After giving JJ his instructions, Alvin realized it was already close to three in the afternoon.
Still carrying Ginny, he stepped behind the counter, poured her a glass of lemonade, then took her upstairs.
Once inside his apartment, Ginny stood quietly in the middle of the room.
Her fingers were tightly intertwined.
She didn’t seem to know what to do with her hands.
Her expression was a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty.
Alvin slipped off his torn flannel shirt, rolled it into a ball, and wiped away the dried blood on his chest.
Then he crouched until they were eye level.
Pointing at his chest, he smiled.
“See?” “I’m okay.” “Daddy’s tough.” Ginny’s eyes widened.
She hurried over and began patting his chest with both little hands, desperately searching for the wounds she’d caused.
After a long moment, she found only four faint scars.
They were already so thin they were almost invisible.
Relief flooded her face.
She smiled again.
“Daddy…” “…strong.” “Daddy.” She struggled to find the words she wanted, growing adorably frustrated when they refused to come.
Finally, she scratched her head in embarrassment.
Alvin smiled softly.
He brushed a few loose strands of brown hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.
“Ginny’s very smart.” “We’ve got plenty of time.” “We’ll learn together.” He kissed her forehead again.
Then he gently took her hands.
Between her fingers were traces of dried blood.
His blood.
He frowned.
“Does it hurt?” Ginny tilted her head as she thought about the question.
When she realized Alvin was worried about her, she beamed.
“I’m used to it.” “It doesn’t hurt.” Then, in an unexpectedly gentle gesture, she reached up and tried smoothing the worried lines from Alvin’s forehead.
“Ginny okay.” “Daddy…” “…don’t worry.” Alvin’s heart nearly melted.
His daughter was comforting him.
At that moment, he didn’t care if blades came out of her hands.
She could have had cannons hidden in her sleeves and he’d still adore her.
He hugged her tightly.
Then carried her over to the window.
“Come here.” Ginny looked outside.
Or tried to.
She was too short to see over the windowsill.
Standing on tiptoe, she grabbed the edge of the frame and struggled upward until only her eyes peeked above it.
Chuckling, Alvin picked her up.
He pointed toward the alley below.
“Ginny…” “We’re different.” “Daddy’s different too.” The alley happened to be empty.
A thick, dark green vine suddenly burst from a nearby storm drain, extending upward until it reached the apartment window.
Its pointed tip swayed expectantly.
Alvin reached out and gently squeezed the end of the Venom Vine.
The enormous plant quivered happily.
Then, at Alvin’s gesture, it waved at Ginny like an obedient pet.
Ginny stared in amazement.
Alvin smiled and bumped his forehead lightly against hers.
“See?” “Daddy’s different too.” “So it’s okay.” “We’re not like everyone else.” Ginny’s smile became wonderfully bright.
She nodded with all the enthusiasm a five-year-old could manage.
“Ginny…” “Daddy…” “…different from everyone.” Alvin laughed.
He rubbed noses with her before dismissing the vine with a wave.
The massive plant slipped back into the storm drain and disappeared.
Setting Ginny down again, Alvin ruffled her hair.
“Daddy’s going to change clothes.” “Then we’ll go shopping.” “We need clothes for my little princess.” Ginny looked up at him and smiled.
“Ginny wants Daddy.” “Don’t need clothes.” Alvin couldn’t help laughing.
Compared to Haruto in his previous life, who had wanted every toy he saw, Ginny was practically from another planet.
He pulled on a fresh flannel shirt, zipped up a gray jacket, and finished dressing with a pair of dark blue jeans.
The outfit made him look less like the owner of a restaurant and more like a farmer who’d wandered into Manhattan by mistake.
Simple.
Practical.
Comfortable.
He placed a baseball cap on Ginny’s head.
“There.” “My princess is ready.” Taking her hand, he led her downstairs.
The lunch crowd had mostly gone home.
Only one customer remained.
A scruffy, bearded middle-aged man sat alone in the corner, staring into a cup of coffee as though he’d forgotten it existed.
Whatever demons he was wrestling with weren’t Alvin’s business.
This was a restaurant.
Customers were welcome to stay.
Still in an excellent mood, Alvin asked Jessica to replace the man’s coffee with a beer.
Judging by his expression, beer suited him better.
Then Alvin turned to Jessica.
“Come on.” “The boss is handing out employee benefits.” “I’m buying you some clothes.” Jessica had just set the beer down.
She spun around with an excited squeal.
“Seventh Avenue?” Alvin reached into his pocket and counted the cash.
After a moment, he sighed.
“No.” “Twenty-Seventh Street.” “Shirley’s Clothing.” Jessica’s excitement visibly deflated.
“…Oh.” Still…
Free clothes were free clothes.
She quickly untied her apron and happily skipped after Alvin.
Outside, Alvin paused beside the truck and called to Old Kent.
“Kent.” “Get a couple of the guys.” “Clean out my attic.” “Move all of Nick Caster’s things up there.” “He has wanted the attic for ages.” “Today’s his lucky day.” He smiled at Ginny.
“Our little princess needs his room.” “And ask Old Juan to make some furniture for her.” “Pink.” “I want everything ready before bedtime.” Old Kent grinned broadly.
“My pleasure, Your Highness.” He gave Ginny an exaggerated formal bow before calling several young men over and heading upstairs.
No one noticed the expression on the bearded man in the corner.
The moment Alvin mentioned Nick Caster, conflicting emotions flashed across his face.
Guilt.
Longing.
Fear.
When he heard Nick was being moved into the attic, anger flickered across his features.
But when Alvin explained that the attic had always been Nick’s wish…
That anger became relief.
It was almost as though every piece of news about Nick directly affected him.
And when Alvin proudly introduced Ginny as his daughter…
The man’s eyes filled with unmistakable envy.
Leaving JJ to watch Jason, Alvin drove the truck around the block and stopped in front of Shirley’s Clothing, a neighborhood shop specializing in women’s and children’s clothing.
The owner, Shirley, was a beautiful woman in her forties.
She never dressed extravagantly, but every outfit was carefully coordinated.
Even inexpensive accessories somehow looked elegant on her.
Alvin could tell she had a story.
He simply wasn’t curious enough to ask.
The moment they entered the shop, Alvin swept his arm grandly through the air.
“Buy.” Shirley burst into laughter.
Instead of letting Alvin bankrupt himself through sheer enthusiasm, she took charge.
She and Jessica began picking outfits for Ginny.
A princess dress.
Beautiful.
“One in every color.” Tracksuits.
Perfect.
“Pink, yellow, green.
We’ll take them all.” …
A T-shirt.
Denim overalls.
A jean jacket.
A baseball cap.
Alvin’s eyes lit up.
“Now that’s perfect.” He bumped fists with Ginny before standing beside her in front of the full-length mirror.
Despite their different skin tones, they looked exactly like father and daughter.
Seeing the delighted look on Ginny’s face, Alvin waved his hand decisively.
“Ten sets.” Shoes.
Socks.
Underwear.
Pajamas.
With Jessica’s help, Ginny’s wardrobe quickly became complete.
Then it was Jessica’s turn.
She stepped out wearing denim shorts and a cropped top.
“Boss?” “How do I look?” Alvin frowned.
“It’s not even hot outside.” “Why are you showing your stomach?” Jessica disappeared into the changing room again.
A few moments later she emerged in a floral miniskirt.
“What about this?” “Isn’t that skirt a little short?” “Aren’t your legs cold?” …
Finally she came out wearing jeans and a simple T-shirt.
“This one?” Alvin nodded immediately.
“Looks great.” “We’ll take two.” Jessica stared at him in disbelief before marching over.
“Boss.” “You’re impossible.” “This is what I wore when I first came to work here.” Alvin blinked.
“Exactly.” “It looked nice then.” “So now you’ll have extras.” Jessica stomped hard on his foot.
Then she turned sweetly toward Shirley.
“We’ll take everything.” “Except this outfit.” “Oh, and make it two of each color.” “Put it on the boss’s bill.” Alvin had learned one invaluable lesson during his previous life.
Never argue with an angry woman.
Especially not while she was helping buy clothes for your daughter.
So he quietly accepted his fate.
Nine hundred dollars later, Alvin paid the bill while Jessica tried and failed to hide her smug grin.
Not bad.
One day, when I’ve got real money…
I’ll take my daughter shopping on Fifth Avenue.