Davenportâs to replace your shirt. Itâs only a block over from the Macyâs Parade route, and I thought Gracie might like to come with us and watch the parade.â
A squeal pierced Garrettâs brain. âOh, can we Daddy? Can we? Please?â Gracie jumped from the stool and flung herself into his arms. She kept her arms tightly around his neck as she turned to look over her shoulder at Olivia. âI watch the parade on TV every year, but Iâve never seen it in real life.â Gracie turned her attention back to Garrett. She looked him squarely in the eyes. âYou know what, Dad?â
He sighed, already knowing he was going to give in. âWhat, Gracie?â
âIf you ruin something of someoneâs, you really should fix it or get them a new one.â
âOh, you should, should you? And who told you that?â He looked over Gracieâs shoulder at Olivia and winked.
She peered at him from beneath her lashes and smiled back, and his gut clenched. He forced his attention back to Gracie.
âMiss Carmichael said so. When Jenny broke Johnâs project on purpose, she said Jenny really should fix it or make him a new one. She said thatâs good character.â She nodded for emphasis, her expression serious.
Garrett hugged her tight, holding her close for an extra few seconds, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo and contemplating the fact his daughter was growing up so fast. She squirmed out of his arms too soon, and he reluctantly released her.
âWell, I guess we wouldnât want to do anything to hurt Oliviaâs good character, would we?â
Gracie clasped her hands together beneath her chin, her eyes wide with hope, as she shook her head and waited.
âGo get your coat.â
âYay!â She ran from the room.
Garrett glanced at his watch. âWill we be able to make it in time?â
Olivia laughed, her eyes now filled with the delight heâd come to enjoy when she played with his daughter. âWe will if we go to the end of the parade route and donât stop at Davenportâs until after. Have you been to the parade before?â
âUm . . . no. We moved here after Thanksgiving last year, and before that Iâd never been to New York.â He pulled out a stool and gestured for her to sit, then moved to sit across the table from her.
âHow did you end up in New York?â
A painful memory tugged at him, but he ignored it. Stephanie was no longer important enough in his life to hurt him, but that didnât change the fact that her betrayal had hurt. He blew out a breath. âI was the head of a large investment firm in Florida. There were some . . . problems with one of our employees stealing. By the time we figured out what was going on, a lot of money had been embezzled. The members of the board decided I should have been more on top of things, and they let me go.â He shrugged. âI moved around for a couple of years, but it was hard to find decent work and still take care of Gracie, especially before she started school. Then, last year, I met Mr. Harris at a party. We talked for a while, and he offered me a position at Harris and Harris. So, here I am.â
âFlorida, huh?â Olivia smiled.
âYup.â
âSo . . . thatâs where you got that southern accent.â She grinned.
He couldnât help but laugh.
âReady, guys.â Gracie tore back into the room.
Garrett checked the turkey, glanced at the clock, and went to grab his jacket. âOkay. Letâs go. I can leave the turkey cooking, but I have to get back in time to make the rest of the dinner.â Olivia took Gracieâs hand, and they followed him out as he locked the front door. âWhat are you doing for dinner, Olivia?â
She shrugged. âMy parents had a political event to attend, and Iâm supposed to meet them for dinner there, but I was thinking of skipping out