Chapter 15 - Cliff

Within one week of defeating the evil that had plagued the Wildtooth Tails, I had gutted their paper system structure and worked closely with Larry and Sonya to convert everything to digital files. This massive undertaking wouldn't be finished for a while, but it helped that Robyn was delegating with Sonya and Larry whenever I wasn't around. She would get an ear full of someone, usually an elder, about how they didn't appreciate the way things were shifting.

People didn't always like change, even if it was good for them.

I didn't think the members of this pack understood how much I could relate to their current struggle. Just back home, we had been going through some progressive updates initiated by Hector. The same would happen here under my guidance. Things would be rocky until the benefits of such changes became more obvious.

I just wished that would happen sooner so I didn't have to see my mate frowning whenever someone whispered in her ear about me.

It was all I could think about as I sat snugly on the rug in the living room with my daughter. I read through another round of updates Larry had just emailed to me. He filled two pages with bullet points from his neighbors about concerns. Sonya had a long list as well. If we were going to get anything done, I had to meet with the entire pack.

Today.

"I've just been busy."

Sydney held up one of her fancy dolls. "Daddy, that's not it."

"Oh, sorry." I reached for the doll she had assigned me—also a fancy doll—and sat it in the doll chair next to Sydney's doll. "I mean, I would love some more tea, Princess Sydney."

She squeaked and kicked her little legs while reaching for the plastic teapot painted with lilac cherry blossoms on a white background. "Okay, tea for Daddy."

I smiled at her dedicated movements, noticing how steady they were for a child her age. "What a lovely tea party you've hosted, Princess Sydney."

"Thank you, Daddy!"

I snickered at her enthusiasm and reached for my teacup. As I lifted it, I noticed my daughter's disparaging look.

I sighed while reluctantly lifting my pinky. "Sorry, Princess Sydney."

"Sorry is right." She hmphed confidently with a sharp nod and returned her attention to the rest of the teacups.

"Sure are like your mother," I complimented. "You look a lot like her, too."

Except for her hair, of course. She had a lovely mixture of auburn and blonde with a splash of red that shimmered whenever she turned her head. She was short for her age but tenacious and proud. Her skin was beige with that hint of a golden tan and complex olive tones that softened her small face. Bright yellow-brown eyes like drops of honey stared up at me, glistening with curiosity.

"Daddy?"

I hummed contentedly in response.

"Why are you my daddy now and not my daddy when I was a baby?"

Crap—that was a hard question for something I hadn't yet discussed with Robyn. We hadn't had much time with the entire pack celebrating a victory while averting a crisis all at once. Adult problems were infinitely more complicated than the most complex chemical equations.

My mouth dried up. I licked my lips, swallowed my pride, and sighed. "Listen, Princess Sydney, I'm sorry to report that I'm just not the best dad in the world."

She blinked at me. "Huh?"

"You see, sometimes, Daddies need to…" I trailed off at the sound of footsteps overhead. "Sounds like Mommy is up from her nap."

"I'll get Mommy some tea," Sydney announced. She proceeded to set up a fresh teacup and saucer as I breathed through a series of panic attacks.

What was I supposed to say to Sydney about that? I didn't think Robyn had spoken to her without me around, and when would she have had the time, anyway? We were both up to our necks in pack emergencies, frantic emails, and piles of gratitude baskets.

The footsteps paused near the top of the stairs. I focused on Sydney, who was patiently staring at me.

I blew air out of my nose. "I can't lie to you. I just had other things to do at the time. I didn't know you were here yet."

"Mommy says you were on the road."

"Yes, I was on the road." I snapped my fingers victoriously. "That's it, Sydney. I was on the road."

She glared at me with a deep pout. "I'm a Princess Sydney , mister."

I chuckled as I bowed my head. "My apologies, Your Highness."

"That's better."

My muscles relaxed as I leaned into another round of "tea" served by my daughter. This father thing wasn't as hard as I thought it would be if it were that easy to talk to Sydney about hard stuff. Besides, that hard stuff was in the past now. I didn't have to worry about it much longer.

"Other things to do, eh?" My heart sank as Robyn sidled into the room carrying a mug. "Sounds like you were pretty busy."

That sounded like bitter sarcasm. I wanted to get mad about it, but I knew I was in the wrong here. Like I had just said to my daughter, I hadn't been the best dad ever.

And that meant I hadn't been the best mate ever, either.

"How was your nap, Darling?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Try again."

"Sweetie pie? Princess?"

Sydney nodded with glee. "Yes! Mommy is a princess!"

All the irritation in the world couldn't hide that rosy hue to Robyn's cheeks as she ducked her mouth behind her mug. "Yeah, I guess that's technically accurate."

"Right, you're a princess," I agreed while standing up, "and that means you deserve the royal treatment." I stepped around the play table that I had been crouched at with my daughter and approached my mate. I gave her my deepest bow. "Please, Your Majesty, forgive my absence. I'm at your service now."

I heard my daughter clap her hands. "Mommy, you have to get a sword!"

Excited feet pattered over the carpet to the other side of the room, where I heard the toy chest get flung open. Some rustling erupted next, and then I listened to my daughter enthusiastically jog toward us.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye as she lifted a plastic short sword with both hands. "Mommy, you have to forgive the knight. Pretty please?"

"Pretty please, doesn't make up for three years of being a ghost."

Sydney sighed. "Daddy is here now. Please?"

I dared to glance skyward, recognizing that uneasy look on Robyn's face that I was just wearing about five minutes prior. Being a parent was hard stuff. I couldn't imagine doing this by myself for any extended period.

Robyn cast me a hesitant glance as she accepted the sword from her daughter. She straightened her stance, put on a fierce and regal grin, and placed the bladed end of the sword on my left shoulder.

"Sir Clifton," she stated as though speaking loud enough for an auditorium to hear her, "you've been brought before these two princesses to be judged for your actions. Do you have any last words?"

"Is this an execution?"

Sydney laughed dramatically. "You have to tell the Mommy Princess you're sorry if you want to keep your head, Sir Knight!"

I laughed nervously. "Wait, I thought you wanted Mommy to forgive me and—"

Robyn raised the sword. "Last words?"

I stared up at her with my hands folded in a prayer position. "Just that I love you, Princess, and I will do everything in my afterlife to make it up to you."

She lowered the sword to my shoulder again and sighed. "Did you just say that you love me?"

I grinned. "Did I? I'm not sure I said that exactly."

"Mm, I think you did."

"Ah, then I must have if you think so, Princess." I winked. "I'm at your mercy."

A smile spread slowly over her luscious lips, one that made my heart soar. "I suppose I can forgive you for now," she teased, "if you truly love me."

Sydney pumped her hands in the air. "Yay! Love wins! Mommy, love wins!"

Robyn turned to lift Sydney. "Love always wins in the end."

I got to my feet and accepted the plastic sword from Robyn. When I sheathed it on the belt loops of my jeans, I held out my hands to Sydney. "Want to go for a ride with the knight outside?"

She gasped and wiggled like an unearthed worm to get to my arms. I had her safely snug in my grip when she propped herself over my shoulder and yelled, "Mommy! Sir Charles!"

I cringed. "Daughter, my ear."

"You have two ears."

"That doesn't mean I don't need my left ear, Princess Sydney."

She giggled maniacally while I carried her outside. Bangor felt brilliantly sunny today, with enough wind to carry Sydney off with the birds if I didn't hang onto her tightly enough. I got her to sit on my shoulders as soon as we were past the porch and marched dutifully toward the street, where she demanded I trot around like her noble steed.

She patted my head. "Giddy-up, Horsey Dad!"

"Ugh, don't call me that, Princess Sydney."

"Okay, how about Pretty Horsey, Dad?"

I snickered. "Well, since you're being so nice about it…"

"Would Princess Sydney like Sir Charles to ride with her?"

Robyn extended the tattered rabbit with long ears to Sydney, who bounced on the back of my neck hard enough to make my stomach hurt. I laughed while holding her steady. "Alright, careful. You're going to kick my— Sydney, that's my ear again ."

She stilled herself. "Sorry, Daddy."

Robyn smiled warmly as she patted Sydney's leg. "It's okay. Just don't beat your father up too much. I need him later."

"Uh oh, am I in trouble?" I asked, but Sydney was kicking my chest with her tiny feet to get me to gallop.

Robyn grinned triumphantly while waving me off. "See you later, Sir Pretty Horsey, Dad."

I scoffed while trotting along the road. "You know, she did that on purpose."

"Whoa! Whoa!" Sydney blew her lips together to make sloppy raspberry sounds that cast a mist of spit all over my head. I closed my eyes with knowing defeat as she continued, "Giddy-up, go!"

"This is animal abuse," I complained, "I want a lawyer."

Sydney giggled while hanging onto my head. Now that she had a good spot for Mr. Charles and she wasn't smacking my sternum with the balls of her hard feet, it was manageable to carry her around the block. We trotted past Sonya and her hard shutters that she was pressure washing. We galloped past Larry's lawn and then Jacob's flowery mailbox that he kept changing the colors of every month.

When we got back to Robyn's house, I paused in front of the walkway, continuing to trot in place while Robyn gave us a welcoming smile. "Back so soon?"

"Yeah, I didn't want the Princess to get upset."

"About what?"

I hummed thoughtfully. "About being left behind."

Her brows parted softly, and then she dropped her gaze to the ground. "I see. Well, the knight doesn't have to worry too much about that. The princess and I are just handling business."

"How about the princess and I go on a date?"

She met my gaze. "A date?"

Sydney gasped and started to babble when I hauled her into the air and ran around making plane noises. I set her on the porch, where she promptly darted for the hammock and climbed into it without flipping over. She was like a wild animal wiggling inside the hammock, making shooting and explosion sounds while talking about the Pretty Horsey Dad saving the day.

Robyn appeared next to me.

I smiled. "Yes, a date. Aren't we due for one?"

"Maybe."

"Great—I'll call Hector and Faye to come up for a visit, and we can have our date."

She frowned. "Your sister and her husband?"

"Yeah, we're family now. You need to meet my family, right?"

"We're family now." Something about her flat tone made me feel an edge of guilt. "I guess I can't argue with that. So long as the knight sets up the guest area."

"The knight will do whatever the princess wants."

She smirked. "Anything?"

"Anything." I winked. "We have some catching up to do."