Page 22 of Yours To Hold
“Press on the button here,”—I move her hand to the shutter release—“and it’ll take it.”
The camera clicks and captures what she found.
“Can I learn how to do this?” She’s staring down at the picture she took. “Can I keep this?”
“I can show you how to do it if you want.” I sling the camera over my neck and grab Willow’s hand to start our hike. “And I’ll print your picture off just for you.”
“Thanks, Ivy.”
Willow gives me a hug before running up the trail. It’s only been a week and I’m already attached to this little girl.
When I came back to Dixon after graduating, I figured I’d be spending most of the time planning my move or hanging out with Gemma. It would have made things easier for me. Give me a clean break from Dixon when I leave at the end of the summer.
One week.
That’s all it took for Willow to worm her way inside and make it that much harder on me to leave when the summer is over.
Seattle is the dream.
I just have to keep telling myself that to make it easier. Because it’s what I’ve always wanted.
Right?
ChapterSeven
MASON
“Willow. C’mon. We don’t want to be late for dinner.”
I swear, I spend half my life waiting on this girl.
“Coming, Daddy.” Her voice carries from her end of the house. Daisy runs out ahead of her, wearing Willow’s latest creation. It looks like some kind of hat. “Daisy wasn’t ready.”
“Maybe next time you can worry about you and not Daisy.” I quirk an eyebrow at her, but all it gets me is an eye roll.
“Daisy needs to look nice for dinner too.” The duh in her voice is implied.
Damn. I must be losing my touch.
“Well, you both look nice even though you don’t have to dress up.”
Not that I’d call Willow dressed up. I don’t fight my daughter on much. I let her be who she is. And that extends to her sense of style.
If she wants to wear a skirt with jeans under it and her winter boots, I let her. Who’s it going to hurt?
“I couldn’t find my paintings I made everyone. Ivy helped me with them.” She hands me the stack of papers as she and Daisy hop up into the truck.
“They look great.”
“You didn’t look at them.”
I hold them in front of my face so I can’t see her. “Of course I did. This one is of you, Daisy, and Aunt Layla.”
“How’d you know?” She grabs them from my hands as I shut the door.
I run around to my side of the truck and hop in. “Magical dad powers, kid.”
“Do you think Aunt Layla is going to like it?”
