"Thank you for coming," Mrs. Miles said in a cultured voice which reminded him of the wealthy people he saw in movies.
"Jocelyn, these are Mother and Father's associates, Ms. Noll and Mr. Kolton," Mr. Miles introduced.
Mother and Father? Who has their children call them that?
"You can call me X. My real name is Xavier, and all my closest friends' call me X."
Mr. Miles opened his mouth to protest, and Snake stared him down. There was no way he'd have his daughter calling him mister anything. "This is my girlfriend, Estelle."
"Like in Great Expectations?" Jocelyn asked.
He'd never seen such old eyes in someone so young. He wanted to take her away, get her in the mud and sand, and let her run wild.
"Yes, that's where my mother got the name. Do you know the classics?" Es asked.
"Oh yes, my mother likes to read them to me. My nanny, Elizabeth, does too. She's from England," Jocelyn replied.
Es laughed. "So are my parents."
"Oh, you don't have an accent," Jocelyn said.
"No, I was born and raised here, so other than a few words and customs, I'm afraid I've been Americanized." Es gave an exaggerated sigh that made Jocelyn giggle.
"Is it okay if we sit across from you, Jocelyn?" Snake asked.
She nodded, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They took their seats. It felt like sleeping with the enemy being seated across from the couple clearly judging him. He put a stranglehold on his anger.
"Since we're all here now, we should order," Mr. Miles said.
They placed their orders, and Es worked overtime to keep the conversation flowing. Their breakfast was placed in front of them and he picked at his perfectly executed Belgian waffles with cream and fresh blueberries, smoked bacon, and scrambled eggs. The meal tasted like saw dust. He tried not to stare openly at Jocelyn. Her voice was fairy-like; soft, light, and enchanting. She was well-spoken with impeccable manners, but he didn't feel like he caught a glimpse of who she was. She was too buttoned up. It made him angry at the Miles.
Had they wanted a living doll instead of a child? She cut her pancakes just so and took small, delicate bites. It was unreal.
"What do you like to do, Joc?" he asked.
Concern flashed across her face, and she glanced down to her mother. Her mother forced a smile. Did they not do nicknames either?
"I like to dance and paint. Sometimes we ride horses at the stables, which is really fun." Animation entered her voice, and he saw the adult-like child melt away as joy took over.
"Wow, I've never ridden a horse before. I think I'd be too scared," Snake said.
Her eyes grew round. "You would?" Jocelyn asked.
"Oh yeah, they're way bigger than I am, you know?"
She laughed. "I know, but they're really nice Mr. - X."
"Hmm. I think I'll take your word for it," he said lightly.
"They really are. I think you haven't met the right horse. Some of them can be mean, but not all of them," Jocelyn said kindly.
"Well that makes sense, just like people, huh? Some are nice, and some not so much."
"Yes, like Sarah Burger." Jocelyn wrinkled her nose.
"Jocelyn," Mr. Miles said firmly.
"Sorry, Dad," Jocelyn mumbled.
Snake ground his teeth.
"What do you like to do, X?" Jocelyn asked.
My girl wants to know about me?
"I like to go on long trips on my motorcycle."
Jocelyn gasped. "You have a motorcycle?"
"I do. We drove today, but usually, I'm always on my bike."
"Wow," Jocelyn exclaimed with wide eyes.
He wanted to tell her she'd love him just as much as he did some day, but he didn't have the right. Not yet.
They continued to eat and make small talk. The Miles remained quiet, and showed their disapproval as only a snob could. It didn't bother him, or his woman. Es shined. He saw her hosting skills, and her ability to put a child at ease. He couldn't help but wonder what their child would look like. The thought blindsided him. He took a healthy gulp of water and forced the wayward imagining to the back of his brain. One thing at a time.
As brunch came to a close, they paid their bills and moved to the garden.
"Maybe you can walk with X for a while, and I'll hang back and talk to your parents?" Es said.
Jocelyn looked to her parents for approval.
"Yes, dear, we'll be right behind you," her mother said.
"You've been here before, right?" Snake asked.
"Yes, many times," Jocelyn said.
"Then how about you give me the grand tour," Snake suggested.
"I can do that. Do you like flowers?" Jocelyn asked.
"I never thought about them much. It's usually more of a girl thing."
They walked through the well-tended greenery and he rejoiced as she became more comfortable with him.
"I really like your girlfriend, she's nice," Joc said.
"I can tell she really liked you, too. She loves kids. She used to teach kids."
"She was a teacher? That's what I want to do."
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes, I'd love to teach art, like Ms. Scantily. She's the best."
He smiled. "What does she teach you how to do?"
"Oh, all kinds of things. Painting, drawing, we even made a sculpture out of clay that she baked in this really big oven called a kiln."
"That is really cool!" he said.
She beamed up at him and he knew his life would never be the same.
§
Estelle
Estelle stepped back and studied her handiwork. They were set to begin bi-weekly visits. She wasn't sure what Jocelyn thought about their newly cemented position in her life. They were still known as friends of the family. She had a feeling Snake wanted this room set up so he could make her feel at home before he revealed who he actually was. The Miles hadn't made things easy. Every step forward had been like pulling teeth.
They didn't want to leave Joc alone with them. They said it would confuse the young girl, and give her abandonment issues. It was utter bullshit, and she'd wasted no time calling them on it. It was a lifesaving decision when they began to let them take her alone for larger chunks of time. Snake had been nice out of courtesy for Jocelyn, but that wouldn't last indefinitely if they continued to block progress. The bi-weekly visits had been suggested by their lawyer, after Snake started to list ways the Miles could disappear. Her man could be scary when he wanted to be.
The walls were a pale turquoise that she'd broken up with white butterflies going down the side of the wall beside the bed. Jocelyn was written in cursive above her bed with vinyl letters. A white shelf across the room sat next to a desk. It was filled with arts supplies, and picture frames waiting for photos. She'd hung gauzy white curtains around the bed and threaded white lights into them, turning them into something from a fairytale.
It was a room any little girl would love, but most little girls hadn't been given the moon and stars like Jocelyn had. She wanted things to be perfect. The girl had warmed to them as friends. The truth would paint them in a different light-as her father and a maternal figure. Am I ready for this? She adored Jocelyn, but taking care of her every day would be tough. She would be resentful, confused, and rebellious. As her father, it would be Snake's job to reel her back in, keep her steady, and provide stability. Where does that leave me? I'm not even her stepmother.
The last thing she wanted to do was make things more difficult for the pair. She ran her hands through her growing hair. They were so new. Would it be fair to bring an innocent child into the situation? What if they didn't work out and she left? How badly would that impact Jocelyn? She hadn't gotten cold feet like this until now. Normally she'd call Jole, but she'd made her views on Snakes surprise child pretty clear. She didn't need to add fuel to that fire.
Kali. Leaving the room, she grabbed her phone.
"Hey, girl, how's the munchkin?"
"She's not here yet, and I am freaking out. What am I doing? This is more than just me and Snake now. What if I screw this kid up?"
"What? Where the hell is this coming from?" Kali asked.
"I was putting the finishing touches on her room, and I realized I have no clue where I fit into this picture. This should be about him and his little girl."
"You're his old lady."
"And what does that mean really? I'm not her stepmother."
"You might as well be. You don't need a label to love and care for someone."
"No. But it would help me know my place. What if I cross a boundary I'm not meant to?"
"Is this about that, or the fact that you're going to be around a child full time now?" Kali said.
"I can't lose another one, Kal," she whispered. Her voice cracked.
"Honey, you won't. Do you really think Snake would let you go? He'd chase you down to the ends of the Earth and drag you home by your hair."
Es scoffed.
"What? You'd like it," Kali said.
She laughed despite the tears that rolled down her cheek. "Maybe."