Page 5 of A Season of Second Chances
"Sleep well, and if you need anything give Carol a buzz at the front desk. If it's something she can't handle, she'll contact me." It takes everything I have not to reach out and touch her. Does she feel the same as she did back then? Do my palms still rest in the curve of her waist as easily as they did back in high school? Can I still tell what she's thinking if I concentrate hard enough?
"Thanks, will I see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I nod. "I'll be back over in a few hours, probably with Alana. So don't be surprised if you see my daughter with me. I don't want to freak you out."
She nods, running a hand through her hair. "She's your daughter, of course she's going to be with you."
Some women don't understand. I've tried dating off and on, and either it's my shitty luck, or I've been picking the wrong ones. "Thanks. See you later."
We wave at one another, and then I head outside to my truck. I'm tired as hell, but I'm already looking forward to coming back tomorrow. No matter how hard it's going to be.
"Dad! It snowed! It really snowed!
I groan as a forty-pound projectile lands right on my stomach. Everything is fuzzy as I shake the cobwebs from my mind. My stomach rebels as I move her around so that she doesn't have all her weight on my ribs. "Did it?" I question, playing amazed with her.
"It looks like a snow globe," she says, her eyes wide, and a bright smile on her face.
Reaching up, I rub at my eyes, trying to get the sleep gone. "Would you like to get out in it? Go to the lodge?"
She loves the lodge. It's her favorite place to be. Everyone there loves her, and treats her as if she's the most important guest who ever showed up. It warms my heart, since her mom isn't in her life.
"Let me get dressed." She scrambles from the bed, and I reach out to steady her, putting her down on the plush carpet.
"Be sure and wear warm clothes, it's cold out there," I tell her, knowing that I'll have to make her change.
She doesn't even look back at me as she runs for her room. There's a soft knock at the door. "Yeah?"
"Hey Winter, is it okay if I head home for the weekend?"
It's my babysitter, Fiona. She normally doesn't spend the night, but last night was an exception. "No problem, do you need me to take you? We're heading to the lodge, I can swing you home. It's only a few miles out of the way."
"No." She grins. "Renner's coming to get me. He's got his grandfather's snowmobile."
Young love. She's barely twenty, and Renner just turned old enough to drink alcohol. The two are sickening in their love, but I'm extremely happy for the two of them. I'm not sure how long she'll be willing to babysit for me, but I'm hoping if they do end up together and have their own child, she'll continue. I would appreciate Alana being raised with another kid, since it looks like I'm probably never having another. "If y'all need help I'll have my phone on, don't hesitate to call."
"Thanks, Winter. I appreciate it. Is coming back on Monday okay with you? Or will you need me before that?"
I sit up, making sure the covers don't show anything I don't want them to, before scratching my head. "I'll let you know. Monday should be fine, but depending on what's happening with the weather, I might keep her at the lodge with me."
There's a honk outside. "Just let me know, I'm headed out."
I give her a wave, and then listen as she stops by Alana's room to tell her goodbye. Alana loves her and spends what sounds like forever telling her bye. Finally, I hear the front door close, and force myself out of bed. Looking over at the clock, I realize I've only gotten three hours sleep. Owning the lodge, and being a single-father, I'm used to it, but today it's going to hit harder than normal. Rubbing my hands over my face, I inhale deeply, and then get up.
Once I go to the restroom, and then have a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt on, I go to Alana's bedroom. "What are you wearing today?"
Just as I thought. "This dress," she squeals as she turns around in a circle.
"You can't wear that. It's way too cold."
Her bottom lip pops out. "But I want to."
This is the part I hate. There's no one else here to be the bad guy. It's always me. "I know you do, but we need to save that for when it's warmer. Today we need to wear the snowsuit." She puts up a fight, but I'm strong in standing my ground. Sometimes I'm not. Once we have her dressed, I have her go downstairs. "I'll meet you there when I'm dressed and we can go over. Carol's got pancakes for you."
And just like that, she forgets that she's upset with me.
Five
Joy
