Page 97 of Draft Pick
“Mastery! The smartie beans worked!”
“I think that was all you, Addie girl,” Gus yells, and Apollo runs to give his best friend a hug.
“Did you hear that, Apollo? I’m going to second grade!”
Apollo’s eyes bug open wide. “Cool!” he shouts. “Wanna play tag?”
“You’re it!” Addie taps his shoulder and flees.
With the attention span of a squirrel, the two littles chase each other around the diner while everyone else starts to mingle, Grams announcing the food is ready whenever we are.
Cinnamon rolls, french fries, and strawberry milkshakes.
All of Doodle’s favorite things.
“Hey, Crew.” I look up and find Juniper standing near a booth with her parents. She’s head to toe in black with a ripped Red Hot Chili Peppers band tee, aside from hot pink sneakers. I exhale slowly, smiling in return. “Can you come here for a sec?” she asks.
Telling Hilary I’ll be just a second, I walk to where they stand, my hand instantly reaching out to shake Mr. Wilde’s. “Mr. and Mrs. Wilde. I’m Crew Briggs. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
I’d say Juniper looks the most like her father, both having more dark features with black hair. He looks his age, being in his late sixties, but I can also see the toll life has had on him. He doesn’t exactly look uncomfortable to be here, just stand-off-ish.
“Brett Wilde.” He extends his hand in greeting. “This is a lovely diner you’ve got here, son.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s my grandparents’. They do well for themselves.”
“I can see that. Tess,” Mr. Wilde says, encouraging his wife.
She smiles softly, and I can see her anxious exterior begin to crack. It makes me sad for her. “Hi, Crew. I’ve heard so many great things about you. I’m Tess.”
“Thank you for coming today, Tess,” I say kindly. “My daughter has talked about you nonstop since your FaceTime call. It means the world to me for you to come out.”
Tess reaches for Juniper’s hand, and I see her eyes light up like never before. “I think we were due for a visit. That little girl of yours is something truly special.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. I can say the same about your daughter. I love her very much.”
“And she loves you. It’s a blessing as a parent to see your child so happy. In love and happy.”
I nod. “I know she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but I want you to know she won’t have to. I intend to provide for her in more ways than one and support heras her teammate. Her best friend. Juniper’s happiness means everything to me.”
Mr. Wilde speaks up, “You’re one hell of a man, Crew. I know we haven’t been involved as much as we’d like, but I want you to know we’re working on it.”
“I’m in therapy.” Juniper’s gasp fills the space between us at the sound of her mom’s words.
“You are?” Juniper whispers softly, looking at her mom for validation.
Mrs. Wilde nods. “I’m trying, sweetheart. I’m trying. Especially now with that little beauty in your life.” She nods to Addie. “I want to be better. I should have been better for you already, and I regret it every single day.”
“I love you, Mom,” Juniper cries, pulling her parents into a hug. “Anything you need, I’m here, okay?”
“We’re here.” I grab Juniper’s hand and squeeze, reassuring her that I meant what I said. She doesn’t have to do life alone anymore.
Not with me.
“This diner reminds me of old times.” Mrs. Wilde smiles at her daughter, and I know they’re recounting timeless memories. Something I’m honored to now have with Juniper myself, and her mother here whenever she’d like.
“Some of the best times, Mom. Oh!” Juniper quips, telling her parents she’ll be right back before pulling me away. “Let’s grab Doodle real quick. There’s something I want to give you both. I can’t believe I almost forgot.”
I drag Addie away from Apollo and find a booth far enough from everyone to give us some privacy. Juniper runs out to the car and grabs the same charcoal box I remember her delivering to my house way back. The same one that lived in a bush while I made love to her in her home.
