“Mama!” Kadie yelled. “Mama, look!” She
’d stacked a tower of blocks almost as high as her.
“That’s great, sweetie,” I said, clapping.
My mama glanced at her watch and then leaned in toward me. “He’ll be here soon,” she murmured. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“No, but doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it. We’ve both waited too long for this. The sooner she gets to know him, the better.”
“Just know I’ll support you in whatever you decide.”
“Thank you, Mama.” My phone buzzed. I pulled it out and looked at the text message. I took a deep breath. “Alex is here.”
“Go greet him, honey,” Mama nodded to me then glanced over at Kadie.
I made my way to the front door, my heart pounding. I wasn’t even sure why I was so scared. It wasn’t like he hadn’t already seen Kadie, and he knew the truth. Nothing was really going to change that day.
Maybe I was more worried about what the little playdate meant in the long run. Not a change that day but a change in the future. It was like it was going to make the whole thing real.
I opened the front door, and Alex was standing there wearing a lopsided smile on his face. He was a bit dusty from working at the ranch, but I didn’t mind, especially since his sleeves were rolled up, and he was showing off those muscular arms of his.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey.”
We stared at each other in awkward silence.
“Come on, Daddy,” I said.
He blinked, and I winced. It’d been meant playfully.
Alex smiled widely. “I think I like the sound of that.”
There was no reason he shouldn’t. Kadie was his daughter, but my joke had made me uncomfortable. I was still coming to terms with all of this more than I had realized. I didn’t say anything else as I turned and headed into my mama’s house.
Alex followed, and we made our way to the backyard. After we stepped outside, he just stood there, watching Kadie, a wide smile on his face like she was the most interesting person he’d ever seen in his life.
It took me a minute to think of what to say.
“She’s very healthy,” I said. “No problems. Been hitting all her milestones according to her pediatrician. Good weight and height.”
I groaned inwardly. It was like I was describing a racehorse and not a man’s daughter.
“She likes playing with blocks?” Alex said.
“Yes. Dolls, blocks, music. Happy little girl. Sweet thing.”
Mama watched us, a concerned look on her face.
Alex didn’t head toward Kadie at all, surprising me. It was then I realized his hands were clenched together tightly. Guess I wasn’t the only one nervous.
“Just go say hi,” I said. I shrugged a single shoulder. “Just say you’re a friend for now. We’ll figure out everything else later.”
He nodded and walked over to the blanket. The was something funny about the big, muscular man with his earrings and tattoos standing over a little girl stacking blocks.
Kadie looked up, tilting her head, a curious look on her face. “Who are you, mister?”
“Um, a friend of your mom’s.”