I glance at the clock. “Sounds about right.”
He pushes from the chair and I follow him to the door. After he leaves, I let loose a breath. “That was a close one, Jonah.”
“Too close. Maybe I should change the locks.”
“Oh, like that’s not going to raise his suspicions.” He puts Daisy over his shoulder and burps her. “Want me to finish with her while you shower?”
He hesitates, like he doesn’t want to put too much responsibility on me. I hold my hands out. “If we want to be out of here in an hour…” I say.
“You’re right.”
He hands Daisy over, and my heart wobbles as she smiles up at me. “Hey, Sunshine,” I say. “Aren’t you all giggles this morning. Was your daddy telling you all his lame jokes again?”
“Hey, I can hear you,” he gripes teasingly as he climbs the stairs. “Coffee is on,” he calls out, as he disappears around the corner.
I put Daisy over my shoulder, and she makes noises as I head to the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee. I walk around Jonah’s big house. It’s definitely going to have to be baby proofed before little Miss Sunshine starts crawling.
I continue to hold Daisy, not wanting to put her down as Jonah gets ready, and a short time later, we’re buckling Daisy in and heading to the park.
My heart pinches a bit as I steal a glance at him. It’s odd how right this feels, the three off us heading out like a little family to meet my brother and father at the park.
Jonah pulls into an empty spot on the street, and I grab the stroller as he gets Daisy from the backseat. I shade my eyes, look around at all the kids and parents playing ball, Frisbee or flying a kite. Warmth bubbles up inside me, and this time I can’t push it down.
In the distance, I spot a woman climbing from her car and staring at Jonah. I roll my eyes. Probably another one of his puck bunnies. How many of them will we run into today…and why does that rattle me so much?
An elderly woman walking her dog stops on the sidewalk and glances into the stroller. “She’s so beautiful,” she says, and Jonah smiles.
“Thanks.”
Fine lines crinkle around the woman’s eyes as her glance goes from the cooing baby to me. “She looks just like you,” she says.
I stiffen and hold my hands up. “I’m not her mother,” I say quickly.
She frowns and gives me a look of disbelief. “Really? Could have fooled me.”
She walks away, and I spot Zander and my dad. Zander waves us over, and Jonah pushes the stroller beside me. Tears prick my eyes when I see my dad. He’s aged so much over the last few months, the treatment taking its toll on him. His tired eyes light up when he sees us, and he tries to stand, but Zander stops him. I bend to give him a hug.
“Well, are you going to let me have a look at her or not,” he says in a gruff voice, but underneath it all, he’s a softie, like my brother…like me. Jonah might call me Ninja Chihuahua, and I am tough, I had to be. But like the rest of my family, I feel things deeply. “I’m not getting any younger, you know.” Dad jerks his thumb toward Zander and me. “And these two don’t seem to be in a hurry to give me grandchildren.”
Jonah picks Daisy up and she fusses. “She’s not your granddaughter by blood, but she’s your granddaughter nonetheless,” Jonah says, and I don’t miss the way Dad’s eyes cloud over. But he quickly blinks the emotions away and squints at Daisy.
“You’re right, Zander. She does look like Winston Churchill.” The two laugh, while Jonah and I find no humor in it.
“Great, a few minutes ago, a woman stopped to admire her and told me how much we look alike. Do
es that mean I look like Winston Churchill, too?” I ask, wanting to keep things light, as my father’s sickness always overwhelms me.
“She kind of does look like you, Quinn,” he says, and winks at me. “You sure you’re not the mother? If you are, I expect that boy to put a ring on your finger,” he says. His gaze goes from me to Zander. “Damned tired of waiting for the two of you to get married, too.”
My heart misses a beat. “No, I’m not the mother.”
I just want to be.
11
Jonah
It’s so strange being here without Daisy. She’s only been with us two weeks now, and I already feel the loss of her absence. But the only way I was going to get her room painted was by letting Quinn take her to work. They had an opening this week in the daycare, and at least I know she’s in good hands. I chuckle to myself. It’s kind of crazy how fast I’ve grown to care for the little girl.