Page 16 of Merry with a Brewmaster
September sucked.
At least for me.
It felt like Vienna and I were in this weird state of limbo. A mambo would be inherently more fun—preferably the horizontal kind.
I’ll take inappropriate dad jokes for two hundred, Alex.
She was great with Haven, the two of them giggling and dancing around the house like she’d always been a part of Haven’s life. She’d carted Haven to and from soccer practice, kicked the ball around with her in the yard, and made all the girls on the team matching hair bows for game day.
And that was on top of everything else she did.
Vienna made my life easier—the platonic one at least. She’d gotten my daughter into a routine, and despite the weirdness between us, as a family unit, we’d been thriving.
Things hadn’t been this easy with Kim, but she’d also never been this invested. Part of me wanted to brush it off like this only works because Vienna is getting paid.
But deep down I know it’s because she genuinely cares about Haven and wants to see her happy. That thought is alwaysfollowed by a swift surge of anger at the fact that my ex-wife couldn’t be bothered to create half of that connection with her own flesh and blood.
And that is always followed by immense gratitude at the fact that Haven has Vienna to fill those gaps that I’d been unable to, no matter how desperate I still am to have her for myself.
My phone vibrates with an incoming text, and even though I’m at lunch with my cousin, I check it to make sure Haven doesn’t need to be picked up early from her play date.
Instead, it’s the wench, as Saige so nicely puts it.
KIM: I can’t get Haven this weekend
WELLS: You haven’t seen her in over a month and a half
KIM: Don’t start with the guilt trip. I can’t get the time off
WELLS: It’s not a guilt trip—your daughter misses you
KIM: And I’ll see her as soon as I can
Growling,I set the damn thing face down on the table and count to five. It’s only Wednesday, but I’m working Saturday and Sunday and I gave Vienna the weekend off.
“Why are you strangling your napkin?” Saige asks, across from me.
“Kim bailed on Haven for this weekend, and I’m supposed to be working.” On my weekends with Haven, I make sure I’m free or at least free for most of it.
“That little?—”
“Calling her names is unhelpful.”
“But it makes me feel better,” she pouts.
“I know.” I smirk and Saige grins.
“I can take Haven overnight on Friday. I don’t have a showing until Saturday afternoon. Maybe if you get someone to cover Sunday, Vienna can have her Saturday night—or maybe just take her a couple of hours Saturday and I can take her that night too?”
“I just feel bad asking heragain.”
“Nothing you can do about it.”
Swallowing down my frustration, I type out a text and wait.
WELLS: Kim canceled again. Saige can take Haven overnight Friday but she has a showing Saturday afternoon. Is there any chance you can take Haven for a couple of hours until she’s done?
VIENNA: Saige was right your ex-wife is totally a wench
