“Rent?”
“Just because I’m a single mother doesn’t mean I’m helpless, Noah. I work, I have my own income, and I want to pay you rent. What do you want for the guest house?”
I didn’t even know how to begin to answer that. “Ah, I suppose I’d have to look it up.”
She gave a quick nod. “Perfect. Do that.”
“You’re serious?” I asked. “You want an official lease and everything?”
“Yep.”
“Well, alright. I’ve got a lawyer for my properties who handles all that; I’ll check in with him and hire someone to get an estimate on the guest house.”
“I’ll pay for my own groceries and all that, too. I might be living here, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to take careof me.”
Part of me thought she was being a little ridiculous. But the more she spoke, the more I realized that what she was doing in those moments, establishing herself and making sure I understood that she was independent, were all part of the reason why I was so crazy about the woman.
She may have had innocent looks, but her mind was sharp and thoughtful.
“That can all be done. But let me offer a term of my own.”
“What’s that?”
“More like an informal term. It’s this – don’t forget that I’m the dad and that I’m here to help. I understand that you want to be independent, and that you don’t want me looming over your shoulder while you do what needs to be done. But I’m notjusta landlord. I’m someone who cares about the kids, and cares about you.”
Her expression softened. She looked away for a moment and nodded, suggesting that she realized that she’d perhaps gotten a little carried away.
“Yeah, sorry. It’s just that if we’re going to do this co-parenting thing, I want to make sure that we’ve got it all worked out. But you’re right, I can’t forget that you’re part of this, too.” She brought her eyes up to me. “Is this going to cramp things with your work?”
I shook my head. “I’ve managed fatherhood and being a doctor before, and I can do it again. Granted, I was a twenty-something when Camilla was born…”
Camilla. Saying her name made both of us aware of the fact that we’d forgotten that she was on her way. Sadie’s eyes flashed, and she yanked her phone out of her pocket to check for texts or missed calls.
“Shit.”
“What?”
“She texted to let me know she’d be here in ten minutes – fifteen minutes ago.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could even get a word out, I heard the front door open and close.
“Yo, Dad!” Camilla’s voice carried through the house, followed by the rustling of her coat and the jangling of her keys. “Where are you guys?”
“In here!” I replied.
It was only a few moments before Camilla appeared in the kitchen. She was dressed in a nice, business outfit of black slacks and a white blouse, a gold necklace hanging down over her buttons, She didn’t even glance up at the two of us, beelining straight for the pizza.
“Oh, man, tell me you guys didn’t eat all of this already.”
She flipped open the top of the pizza box on the top of the stack, surprise taking hold of her as she looked it over.
“Geez, I thought I told you guys not to wait for me. Have you all seriously been sitting around letting this stuff go cold on account of me?” She shrugged, her eyes on the slice of double pepperoni as she folded it in half and took a bite.
I’d never been speechless in front of my daughter before. But right then, I had no idea what the hell to say.
“What else you got?” The pepperoni slice in one hand, she used the other to move the first box of pizza aside, checking the others below. “We got…veggie – gross. Then…looks like meat lovers…little much. Then…ugh, gross – Dad did you get one of those weird cauliflower crust pizzas again? I know you like to do the healthy thing, but—”
Finally, she looked up at us. Right away, I could sense that she knew something was very wrong.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why do you two look like you’re in the middle of a fight or something? And where are the Clarences?”
Sadie and I shared a look, and right as we did, I realized that we were busted – totally screwed, as Camilla would say.
My daughter tossed the slice of pizza onto the counter, dusted her hands, then leaned forward.
“I’m going to need to know what the eff is going on here. And now.”