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Stella and I give Inez a few extra minutes to get dressed and then we hit the road, driving out to the exhibit on the edge of town.
At the exhibition, the three of us walk around the crowded venue, bumping into people and taking lots of pictures and making sure to visit each and every insect display. I quiz Stella on all the things she learned the last time we visited, and she takes her time, reading the placards and sounding out four-syllable words I can’t even pronounce. And naturally, Stella imparts all her buggy wisdom on Inez, who seems fascinated by everything my kid has to say.
It always amazes me how good Inez is with my daughter.She’s patient and kind with Stella, like she actually enjoys her company. Not like she’s barely tolerating her boss’s kid.
I can tell that Inez genuinely likes my daughter. And that makes me genuinely like Inez. As if I needed any more reasons.
The three of us have more fun than I expected.It just feels…easy.
We’re at a coloring station toward the end of the exhibit when I notice a strange man lingering nearby. Something about this guy makes the back of my neck prickle. I noticed him earlier in the butterfly room, too. And both times, I’ve busted him staring directly at us.
Having a daughter means my head is constantly on a swivel. And something just doesn’t feel right about that dude.
The girls are busy working on a coloring sheet together while I watch the stranger out of the corner of my eye. He holds up a fancy camera, like he’s taking pictures of the insects. But then he turns and the camera points in our direction.
What the fuck?My protective instincts click on.
Still keeping one eye on the guy, I bend down toward Inez and Stella. “Time to go, ladies. Who’s ready to go get lunch?”
The promise of fast food does the trick, and when we head out of the exhibit, I don’t see any sign of the camera-toting stranger. Maybe he’s a perv. Or maybe I overreacted. But either way, I’m happy to be rid of the creep, my girls safe with me.
Some may think I’m overprotective but I don’t care. I wouldn’t survive if something bad ever happened to my daughter. It’s like the time Stella got really sick. She was four when she’d just started preschool and picked up a nasty bug from another kid in class. She was so sick that she had to spend a night in the hospital getting fluids. I had never been more scared in my life.
Seeing your kid hooked up to machines in the hospital is downright traumatizing. And even though they sent her home the next morning and she recovered quickly, it was over a week before I’d let her out of my sight for even a second.
No one ever told me that being a dad would turn me into a big, huge scaredy cat.And I’m unapologetic about it.
We hop in the car and head back into town, deciding to pick up food and take it back home for a little picnic. We’re at the burger place on Morning Star Way, and the three of us just placed our order at the counter.
“Dad, look! Is that one of those Tiger Swallowtail butterflies we just learned about?” Stella exclaims.“Can we go look!?”
I glance to where she’s pointing out the big glass window.Then I peek back toward the kitchen, where our food is supposed to be coming up any moment.
“I can take her, if that’s okay?” Inez offers, already helping Stella slide her jacket back on.
“Okay.” And the two of them hustle toward the exit. “Stay out of the street,” I call after Stella.
“Yes, Dad,” Inez quips back, shooting me a wink as she disappears out the door.
Shaking my head, I watch after them while I wait for the food. That is, until someone taps me on the shoulder.
“Well, don’t you three look like a happy little family?” Karli appears out of nowhere, giving me a sly smile.
“They look pretty damn cute to me.” My sister’s best friend, Layla, approaches, offering me a wave.
Shit—I hadn’t even noticed these two hell-raisers when we walked in. Were they hiding out, spying on us from across the room?
“Hello to you, too,” I respond before turning my attention to the toddler perched on Layla’s hip. “Hey buddy,” I say to Sky. “You’re growing so fast, little man.”
He scrunches up his nose, flashes his teeth and babbles something that sounds a lot like, Tell me about it. But maybe I’m just hearing things.
I chuckle. “Next time I see you, you’ll be driving a truck around town.” I speak exaggeratedly and wave my arms about, just to spark a reaction in the child.
It works like a charm and he laughs uproariously, rambling. “Truck…truck…truck…”
Anyway, if I thought that Karli would let me change the conversation so easily, I’m mistaken.
She inches closer, grinning up at me. “So, I hear Inez’s staying with—”
