“Ow babe, that hurts!” Paige yelped, trying to loosen her daughter's death grip from her flesh. At one year and three months old, Irie already had a perfect understanding that going to Grandma and Grandpa's house meant Mommy was about to disappear for the next eight hours. And goodbyes were never easy.
But when the door opened, andGrampa'sgoofy smiling face appeared, Irie absolutely lit up.
“There's my baby!” he cooed at her. He tickled her tummy and Irie delightedly babbled and laughed.
“Hi, Dad,” Paige said as she stepped in and passed Irie into his outstretched hands. “Thanks again for watching Irie.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime,” he said as he bounced his granddaughter in his arms.
It was the same thing he said whenever she had to drop Irie off before her shift at the Burger Stand. Paige knew he truly meant it, of course, but it always broke her heart just the same. She depended on her parentssomuch to raise Irie—and still, they were always offering to do more. Not once had they ever scolded Paige about her situation or complained about how much she leaned on them.
And their love for Irie was clear as day.
But still, Paige was absolutely wracked with guilt that she needed her parents' help raising her daughter. Paige's younger brother hadjustmoved out of their parents' house when her unexpected surprise began to show … and she had to announce that the father wanted nothing to do with her.
Life wasn't supposed to work that way.
But the most guilt-inducing part of this whole embarrassing situation? Paige couldn't even bear to tell them the truth about Irie's father and why he wasn't in her life.
“How's my blonde baby Irie?” Dad said in a playfully high voice, focusing his attention on his towheaded grand-daughter. “And how'd you ever get so blonde, cutie?”
Paige had told her parents that her ex, Adam, was the father. But Irie bore an uncanny resemblance to herrealfather—as much as Paige could remember his face, anyway. Whenever someone commented on Irie's features, a stifling heat grew under Paige's collar. Sometimes, she could swear that no one bought her story. Maybe everyone already knewher secret.
Paige's Mom appeared from the kitchen and gave her a hug. “Hi, Paige!”
“Hi, Mom!”
“Andhelloto you too, Miss Irie!” Paige's mom said, planting a kiss on the child's head. Grandpa passed Irie to Grandma, but Irie had grown restless and tired of being held. She wiggled in her grandma's arms, demanding to be set down. Grandma lowered her to the floor, and off Irie went, her winter coat swishing as she stamped across the hardwood floor. Her steps were growing more confident and certain with each passing day.
“She's off in a hurry,” Paige's mom said. “Seems like only yesterday she took her first step.”
“You're telling me.”
“I better follow her,” Paige's dad said, taking off after Irie.
Mom and daughter were alone.
“Thanks again for watching her, Mom.”
“Of course, sweetheart. You know we're always willing. So how are you? Ready for another day of work?”
“Another day, another dollar,” Paige said, forcing a smile.
“How was your date last night?”
“Oh—it was okay,” Paige stammered. She knew she was a horrible liar, but she didn't have the heart to tell her Mom that the coward hadn't even bothered to show up.
Mom went along with the lie. “Yeah? Do you think you'll see him again?”
“Who knows. I guess we'll see.”
“There's plenty of good men out there, Paige.”
Yeah, that's what Mom always said, but Tinder wasn't around in her day. The game had changed a lot, and modern dating was nothing but a joke now. Guys wanted to meet up and get laid—the last thing they wanted was a serious commitment. When they saw a 23 year old single mother, they ran for the door. And why shouldn't they, when they could swipe a finger and meet another girl without all the baggage?
The only question was why her date last night had even agreed to meet at all—because Paige didn't hide the fact that she had a daughter on her dating profile. But ever since last night, he'd stopped answering texts and disappeared from the radar. Paige knew she'd never get an answer. It wasn't a surprise, but it was one more disappointment in a long line of them.
Paige's mom gestured down the hall, where Irie's laughs and squeals could be heard. “It breaks my heart that Adam has a daughter so beautiful and he's not even around to watch her grow up. That he'd rathersmoke potand—”
