james kelly always had trouble forming attachments. his parents died when he was young. his older brother was a criminal who only came to james when he needed money. and every woman james ever dated was a whore. but he didn’t like that word.

like sandra. a trailer-trash blondie with a dysfunctional relationship with her mom. sandra was a bitch, and poked holes in james’ condoms in the hopes of baby trapping him. and it worked. she wound up pregnant and gave birth to a gorgeous little girl they named grace.

but soon after grace’s birth, sandra took off with a druggie one night and never came home, leaving james a single father.

you were an elementary school teacher. medium height, medium build, blonde, blue eyes, with a gorgeous smile and kind heart that students, coworkers and parents alike adored.

you adored grace. she was in your first grade class. you knew james. everyone knew james. every mom, anyway. and james knew you. he thought you were gorgeous.

one day, james picked up grace like any usual day, but this time, grace didn’t want to leave you. she was talking your ear off.