Page 17 of The Right Woman

As I make my way back to the garage, Odin rushes by me again with his new Lego set under his arm. “Dad, going to Cayden’s house. I’ll be back after dinner. Love you, bye!”

I blink rapidly as I watch him sprint three houses down and knock on the neighbor’s door. Okay…

When I approach Jay’s car, Debbie puts down her window and gives me a wry smile. “She didn’t tell you, did she?”

I lean over the window and shake my head. “Nah, but it’s fine. You okay with her coming over tonight? A school night?”

She pats my hand as it lies on the frame of the car. “Of course, Adon. Mike’s out of town for the rest of the week on business, so it’ll be nice to have her over. I’ll make sure they get to sleep tonight for their test. Uh…I talked to Emily first about this.” My neck stiffens. Doesn’t Deb trustmyopinion? As Avery’s father? “Only because I thought Avery was staying with her this week. I’m still not used to you guys not being together, sorry.”

Shrugging, I take a step back as Avery slides into the back of the car and looks away from me. “Avery, I love you. Behave and study hard. You, too, Jay.”

Jay gives me a shy smile that betrays her personality. “Thanks, Mr. Griffin!”

Back in the house, I sit on the sofa and crack open a beer. Something digs into my pockets, and I empty them on the table. Unopened condoms, regular, and dental dams flop out, as well as a credit card and an employee ID for the local library. Looking at the picture, I see a perky Piper Hendricks smiling brightly, wearing a yellow shirt with polka dots on it. She’s worked at the library for a few years, it seems. If she’s been frequenting Rainy Day and the library, she must love books…just like me.

The day’s events rush to me again, and I flip on the evening news to see if anything happened after we left.

I take a swig from the bottle, but Rosy’s picture keeps staring back at me. Obviously, I need to take her stuff back to her. I can’tjust give it to Eli or Essa. Then I’d have to explain how I got it. If this girl exposes my identity as Daddy Don and I can’t go back to the club, maybe I should just use her instead of my standing Friday dates. Make some arrangement with her.

She said she wanted a daddy. It’s obvious sheneedsone. I could be that for her. Just that and nothing more. But I need to make sure she’s not going to get knocked up.

My heart skips a beat as the news anchor interrupts my thoughts. “A woman died today at the local coffee shop,Rainy Day Books.The victim had one cup of coffee and may have suffered from an unknown medical condition that caused her death. The city’s coroner is performing an autopsy, but police say they haven’t ruled out foul play. Further details have not been released. Meghan Martinez was forty-one and is survived by her husband, Professor Dennis Harrison, and his son, Sean.”

Foul play…

Was the womanmurdered?

Chapter

Eight

PIPER

So the breakroom coffee isn’tsobad. It’s hot. And sorta brown.

Oh, fucking hell. Who am I kidding? I miss Rainy Day lattes. But there’sno wayI’m venturing back to my worst nightmare of my family all together again, along with grumpy Daddy Don. Especially after heassaultedme in the alleyway.

It doesn’t matter that I wanted it, or that I’m wet just thinking about how huge the man is, stretching my insides until I thought they would be outside.Damn it! Now my panties are soaked.

I shove a borrowed mug that readsPlease Do Not Confuse Your Google Search with My Library Science Degreeback onto the dripping pot of black goo, then hustle to the staff bathroom and shimmy out of my thong. Tucking them into my belted corduroy mini-skirt pocket, I look at myself in the mirror. Could I pass for a pink-haired Twiggy with my turtleneck and knee boots? Probably. But afterdaddyleft me a gifted hickey, I really had nothing else to wear that Shanna, our librarian, wouldn’t complain about.

The spigot makes a sick groan when I turn it on to wash my hands, then run my fingers through my locks, straightening them. It’s getting longer, falling just above my eyes. Almost time for a cut. I approve my outfit with a nod at my reflection, then get back to work.

Shanna gives me a judgmental eyebrow raise behind the checkout counter when I emerge from the back, then flicks her eyes to the large clock on the wall. She monitors my break time with more scrutiny than guards over a bank vault. I give her a half curtsy and push the squeaky wheeled book trolley toward the children’s section to put away returns.

Essa

Hey, can I come over and discuss something?

Me

Is it your costume for Halloween? Because I have some ideas.

Essa

Haha, just wanting to hang out with my friend.

Me

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