“I wanted to make sure you’re good enough for my baby girl.”
“Even if I was dirt poor, I’d be willing to do whatever it took to make your daughter happy. My bank account has nothing to do with that.”
“I’ll drive her into the city,” Bradley said.
Moisture filled Zelda’s eyes, but Daniel wasn’t sure he could trust it was real. She was used to using manipulation to get what she wanted. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Daniel turned to Ali. “Get your mother’s things together for her.” Then he addressed Zelda. “Ali’s apartment is paid for till the end of the month. You can stay there until then. After that, you’ll have to make other arrangements.”
Realizing she wasn’t getting anywhere with him, she turned her attention to Ali. “You’d throw your mother out on the street.”
Ali stopped what she was doing and faced her mom. “I love you, Mom. I always have, but you can’t stay here.”
He knew by the look on Zelda’s face that Ali had never pushed back against her mother’s wishes before.
Ten minutes later, Zelda slid into the passenger’s seat of his son’s car. Bradley looked at his dad. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to let her stay at Ali’s apartment?”
“No,” he answered honestly.
Bradley nodded.
Ali held out a hand and dropped a key into his son’s palm. “She’ll need that to get in.”
Closing his fingers around the key, Bradley placed it in his pocket. Then he got in his car, started the engine, and backed out of the garage.
* * *
Ali buried her face in Daniel’s chest the moment Bradley’s vehicle was out of sight. She couldn’t believe her mom had said those things. Okay, she could, but that didn’t make it any better.
Daniel’s arms enveloped her, holding her tight against him. His lips brushed against her hair. “It’s been an eventful day.”
That got a chuckle out of her. “Yes, it has.” Ali let the warmth of his arms seep through her. She hadn’t been able to lean on anyone like this since her grandmother died.
“Why don’t we see if they left us any cinnamon rolls? I think we could both use a little sugary comfort food.”
She nodded and went to separate herself from him, but he tucked her into his side, keeping her close.
There were three cinnamon rolls left. They each ate one and left the third for Bradley. The sugary goodness tasted great, but it didn’t do much to change the way she was feeling inside.
Daniel cleaned up their dishes, then led her to the couch. He sat down, stretching his legs out, before guiding her onto his lap. She leaned against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.
They sat for a while, neither saying anything. She knew he was waiting for her to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. Her mom was...well, her mom. And her boss? She hoped she never had to cross paths with the man again.
“I’m trying to be patient and let you gather your thoughts,” Daniel said. “But I need you to talk to me. Stop trying to hold it all in.”
Ali tried to put into words what she was feeling. “I feel like I’m a bad daughter, even though logically, I know I’m not.” She paused and he let her go at her own pace. “Every time she shows up, I think, I hope, things will be different, but they never are. Except, this time.”
He laced their fingers together in a silent show of support.
She looked out the large window, watching a set of birds as they danced around each other on the grass. Two cardinals. Male and female. Each knowing their role. Each knowing their place.
Ali knew her place. It was with Daniel. Not because he was wealthy, but because he took care of her. He loved her. “I never knew why my mom hopped from boyfriend to boyfriend until today. She told me she left my dad because he refused to give her the type of life she wanted. That she felt she deserved.”
He gave her hand a squeeze but didn’t say anything.
“For all these years, I thought my dad abandoned me. That he didn’t want us, but that wasn’t the case at all. She’d used him, thought by getting pregnant, he’d marry her.”
Daniel pressed his lips to her temple. “Do you know who your dad is?”