Page 10 of Secrets We Fight
Alexis and I had never been an actual couple. We’d gone on a few dates more than three years before, and it hadn’t taken us long to figure out our busy schedules weren’t compatible since I’d just started working in the protection division, and she was finishing up her master’s degree.
We parted on friendly terms, and I thought that was the end of things until she called two months later to tell me she was pregnant. The timing wasn’t ideal, but we’d managed to make it work.
She continued to support my career, even though it caused a lot of the day-to-day parenting to fall on her shoulders. She often rearranged her schedule to ensure I could spend time with my daughter, and I was extremely grateful we had found a way to co-parent.
Slipping my phone into my pocket, I put my shoes back on and checked out a set of keys for a black Chevy Tahoe. The agency provided us with vehicles to use during our non-work hours because when we were off-duty, we were still expected to be on-call in case there was an emergency requiring more agents than those who were on shift. Because of that, a few cars had been dropped off for us.
I made my way down to the parking garage, where the SUVs were parked. Agent Tanner had explained that an agreement was made with the building’s management to use some of the guest parking spaces for our fleet. Any additional personal-use cars we had were given residential permits for street parking. When I told Fallon the Secret Service could make anything happen, I meant it.
After climbing into the Tahoe, I made the twenty-minute drive to Alexis’ house in the suburbs. I made a mental note to add the area to my search for a new place to live so I could be closer to my daughter.
As I strolled up to Alexis’ door, anticipation and excitement filled my chest. I hadn’t seen Poppy in two months because I’d been traveling across the country with Senator Donnelley. It was the longest my daughter and I had been apart, and I couldn’t wait to hug her again.
I knocked, and Alexis smiled when she opened the door. “Hey, it’s good to see you.”
“You too.” We hugged briefly before the pitter-patter of my three-year-old’s little feet echoed through the entryway.
“Daddy!” Poppy squealed, her blonde curls bouncing as she ran onto the porch.
I knelt, and she jumped into my outstretched arms. “Hey, sweet pea. I missed you.”
She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and squeezed as tight as she could. “Want to see my dollies?”
“Of course, I do.” I chuckled as I carried my daughter inside. When I set Poppy down, she immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her bedroom.
“I’ll give you two some time to catch up,” Alexis said.
I gave her a small smile before she turned toward her kitchen, and I followed my daughter down the hall.
“You sit there.” Poppy pointed at the purple area rug in the middle of her room.
Before I knew what was happening, I had a doll in one arm, a plastic toy bottle in my other hand, and received strict instructions on how to feed her baby. It was those moments, spending time with the most important person in my life, that I lived for.
We played for a while before Alexis came into the room to let us know it was time for Poppy to get ready for bed.
I helped her brush her teeth and change into pajamas with little unicorns, which I learned was her current favorite. At her age, it changed daily, and it was hard to keep up, especially being away for so long.
“Will you read me a story?” Poppy asked.
“Absolutely.”
She grabbed a book from the shelf in the corner of her room and climbed onto the bed. I did all the voices as we read about a princess who had to rescue a prince from a dragon. I loved seeing a children’s book turn traditional gender roles on their heads.
“Mama says the princess is a hero like you.”
My chest tightened. It would be easy for Alexis to hold my job against me since it kept me away a lot, and while I didn’t consider myself a hero by any means, it meant a lot to me that she put a positive spin on what I did for our daughter.
“I want to be a hero too,” Poppy added as her ocean-blue eyes that matched mine grew heavy.
“You can be anything you want to be.” I tucked her in and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, sweet pea. I’ll see you again soon.”
Walking to the kitchen, I joined Alexis. She was waiting for me at the small dining table, and I sat across from her.
“Thank you for letting me come over tonight.”
She nodded. “Of course. Poppy was so excited when I told her you were on your way.”
“Hopefully, I’ll be around more often now.”
