Free Stronger Than Ever (My Best Friend) by Ancelli

Kay. She’s my little girl and no one is going to take her away from me.”
    “No one will ever take her away from you . Y ou’re her daddy. She is legally yours and if anyone tries we will fight them to the end, but I have faith it will never come down to that. I need to go tuck her in.” She moved away from him.
    “No, I want to tuck her in.” He walked toward Angel’s room.
    “Hey daddy’s princess, what book do you want me to read?” he asked with a big smile.
    “Three Little Piggies,” she said, laughing at his expression.
    He read the book until Angel’s eyelids were heavy and she was falling asleep. He got on his knees and they both said their nightly prayers. Kay stood at the door, watching their interaction. Jason began to sing until she fell asleep.
    “You’re my little princess.” He bent down and kissed her chubby cheeks. “I love you.” He got up to leave Angel’s room and realized Kay had been there all along.
    “I love you, Jason.” She hugged him. “This doesn’t change anything.”
    “I love you too, Kay. But I’ve been afraid this day would come where he would try to tear our family apart. I have to go out and clear my head. I’ll be back.”
    He grabbed his keys from the side table, then kissed her on the cheek and headed out the door.
     
    ***
     
    Jason stumbled into their bedroom. He’d been out drinking his sorrows away. He told Kay he needed to get out for a bi t, but it was now one in the morning. He called John to go shoot pool with him, it soon turned into a lot of drinking. The bartender called them a cab.
    He walked in to the dark house and stumbled to the bedroom. He made it to the bed in the dar k, and sat on the edge of the bed trying to take off his shoes. He whispered to himself. “Damn shoes.”
    Kay rolled over and turned the light on the nightstand. She could never really fall asleep without him by her side. She leaned up. “Well hello stranger.”
    He turned toward her and smiled. “Do you know how much I love you?”
    “I think I do?” She leaned off the bed, walked in front of him and helped him take off his shoes. “Do you feel better now?”
    He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. “Every time I see you, touch you, think about you I feel better. Kay, you and Angel are part of me.” He kissed her.
    She kissed him back , he smell ed and tast ed of liquor. “I’m not supposed to drink its bad for the baby.” She said smiling.
    He pulled back, bent down. “Hey little one, I love you.” He got up and t ook off his clothes. “Kay, Angel is my little girl.”
    Kay walked over to her side of the bed and slid under the sheets. He climbed into the bed and laid his head on her stomach . T he baby moved and kick ed . “Calm down , baby, Mommy needs to sleep.” K issing and rubbing her stomach, he sang , “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy… . ”

Chapter Ten
     
    Kay’s private telephone line rang. “Good morning, this is Kay Anderson. How can I help you?”
    “Kay, it’s Tommy. Please don’t hang up. We need to talk.”
    “We have nothing to talk about. Bye.”
    “She’s mine, isn’t she? Does he know? Kay, I’m a changed man.”
    “I really don’t care if you changed or not. Angel is not your daughter. Don’t call me again.” She hung up the phone. He has no rights. Everything is going to be okay .
    By the time Jason picked her up ten minutes later for lunch, it was obvious he could see something was bothering her.
    “Where are we going?” she asked, deflecting the question he had on his lips.
    “It’s a surprise.” He pulled up to the lake and parked.
    He opened her car door, went into the trunk, and pulled out a picnic basket. She ran up to him and jumped into his arms.
    “We’re having a picnic? How perfect,” she cooed.
    He laid out the blanket, smiling, and helped her sit down.
    “Okay, what’s wrong?” Jason asked, eating a grape.
    “Nothing. The baby is hungry.”
    He handed her a sandwich