Page 112 of Losing Faith

He trusts you with her,the more rational part of me says.

I shake my head of my thoughts and follow Isabelle’s voice to the backyard, where we find both girls with their feet in the pool.

“Hey,” Sire starts gently and while Isabelle turns with a smile, Lisette keeps her eyes forward. “You can either hug me goodbye or get pushed into the pool.”

Lisette doesn’t answer until Sire takes a step toward her.

“If you push me, I’m drowning myself, and you will be going to jail.”

A laugh escapes Sire and Lisette turns with a small smile before rolling her eyes. “I’m not hugging your ugly ass. Just go.”

“Get up.” He ignores her and their interaction makes me wish I had siblings.

“Sire—” She doesn’t get to finish her sentence as he pulls her up by the arm and hugs her. She keeps her hands at her side as he wraps his arms around her head. After a second, he takes her arms and forces them around him before hugging her again.

He whispers something in her ear and I nod for Isabelle to follow me so we can give them a minute.

“Lissy said Uncle Sigh is an asshole.”

I let out a defeated sigh and choose to ignore her, but I feel her watching me.

“Why is he anasshole?” She pushes her limits and I stop in my tracks as I look down at her. “I won’t say asshole again,” she says through a yawn, and I bite back a laugh when she isn’t looking.

I follow behind her before she turns to me.

“I’m so excited for Thanksgiving.” She smiles at me like her entire day is made.

I scoop her into my arms when I notice how tired she looks. I hug her close before kissing her. “So am I.”

When she yawns again, I set her on the couch to watch a movie, knowing she’ll fight her sleep if I send her to bed. I’m cleaning the kitchen when a set of footsteps sound through the house. When I look up, Sire has his arm wrapped around his sister’s shoulder and she has her arms crossed like a brat.

“She promised to be on her worst behavior, so good luck,” Sire announces before Lisette shoves him away.

“Leave before I piss you off.”

Sire rolls his eyes at her before hugging her goodbye. He offers me his hand next for our handshake. When he looks for Isabelle, we find her falling asleep in the living room. I walk Sire out, and by the time I come back, she’s somehow sleeping while sitting upright.

I pick her up and kiss her nose. “My sweet baby.” I kiss her again and when I look up, Lisette is watching me with a smile.

“You’re such a good dad.” She shakes her head like she can’t believe it.

“Why’d you say it like that?” A short laugh escapes me.

She shrugs. “There’s not a lot of good parents in this world. I’m glad she landed with you.”

Her words force a weight on my chest as I look back down at my daughter and I hold her a bit tighter. “I’ll never understand how anyone couldn’t be a good parent.” I shake my head at the thought. “She’s so easy to love.”

When I look back up at Lisette, her somber smile is on Isabelle and I catch my words.

“I don’t mean you weren’t easy to love as a kid,” I quickly corrected myself. “How your parents treated you isn’t a reflection of you.”

She smiles, but it seems forced now and I feel myself deflate.

“I’m sorry.” I shake my head at myself and her smile seems genuine now.

“Let’s ignore that last ten minutes and go back to the heated kissing.”

I let my eyes fall shut, a smile growing on my face. “Did you say that so you weren’t the only one who felt uncomfortable?”

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