Page 85 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
“That means you’re doing a wonderful job. Last one, Becca. It’s not as much fun as the others.”
She pushed the last gift over, his daughter showing the same enthusiasm to get to the contents. “Daddy. It’s a princess dress and boa. Pink and white. Like the one you ruined.”
Becca was up and pulling the dress out of the box and holding it in front of her, then wrapped the boa around her neck.
“That’s war,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
Alana giggled. A sound he hadn’t heard from her once. He never thought she’d be someone to make that noise either.
Most times she was too serious.
That was wrong.
She was serious at work but never outside of it. Not around him.
Not the woman who danced with his daughter and wore sexy outfits to turn him on.
She was a person he never expected her to be.
Was that a bad thing?
He wasn’t so sure he expected Rene would have done what she had, but looking back, he should have.
He didn’t want to think Alana had a mean or manipulative bone in her body, but it was hard to come back from what he’d experienced at the hands of his ex.
His heart might be falling, but he kept his trust locked up, unwilling to give it away so freely.
“You need to open my gift,” Becca said. “Daddy got you one too because he said you’re friends too.”
“That was nice of Daddy,” she said.
Becca picked up her gift, or tried to, but ended up pushing it over, both hands on it, her butt in the air as her feet did all the work.
It wasn’t heavy, but awkward for a three-year-old to lift.
“Go on,” he said. “Open it.”
Alana flicked the tape with her nail, then lifted it so that it pulled away in one sheet, unlike the hundreds of pieces of paper all over his living room floor from Becca.
“It’s a frame,” she said.
On the top of one frame it said: New Friends. It was empty. He was going to take a picture of his daughter and Alana together and have it printed for her to put in. On the other side it said: New Beginnings. His daughter’s artwork filled that side.
“It’s the three of us dancing,” Becca said. “That first day. See the boas and my tutu?”
“I do see it,” she said, her arms opening. “Can I get a hug? This is the best gift ever.”
Becca launched herself into Alana’s arms and held on tight. Alana was looking over his daughter’s head at him though, blinking the tears in her eyes.
He saw the depths of many emotions there and was positive his were mirroring it.
Becca stood back and went to the tree for the last gift. One that was much smaller. He hoped it wasn’t too much, but he fell in love with it and the meaning behind it.
He took the gift out of Becca’s hand and gave it to Alana.
“Daddy says you’re his new friend too. Different from my friend because adults are like that.”
It was the best he could do to get it started. His daughter hadn’t questioned it either and he decided not to push more.
