Gracie
I drove the car to a stop right in front of our porch, I helped Hazel unclasp her seatbelt before climbing down from my side.
It was always my daily routine to pick her up from daycare after my part-time job at the daycare, Shawn pick her up sometimes for me though, but that happened only when I'm overly busy.
We walked back into our little apartment hand in hand, she immediately sniffed twice like a little puppy before running her way upstairs as fast as her little feet could carry her.
"Slow down or you'll fall" I called out, making my way upstairs right after her.
"Uncle Shawn came by? I can have my room?" she voiced out expectantly.
"He sure did " I replied unable to keep the smile tugging on my lips.
"Yay! I wanna see mommy please open the door! " she breathed out excitedly pounding at the door.
"It was supposed to be a surprise for your birthday, no you'll just have to wait "
Her lips transformed into a little pout as she tugged on my clothes, I sighed aloud, this expression of hers was sure going to be the death of me someday.
"Alright I will..okay, will you stop bugging me now? "
I withdrew the keys from my purse and slid into the keyhole, pushing the door open.
"I love it! " She exclaimed clapping both her hands excitedly running further inside of the room.
She was always so energetic, it took about fifteen minutes before she finally calmed down enough to declare that she was hungry.
I clasped her hands as we both made our way downstairs.
"But you'll have to give me another gift, I already caught you on this one momma," she said still giggling
I scrunched down to her height and pulled at her cheeks
"Really? when did you get this naughty? you are still just a baby the last time I checked, are telling me what to do now?"
"I'm not a baby, I'm grown! " She pouted as she motioned her tiny arms high above her head
"Really? why didn't I realized that? you still look as tiny as my little finger " I replied motioning my pinky fingers in front of her face
"mommy told a lie! I'm taller than that " she giggled
I embraced her warmly, placing a kiss on the side of her head, her stomach grumbled aloud, we both laughed and made our way to the kitchen
*
*
I bathed Hazel and tucked her into bed, as quick as a light she fell into a peaceful sleep, I guess all her activeness during the day we're finally taking their due.
It was still quite early, I decided to have a little snack before going to bed when I heard a soft knock on the door, I made my way towards it and pulled it open.
It was Shawn, I invited him in to take a sit and entered the kitchen to make coffee. I returned about five minutes later and handed him a mug which he accepted with a grateful smile.
"Well you know how my grandmother is, she wanted me to come to check up on you, she dotes on you a lot, even I get jealous sometimes "
I laughed slightly at that and waved off his words
" You look tired " he stated taking a sip from his mug.
"Well I uh was about to go to bed, you know how Hazel is like, making dinner with her is like dealing with World War II " I started chuckling at the thought
"How about I take you and Hazel out for dinner tomorrow night instead? " he offered
To me right now he was a friend I could count on when I need him, but asides from that there was nothing else.
I knew he wanted more but unfortunately, I won't be able to give that to him, I wasn't ready for that, not sure I ever would with anyone, not just him.
I didn't want to give him any heads up about anything so I decided to turn him down as kindly as I could
"um, actually I... "
"Enough with it, I don't want you to rack off your brains thinking of another excuse why you won't allow me to accompany you guys. "
I didn't try to refute that, it was the plain truth anyway, although he tried to act casual about it I could still hear the twinge of disappointment in his voice.
We both sat silent for a while before he decided to break it.
"is it about her father? "
His question took me by absolute surprise, my gaze snapped up to meet his immediately I wondered where that had come from so out of the blue.
"What? "
He gave a light casual shrug but I felt anything but a casualty at this moment.
"I mean you haven't mentioned anything about your family ever since you came here nor about Hazel's father...."
I tensed up at his last words, I met his gaze as I straightened to my feet
"What are you talking about? Hazel is just my daughter, she doesn't have a father or any other family, all she has is me" I said then lowered my voice when I realized it had gone a little too loud.
I always get defensive and jumpy whenever they talked about Hayden, no doubt he was Hazel's father but I've always tried to convince myself that we were very far away and safe from him, when anyone asked about him it always made me feel like he's not as far away from us as I think.
The only thing I wanted most in life was to be able to protect my daughter from any danger, and Hayden was dangerous written in broad letters.
"Can we just drop this? please? " I added shooting him a pleading look plunging back on my seat.
He stared at me for some time before nodding in agreement, after some moments our conversation returned to normal.
*
*
Throughout the week, our daily routine remained the same.
Tomorrow was Hazel's birthday, she was so excited about it and I didn't want to disappoint her, I decided to do some last-minute shopping.
I wasn't throwing a party or anything like that, all I wanted was for the two of us to spend the whole day together having fun, that would be great.
I searched around the grocery store not really sure of what else to get
"Gracie? " I heard a familiar voice spoke from behind me, I turned around in the direction of the voice as we both stared at each other in surprise.