Page 16 of Love Notes & Lifelines
Fuck. Not until the car ride back with Stella.
Returning to my desk, I place the card face up and pull out my cell phone. “There’s only an email address. What the hell kind of business is this?”
“I think it’s one that will save your ass. And I know you, Becker Hayes. Your mind is running in hyperdrive because you’ll try to do this all by yourself, but newsflash, that’s not how families work. Families are plural for a reason—it takes a village, so lean on yours. You’re not alone in this.”
He lifts his iPad in the air. “I’ll start by having this stuff shipped to your penthouse. After you contact the Single Dad Hotline, research babyproofing. In your house, that’s a priority.”
Babyproofing? What the hell is babyproofing? I’m typingbabyproofinto my phone when he reaches the door and Dog barks.
I groan while Emmy scolds her. “No, Daisie Dukes. Inside voices.”
Did she just rename Dog? Two kids and a dog. Who the fuck am I?
“Elijah?”
He pauses in the doorway and raises a brow in my direction. “Can you help with Dog tonight? I—I don’t think I can handle all three of them.”
“You know I will. I’ve got your back, Beck.” He shuts my office door with a near-silent click.
In the privacy of my office, I drop my head into my hands. “I’m so sorry, Cally.” Her name sits rusty on my tongue. But I mean every word. “Why me? I’m not cut out to be a father. Aren’t you afraid I’ll mess them up?”
Dog whines and scratches at my door. I picture Emmy with her little finger pointing at Dog, and I smile.
The envelope addressed to me mocks me from my desk, but I’m still not ready to open it. Instead, I slide it into the inside pocket of my suit jacket and wake up my computer to compose a new email.
To: Lottie
From: Beck Hayes
Subject:
What the hell do I say?
Subject:Two Girls, a Dog, and me
Subject:Someone made a mistake
Subject:I’m fucked
Grow some balls, dude. It’s just an email, but I’m not an idiot. Once I send this email, everything changes.
Dog whines, and I become a father with a few strokes of my keyboard.
Subject: Help
Dear Ms. Lottie,
My name is Beck Hayes. I’ve recently been awarded guardianship of my two nieces. I’ve never been around children and to say I’m ill-prepared is an understatement. My friend, Elijah Sinclair, said you may be able to help.
I await your response,
Beck Hayes
CHAPTER FIVE
STELLA
Come on,come on! Seriously, get out of the way.
