Jacy’s hands on the wheel tightened. “That’s not fair.”
“It is indeed,” I replied quietly. “We all do stupid shit, say stupid shit. I am heartfully and deeply sorry I implied through my stupid mouth that I didn’t trust you with my son. I do. More than you know.”
Jacy said nothing, nor looked at me, for the next ten miles. I know, because I counted the mile markers. Patient, I studied the scenery rather than her face, removed some of the pressure I’d put on her. Though I didn’t precisely hope she’d change hermind, a small part of me rooted for her to say yes. She’d stay, and we’d work things out.
“I have done stupid shit,” she said at last. “The mistake that brought me here is just an example. While I don’t exactly crave forgiveness for it, since it’ll never happen, I suppose I see your point.”
“That’s a start.”
“Is it?” She shot me a fast glance. “You hurt me, Avery. Youwoundedme. Right to my core. I’ve done nothing over the last few days except wonder why you’d do that.”
“Because I’m a male with testosterone and that makes me as stupid as hell.”
Jacy snorted laughter before she could halt it, then frowned imperiously. “If I’d done or said something that dumb, how would you have reacted?”
I sighed but answered truthfully. “Gotten pissed. Yelled. Made threats. Got over it.”
“Gotten over it that easily?”
“It may have taken me a day or two. That’s not that easily.”
Jacy again went into silent mode, driving, watching the mirrors, passing slower vehicles, occasionally eyeing Declan, still asleep, behind us. The tension left her mouth, however, and her grip on the wheel wasn’t nearly as tight as it was. The white departed her knuckles, anyway.
We’d reached the city limits and the teeming traffic when she said, “I’ll think about it.”
“Think about what?”
“Forgiving you. Not moving away. Keep working for you.”
“I’ll call you.”
She flashed me an almost humorous glance. “You’d better. Declan needs to talk to you.”
“What about you? Will you need to talk to me, too?”
“Maybe.”
“It’s a start.”
Unintimidated by the ever-thickening traffic, Jacy expertly drove, following the signs, to the International Airport. Declan woke as she slowed to a stop at the departure gates of the airline I was taking to Atlanta. I stepped from the car and opened his door, then unbuckled him from his seat.
Yawning, Declan hugged me around my neck. “I miss you, Dad.”
“I’ll miss you, too, little man.” I kissed his cheek. “You take care of Wendy and Pete, okay?”
“Uh, huh.”
“Feed Max for me while I’m gone.”
“Kay.”
Lowering my voice, I whispered in his ear, “Take care of Jacy, too. She doesn’t know it yet, but she needs us.”
Declan shot a look over his shoulder at Jacy, who stood watching from near the car’s right front tire. So much for subtly. “Okay.”
Setting him down, I opened the trunk and took my suitcase from it. After shutting it, I stepped closer to Jacy, half expecting her to make a dash for the driver’s seat. She stood firmly as I set my case down and slowly enfolded her into my arms. Her stiff body gradually relaxed, then her arms crept around my neck.
I kissed her tenderly. “I’ll call.”
