He shook his head, lips compressed. “No excuse. Did you know how to get in touch with him?”
“Yes, I knew he worked for MDOL, and he was from Clifton,” she whispered.
“Then he deserved the truth. He didn’t deserve to be kept in the dark.”
Ava’s throat tightened. “He’s coming by tonight to discuss it further. I do want Ellie to know her daddy, and for him to know her, but I don’t know how to make it work.”
He leaned back in his chair. “You’ll figure it out. Don’t let excuses hold you back.”
She knelt on the rug beside Ellie, whose wide eyes remained fixed on the dancing colors of the cartoon. The doll lay untouched at the edge of her reach.
“I’m hoping we can work something out,” she said softly.
He offered her a reassuring smile. “Do what’s right for Ellie. Stop worrying and start living. That little girl deserves to know her father. Some men don’t give a damn about their kids, but Deke isn’t like that. You have to do what’s right for your daughter.”
“I know. We’ll see what happens after tonight.” Ava sat on the floor with her daughter and soothed her hair. Ellie looked at her and smiled and Ava’s heart cracked. She knew that she and Deacon had to figure this out.
A while later, Ava and Ellie drove home so she could get some work done. Ava sighed deeply as she focused on the detailed bookkeeping spread out before her. The room was filled with the softrustling of papers and the occasional click of a calculator. She preferred to figure it up on paper first before entering it into the ranch’s logs, even though the program did it for her, she liked to doublecheck everything. Ellie yawned and Ava knew it was time for a nap, so she carried her to her bedroom. Ava placed her in her crib and put the new doll beside her, but Ellie threw it out.
Ava knew how much Ellie had wanted the other doll, but she had decided she wouldn’t indulge Ellie’s every whim, even though she loved to spoil her little girl. Lessons about gratitude and understanding limits were important, and Ellie needed to learn them.
The sudden vibration of her phone broke the serene atmosphere, making Ava jump slightly. She contemplated ignoring it until she noticed Deacon’s name flashing on the screen. With a steadying breath, she picked it up and answered the call.
“Deacon?” she inquired, trying to keep her voice calm.
“I’m on my way, Ava.”
“But—”
“Damn it, Ava. I will not let you keep me from my daughter.”
“I was just going to say that I just put her down for a nap.”
His sigh came across the line. “Alright. That will give you and me time to talk about this. We need to come to some terms.”
Ava huffed. “Alright. Come on, then.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” he said and hung up.
Ava paced across the room in those fifteen minutes and when she heard his truck pull up, she was sure she was going to be sick. What would come from this? When he knocked on the door, she about jumped out of her skin. She was so nervous. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to him, her first thought was that he was still so strikingly handsome.
“Come in, please.” She inwardly smiled when he removed his hat and wiped his boots on the mat.
Deacon glanced around the room. “Let’s sit down.”
“Sure. Would you like something to drink?”
“No. How long will Ellie nap?”
“An hour or two.” Ava sat on the sofa, then Deacon sat down in a recliner, leaning forward. She watched as he spun the brim of his hat in his hands and knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“Ava…” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you kept her from me.”
“I didn’t want to burden you.”
“You think telling me I had a child would…burdenme?” he snapped.
“Some men would be.”
