Stuck-Up Suit

I looked over at Genevieve as if she needed to translate all of this for me. “Dresses?”

“Chloe has a chest full of princess dresses and other costumes in her room. She likes to put them on over her pajamas and spin around in them until she tires. It’s sort of a bedtime ritual.”

Chloe came running back toward me. She was now dressed in a pink fluffy gown and was wearing a plastic crown. Before I could practically blink, a white, feather boa was placed around my neck.

“Chloe, Graham may not want to dress up like a lady.”

“It’s fine. I’ve been meaning to get in touch with my feminine side. It’s been on my to-do list.”

Chloe grabbed my phone and handed it to me. “Take a picture of us!”

I snapped a selfie of Chloe and me and instinctively forwarded it to Soraya. Not knowing her mood tonight, I second-guessed my decision to send it, but it was too late.

“I’ll be back,” Chloe said as she snatched the boa from around me. She took off back to her room, leaving Genevieve and me alone in the living room. A few stray feathers had fallen in her wake, landing on the rug.

“You’re really great with her, Graham.”

“This feels more…natural…than I expected.”

“Of course it does. Because she’s yours.”

Before we could continue the conversation, Chloe came flying toward me again. This time, she was dressed in a red Christmassy looking gown with white, fur trim. She was holding a black top hat.

“Are you a snow princess?”

“I’m a Christmas princess.” She placed the top hat on my head. “And you’re Scrooge.”

“I think there are a lot of people who would probably say you just typecast me, Chloe.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” I smiled. I had to keep reminding myself I was talking to a four-and-a-half-year-old.

The dress-up game went on for about an hour before Genevieve told Chloe that she had to go to bed.

“It’s already a half-hour past your bedtime. Say goodnight to Graham.”

My daughter walked toward me. My daughter. I still had to get used to it. She stopped in front of my face. God, she looked so much like my mother. Mom would have loved her so much. That reminded me that I needed to set time aside to break this news to Meme.

I couldn’t help taking my hands and cupping Chloe’s cheeks. I didn’t want to scare her, but I’d been wanting to do it all night, and this was my last opportunity.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Will you come back?”

“You can count on that, Chloe.” No truer words had ever come out of my mouth. She was going to have a hell of a time ever trying to get rid of me.

***

TONIGHT HAD DEFINITELY GONE BETTER than I could have ever anticipated.

Back in the town car, the warm feeling inside of me was quickly replaced with worry when I checked my phone and realized that Soraya never responded to the picture I’d sent her. A sinking feeling came over me. It wasn’t like her not to respond to one of my texts.

I was an idiot.

A total fucking dumbass.

I should have never sent that picture.

My heart started to pound. Should I leave her alone tonight or head to Brooklyn?

“Just park in front of the condo, Louis. I’m not sure yet where I’m headed.”

Just as the car came to a stop at my building, my phone buzzed with a text notification.

Sorry. I didn’t get this until now. My phone was charging in the other room. You look adorable in a boa. Glad things went well. I think I’m turning in early tonight. I feel a little under the weather. Talk tomorrow. xo

Letting out a massive sigh of relief that she responded, I leaned my head back in the seat before rereading the message over again. I wasn’t sure whether to head to Brooklyn or not. She said she wasn’t feeling well. I picked up the phone and dialed her, but it went to voicemail. Was she ignoring my call or had she already gone to bed? Maybe she shut her ringer off. When the phone beeped to leave a message, I just started rambling.

“Hi, gorgeous. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I just wanted to hear your voice before I turned in for the night. You’re probably already in bed. Tonight went well. I want you to meet her when you’re ready. But, Soraya, you need to know something. I don’t think I would have been ready for this if it weren’t for you. The man I was a few years ago is not the man I am now. I was a miserable person. Liam was the better father for her then. I’m convinced. But because of you, I’ll be the kind of father she deserves now. Because you’ve taught me so much about what’s important in life.”