Anything For Love

Chapter 40

(RECAP)
"I love you too"
-------------------------------------------------------
"Do you wanna watch tv?"
"I'm ok" She replied resting her head on my chest with her eyes closed.
"Are you going to sleep?" She nods.
"Well um...I have to go" I hesitantly said.
She quickly sat up and frowned at me.
"What? Why? Nooooo" She begged.
"Babe I'm sorry you know if I could stay I would but I have to go get Peyton. She has school tomorrow and she can't miss another day." I explained.
"Can't your mom take her or we could hire a nanny to take her."
"I can't she has a big test tomorrow and she needs me there to help her study but I'll be back tomorrow I promise." I assured her.
"If you truly wanted to stay with me you would." She whispered.
"I...just...I want to but..."

She sat there with her face in her hands for a while and I didn't really know what to do. I heard light sniffles and weeping and I finally decided to go with the hand on shoulder just in case she was mad at me and wanted to hit me or something.
"I understand tell Pey I love her and I hope she does well on her test." She quickly mumbled.
"Ok I love you" I said waiting on her to say it back.
"Ok turn off the lights on your way out" She glumly replied.

I hate just leaving her like this but I can't put my daughters life on hold like that. It's not fair to her. If I could be there 24/7 I would but unfortunately I can't.
*
"Daddyyyyyy" Peyton shouted while sprinting towards me.
"Hey princess how was your day?" I asked her.
"Good...grandma and I watched movies and did finger paintings." She said going to get her stuff.
"Thanks for watching her mama" I said hugging her.
"No need to thank me, she's my granddaughter and she's actually a very bright little girl." She told me, making her way to the couch.
"Alright ma love you" I said taking Peyton's suitcase from her.
"Love you too baby, bye Peyton"
"Bye Grandma" She said racing to the car.
"Ha I won" She shouted dancing around the car.
"Wait we were racing?" I asked.
"Yea slow poke and you just lost the race" She told me while getting in the car.
"Ready to sing the seatbelt song?" I asked looking at her through the mirror.
"Yea 1...2...3"
"BUCKLE IT UP, BUCKLE IT UP, BUCKLE IT UP OR YOU'LL DIEEEEE" We sang in unison, buckling our seat belts and dying of laughter.
                                        *
"Good Job Pey...now what's the difference between a mammal  and a reptile?"
"Umm...uh come on I know this one, um"
"I can give you a hint if you want.
"No no, I can do this... A mammal gives birth to live young or something and a reptile lays eggs and are really slimy and nasty."
"Correct, minus the last part."
"Yea yea same thing"
"Ok looks like we're done. You hungry?"
"No and I don't think I will be anytime soon. Grandma gave me a plate the size of a mountain. It was so much food but it was good."
"Ok go take a shower and I'll be in your room to tuck you in later"
"Ok daddy but wait can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Is mommy ok?" She asked, her big brown eyes stared directly into mine and I could see she was really concerned.
"Uh yea...she's fine. You wanna call her?" I asked taking my phone out.
"DUHHH" She exclaimed and plopped down on the couch next to me.
"Watch it Peyton"
"Sorry"
I went to Toni's contact and decided to FaceTime her instead. As the phone rang and rang, it eventually stopped and Toni's face immediately popped up on the screen.
"Hey mommy" Peyton said.
"Hey baby" she replied.
"Are you okay?"
"Yea I'm fine I just have to stay here for a few days so they can make sure I'm okay."

Peyton eventually took my phone and continued her conversation in her room.
                                       *

I walked to Peyton's door and heard her giggling. I poked my head through the door and heard Toni say "When I get home we are gonna have so much fun and throw so many pranks on your dad too"

"What was that?" I said as Peyton jumped out of her skin looking at me in horror.
"Nothiiiing" She said smiling at Toni.
"Mmhmm well you need to go take a shower. You have a big test tomorrow"
"Ughhhh ok" She complained dragging her clothes to the bathroom.
I picked my phone up and took it into my bedroom.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yes Ken I'm fine...why do you keep asking me that?" She snapped.
"Look I was just asking. You don't have to be so damn mean"
"Well maybe if you would stop asking the same dumb question then I wouldn't be so mean"
"Yea whatever...you know I'm sick and tired of your bullshit. You always gotta make everything an argument"
"Ok you don't have to talk to me Kenneth. I didn't ask you to talk to me"
"You don't have to tell me twice" I said ending the call and throwing my phone on the bed.

I swear sometimes I wonder if all this is even worth it...