“Deacon?”
“Ava, I’d like to see Ellie before she goes to bed.”
“Okay. When?” Ava replied, glancing at Ellie who was still engrossed in her play.
“I have a little free time now.”
“Oh, okay. That’s fine,” she said, nodding to herself.
“I can’t stay long, but I do want to come by.”
“Sure,” Ava replied.
“I’d like to bring her something, if you don’t mind. What could I get her?” Deacon asked, his voice gentle and considerate.
Ava hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. Should she mention the doll? It was a pricey item, and she wasn’t sure how he would take the news.
“Uh, she saw a doll in town that she wanted, but Deacon, it’s expensive. It’s why I didn’t buy it for her,” she explained.
“Where is it and what does it look like?” he inquired.
“It’s at Toys for All. I’ll look for a photo of it andsend it to you, but if it’s too much, just any doll will do. She loves them,” Ava assured him.
“Alright. Do you want me to bring dinner?”
“That would be nice. We haven’t eaten yet. The burger place has good food,” she suggested, her mouth watering at the thought.
“I know. I had a burger from there. Can Ellie eat that?” he asked.
“Yes, she only likes ketchup on her burger and an order of fries. I break it all up for her into smaller pieces,” Ava replied, picturing Ellie’s delighted face.
“Okay, and what do you want?”
After detailing her preferences, they ended the call. Ava set her phone aside and joined Ellie on the floor, gently caressing her daughter’s soft curls.
“Mama,” Ellie said, her face lighting up with a smile. Forgiveness was granted, at least for now.
“Ellie, a man is coming to see us, and he’s bringing us burgers and fries,” Ava announced, pausing as Ellie’s eyes widened with excitement. Burgers and fries were indeed a favorite. “He’ll be here soon and I want you to meet him. He’s… he’s your daddy. Can you say, daddy?”
“Dad-dy,” Ellie repeated, her young mind processing the word.
“Yes, baby. He’s your daddy,” Ava confirmed, watching Ellie’s expression closely. Even if Ellie didn’t fully grasp the concept, joy sparkled in her eyes. Of course, some of that might be attributed to the promise of delicious burgers and fries.
Ava stood and stared at her daughter. Maybe the true solution was to move to Clifton. She could still see her family. It was only five hours. Theycould visit any weekend or she could make a trip here. Once in a while wouldn’t be hard, but she did understand where Deacon was coming from. Going back and forth would get strenuous after a while and one of them wouldn’t be able to make it one weekend, it would probably get to where Ellie hated going too, and she knew that would cause problems. Problems she certainly didn’t need. She’d talk to her father before making any decisions about moving, because the thought of joint custody didn’t sit well with her. She’d hate not having Ellie around at times.
****
Deke pulled his truck to a stop in front of the quaint toy store, its colorful window display beckoning passersby with a cheerful array of stuffed animals and model trains. Stepping inside, he was greeted by a symphony of playful sounds, a mechanical dog barking, a music box tinkling a whimsical tune. The air smelled faintly of plastic and fresh paint. His eyes roamed the store until they landed on a sign indicating the doll section.
Navigating through aisles filled with board games and puzzles, he finally reached his destination. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and glanced at the picture Ava had sent him, a doll with red curls in bibbed overalls and boots. His eyes scanned the shelves, rows of dolls staring back at him. He sighed in frustration when he couldn’t spot the one he needed.
“Hi, could I help you find something?” a voice interrupted his thoughts. Deke turned to see an attractive woman standing beside him, her smilewarm and inviting.
“I look lost, don’t I?” he replied, offering her a grin.
She chuckled softly. “Just a little.”
“I’m looking for this,” he said, showing her the image on his phone.
