Page 12 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

TWELVE

EVERETT

T he energy I felt when shaking Chloe’s hand after she agreed to the arrangement should have been my sign to call it off, that this was all going to end badly.

But apparently I’m an idiot, because I don’t.

Instead, I spend my days off while Lila’s at school getting the spare room ready for Chloe to move in.

I make sure the entire house is unpacked and cleaned, like I’m trying to impress her.

This is a mutually beneficial agreement, she needs a place to stay and I need someone to watch Lila when Grandma has her surgery, so why do I feel like I need her to see how great my place is?

It’s not until I’m on my hands and knees scrubbing the base boards in the hallway that I stop and realize I’m going way too freaking far. Because I refuse to leave them half done, I finish and toss the sponge in the garbage then grab my keys and head to the school a little early.

I stand in the parking lot, leaning against my truck as I wait for school to be let out and Chloe to lead her class outside.

When Lila spots me, she starts running towards me calling, “Daddy,” and I crouch to catch her and pick her up.

I kiss her cheek, and she giggles. Chloe stands near the entrance to the school, watching as the kids make their way to their parents.

Every time her eyes find me, she quickly looks away, and for some reason, it bothers me.

It shouldn’t. I should not be standing here wanting her eyes on me, but I do .

With Lila still in my arms, I make my way towards Chloe, her eyes going slightly wide when she notices me.

She clears her throat when I stop in front of her. “Mr. Lawson.”

“Miss Maxwell.”

“Is there something I can do for you?”

I smirk at her. The way she’s pretending as if we don’t know each other.

Granted, I’m the one who started that when I first saw her in the coffee shop and again when I realized she was Lila’s teacher, but I had just found out the woman I had an amazing evening with, a woman who had me feeling things I’d never felt before, was going to be my daughter’s teacher.

I dig into the pocket of my jeans and pull out a key, and Chloe immediately starts looking around as if to see who’s watching right now.

I place the key in her hand and say, “Come by whenever, and I’ll show you your room.

My next shift is Thursday morning, but you can come by tonight, Tuesday, or Wednesday. ”

She licks her lips and nods.

I pull my phone out next, unlocking it and handing it to her. “I should probably get your number.”

She stares at the phone for a few seconds before shaking her head and taking it from me, then typing her number into it and handing it back to me.

I send her a quick text so she has my number and say, “Just let me know,” before turning and heading back to my truck with Lila. As I get into the truck, my phone dings with a text from Chloe confirming she’ll be by tonight.

When we get home and I’m unbuckling Lila, she asks, “Daddy, why did you give Miss M a key?”

“We’re gonna have a chat when we get inside,” I say.

She gives me an adorable look of confusion. “Why?”

I grab her backpack and toss it over my shoulder as she climbs out and I close the door.

“Because Daddy has some things to tell you.”

“Why can’t you tell me now?”

Little kids and their questions.

“Because Daddy wants to talk to you inside.” I can see her next question hovering on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn’t ask it and we head inside.

I tell Lila to grab a snack and head to the couch so we can talk. She immediately runs and grabs fruit snacks and takes a seat, handing them to me to open for her as I settle beside her.

“Peanut, you know how Daddy said we were moving here because of Grandma?”

She nods.

“We moved because Grandma’s sick. She’s going to have surgery and get medicine and that means she won’t be able to pick you up after school.”

“Is Grandma okay?” she asks, abandoning her fruit snack beside her.

I find myself starting to choke up. Talking about this with Grandma was one thing, she’s had more time to wrap her head around her diagnoses and is old enough to understand it all.

With Lila, having to break it all down in a way she’ll understand, it’s different.

It’s forcing me to sit with it more, to really think about what it means.

I take a deep breath and shake my head. “Grandma’s okay right now, but she’s really sick.

Not sick like when you get a runny nose or an upset tummy.

Grandma’s sick on the inside. You can’t see it.

The doctors are going to do everything they can to make her better, but that means she’s not going to feel well for a while.

Miss M is going to stay with us for a while and take care of you when Daddy has to work. ”

Lila stares at her feet as she contemplates what I’ve just told her. When she looks at me, her eyes are wet and I see the effort she’s using to not cry. “Can I help Grandma?” she asks.

That simple question has my composure crumbling.

My eyes wet, and I slump. My amazing, sweet little girl wants to help make her Grandma healthy, and there’s nothing she can do.

No matter if the doctors say that they caught it early, you never know what will happen.

People die during the most routine surgeries.

I’m not ready to lose her, and I know Lila isn’t either.

I wrap my arm around my daughter and pull her into my side as I settle back on the couch. I run my hand through her hair, and she snuggles into me.

“No, Peanut, there’s nothing you can do. Grandma loves spending time with you, though, so you keep doing that and show her you love her every day.”

She sniffles, and I feel as her tears slowly wet the side of my shirt.

I tip my head back, willing my own tears to stay in place.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly as I give Lila a squeeze.

We sit in silence for a while, with her cuddled into my side, when we hear a knock at the door.

Lila sits up and looks at me. I quickly wipe at a stray tear that managed to fight its way past my defences and head to the front door, pulling it open to find Chloe on the other side.

She offers me an awkward smile, but as her eyes meet mine, it falls. “Are you okay?” she rushes out.

I nod and pull the door open wider for her to come in. Lila’s still sitting on the couch when we head into the living room. Chloe’s hand reaches out and catches my forearm, and as much as now is not the time, a spark hits me right where her skin touches mine.

She looks at the spot where we’re connected for a few seconds before shaking her head and meeting my eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this today? I can come back tomorrow.”

I shake my head. “You’re here, let’s do it.”

She bites her lip and nods.

I lead her into the kitchen. “You can help yourself to whatever food is in the kitchen. The pots and pans are in there.” I point to a cabinet beside the stove.

“Plates, glasses and bowls are there.” I point to another one.

“If you need help finding anything, just ask, and Liles is a pretty good help, too.”

We leave the kitchen, and I lead her into the hallway and to the only bedroom on the bottom floor. The room is pretty sparse, just a bed, a nightstand, and dresser. It was going to be a guest room, but now she can decorate it however she wants.

“This is your room. Lila and I are both upstairs, I thought this might give you a little more privacy.”

Chloe steps into the room and spins as she takes it all in.

Lila pulls on my hand, and I look down at her. “Daddy, can I show Miss M my room now? ”

I nod. “Yeah, Peanut.”

She smiles up at me, and it heals a small part of my damaged heart. She moves quickly so she’s standing in front of Chloe and takes her hand. “Come on, Miss M, I’m gonna show you my room.”

“Lead the way,” Chloe says, her smile bright as Lila drags her out of the room and up the stairs.