Taking a Risk by Jen Talty

Author:Jen Talty [Talty, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jupiter Press
Published: 2019-09-16T16:00:00+00:00

8

Nolan stood in the doorway to the room his daughter slept in, which used to be his room when he’d been a little boy. Pictures from various football-related accomplishments graced the walls, and many of his trophies were prominently displayed on shelves.

When he’d first moved in with his parents a month ago, the plan had been to have Heather stay in his sister’s old room with its frilly décor, but Heather demanded to have her daddy’s room. She’d stomped her foot, folding her arms and puckering her lips. No one could say no to that face.

Heather squirmed in her bed, her little face scrunched by her favorite teddy bear. The sun had yet to touch the morning sky. Part of him hated waking her, she looked so peaceful. But his heart ached to talk to her. Just him and his little girl.

He set the plate of pancakes on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. “Hey, munchkin.” He shook her shoulder gently.

Her eyes popped open. “Daddy!” She jumped up, throwing herself in his arms, knocking the side of his face with her pink cast. No greeting could ever be this good.

“I made us pancakes.” He kissed her cheek, holding her tightly. Oftentimes, he resented that Gina kept his daughter from him for a year. He might not have loved her, or even liked her all that much, but he wouldn’t have turned his back on her, or their daughter. But holding on to that anger wouldn’t do him or Heather any good now.

She snuggled up next to him as he brought the plate of buttered pancakes to the bed. They always shared a plate. Five pancakes loaded with butter and syrup with two forks. “Do I get to see you on the television?”

He’d tossed and turned all night about whether or not that would be a good idea and based on the language and what the words implied, he opted it would be best if she didn’t hear it. “Not this time. Some of the things the reporters asked aren’t things little girls need to hear.”

She looked up at him, brushing her curly locks from her face. “Because they didn’t know about me? Or my leg?”

He coughed. “Where did you hear that?”

“I overheard Papa talking with Auntie Karen when I got up to use the bathroom. He said the reporter was rude and insen…insen…” She tapped her lips with her forefinger.

“Insensitive?”

“That’s the word.” She smiled, stuffing a large bite into her tiny little mouth. “Mmmmmm.” She waved her fork in the air.

Heather could reduce him to a puddle of raw emotions in two seconds flat. He’d do anything for her.

Anything.

“I’m very proud of you,” he said, fiddling with the fork. “I love you very much, and you know that my job sometimes puts me in the public eye.”

She nodded. “You made the front page last week!”

He laughed. “I don’t like being the center of attention, nor do I like my family being there. Just remember that no matter what, the things I do are to protect you.

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