I uncrossed my arms and opened the driver’s door. The leather seat creaked as I sat down and shut the door. As frazzled as I was by Sage’s truth, I had to put the admission behind me and focus on my daughter. But I couldn’t go anywhere with this fucking ice all over my windshield.Fuck!
I rolled down the window to remove the ice chunk stuck in my wiper blade. The chill of the frozen piece against my warm skin made me flinch, but I pushed it away. My view was no longer obstructed, and I put the car into reverse with my foot on the brake.
“Thanks for stopping—” Sage leaned in with her arms on thecar window ledge.
“Don’t give up on my brother. He’s not all he appears to be. Sure, he’s a grump, but he can be full of surprises too,” Sage interrupted.
Sage pushed off the car and backed away.
I let go of the brake and pulled out of my driveway. Sage was in my rearview mirror as I drove away, and her statement echoed in my brain. I headed toward my daughter’s school and leftCozy Court, along with anything to do with Jack, behind me.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Winter Wonderland
Noelle
We arrived at Wonderland Elementary School early, and I admired the way Faith had taken charge. Her peers greeted her with excitement, and she even helped other children who were full of nerves. Her kindness shone, and I was beyond proud of her.
Faith rehearsed with the rest of the performers, ate some Christmas treats, and I helped with last-minute preparations. Everything came together, and she was cute in the red dress Jack had bought her. She remembered how to apply all the makeup like he had taught her, but I assisted with her hair, and I followed my daughter’s instructions.
“...And after the gel, Mr. Timber told me to tie all of my hair up into a bow...” her voice trailed off when some strands fell out, and she sighed. “I wish he were here.”
Jack had let Faith down, and I was too. He wouldn’t be here to see her perform as he had promised her.Damn you, Timber.
“It’s okay.” I gathered the hair up, and this time the strands stuck. “See? We can do this together without Mr. Timber.”
“At least Daddy will be here to watch me.” Faith beamed at me through the reflection in the mirror.
“Yes. He should be here soon.” I had a bobby-pin in between my teeth and stretched the metal wider before placingit securely in Faith’s hair. “There. Now we can do hairspray. Close your eyes.”
Faith squeezed her eyelids shut. “When?”
“Soon.” I sprayed the wild hairstyle and glanced down at the time on my cell phone. “He should be here anytime now.”
Suddenly, my cell phone chimed. I peered down at the screen. It was a text from Logan.
Logan:I’m tied up at work. Tell Faith I’m sorry, but I can’t make it.
Career had come first over Faith year after year, and Logan had broken his promise to her again. I was devastated for my child. I had no choice but to give her the news, or else she’d constantly search the crowd for her father.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Faith asked me.
I swiveled Faith’s stool around to face me, leaned down to her level, and placed my hands on her knees. I’d break the news as gently as possible, but deep inside, I was angry. Upset beyond words for my child.
I hate you, Logan Lancaster, for making me do this to our daughter.
“That was Daddy,” I said as I touched her cheek and gave her hand a squeeze. “He can’t come to the concert because he has to work.”
“But he promised...” Faith’s lower lip trembled, and tears sprang to her eyes.
“I know he did, sweetheart, but I’m here.” I smiled the most cheerful grin I could. “I’ll watch you, and I’m proud of how hard you’ve worked.”
“I know, but... I wish...” Faith’s voice cracked.
Faith glanced down as tears dropped onto her velvet dress, and her heart broke. Mine shattered right along with hers because she should have men in her life who treated her better. I shouldn’t have made the mistake of letting assholes disappoint her. This was all my fault, but I couldn’t let Jack or Logan ruin this for her.
“I know. I do too. But we have each other.” I tilted her face up by the chin, and Faith peered at me. “We can do this without them.”
