Page 18 of York

I wondered if Denny heard. If I had a conversation ahead of me. But then I noticed the dumbstruck look on York’s face as he processed that new title. At someone else recognizing it.

He reached down, petting the back of Denny’s head until she released her hug and moved away to bounce on her feet, her little hands clapping silently together in an excited tic.

My heart swelled for her and sank a bit for myself. Because I’d spent her whole life wanting to be able to treat her to special gifts like that.

One day, I would be in a place to do that.

But right now, I was choosing to be happy for her that she had someone else to give it to her.

Five minutes later, York and I had several giant, reusable tote bags full of toys, books, and clothes while Denny walked ahead of us, clutching both the anteater and the painted dog plushies.

“I probably should have asked,” York said, his voice only for me. “Before I did all this,” he clarified.

To that, I shook my head. I wanted my daughter to have everything she wanted. Even if I couldn’t be the one to give it to her. “No, you don’t have to ask to buy her things. Well, I draw a hard line at animals,” I clarified. “I do want to get her a pet one day, but not until we’re settled.”

“No ponies. Got it.”

“She had an amazing day,” I assured him. “I’m going to hear about nothing else until she passes out tonight. And then again the moment her eyes open up again.”

“We can repeat it,” he said. “Maybe not the zoo again. But we could… do something else.”

“We could do that,” I agreed.

“There’s a lot of shit—stuff—around here. A fun center that’s like an arcade. And has indoor bumper cars. A kid’s museum. A splash park…”

He’d been doing some research. That was unexpectedly sweet.

“Denny would love any of those things.”

“Maybe the fun center first,” he suggested.

“Sure.”

“You busy this week?”

“No.”

“Day after tomorrow?”

“Sounds good. We can do the same time. Better to do things early so she doesn’t get tired. Unless you have to work.”

“Nah. I have all the time I need. My… boss wants me to spend as much time as I can with Denali.”

“That’s really sweet.” I’d never had a boss who cared about my personal life. I once got fired when I had to call out because Denny had such a high fever that I needed to take her to the hospital.

“Yeah, he’s a good guy,” he said as we walked through the parking lot.

“Um. So, I don’t know if she heard what the cashier said, but if she did, and if she asks, where do you stand on this? Do you want her to know? Not to know?”

His gaze cut to mine, the look he gave me heavy. “I want her to know. If that’s okay with you.”

“Of course, it is. She is yours too.”

“She is,” he agreed. “But I understand that it’s different. She’s not mine the same way she’s yours. At least not yet.”

Some of the tension in my neck loosened. That had been a small worry of mine in seeking him out—that he might want to take her from me. Before she was even ready for such a thing.

“Do you plan to be in the area for long?”