Paisley and Kendrick’splane was delayed a half an hour, and Peyton and Owen were already there when Bryce pulled in the drive.
Kendrick had been a little standoffish at first, but she was precocious and outgoing, just like he used to be, and by the time they parked by the house, she was talking a mile a minute, and he was listening intently, determined that he would find out everything he could about his daughter.
And not just because she was his responsibility. As he thought about that, he realized that was a reason, but it wasn’t the only one.
He loved her.
He had stayed out of her life because he loved her and wanted the best for her. Because that’s what a man did when he loved someone. He did the best thing for them, even if that meant he had to sacrifice
That’s the way love was supposed to be anyway.
He really didn’t know too many people who loved like that, though.
He kind of thought Peyton might be like that. After all, it took a certain amount of humility, which was sacrificing a person’s pride, to allow someone to say unkind things to you and let it roll off your back. Pride dictated that he turn around and give them as good as they gave him.
Jesus showed a different way. A less prideful, more humble way.
Unfortunately, even Christians thought it was okay to put people in their place if they weren’t being kind or weren’t living up to the expectations they had for them.
He nodded with his daughter, joining her in conversation, and by the time they got out of the car, she stepped up to him, grabbed his hand, and looked at the house.
“This is a big house for you to live in by yourself.” she finally said.
Aunt Carol’s house was not exactly small, but it was nothing compared to the mansion he owned.
“Yeah. I need a little girl to fill up all the empty spaces.”
“I think you’re going to need more than just one,” she said seriously.
It made him laugh a little, and he held tight to her hand while he told Paisley to follow them and he would lead them to their rooms.
Paisley was quiet and older than he remembered. Close to thirty if he were guessing right.
He had her information in his file, but he couldn’t remember. Just knew that she seemed like a good candidate, and Aunt Carol said she did an excellent job with Kendrick. Attentive and caring, but not overbearing.
Paisley put him in mind of the kind of person who loved children but also would love to spend evenings curled up by the fire with a book. She didn’t seem like the kind of person who wanted or needed a lot of attention, and he supposed that was a quality of an excellent nanny.
He could hardly believe it was going to be this easy with his daughter. He hadn’t seen her forever, now she was holding his hand and jabbering without ceasing. He walked upstairs, showed Paisley the room she would have, and showed Kendrick her room, which joined Paisley’s.
“Where do you sleep, Daddy?” Kendrick asked.
He pointed across the hall. “That’s my room.”
He looked back at Paisley. “I don’t have a housekeeper. I wash my own sheets and clothes.”
He didn’t know what he should say about her duties. He was fairly certain at his aunt’s, she did her own clothes, but he didn’t know who washed Kendrick’s stuff.
“I’m used to doing my own clothes, Mr. Shaker. And while Mrs. Henry normally does Kendrick’s things, I don’t have a problem doing it for the two weeks we’re here.”
“Thank you.” He made a mental note to make sure she got something extra for her extra work.
“What are we going to do now?” Kendrick asked as she skipped down the stairs beside him.
She was ten, but she acted a little younger in his opinion. Not that he knew that much about kids, just... She hadn’t gotten into the teenaged angst, where she was quiet and withdrawn and starting to think she was too old for childish things.
He supposed he owed Paisley and his Aunt Carol a thank you for that. That they hadn’t forced her out of her childhood too soon.
“I was thinking it would be nice to go play ball in the yard. We have some company I wanted to introduce you to.”