m about to be seven.”
“Oh, yeah. You have a birthday coming up!” I pulled the covers over her as I asked, “Is there anything special you’d like to do? Or place you’d like to go?”
Cat shook her head no.
“Okay, what about your birthday presents? What do you want this year?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maddie got her ears pierced when she turned seven.”
Maddie was one of her friends from school—one of which I wasn’t a huge fan. She was only seven, yet she tended to act more like a teenager and expected her friends to do the same. I wanted Cat to make decisions on her own without the influences of others but knew firsthand that was easier said than done.
I placed my hand on her chest. “Do you want to get your ears pierced?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Well, I think we should wait until you’re positively ready. Besides, there are plenty of other things we can get you for your birthday. Great things. Things you’ll like much more than silly earrings.”
“Okay.” She smiled, then reached over and gave me a hug. “Love you, Momma.”