Page 48 of Getting Down to Business

To the rest of the world, they might have looked like a normal family. He and Julie had never done things like this with Lucy.

“Thanks for changing your plans so you could come with us,” he said. Lucy took it as a prompt.

“Thank you for coming with us, Chanda.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I’m glad you have room in your special day with your dad.”

“I’m supposed to share,” his daughter reasoned.

“Even your favorite things like your dad?”

“Yes. I have to share everything. Especially when the new baby comes.”

Doug stopped walking, causing the rest of them to stop too.

“New baby?”

Lucy covered her mouth. “Uh oh. I’m not s’posed to say anything about the new baby.”

“Your mom is having another baby?”

Lucy nodded, looking upset.

“It’s okay, sweetie.”

“Are you mad? Mommy said it would make you mad.”

“I’m not mad at all. I’m happy for your mom. I know she wanted to have another baby.” Just not with him. Every time he suggested they have another baby, she told him he didn’t make enough money to afford a second child. Everything came down to money with Julie.

Doug refused to grill his daughter with questions about whom his ex might be dating. It wasn’t any of his business.

“Can you make us pancakes for breakfast tomorrow? The bunny kind?”

Doug bit his lip and looked up at the darkening sky. He’d love nothing more than be able to take her back to his place. He knew she’d be asleep as soon as they pulled away from the zoo. He used to love carrying her to bed. She always looked so peaceful. And in the morning—energy restored—she would clap at his sorry excuse for animal shaped pancakes.

“I can’t. I have to take you back to your mommy’s tonight.”

“But I want to stay with you and Chan.”

“We would like for you to stay with us too. But I’m not allowed.”

“Because I don’t have a bedroom at your place?” He hated when she picked up parts of their grown-up conversations.

“That’s right.”

“It is?” Chanda asked, her brows pulled together.

“I only have a one bedroom apartment. Child services requires Lucy to have her own bedroom or she can’t stay overnight.”

“But your bed is big enough for her.”

“She’s not allowed to sleep with me.”

Chanda’s eyes went wide. “Are you kidding me?”

“I wish.” He shook his head. “She slept with me the first three years of her life, kicking and snoring the whole time, with two extra rooms down the hall. Now I have to provide a separate room.”

“Even if she doesn’t use it?”