I was still baffled by how much of a mess Emma had been able to create, all while still managing to get enough of the ice cream into her mouth that she was currently on a sugar high and bouncing up and down in her seat.
When we pulled up in front of my house and I opened the door, she zoomed out, quickly followed by her laughing mother. I tumbled out after them, smiling as I watched them.
Lexi was still getting on my nerves some, but I knew that she meant well. And I knew that I must be getting on her nerves as well, so we were probably even. The thing was, even as we were bickering, I was coming to find that I liked her. She was good company for a day, and with Emma in the mix as well, I had had a lot of fun at the Children's Museum. Emma was already asking when we could go back, so I considered that a success as well.
Of course, she was also planning all of my outfits for tea parties with her stuffed animals for the next fifty years, so I had a feeling that I might just come to regret this day at the Children's Museum.
I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I hummed to myself as I walked into the house. As we walked, I tried not to stare at Lexi's ass, which admittedly looked pretty fantastic in those jeans of hers. I'd been trying the whole day not to stare, but I hadn't been able to tear my eyes away a couple times. Fortunately, I didn't think that she had noticed, preoccupied with Emma each time I might have gotten caught.
“Hey Emma, what do you want for dinner tonight?” I asked as I opened the door to the house, letting us all inside.
“Pizza!” she told me enthusiastically.
I laughed, about to agree with that plan, when I realized Janice was standing there in the front hall, a pinched look on her face. Standing at her side was none other than Renée.
Renée looked livid. She definitely wasn't the classy girlfriend who I'd been dating, at that moment, but rather some sort of ugly she-wolf ready for a fight.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her.
“You've been ignoring me for weeks now,” Renée said, sounding like she didn't know whether to be angry or tearful about it. “I came to figure out what the hell you were up to. Especially since you didn't go to work today. I thought I'd find you here, maybe with some other girl, but instead, I find this.”
She scowled at Lexi. “Who the hell is she, huh?” Renée continued, her voice rising as she took a step closer to Lexi. For a moment, I thought she was going to try to pull Lexi's hair or claw her or something. As hot as that might be, I stepped protectively between the two of them.
“Calm down,” I said to Renée, my voice low and as even as I could make it.
“Calm down?” Renée snarled. “Who is she? You have five seconds!”
Behind me, I heard Emma start to cry, no doubt frightened by this strange lady who had come into the house and started yelling. I felt a surge of anger, especially when I remembered how happy we had all been as we were climbing out of the car. For Renée to take that away from Emma was inexcusable.
I managed to keep my voice level as I glanced back at Lexi. “Lexi, can you and Emma and Janice please go upstairs while I talk to Renée?” I asked.
“Okay,” Lexi said. She was barely audible, and I spared a moment to wonder why she was so scared. Did she think I was going to take Renée's side and kick her out? Didn't she realize that I could never do that to Emma? At this point, I didn't even want to think of Lexi going without a roof overhead and food on the table. But that was something to think about at another time. Right now, I needed to focus on Renée.
“Who is she?” the woman asked one more time, her voice tight with anger.
I sighed. “Let me pour you a drink,” I suggested, leading the way into the living room. Mixing the drinks was a way for me to settle myself a little and to think through what I wanted to say. Not that I really had a choice of what to say. There was no lying about Lexi now. Renée had to know that the woman meant something to me.
Maybe Lexi was right, and honesty was the best policy.
“I had a one-night stand with Lexi, years ago,” I told Renée. “Three years and nine months ago, as a matter of fact. The girl, Emma, she's our daughter.”
“You have a daughter,” Renée said flatly.
“I have a daughter,” I agreed. I took a sip of my drink, running my hand over my face. “I didn't know that when we first started dating. Actually, I just found out about Emma right before my business trip. That's why I've been so out of touch lately. I've been trying to figure things out.”
“What's there to figure out?” Renée snapped. “Do you even know if the kid is yours?”
“She's mine,” I sighed.
“You did a paternity test?”
“No, I didn't do a paternity test.” I shook my head. “She looks just like Katherine used to, though. There's no mistaking it. Besides, I don't think Lexi would lie to me. If she says that Emma must be mine, then I believe that Emma must be mine.”
“She's probably just using you for your money,” Renée spat.
It was on the tip of my tongue to point out that I was pretty sure Renée was just using me for my money, but I managed to refrain. I shrugged. “I'm enjoying getting to know Emma,” I said simply.