I got to work while she prepared her equipment that morning. Pancakes for breakfast. A trip to the park. Lily got to pick the centerpiece for dinner at the grocery store, a lopsided sunflower bouquet. By the time we got back home, Jess was gone.
I told my wife that Lily and I were going to be out of the house the whole day, doing something funny on special day. However, I revealed that I’d ring up the babysitter and leave Lily with her while I went out to see my parents.
She knew not to predict me back until much later.
At 6:07 p.m., there was a knock.
I took a deep breath, opened the door, and nearly dropped the serving tray!
Adam.
He was my best friend since college. He was my best man, my fishing buddy, and my daughter’s “Uncle Adam.”
“Hey… bro. Wow, didn’t know you’d be home. What a—what a surprise!”
“Danny?!” she said. “What are you—?”
I opened the door wider with a smile.
“Come on in, buddy! My best friend! We were just about to eat.”
His face exhausted. Jess looked like she was about to collapse. I stepped aside, gesturing toward the table like a game show host.
“Dinner’s hot. Don’t want to let it go cold.”
They followed me in.
“I told him it’d be fun!” she muttered, spooning potatoes onto her plate like it was Christmas.
Adam sat down stiffly, obviously sweating. Jess avoided my gaze as she took her seat.
“So,” I began, sitting across from him. “Been a while. You been busy?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Work’s been nuts.”
“Sure. Not too busy to visit though, huh?”
“What does that mean?” Adam asked.
“Oh, nothing. Just heard you’ve been around. Brought chocolates. Had some dinners. Did some bonding.”
Jess jumped in, too fast.
“He just stopped by once or twice. Lily loves visitors. You know how she is.”
“Just once or twice?” I asked.
“Maybe… three times,” he shouted. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Right, right. No big deal. Just a guy stopping by to visit his daughter.”
The air stiffen. Jess’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. Adam set down his wine with a shaking hand.
“W-What are you talking about?” Jess muttered.
I turned to Lily.
CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE 🥰💕
