“I can give her a bath,” I jump in, just in case Tobias was about to deny her of her toys.
“Thanks,” he says as he continues to clean the toys off the floor.
I grab Skyler’s hand and take her upstairs. I get the bathtub ready with warm water and I dump the bucket of toys in. Skyler gets in the bath quickly and starts to show me all the bath toys.
About twenty minutes later Tobias sticks his head in the bathroom. “Time to come out.”
Skyler objects, but I side with Tobias. I’m worn out. “It’s late, sweetie. Why don’t you show me your pajamas? I bet you have cool ones.”
“They’re Bluey!”
I have no idea what that means, but I nod and smile at her. “Great!”
It takes another twenty minutes to get her dry, in pajamas, and teeth brushed. She climbs into bed, and I smooth her hair, my heart too full to speak. This is my amazing little girl. She is precious beyond belief. I can’t believe she’s right here, in front of me. When I take hold of my emotions, I kiss her forehead. “Want me to read you a story?”
“Yes! The one without pictures.”
I look at her bookshelf. “Which one is that?”
Tobias enters the room. “She means this one.” He picks up a book titledThe Book With No Picturesand hands it to me. He leans against the door jam while I read the book to her. I get really into it and read it with voices, and she giggles at the funny parts. When I look up, even Tobias is grinning. Not a little half-smile either. A full-on movie star smile complete with one dimple on the left side, just like his little brother.
I realize I’m not reading anymore but just staring at Tobias when he waves a hand at me. “Don’t mind me. Keep going.”
I finish the book and kiss Skyler once more before I turn off her light and leave. Tobias joins me in the hallway. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. You’re great with kids.”
My throat swells at the compliment. I open my mouth in fake shock. “You doubted my skills?”
He chuckles. “A little. Yeah.”
“I had no idea. I mean, it wasn’t obvious or anything.” I roll my eyes at him.
He stops and looks at me. “I’m sorry. I misjudged you. I shouldn’t have. You’re obviously not what I first assumed.”
“And what was that?” I lift an eyebrow as a challenge.
“I don’t know.” His cheeks turn pink.
“You do. You’re just too polite to say it.” I head down the hall toward my room, but he grabs my arm.
“I’m sorry,” he says again. His eyes search mine, and something stirs in me. His sincerity burns through me. “You’re obviously not fresh out of jail or anything. I was wrong.”
I swallow, guilt surfacing in me. I’m an ex-con. He was right about me. Who am I to make him feel guilty for wanting to protect Skyler? “It’s okay,” I whisper, wiggling out of his grasp. I enter my room, tears pricking my eyes.
Tobias comes to the doorway. “Are you okay? I was trying to tell you how glad I am that I hired you, but it looks like I messed it all up.”
I swallow back my guilt and wipe at my tears. I turn to him. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Are you hungry? Violet left some banana pudding in the fridge.”
I shake my head, even though I am hungry and now all I want is banana pudding. “No, thank you.”
He stares at me another moment before he nods. “All right. Good night, then.”
CHAPTER 7
TOBIAS BARRETT
Imessed up, and I feel terrible. I sit in the family room and stare at the television, even though I’m not really watching it. It’s just noise. Am I really that judgmental? Was I totally out of line?
