Dove continues hopping side to side, tapping her heels together in the air, and swirling her wand with the ribbon over her head, and I laugh, clapping as I enter the room. She runs to me, and I do the lift, holding her up as she extends her arms and legs briefly before sitting on my hip.
“That does it.” Mindy claps, shaking her head and laughing. “I want you to be my dad, too.”
Noel’s voice is teasing. “You already have a daddy.”
“Who’s Miss Mindy’s daddy?” Dove’s brow furrows, and she looks curiously at her mother’s friend.
Noel arches a brow. “Mr. Deacon.”
“You have got to stop with that.” Mindy shoves her friend’s arm.
Dove frowns at me. “He’s not her daddy!”
I frown right back. “This is getting weird.”
Noel lets out a little yip. “Shoot! It’s time…” She moves the pot off the fire. “Quick! Hand me that pan.”
Mindy grabs a large, metal cookie sheet, and we watch as she spoons little clumps of the caramel-brown pecan and butter mixture onto it.
“I almost burned the pralines.”
“Serves you right.” Mindy turns to me. “Tell her she has to go to the cotillion.”
“What do you say, babe?” I look over at my girl dressed in jeans that hug her sexy ass and a chunky white sweater. She slides the band out of her dark hair and shakes it out over her shoulder. It makes me want to invent an excuse to get her alone.
“I’ve got to get these over to Pine Hills.” Noel walks to where I’m standing, holding our little girl, who’s twirling her ribbon wand. “You’re still helping me bring Miss Jessica to the store, right?”
“I’m ready when you are.”
She takes Dove out of my arms. “Go get changed.”
My daughter sulks out of the kitchen, and I catch Noel’s cheek, giving her a quick kiss. “How’s that for talent?”
Her nose crinkles and she smiles up at me. “I think she’s going to win it.”
The last two weeks, ever since that night on the swing, we’ve grown steadily closer. What happened in Mexico was the last thing I held back, and I felt if I were going to prove to her I’m all in, I had to put it all out on the table.
Everything between us shifted after that conversation, and while we still aren’t spending the night together, we’ve found ways around our daughter’s sleeping habits—most of which involve sudden errands the both of us need to run together.
I’m pretty sure Sawyer’s onto us, especially since most of these errands take place while Dove is at school.
“Just think…” Mindy is still going on about the fundraiser. “Evening gowns, tuxes, fancy music, dancing… your birthday. It’s going to be so romantic.”
“What if I just make a big donation like Taron did?”
Mindy’s brows shoot up. “You can do that?”
“Maybe not every year, but I can this year.”
“No.” Mindy shakes her head. “Even if you’re as rich as Beyoncé, I want you to come. It’ll be fun! Taron, can’t you help me?”
Amber eyes meet mine, and Noel gives me a smile I’ve come to love. It’s calm and confident, like she knows something she’s ready to tell me.
I want to hear it.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“This is so nice.” Miss Jessica is in the front seat of my Tahoe, and she runs her hand along the leather arm rest. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in such a large, nice vehicle.”
“It’s just a truck.” I pat her thin hand.
“I feel like a queen going to see my old shed in all its glory.”
“I hope you like it,” Noel calls from the second row. “I hope people come to shop when it’s open.”
Her elderly friend looks in the rearview mirror. “It’s going to be a hit. You’ll see!”
Dove is oblivious to our concerns. “Boo said her daddy took her ice skating in Monroe last week. I want to go ice skating, Daddy!”
I meet her eyes in the mirror. “I’ll ask him about it, sweet pea.”
“Uncle Leon said the cold, cold reservoir should get ice on it. I bet I could ice skate there.” She looks out the window at the lowering sun, and I make a mental note to get that girl to an ice-skating rink.
She’s been asking for weeks.
“That reservoir has always been as cold as Valley Forge.” Miss Jessica laughs. “It’s not too far from the feed shed, or I should say your new store… We’d go down there after working all day in the hot sun. It was always a dare to see who’d take a chance going in those waters.”
“Your daddy threw me in on our first date.” Noel winks at me in the mirror.
“Daddy!” Dove cries.
“Your mamma shoved me off a flatbed trailer. Nearly broke all my ribs.”
“I did not!” Noel’s voice goes high, and I laugh.
Miss Jessica laughs more, and we’re pulling up in front of the cutest little cottage.
“My goodness!” She clasps her hands in front of her mouth. “Is this it? What a change. This is amazing.”
I put the truck in park, and Noel hops out quickly, opening the passenger’s side door. I jog around to help her ease the lady to her feet. She’s light as a twig, and her excitement is infectious.
“Taron painted the exterior.” Noel takes her hand, and while I’m in front of her, Miss Jessica gives me a firm hug.
I lean down to hug her back, grateful for this sweet old person. She’s always treated me with warmth and acceptance, even after I came back.
“Such a good man,” she says, patting my cheek.
“He is.” Noel states emphatically, and my chest tightens.
“Daddy! Get me!” Dove is out of her booster chair standing in the middle of the seats.
I reach in and help her to the ground, and she takes off running to the store with Akela bounding right beside her.
“That little girl has more energy than a jack rabbit!” Miss Jessica laughs, and Noel holds her hand, walking slowly over the uneven ground to the sidewalk we added.
Dove goes through the door, leaving it open. We’re close behind, and when Miss Jessica sees the inside, she gasps.
The walls are painted a peachy gold, and the floors are sanded and waxed so the warm yellow pine is soft and inviting. Noel’s hands are clasped in front of her lips, and she watches her friend inspect the place. I’m pretty sure she’s holding her breath, wanting her to be proud of it. I put my arms around her shoulders. I’m proud.
With the setting sun coming through the new windows, the place looks absolutely golden.
“I have to get an electrician out here so we can get some light and heat.” Noel holds her hands out. “Otherwise…”
“I love it.” Miss Jessica’s eyes are teary. “It is truly Autumn’s Bounty.”
“Uncle Leon’s home!” Dove bounces on her toes in front of the window at the sound of a truck driving past.
Leon does a little honk, and we wave. Dove takes off running out the door with the dog right behind her. “It’s starting to snow!”