Page 21 of Dominate
She pulls the thin straps of the dress onto her shoulders and shuffles over to my wall of shoes. “Callie says no one likes African beaches anyway.”
I look up from my suitcase and blink. Sophia has been dropping Callum’s girlfriend’s name more and more lately. I can’t say I’m a fan, especially when it’s this kind of shit. “Callie says what exactly?”
“She says the beaches are dirty there.” Sophia steps into a pair of black stilettos and teeters awkwardly for a moment.
I have to hold back my knee-jerk reaction of wanting to rush over to Callum’s house and punch Callie in her overly Botox-injected face. What kind of bullshit is that woman filling my daughter’s mind with? Instead, I reply through clenched teeth, “Well, don’t believe everything Callie says, Soap. The beach I’m going to seems beautiful in the pictures.”
“Then why can’t I go?” Sophia stomps her foot, looking seven going on seventeen. The hem catches under the heel and she begins falling over, taking a row of shoes down with her.
I rush over and catch her under the arms just before she topples to the floor. Stray shoes collect around us. Once she’s propped back up, Sophia’s big brown eyes find mine. Her little bushy brows scrunch as she hits me with a sassy look. “I’m cross at you.”
I can’t help but smile and kiss her forehead. She’s so cute, even when she’s mad. “Sophia, sweetie, I would love for you to come, but it’s your week with Daddy. He needs his time with you just like I do.”
“Daddy is always working,” she harrumphs as she reaches out and begins playing with the long necklace I’m wearing. “I have to sit with Callie after school and she’s boring. She likes really stupid telly where people are always shouting at each other, and she’s not even watching it most of the time because she’s staring at her mobile.”
My body grows tense from her words. Callum demands fifty percent custody but from what I can tell, Sophia sees Callie and her grandmother more than she sees Callum. It’s enough to make me want to scream.
I pull Sophia down onto my lap and tuck her head under my chin, relishing in the weight of her against me. “I’m sorry Daddy is so busy, Soap. But I think just knowing you’re at his home makes him happy, so try to keep that in mind.”
“Why do you have to go, Mom?” she asks, clearly stating “mom” instead of “mum.” I notice she says it the American way when she wants something that she knows I’ll say no to. My little girl can be really damn clever when she wants to be.
“Well, Mommy hasn’t been on a trip by herself in a very long time. Not since before you were born.”
“Really?” she asks, snuggling into me. “How come?”
My heart grows heavy as I recall all the years we spent in and out of hospitals and staying home to ensure Sophia didn’t come in contact with germs when her immune system was suppressed. Even our trips back to America after we moved to England were limited because I didn’t want to put her health at risk.
“Do you remember your sickie days? When we had to go to the hospital a lot?” I ask.
Sophia grows quiet for a moment, but I can feel her head nodding. “A little bit.”
My lips curve up into a small smile. “I’m glad you can’t remember it all because those were hard times for us. We were very busy, and there wasn’t a lot of time for extra things since we were so focused on making you better.”
She exhales heavily. “Fine, you should have a holiday I guess. But that means you have to take me on a holiday next time I have no school.”
“I said it’s called a vacation!” I growl playfully. She falls back onto the floor as I tickle her sides mercilessly. She erupts into a fit of giggles, and it’s the best freaking sound of my entire life.
Every day that I put Sophia first and didn’t travel or take time for myself was well worth it because of this moment right here. The flush of her glorious, healthy cheeks as she squirms away from me is a beautiful sight. She’ll be eight years old in a couple of months, and her five-year remission milestone comes soon after that. She’s not the sick baby she was so many years ago.
Yes, I’m nervous to leave her, but I need to see this thing through with Gareth. This trip will be a good test to see if we can be great together like he thinks we can. Then I’ll decide what part he’ll play in my future and with Sophia.
My phone vibrates on the floor behind me, so I take a break from Sophia tickles to see that it’s a text from Gareth.
Gareth: I can’t wait to see you again.
Me: Me too. I’m just packing now.
Gareth: Good. The car will be at your house to pick you up at eight a.m. tomorrow.
Me: I’ll be ready.
Gareth: You better be.
Me: Is that a threat? :)
Gareth: Treacle, I have plans for you these next few days. The doctor has cleared me of my injuries. I’m back at practice and nearly at 100% again. And I haven’t seen you in three weeks. This isn’t a threat. It’s a promise.
Me: Yes, Master. ;)
