Page 99 of Ice Darling
See, Cordelia. I have no issue with bikes. I just want to protect my baby girl. It’s not personal. Can you look at me now?
Cordelia runs her fingers through Gordie’s hair, ignoring me to the point of frustration.
“I promise, Gordie, if you still want to ride a motorcycle when you’re a grown-up, I’ll personally go with you to buy one.”
I cringe at the thought of Gordie grown up. I want her to stay at six years old forever.
Gordie, on the other hand, is exuberant. “Pinkie swear?”
The two twirl their fingers around each other’s.
“Bye now!” Cordelia grins at my daughter and moves back a step.
I look expectantly at her.
“Renthrow.” She dips her chin like she’s an officer who stopped me for speeding.
“Cordelia!” I blurt.
She turns to look at me.
Gordie looks up too, her expression pure and innocent.
Say something!My heart is beating loud enough that April and Rebel can probably hear. “I’m making fish tonight.”
Cordelia arches a brow.
“I mean, I’m cooking. Fish. Uh…grilling fish. I’ll make grilled fish if you want to eat me. Not eat me. Eat with me.Us. Eat with us.”
Great. I sound like an incoherent idiot.
Gordie bobs her head invitingly, going along with it as her dad blusters and fumbles. Sweet thing.
“Sorry. I have to work late. Maybe another time.”
“Yeah. Sure. Of…”
Cordelia stalks away.
“…Course,” I say to her back.
Man, that was painful.
“Daddy, let’s go! Delia has to work, and I have to start drawing in my booklet.” Gordie tugs on my hand and leads me like a stunned horse to the car.
Maybe I got the signals crossed.
I thought Cordelia and I were on our way to being friends.
I guess…I was wrong.
Later that night, I’m still in a daze, and Mom picks up on it. As she washes out the pan that I used to make the casserole, she looks over at me.
“Son, is everything okay?”
“Yup.”
“You’ve been wiping that same spot on the counter for the last ten minutes.” Mom shakes the pan a bit and sets it in the drainer.
