He disconnected.
She saw Reggie watching her. “What?”
“Emily’s staying another week. Are you okay with that?”
She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be? I love her, but Stephen loves her too. Emily is okay with it.”
“Maggie.”
She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Yes, no. I don’t know. I love her and miss her. She’s my baby girl. But you’ve had me so distracted.” At that, he smiled. “I feel guilty that I get another uninterrupted week with you.”
He pulled her to him so she stood between his spread legs while he leaned back against the couch. “You could have said no to her staying longer.”
“I want her to be happy, and she wants to stay with him. He’s missed so much already.”
Reggie’s expression hardened. “Was that his fault or yours?”
“What?”
“I know you. And I think if he ever wanted to see her, you’d say yes. So this is really him finally having the balls to be a dad.”
She blinked. “Um, well, yeah. You’re right.”
“But you can’t let him step all over you.”
“Reggie? It’s okay, really. I don’t mind. And I get to spend extra time with you.” She kissed him. “Honestly, if I thought for one minute my daughter wasn’t safe or cared for, she’d be here with me.”
He studied her. “You’re a great mom.” He sighed. “Sorry. My ex used to drop everything when her ex-husband told her to. And it hurt Rachel with all the back and forth at the end.”
“What happened with them? Will you tell me about it?”
He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “I told you I met Amy while helping her out of a jam. She was pretty. She liked me. I liked her. And we started dating. I fell for Rachel right away.” He smiled in remembrance. “She’s a lot like Emily but not a genius, I have to say. And not as bossy.”
“My daughter, the termagant.”
He chuckled. “That’s what I like about her. Emily doesn’t take any sass. Anyway, my relationship with Amy followed a pattern. She would need help. I’d be all too happy to give it. I like feeling needed.”
She nodded. “Nothing wrong with that. I like feeling needed too.”
His eyes warmed. “We’re a lot alike.”
“We are.”
“Well, Amy always seemed to need me. At first, it was satisfying. She stroked my ego, would tell her friends how helpful and smart and strong I was. I ate it up.” He looked abashed. “But I also loved her. It was real, for both of us. She’s not a bad person.”
Maggie nodded but said nothing.
“Rachel loved me. And I loved her. She was such an innocent, sweet little girl. I showed her how to fix things, how to exercise, how to make a fist.” He grinned. “That kid could box, let me tell you. She was also shy around people she didn’t know, and that was okay with me. Everyone’s different, you know?
“I introduced my dad and sisters to Amy three months into our relationship. They didn’t like her.”
“Why?”
“She was shy. Always looking to me before answering. Letting me get her food and drinks, basically wait on her. I thought it was out of politeness because we were at my dad’s, you know? I didn’t try to tell her what to do or anything. She was just, well, meek.”
“Not her fault.”
“Exactly. But my dad thought she was all wrong for me, and she offended my sister without meaning to.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “She overheard Nadia talking to Lisa about Shannon, a date that went wrong. Amy tried to join the conversation by telling Nadia about a few friends she knew that Nadia might like. Girlfriends of hers.”
