Page 17 of Forbidden Secrets
“You’re putting makeup on.Are you going on a date?”
“Not a date.I’m meeting with someone I knew in high school.”
“A man someone?”
“Yeah, a man someone.”She studied Addy’s reflection.“Does that bother you?”
Addy shook her head.“Is he like Gage?Does he have a dog like Pancake?Are you going to marry him?”
Melanie laughed at the barrage of questions.“No, he’s not like Gage.”Chase didn’t spark a fire in her belly simply by looking at her.“I’m definitely not marrying him, and I have no idea if he has a dog.”
“You can’t marry someone unless they have a dog.Dog people are good people.”
Who knew a six-year-old could be so wise?
“Why the question about marriage?”Melanie asked while Addy examined the palette of eye shadow shades.
“Lots of kids have parents who are married.”Addy cocked her head to the side.“Did you know girls can marry girls?Lucy in my class has two moms.Can boys marry boys?”
“They can.Since I don’t plan on getting married anytime soon, we can set marriage aside for now.Are you okay with it being just you and me?”
Addy gave her gap-toothed smile.“Dad hardly ever visits, but that’s okay.You and me are the best together.”
“We absolutely are.”
If there was a solution to Phil’s inconsistency regarding his daughter, Melanie would grab onto it and make it happen.He paid child support but seemed to think that’s where his obligation ended.He was satisfied with a few visits a year and didn’t care to actually know his daughter.All of which made Mel question her judgment in men.
She and Phil had been together for almost five months when she’d found out she was pregnant.In all that time, why hadn’t she recognized how self-absorbed he was?
Not that she was blameless.She didn’t need Esme telling her to know she’d kept her few boyfriends at a distance emotionally, and, unsurprisingly, when they eventually broke up there was barely a dent in her heart.
Addy picked up a sponge applicator.“Can I try?”
“Of course.We’ll need to wash it off before we leave.I think Grandad would have me arrested if you showed up with makeup on your pretty face.”
Addy giggled.“Makeup’s not against the law.”
“We’ll have to ask him to make sure.Do you have your overnight things in your backpack?”
Addy nodded as she smeared blue shadow on her eyelids.“Nana said she has a project to makerealsoap that we can use in the bath.We can even put flowers in it.And Grandad said he has a movie picked out for tonight that comes from a really long time ago.He said the nineties.When were the nineties?”
“Not that long ago and now you’re making me feel ancient.”
“Well, even though it’s real old he says it’s still good.We’re making popcorn.And Grandad says he’s cooking up pancakes with chocolate chips for breakfast because they’re my favorite, and you’re invited, but you need to bring strawberries because strawberries are the best with chocolate chip pancakes.”
“I can do that.”
And what did it say about her that Addy’s plans sounded a lot more fun than hers?
CHAPTER FIVE
After dropping off an excited Addy—minus the blue eye shadow—with Paul and Donna at their comfortable ranch-style home, Melanie parked on Main Street and walked through the front doors of Easy Money.She hung her coat on a row of hooks by the door and turned to take in the comfortable and inviting space with its open beams, warm colors, and twinkling lights.
Upholstered barstools stood in front of a long bar made of reddish-brown wood that gleamed under the low lights.Booths lined the walls with tables in between and a three-quarter wall separated the bar from a small area for restaurant dining.The welcoming tone complemented the glowing recommendation Paul and Donna had given the place.
Not seeing Chase, she took a stool at the bar.Besides actually using makeup, she’d made her bangs a little spikey and for her outfit had decided on a V-necked sweater in deep burgundy with slim-fitting black pants and dangly earrings.With some people in jeans and hoodies and others in suits, she figured her outfit hit the sweet spot—dressy, but not too much.
Donna had passed on the news that Keeley Montaigne, a friend from high school and Delaney’s bff, had married Easy Money’s owner.Melanie spotted Keeley behind the bar squaring off with a hunky guy who stood with his hands on his hips.They were glaring at each other.That might’ve been concerning except for the sizzling vibes and the possessive expression on the man’s face suggesting what he’d really like to do was haul Keeley somewhere private to get his hands on her.
