Page 1 of Yours To Hold
ChapterOne
MASON
“Daddy.”
A finger pokes me in the side, eliciting a groan from me. Peeking one eye open, I notice that it’s not even light outside.
“Daddy.”
This time, her voice is a little louder.
“Daddy’s still sleeping.”
“How can you talk when you’re sleeping?”
“Daddies are special like that.”
The bed shifts beside me as Willow crawls up next to me.
“Why can’t I talk when I sleep?”
“Because you aren’t a grown-up.”
“That stinks.”
I smile, opening my eyes at my daughter. Her brown curls are an absolute mess from sleep. She’s already changed into a dress-up outfit that has blue paint all over it.
Wait, blue paint?
“Willow, why is there paint on your clothes?”
“Daisy wanted to paint this morning.”
“Daisy’s a dog, Pipsqueak. She doesn’t paint.”
“She wanted to paint with me after we went swimming.”
“It’s too cold to go swimming.”
“Nuh-uh.” Willow shakes her head. “It’s nice and warm in the kitchen.”
My brain is tired. I was working at the bar too late and crashed the minute I got home. For a Saturday, I know it’s too early to be up.
“You can’t swim in the kitchen.”
“Yes, I can. There’s water in there.”
“Since when is there water in the kitchen?”
“I dunno. It was there when Daisy and I woke up.”
Oh, fuck me.
Willow hops off the bed and pads her way down to the kitchen. Grabbing the T-shirt off the end of my bed, I throw it and a pair of sweats on and follow my daughter down the hallway.
Glancing at my watch, I note it’s not even six thirty yet. On a Saturday morning.
It’s too fucking early to be dealing with whatever shit is waiting for me on the other side of this door.
