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How sad is that?
My stomach flutters, and my heart sinks as I remember my mom. Swallowing hard, I look at Ajax.
His blank stare bores into me, and somehow, I know he senses where my mind has gone. Guilt hits me again, making me frown. I’ve done nothing wrong, have I?
“Let’s play.” He smiles at us, but his voice is authoritative, his words an order. And just like earlier, I don’t think, I just follow.
Ajax stays and plays three extra games after the first is over. The man really hates to tell Mary no, but after the fourth time, he annihilates us and loudly celebrates, Mary practically shoves him toward the kitchen island.
“Don’t let her win,” he tells me, picking up a kitchen knife.
“Yay!” Mary cheers, pumping her arms.
Too late.
“Don’t be a bad winner, Mary Lou.” Her dad reprimands, waving the knife in our direction.
Seems she’s very competitive.Like father, like daughter.
“Hey,” he calls.
Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
I grin sheepishly, and he squints in reply. Mary giggles loudly.
“Let’s play again. I like playing without Daddy because I win.”
“Not this time, Piglet.” I shift to my knees. “I’m gonna kick your butt,” I taunt.
Mary’s jaw drops, but she recovers quickly, her grin wide as she shifts to mimic my pose.
“Three, two, one . . . go!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ajax
Pride flows through me. Lulu had won every game except the last. Mary’s grin rivals my own. Lulu was right—like father, like daughter.
“Good job, baby. You showed her,” I call over, winking at Mary.
“Hey!” Lulu protests.
“You did good too, wifey. We’ll make a Whitler out of you yet.”
Lulu blushes, and Mary’s head snaps around, her wide eyes finding me at my words. I expected her to be giddy, her excitement palpable, but instead, her little chin wobbles, and her eyes fill with tears.
“Piglet,” I start, my words a whisper, but before I can get any further, Mary turns and launches herselfat Lulu for the second time this evening, jumping into open arms ready to catch her.
I hate that I missed it. How could I not see how much Mary Lou needed a mother? Placing the spaghetti down, I walk over and join my girls.
Wrapping them in my arms, I pull them both close.
Mary clings to Lulu. Low tones of her whisper reach out, but the words are lost in Lulu’s neck, a secret between my two girls. Lulu’s finds me, her gaze beyond sad, and I know it’s one I’ll let them keep.
“Yeah, Piglet. You’re my baby.”
Mary whispers something else, the almost silent words making Lulu sniffle.
