Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
RICHIE GROANED AS HE LEANED into the backseat of his car. He was in a lunging position, trying to give himself the best position to not fall as he tried unclasping the stiff seatbelt of Eva's car seat.
"Okay, yeah. Here we go. Ah, told ya," He grinned when he finally heard the satisfying clink of the seatbelt coming undone as he moved backwards, "I got it. There we go..." He said as he helped Eva out of the car, grabbing her backpack from the floor and passing it to her, "I got ya..." He said, holding her hand, "How's your mom doing, by the way?"
"Good," Eva responded.
The father and daughter stood outside the car, looking at each other.
"Yeah? They said that she got stuck on a Zoom. Do you know what that's about?" He asked her, bending his knees down slightly to get closer to his daughter's height.
"Got a promotion," Eva informed him, "Uncle Frank is proud of her. So am I. So we had a little party. And mom got a raise too, which is why Uncle Frank got the good cake from Weber's."
Richie nodded as he listened to his daughter informing him of his ex-wife's new promotion. He furrowed his brows as he took in her words, realising that despite her bringing up Frank, Tiffany's new man, he didn't feel anything. Not even an ounce of jealousy he had once felt when he did as little as think about her dating someone new, let alone being engaged to someone who wasn't him.
"That's awesome," He told his daughter. Smiling at her, "That mom got a promotion. She's a hard worker and that's important, right?"
"Yeah, but you still have to pay child support 'cause fair is fair," Eva said, deepening her voice slightly as if to imitate her mother.
Richie stared at her in shock. He exhaled and bend down even further, "I love taking care of you. And I always will. You know that?" He asked. Feeling like his heart would break into pieces if she were to say no. Because he truly did love his daughter. More than anything in the world. She had been his reason for living for the past five years.
"I know, daddy," She said, sticking her tongue out at him.
Richie grinned. Sticking his tongue out at her.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?" He nodded, reaching his hand out to stroke her light colored hair.
"Where's Aunty Kitty?" She asked.
Richie felt a smile appearing on his face as images of Kitty flashed through his mind, "Aunty Kitty is also a really hard worker, you know, so she's still at the restaurant. Why do you ask?"
