Sadie’s heart exploded at the sound of her laughter. At the joy on her face and the smile on Eastern’s as he played with her.
Avery was still laughing when he stood and picked her up before tossing her over his shoulder.
“Daddy!” She giggled as she playfully hit his back.
“Come on, Miss I-Know-Everything, it’s time for clothes so Sadie can get changed, and you can tell me any other secrets I thought I was keeping from you.”
Once Sadie was alone in the room, the space felt ridiculously quiet.
She climbed out of bed and took a quick shower before changing into some clothes. Over the past week, she’d stockpiled a few things here because she’d been staying over so often. Heck, she’d barely been to her apartment in days.
Dressed and ready to go, she was heading toward the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Frowning, she glanced toward Avery’s room, but the door was still closed.
When a second ring sounded, Sadie hurried to the door and tugged it open. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the woman on the other side.
Jamie.
It had only been a bit over a year since she’d seen her last, but the woman looked much older, with lines around her eyes and circles shadowing them. Her blond hair, which used to look impeccable at all times, was flat and dull, as if it hadn’t been washed in a few days, and her clothes were wrinkled.
Jamie’s mouth gaped. “Sadie! What are you doing here?”
Before Sadie could answer, a door opened down the hall, followed by footsteps. “Sadie, who’s—” Eastern stopped beside her. “Jamie.” All friendliness left his voice, replaced by a low growl. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Daddy…Sadie!” Avery slammed to a stop between Sadie and Eastern before she gasped. “Mom?”
Sadie’s heart broke at the uncertainty in Avery’s voice. And maybe something else… Fear?
Jamie swallowed before lowering in front of her daughter. “Hey, sugar. Got a cuddle for your mama?”
Instead of stepping forward, Avery inched behind Eastern—and suddenly every protective instinct Sadie possessed made her want to step in front of the young girl.
But it was Eastern who took a half step forward. “You need to leave.”
Jamie frowned as she rose. “I need to talk to you.”
“Fine, but not here. Not now. I’ll text you.”
“Eastern—”
Before the woman could get another word in, Eastern closed the door.
CHAPTER 16
Fury coursed through Eastern’s veins as he stepped into the station. Jamie sat beside Daisy’s desk, waiting for him. Daisy gave him a small smile and nod, probably knowing that with Jamie here, he wouldn’t be in the mood for small talk. He’d texted Jamie and told her if she wanted to talk, the station was the only place that would happen.
Jamie rose from the seat and without a word, followed him into his office. He told himself to remain calm, but the second his door was closed, he spun, unleashing a world of fury with his words.
“What the hell were you thinking, showing up at my door this morning, Jamie? Avery wasrightthere.”
She flinched as if he’d hit her. “I wasthinkingthat I wanted to see my daughter and speak to the father of my child. I have every right to see her.”
Was she serious? “No. You lost that right when you walked out on her. When you skipped town and texted me that you weren’t coming back, then didn’t show up at the custody hearing.” He stepped closer. “You lost the right when youdesertedher.”
Jamie rolled her eyes like what she’d done was no big deal. “I explained why I left. I needed a break. You left all the time when she was in my custody, so it was my turn. And I couldn’t make it to the custody hearing because I was across the country.”
The fuck? “I left because I was in the Navy, and that was myjob. I didn’t just fuck off to God knows where and abandon my daughter without so much as a goodbye.”
“I didn’tabandonher—I left her with her father.”
