Page 9

“Zo, remind me how many girls are in your class.” I held my breath as I waited for her response.
“Only ten.”
The chuckle that slipped out of my mouth sounded nervous even to my ears.Only ten.I could face down a business opponent without cracking and deal with mergers worth billions, but the thought of ten little girls in my house sent terror through me. “We might need to start a little smaller than that.”
She frowned, a stubborn look settled on her face. One I instantly recognized. She was my mini-me straight down to my expressions. “I can’t do that, Daddy. I’ll end up hurting someone’s feelings.”
I needed to stay strong. There was no way I’d survive ten kids overnight at my house. “How about we start with three.” Three seemed manageable.
“You don’t understand,” she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Kiddo, I know this is important to you.” I ran a hand through my hair.
Her gaze narrowed, piercing me with a mutinous glare. “Then why are you saying no?”
I didn’t know if this was typical tween behavior or her rioting emotions since her mom died. This sweet girl of mine had more moments of defiance than she used to. My mom said it was her learning to assert her independence and that it would get better.
God, I hoped so.
I sighed, knowing I wasn’t doing her any favors by giving in. “You need to promise to behave. All of you.”
Her smile stretched wide across her face. “I promise. We’ll be so good you won’t even know we’re there.”
That was unlikely.
We pulled into the bakery parking lot, and my phone dinged with an incoming text. While Zoey unbuckled her seatbelt, I climbed out of the car and checked my messages.
Mom
Hey, sweetheart. I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it tonight. I’m not feeling well.
I immediately dialed her number. “Are you okay?”
“Well, hello to you too.” A hacking cough had her gasping for breath.
“Mom, we can come by tonight if you need us.”
Zoey tugged on the green robe of my costume. “Is Mimi okay?”
I nodded and put my arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t you dare! My beautiful granddaughter needs to celebrate Halloween. It’s just a chest cold. I’ll be fine in a day or two.”
“If you need me, call me.” I was already accessing my app to have soup delivered to her.
Zoey’s brow wrinkled as her gaze met mine. She was overly worried when she knew her loved ones were sick since Heather’s diagnosis.
“It’s just a cold,” I reassured her. “I promise.”
She still didn’t look convinced.
“If it were serious, you and I would be there in a heartbeat.”
She searched my eyes with a seriousness that belied her young age. “Okay.”
“Put me on speaker before you hang up.” Mom hacked again. “Zoey baby, you know Mimi would tell you if it’s serious. Do you remember the time you had that awful cough?”
“Yeah,” she bit her bottom lip.