The next morning, Kadee’s sleepy face burst to life with excitement when I reminded her that today was the day of the surprise. I was glad of it too, anything that would distract me from my encounter with Georgie yesterday, and my daughter’s incessant questions about what exactly Daddy had been doing with Georgie in the kitchen. That was a conversation I certainly wasn’t ready for.

Fuck, what had I been thinking kissing her? As if there wasn't enough tension and problems in my life right now.

Thankfully, I hadn't seen Georgie since. Yet that didn’t stop my thoughts drifting to her again and again. What she was thinking? What was she doing now? Should I go over? I pushed that idea out of my head immediately, along with the prevalent longing to kiss her again.

“What is it, Daddy?” Kadee asked forcing me to concentrate.

“You’ll have to wait and see.” I led Kadee to the garage door where the surprise awaited, I had never seen her so giddy.

“Okay, close your eyes, sweetie,” I insisted. Kadee scrunched her eyes shut dramatically and I flung open the door. The sight of the brand new bike was met with a high pitched squeal. Living with her mom, Karen’s city apartment had never offered any opportunity like this for my baby girl. Kadee had sorely been missing out. Kids needed to be able to play outside in the fresh air, riding bikes and climbing trees. Though, one thing at a time. The trees could wait and skinning knees were certainly not on the agenda. It was time to set things right, but with the level of safety my baby girl deserved.

“Now, first things first, Kadee. You’ll have to get geared up, even with the training wheels on. Safety first!”

“I don’t need training wheels. Just you watch,” she said confidently, and grasped the handlebars all read to jump aboard.

“Wait, now. Come here.”

Reluctant to leave her new bike Kadee frowned, but with a little encouragement she eventually followed me when I ushered her to the pile of clothing on a bench inside the garage. Her giddiness had been replaced with attentive determination, eyes on her new bike. We got her all kitted out, gloves, pads, and helmet, together with my own little additions. I adjusted some of my own knee pads, I used when laying flooring, to fit her and strapped them on like shoulder armor. I stood back to admire my work. Kadee grinned back from under her large helmet. No harm was going to come to my darling girl.

My truck was parked down the street, leaving the driveway free to use. I walked the bike out to the sidewalk so she could ride toward the garage at first. Kadee waddled alongside me, practically squealing with delight, her hands outstretched wanting to be constantly in contact with her gift.

“Let’s do this. Are you ready? Hop on.”

Kadee tentatively clambered on as I held the handlebars steady.

“Now you keep your feet on the peddles, okay? And don’t let go.”

“I know, Daddy. Here I go!” she exclaimed as she rang the bell loudly.

I let go of the handlebars after she got peddling, able to prop her up by the shoulder pads. She wobbled slowly forward as I walked beside, holding on to the underside of the saddle.

“Let go, Daddy, I can do it,” she pleaded after one trip back and forth.

“Not yet, you need to get used to it first.”

As we arrived back at the sidewalk Georgie's truck pulled up to her house across the street. She got out, looking over with a furrowed brow. Before any awkward greeting could be produced from either of us Kadee screamed out. “Georgie, Georgie! Come look, it’s my new bike. Do you want to see?”

Georgie smiled at Kadee. “Let me just put these things in house, I’ll be out in a moment,” she said with little more than a glance at me.

Maybe she thought our kiss hadn’t been all that?

I recognized the bags from the local hardware store, more disasters awaited it seemed.

Kadee stubbornly wouldn't set off again until Georgie had returned, when she did we were ready to go again.

“Okay, let’s see what you’re made of, Kadee,” Georgie said standing at the side of the drive ahead of us.

Off we went again as I corrected the wobbles and kept her moving forwards.

“A quick question, Derek. Why is she dressed like a hockey goalie? Is this training for some sort of new extreme sport I’ve never heard of?” Georgie directed at me as we teetered past her.

“Mock all you want, but my little girl is not getting hurt. That’s not how I do things.”

“Looks like she’s a little too secure. If you’re not careful she might roll off down the street should she fall off what with all that padding. She can barely move, that’s not riding a bike.”

“How about you mind your own business?” I said with a scowl and went back to ignoring her, refocusing on my little cyclist. “How are you doing, sweetie?”

“Georgie’s right, I don't think this is riding a bike, you’re not letting go,” she replied with a sigh.

As if to prove her point, Kadee took her hands off the handlebar and tried to cross them across her well-protected, puffed out chest, but the padding wouldn’t let her elbows bend.

Behind me I heard a chuckle. I flashed a glare back at Georgie, her face only returned a look of smugness.

“She’s not a test pilot, Derek. She’s not on a rocket about to be shot off into space. Nothing’s going to happen, she just needs the chance to learn, and for you to let go,” Georgie called over as we came to a standstill again at the garage.

“Is that what happened with your sink is it?” I fired back, this woman was incorrigible. And yet my gaze kept slipping down to study her lips every time she opened her mouth. If only I had an excuse to shut her up with another kiss.

“Oh, you know fine well what happened with my sink!” Georgie countered, her eyes flashing, as she bit her lip. I almost groaned for wanting her. “Kadee honey, you should ask your dad if I can help you ride the bike tomorrow. I’ll show you how it’s really done.”

With that Georgie stormed off back across the street, slamming her front door behind her.

“Daddy, I’m tired now and really hot and sticky. I don't think I want to ride anymore today. Not like this.” She let out a big breath, her cheeks red.

“But, sweetie you’re doing great. We just have to take it slow so you don’t get hurt. A few more minutes?” Kadee shook her head. I buried the disappointment, this was not how I planned our day to go. There was nothing more I could do as Kadee took it upon herself to stumble off her shiny new bike then took it from my grasp, wheeling it back into the garage.

I had to remedy this, but how? I had to at least make things amicable again, this was getting rapidly out of hand. Kadee’s happiness was everything to me.

“Could I daddy?” Kadee looked up at me with the sadness of a lost puppy, “could I ride with Georgie tomorrow? Please?”

I pondered this for a minute, there was little reason to say no. If it would make my sweet girl happy while she was here, then maybe I should let some slack into the reins. I also had to admit deep down, a part of me did want to be near Georgie again.

“Okay, anything for you,” I said and pulled her into a hug. “But I think maybe I have some apologizing to do first. Let’s see what we can do about that shall we? How about a little trip into town?”