“He slept in my bed, yes.” I lower my head and look at her thought my eyelashes. “Someonewas in the spare bed.”
Lauren studies me closely. “Are you two …?”
“No. He’s been the perfect gentleman.” I swallow hard. “I don’t want you to think I’m moving on yet.”
Her eyes widen. “I wouldn’t judge you if you did. Mark wanted you to be happy, and I know he approved of Patrick.”
“It’s only been six months.”
She squeezes my hand. “You have to grab love when it’s right there, Cassie.” Her eyes drop to my neck. “What’s that?”
Letting go of my hand, she reaches for my pendant.
“Patrick gave it to me for Christmas.”
She smiles. “You have my blessing too when you’re ready.”
“That means a lot.”
The fall of footsteps makes us both look up. Patrick stands in the doorway, glancing between us. “Have you two had breakfast?”
I shake my head. “No, just coffee.”
“How about I cook up the leftover bacon and some eggs? There are some English muffins in the pantry.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing.” Lauren claps her hands together.
“Perfect for a hangover.” He shoots a wink at her, and she sighs.
He heads into the kitchen, and she leans over. “He looks that good first thing in the morning, and he cooks breakfast. That’s a keeper if you ask me.”
She laughs, and for a moment I see the real her—the one who’s not hiding behind the alcohol.
It’s a sight I wish we saw more often.
30
PATRICK
Nine months later
Yesterday, my daughter turned fourteen.
There are no doubts in my mind—she’s mine. Even if I’m not her biological father, she turns to me for everything she would have gone to Mark for.
I’m not sure if Cassie knows just how much Sophie and I talk to each other—giving her the iPad opened up her world to me.
But Cassie trusts me, and I’d do anything to retain that trust to the point that I still haven’t asked her flat out if Sophie’s mine.
We still haven’t had the conversation we need to.
Am I a coward? Maybe. I don’t want to hear about her love story with Mark, but that’s a part of her history now. Ihave questions, but I’m not sure if she’ll give me straight answers.
I’m in far too deep to let go. I think I was from the start.
This year I missed Sophie’s special day—not because I wanted to but because I had a big surgery. But I’m here the day after and able to spend the whole weekend.
I pull up outside the house and rub my neck.
