He looks at me, his grey eyes darkening. His jaw works a moment before he speaks. “No. You didn’t. I asked you to tell me your story.”
“Well, my story sucks.” I laugh again, but he doesn’t join in. “Luckily, I met you. Now I’m living in a mansion making five hundred dollars a week. I think I’ve hit the jackpot.”
Tobias actually smiles at that, and my heart does a little flip. A drop of rain hits my arm, and I look up. “Oh, you were right. It is going to rain.”
He peers down at Skyler and Micah on the swings. “They’re having so much fun. I guess a little rain won’t hurt them.”
Another drop hits me, and I rub it, forgetting I have makeup on my arm. It reveals a smear of red from the bird tattoo on my right wrist. It looks like blood. Tobias lifts his eyebrows. “What’s that?”
I shift my arm. “Nothing.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then let me see it.”
I bump my fist on his shoulder. “I’m fine, really. It’s nothing. We’d better get going. I think it’s going to pour soon.”
I head down the stairs before it can get more awkward. Tobias trails after me. I exit the lighthouse and call to the kids. “Let’s go. It’s raining.”
Skyler hops off her swing and runs to me. “Can we get ice cream?”
Micah grins as he joins us. “I vote yes.” He’s at that awkward stage where his body is growing into manhood, but he still begs for ice cream.
“Please, Daddy?” Skyler says, clasping her hands together.
“Sure,” Tobias says, and I wonder about the Popsicle incident and if he really watches Skyler’s sugar all that much.
We pile into the car and drive through the Ice Cream Shack and get some treats. As Skyler licks her cone, I chance a look at my wrist. It’s not too bad. You can only see a small tip of one wing. It’s only noticeable because it’s bright red. I hold it to my stomach as I eat my ice cream.
Tobias pulls into the garage and cuts the engine. I excuse myself to run to the bathroom and fix the makeup on my wrist. I walk into the kitchen and Skyler finishes her treat. I clean her face with a washcloth, and then she tugs me into the family room. “Play Barbies with me.”
“Okay.” I sit on the floor beside her, and she pulls out a tub filled with naked dolls and clothes. Tobias comes in the room. I expect him to sit on the couch, but he joins us on the floor.
“You can be Ken.” Skyler gives the male doll to Tobias.
She hands a doll to me, then grabs one for herself. “Let’s go to the store to shop,” she says in the voice of her doll.
“I’ll have to get dressed first,” I say as I wiggle my naked doll.
Skyler giggles. “Me, too.”
“Don’t I get clothes too?” Tobias says as he moves Ken.
We dress our dolls, and they go to the store. Ironically, we go to the store to buy more clothes. It’s fun to see Tobias get into the role, playing with Skyler on her level. My heart fills with joy that she’s had such an attentive father in her life.
Tobias nudges me. “What’s wrong?”
I blink back tears. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. “Nothing.” I quickly wipe at my face to get rid of any evidence that I was a total bawl baby.
He squints at me, and it seems like he’s unhappy with my response. But he doesn’t press me. We continue to play until Tobias glances at the clock. “Woah, it’s late,” he says to Skyler. “We have to do a quick bath and then bedtime.”
“Aw,” she complains. “Five more minutes?”
“No, we’re late for bed. Clean up time.” Tobias picks up the dolls, and Skyler reluctantly joins in.
“Can I have toys in the bath?” She holds her hands in a pleading manner.
