Hollie, standing at the edge of the table, laid a hand over her lips, her brow furrowing with emotion. I came behind her, rubbing a hand over her back. It occurred to me that Cade and I could exit the room to give them some privacy, but I wanted to hover. I wanted to make sure the giant jackass didn’t load them with more burdens they couldn’t carry.
Nora’s eyes welled up with tears. “I miss you, Daddy.” She sniffed. “Where are you?”
“I’ve been traveling, but I’m home right now?—”
“You’re home!” Nora’s face lit up. “Mommy, he’s home!”
Hollie shook her head.
He tried to stop her. “Nora?—”
“He’s home!”
“I’m atmyhome, sweetie. I’m sorry for confusing you. I meant I’m in my own house.”
“Oh.” Nora’s joy fell again. “I forgot you don’t live with us anymore.”
I couldn’t watch this shit. I scrubbed a hand over my face, denying my need to scoop Nora into my arms and rip him a new one. Hollie trembled under my hand and I squeezed her shoulder. I leaned to whisper in her ear. “You want us to go?”
She shook her head and whispered, “Don’t.”
I pulled her closer to me, and she pressed into my side.
“So, what have you been doing? How are things?” Garrett asked.
“I’m at the ranch.” Some of the light in Nora’s eyes had disappeared. She held the phone at an angle that was probably only catching half her face.
“Yeah, I heard that. Are you having fun down there?”
“Yes. I like the horses.”
“Do you? Have you gotten to pet them?”
Nora nodded. “I rode one.”
“Really? Is that safe?”
I snorted out loud. Everything at this ranch was safer thanGarrett. Nora giggled. “Yes, they are nice horses. They would never hurt me.”
He hummed, the sound half-interested. “Where’s Izzy and your mom?”
“Right here. You can say hi.” Unsure how to flip the camera around, Nora turned, shakily panning the front-facing cam across our group. I lifted a middle finger behind Hollie’s head, hoping he saw it. Hoping he sawme. Izzy didn’t even lift her head from her deck of cards.
Garrett’s voice rose in pitch. “Where did you say you were again?”
“We are at Mr. Jesse’s house. He lives at the ranch.”
“Who is Mr. Jesse?”
“He works here.”
“What are you doing at his house?”
“Just playing some games. When are we going to see you?”
“You know, I actually had time this weekend to come by, but then I figured out you guys were in Texas. Isn’t that a bummer?”
Hollie stiffened under my arm. She vehemently shook her head, one foot moving forward on the floor, even though she didn’t go toward Nora. This was tough. On the one hand, Nora deserved to talk to her dad. On the other, blaming his negligence on travel was not okay.
