Stuck-Up Suit(54)

I laughed because she was laughing. “Clever.”

“Dinner is ready!” Genevieve called out from the kitchen. She’d set up the dining room table. A large, white, rectangular platter was filled with the rice noodles and veggies she’d made. A plate of chicken nuggets and mixed vegetables was placed in front of what I assumed was Chloe’s seat. The Dora the Explorer placemat was a dead giveaway.

“Graham, you said you just want water?” Genevieve asked.

“That’s right.”

“Chloe, you want your usual strawberry milk?”

Strawberry milk?

No way.

I turned to Chloe. “Strawberry milk? I love strawberry milk.”

“That’s my favorite.”

“What kind?”

“Quik,” she said.

I’d never had Nesquik milk in front of Genevieve. So, she had no idea what a crazy coincidence this was.

“That’s wild. That’s my favorite drink in the whole wide world, too.” I turned to Genevieve. “Can I change my request to strawberry milk, as well?”

“Of course.” Genevieve seemed amused.

In my daughter’s presence, I would for the first time in my adult life drink Nesquik milk openly and shamelessly. I’d come out of the strawberry milk closet.

Chloe turned to her mother. “You have to give him a crazy straw.”

“Oh, I don’t think he wants one.”

For Chloe’s benefit, I looked at Genevieve like she was crazy for thinking I wouldn’t. “Of course I do!”

Genevieve shook her head then placed a long, pink swirly straw in front of me. Chloe got a real kick out of watching me drink from it.

“You know, Chloe, I never realized how much better this milk tastes when you drink it from a crazy straw.”

“I know!” she squealed.

The joy in her eyes was palpable. I could get used to this. It made me feel so good that the mere sight of a big lug like me doing childish things could put a much-needed smile on her face. This little girl had just been through a traumatic loss, but she was well-adjusted and loved by her mother. I had to, at least, give Genevieve that. She seemed to be a very good mother.

Throughout dinner, Chloe enjoyed watching me slurp my noodles. I would do it cross-eyed just to make her laugh again and again. Genevieve stayed quiet but observant, often resting her chin in her hand as she watched us. She was taking a step back, allowing Chloe and I to bond.

After dinner, Genevieve made Chloe wash her hands and brush her teeth. I wasn’t sure what the rest of the evening held until Chloe came up behind me again and asked, “Are you sleeping over?”

“No. No, I’m not. But I’ll stay a while. What’s next on the agenda?”

“The what?”

I had to learn to make my language more kid-friendly.

“What do you like to play after dinner?”

“Dress up.”

“Dress up?”

“Yes.”

“What does that entail?”

“No tails. Dresses.”

I chuckled. “Dresses?”

“Yes.” Then she ran away, presumably to go fetch something.

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.