Page 55 of Yours To Hold
“Daddy and I are getting our nails done!” Willow tells her, bouncing up and down with excitement next to me. I wish I had half her energy most days.
“Wonderful. Pick out your colors and we’ll bring you back in a minute.” She smiles at both of us before helping the women sitting in the seats by the door.
Everyone is staring at me, like they can’t believe I’m here. Granted, this wasn’t the first place I’d thought I’d find myself this morning, but what Willow wants, Willow gets.
Lifting Willow into my arms, I watch as she pulls out bottles of polish and puts them back. One after the other. They all look the same to me.
“This one!” It’s hot pink with sparkles in it.
“That’s perfect.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” I raise an eyebrow at her.
“We’re getting our nails done. You have to get something.”
I don’t groan or roll my eyes. Because if this is something my daughter wants to do, I’ll do it.
Looks from all these women be damned.
“Why don’t you do green? That’s your favorite color.”
“Perfect, Pipsqueak.”
Willow goes back to searching for colors before pulling out a bright green bottle. Of course it’s the flashiest one she could find.
The woman waves us over to two tables and has a booster seat ready for Willow. It makes me like this place even more for paying attention to that little detail.
“Are you two doing anything fun today?” an older woman asks Willow. A man sits down in front of me to do my own hands and doesn’t bat an eyelash.
Huh. And here I thought this wouldn’t be a common thing.
“Me and Daddy are having a special day today and are doing everything I want to do.”
“How fun.”
She asks Willow about all of her favorite things. My guy is much quieter, but I don’t mind. Not until a voice pulls me away from what’s going on.
“Ivy! Hi!” Willow chirps.
Ivy looks stunned to see us. “What are you two doing here?”
“Painting pottery,” I deadpan.
Her eyes sparkle with amusement as she turns to me. A smile quirks those beautiful lips of hers. “Funny.”
“I wanted to get my nails done and Daddy said we could. He loved the outfit we picked out,” Willow pipes up.
Ivy is beaming down at her. “I knew he would.” Her gaze flicks to meet mine before returning to Willow’s. “You have the best dad.”
My heart swells at her words. I know I’m a good dad to Willow. She’s the most precious thing I have in my life. But a lot of days, I feel like I’m screwing it up. Ivy’s words shouldn’t mean so much, but they do.
Because of how important she is to me. She sees me at my worst some days. It settles me in a way I never really knew I needed.
I only wish there was a way to make this thing between us more permanent. But with her leaving, I just don’t see how.
“What else are you going to do today?” Ivy asks Willow.
