Page 45 of Worth the Want

“Oh god. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t even thinking about?—”

“You weren’t thinking about her falling off and not being able to see her? I don’t have that luxury, Indiana. Hazel is at the forefront of my mind every second of every day.”

“I understand that. I do. I’m sorry. I would never put her in any kind of danger. Not on purpose. Never,” she apologizes in a rush. The look on her face shows me she’s terrified at the thought of something bad happening to my daughter.

“I’m okay, Daddy,” Hazel says, leaning her head onto myshoulder. The weight of her in my arms helps to calm me down. I look at her sweet face, smiling at me. “I was a balletina!” she says excitedly. The way she says ballerina softens my stony disposition.

“I really am sorry. Maybe I should just go home. I’ll catch you guys later.” She takes a step back, away from me, the distance and the look on her face extinguishing the fire. I can’t hold onto my anger anymore.

“Indie, stay!” Hazel pouts.

Her eyes are a little glassy, but she smiles at my girl, trying to put on a front. “It’s okay, Hazey, I’ll?—”

“Stay,” I blurt. Shock registers on her face, then confusion.

“You don’t have to do that, it’s okay. I’ll come another time.” Her words don’t convince me. If I don’t convince her to stay now, I may not be able to ever.

“I want you to,” I say.

Still looking mildly confused, she nods, accepting my re-invitation, and walks back toward the big house with us, Hazel a few feet ahead of us.

“I—” we both start at the same time.

“You go,” Indie offers.

“I’m sorry about my reaction. Hazel’s safety is my number one focus, and seeing her out there.” I pause. “It scared me.”

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am to have been the cause of that. I would never do something to hurt her. Please tell me you believe that,” she pleads. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t. But I hear the honesty in her voice. The conviction behind her words. She really does care about Hazel.

“Idoknow that, which is why I shouldn’t have come down on you so hard.”

“No, you were right. Completely justified. I’m on high alert now.”

“Welcome to the club,” I tease.

“It must be exhausting doing this all on your own,” she muses.She doesn’t know the half of it.

“It can be, but Hazel is worth every gray hair.”

“You only have a few of those,” she smirks.

“You’re not going to tease me about my gray hair?”

“Why would I do that? It’s a good look for you.” I grin.

We make it back inside, and I set Hazel down. The awkwardness from before not completely forgotten, but on its way to being.

“It smells good in here. What’s for dinner?” Indie asks.

“Gnocchi in brown butter sauce with parmesan cheese.”

“I like cheese!” Hazel chimes in.

“So do I,” Indie tells her, then looks to me before adding, “I should attempt dinner for you guys soon. I appreciate you feeding me.”

“The wordattemptputs me a little on edge,” I say, pouring the sauce over all our plates. She laughs and without me having to ask, starts to get Hazel’s highchair set up.

“Har-har,” she says with an eye roll. I smirk.