Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“Sue?” a voice coming from behind Davis interrupted her thoughts.
Peering over Davis’s powerful shoulders, Sue scrutinized her ex-husband’s face.
“I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I’ll stop being a jerk and leave you alone. I’ll call my lawyers tomorrow and tell them to stop contacting you.”
Sue hadn’t seen that expression on his face for a long time. The angry lines marring his face had relaxed and he looked like he really meant his apology.
“Thank you, Troy,” Davis said when she couldn’t answer.
“You’re welcome,” he parroted politely.
“Come on, Troy. It’s time for your nap,” Viola called from a short distance away. She held out a hand for him and Troy jogged over to join her, picking up the packages that sat on the floor by her feet.
Sue watched Viola meet Davis’s gaze. The other woman nodded at him before putting her hand on Troy’s shoulder to guide him to the exit sign. Sue glanced up at her Daddy.
“I think I need to go home now.”
“Go pick out a stuffie while I give them my address. Okay?” Davis asked, smoothing her hair out of her face.
“Okay.” Numbly, Sue walked toward the display of stuffies. She stopped a couple of feet from the racks and scanned down the row. A porcupine caught her eye. Designed with strips of material for its quills, she loved the quirky expression on its face. Without checking out any others, Sue plucked it from the shelf and fled to her Daddy’s side.
The plug inside her jostled around but she didn’t stop. Sue needed to be next to her Daddy. The reminder of his claim reassured her. She linked her fingers with his and held on tightly. Instantly she felt better. His welcoming squeeze made the uncomfortable knot inside her unravel a bit more.
When they reached the car, Sue asked, “Could we go to my house? I want to check on something.”
“Curious to see what’s in the clock?” Davis asked perceptively as he helped her inside.
“Yes. I can’t believe he threatened to call his lawyer to take my grandfather clock from me just to cover up his secret.” Sue hugged the porcupine to her chest. What did he put in there? she wondered as Daddy rounded to get in the driver’s seat.
“I’d like you to pick up some casual clothes to stash at my house as well. We might as well kill two birds with one stone.”
“One of those birds is a rat,” she muttered.
“I know he’s hurt you, Cherry. I’m sorry.” Davis covered her knee with one hand as he turned in the driver’s seat to look at her. “You didn’t deserve to be in the firing line when he realized he was Little.”
“No, I didn’t,” she agreed with a huff.
“So, you decide. Is harboring ill will toward a man who screwed up royally going to help you or hurt you?”
“What do you mean?”
“He already hurt you badly when you discovered him being unfaithful. How much power do you want to give him over your life? Your anger is well deserved, but does it help you?” Davis asked.
Sue looked at him and struggled to find the right answer for the jumble of confusion, hurt, and anger inside her. After several seconds, she confessed, “I don’t know. It’s hard to just move on and forget all that’s happened.”
“You’ll never forget. But the hurt will fade. I bet if you’re honest with yourself, it already has.”
Davis started the car and backed out of his parking spot. Merging into traffic, Davis drove for a few minutes before asking, “What are you going to name your porcupine?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten to know her yet.”
“She’s a girl?”
“Of course! She has pink toenails,” Sue pointed out.
“Sorry, prickly lass. I didn’t mean to insult you,” Davis apologized to the stuffie.
“She says it’s okay. You didn’t know. I think I’m going to call her Barbie.”
“Barbie? Like after the doll?” he asked, glancing over at her quickly after stopping at a red light.
“Like in barbs.” Sue ran a finger over Barbie’s quills.
“That’s a great name. I like it,” Davis celebrated with a grin.
“We do, too.” Sue was quiet for a few minutes replaying the encounter in the store. It was surreal. She couldn’t quite process all that whirled around in her head. A bunch of questions were answered but another gazillion cropped up.
It wasn’t you. It was him.
She smiled as those thoughts appeared in her mind. Peeking over at Davis, she found him looking at her frequently with a concerned expression. Thank goodness Daddy was with me.
“It’s okay, Daddy.” A familiar restaurant caught her eye and Sue realized they were close to her house.
Davis completed the route with his usual expertise before looking back at her. “It is okay, Cherry girl. Hopefully, you’ll both be happy in your new lives.”
“I plan to be.”
“That’s my Little girl.”