Another ache sliced through him at the confusion in her tone. He’d thought she understood that Hallie was just leaving for a few days, not forever. But she’d experienced so much abandonment in her young life. Frankly, he’d been surprised at how easily she’d accepted Hallie in the last few weeks. He hadn’t expected a few days away from her to trigger Isla’s fears.
“Of course,” he said, hoping the reassurance would ease her anxiety. She’ll be back on Monday.”
“I miss her.”
“I do too.” So much it hurt, especially after the last three days. Somany times he’d wished she were here, supporting him through this latest mess caused by his ex. He’d come to depend on the peace she brought simply by being in the room.
He found Foxie halfway lodged between the bed and the wall and tucked it under Isla’s blankets.
She snuggled the animal to her chest. “Do you love her?”
How did she pick up on that? She was only six. “Where’d you get that idea?”
A yawn came over her as she responded, slurring her words. “Grandma said when someone is in love, they smile a lot. You smile all the time when Hallie is here.”
Warmth accompanied the painful throbbing in his chest. It seemed the cat was out of the bag, despite the fact that he and Hallie had agreed to keep their relationship from the girls for now.
He needed to call her. But he’d have to worry about that later. Right now, Isla stared back at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.
“I do.” He watched her hesitantly, gauging her reaction. Her possible disapproval would put him in an even trickier position. “Are you okay with that?”
She relaxed deeper into her pillow and nodded. “She makes me smile too.”
For Isla, that was basically a stamp of approval. He kissed her cheek. “I’m glad. Now, get some sleep.”
“Goodnight, Daddy.” She closed her eyes.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
Christian camped out on her floor until her breathing turned heavy, then made his way downstairs. A knock at the front door punctured the quiet. He glanced at his watch. It was after nine. Who could possibly want to come over this late?
Maybe if he ignored it long enough, they’d go away. It could be Sabrina. She’d called a few times in the last three days, demanding a meeting with the girls, but he’d kept telling her he needed more time. Had she finally run out of patience?
Another knock punctured the silence of the dark house, more urgent this time. Okay, ignoring wouldn’t work. Dragging his feet, heapproached the door and pulled the canvas drape back a crack to peek through the side window. He pushed out a noise that landed somewhere between an annoyed growl and a relieved sigh.
He flipped on the entryway light before yanking the door open. “Do you have any idea what time it is? I was about to go to bed.”
“Yeah, right.” Tyler breezed into the house, followed by Brad. “I know you better than that. Your night is barely getting started.”
That doesn’t mean I want company.
“We would’ve been here sooner if someone hadn’t insisted on stopping for a burger on the way.” Tyler slugged his cousin in the shoulder.
Brad rubbed at the spot, scoffing as though offended with the roughhousing. “I was hungry. Do you know how hard it’s been not eating meat? I need my iron.”
“What’re you doing here anyway?” Christian asked, leading the way to the kitchen. He grabbed a protein bar from a box on top of the fridge and tossed it to Brad, who made himself at home at the square table. “Shouldn’t you be at your family thing right now?” Brad’s parents lived a good two hours away.
Joining his cousin at the table, Tyler held up a hand, a silent request for his own protein bar. “You would’ve known we were coming if you’d answered your phone.”
Christian tossed him one too, then rested his hip against the counter by the sink. “I think I left it upstairs. I needed a break from it after all of Sabrina’s calls.”
“It’s true then?” Brad asked around a mouthful of protein bar. He swallowed. “She’s really back?”
Neither he nor Tyler seemed surprised by the news, which could only mean that Hallie had already told them.Forcing out a deep sigh, he leaned his head back against the cabinet behind him. “Yeah, she’s back. She wants a relationship with the girls.”
“And you’re encouraging it?” Brad’s hostility didn’t go unnoticed.
But this time, his buddy’s opposition didn’t rankle Christian. He agreed with it even, that being the main reason for putting off the introduction. “What other choice do I have? As much as I hate it, shegave birth to them. Can I realistically keep her from being in their lives if she sincerely wants a place in it? The girls don’t deserve to be caught in the middle of our problems.”
