Ever the Same Read Free Page A

count?”
    “One. Two.” Her little voice became his guide, and she took his hand when he got inside.
    “Thanks, baby girl.” He held on and let her lead him in. “You want to sit on the sofa together?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    They settled on the couch, the pups hopping up with them. He waited a few moments, just to see if she would start.
    “I’m sorry, Daddy. I am.”
    “I know, baby.” He reached out to stroke her hair, finding it with no fumbling. That he didn’t need to see to do. “What is it about this boy that makes you nuts?”
    “I don’t know. He looks at me like I’m dirty. Everybody does.”
    “Oh, honey, I know it’s hard to be the new kid.”
    “No. I mean, yes, but they say it’s wrong to have two dads!”
    “That’s because they’re raised by closed-minded assholes that wouldn’t have an original thought if you paid them.” Oh, wait. Had he said that out loud?
    She snorted, the sound eerily like her other dad. “Daddy, you said asshole.”
    “I did! I’m fired.”
    “Out of a cannon. Bang.” He didn’t think she even knew what that meant, but Ron had always said it.
    “I miss your dad, kiddo.” Like breathing.
    He felt her nod. “Me too.” She moved closer, holding his arm. “I’ll try not to hit anyone anymore.”
    “I would appreciate it. I would take you back to Austin if I could, but I can’t. I’m still learning how to do everything.”
    “I’ll help. I promise.”
    “You help every day.” She was such a good kid. That was why it hurt so much when she acted out.
    They sat there together, quiet and still, then Randi asked, “Do you want a cookie?”
    He couldn’t have fought his smile if he’d tried. “I don’t know, do I?”
    “Grandma made new ones. Chocolate chips.” She squeezed his arm. “I’ll show you.”
    “Okay.” He stood and held out one hand. Thank God the house was simple, straightforward. Front room, kitchen, powder room, Mom’s sewing room. Then the long, long hallway of bedrooms. The worst obstacle was the dogs, as they moved underfoot, but they seemed to understand when he had the cane, and they stayed out of the way. The bathroom trips at night were another matter altogether.
    Thank God, Damon and Daniel were both out of the house so he wasn’t sharing a bedroom with Randi. Or with Dalton, for that matter. Dalton was a pig.
    “Table, Daddy.” Randi steered him around and toward the cabinets.
    “How many cookies are there?” he asked.
    “Lots.”
    “Enough for Poppy and Gran and Dalton to have one too?”
    “Yes. Them too. Dalton called and said he would be home at four thirty. Do we have to wait?”
    He chuckled. “I don’t see why we should.”
    “Oh good.” She bounced a little at his side, her mood changing with the wind.
    “So, what did you do today, besides wale on some boy?”
    “Daddy! He said I had ugly hair and I was stinky.” She tugged him forward until his cane banged the kitchen island. “I painted.”
    “You have amazing hair, and, well, I’d have to smell you to see if you were stinky.” He grabbed her, dropped the cane and lifted her up, nuzzling into her hair. “Nope. Shampoo and sugar and spice.”
    She squealed, flailing just enough to make him cackle like a big bird.
    “Maybe a hint of strawberries….” He hugged her tight, praying that he could do this, figure life out now. “I love you, Bumblebee. I swear to God.”
    She patted his cheeks like she had when she was two. “I love you too, Daddy.”
    “Cool. Cookies.”
    “Can we have Coke?”
    “Milk.”
    Her sigh was dramatic and long-suffering. “Yes, sir.”
    Dixon put her down. “I’ll get glasses, okay?”
    “Uh-huh. I’ll get the milk.”
    “Good girl.” His mom had started getting smaller milk containers and putting them low in the fridge door for Randi. And hiding the Coke on the top shelf.
    “Can we dunk our cookies like on the TV?”
    “You can if you want.”
    “You don’t like to dunk?” He heard her grunt, heard the