I slowly nod my head, letting everything sink in. My palms start to sweat as nerves take over, but I try to act unaffected by the news. She might think it’s because of his fame, but there’s so much more to the news she just dropped than she would ever understand.
After a few breaths, I’m able to speak. “May I ask what your relationship is to Cailin?”
She smiles fondly while turning toward Cailin. “I’m someone who loves them both dearly.”
Cailin stacks some blocks on the carpet. I try to see any resemblance to Adam in her, but it’s hard to tell. She’s sweet and innocent, and he’s anythingbut.
Her tiny voice starts to sing again, “Whoa, ohhhhhh-oh, it’s still Tuesday. Whoa, ohhhhhh-oh, it’s still Tuesday.”
I raise my eyebrows to Linda in question, and she laughs out loud.
“It’s a game they play. Every night when Adam calls, they discuss songs and make up lyrics. She’s singing the songListen to the Musicby The Doobie Brothers—you know,Whoa, ohhhhhh-oh, listen to the—”
“Music,” I finish, trying to hide my smile.
“It’s how they connect. She looks forward to every call, and he’s never missed one. Don’t worry though. I’ll talk to her. Thanks for letting me know.”
She steps toward Cailin, grabbing her bag and pointing her toward the exit.
Cailin stops and turns back toward me. “Bye, Miss Russo. Have a good day!”
I wave. “You too, Cailin.”
Once the door closes, I’m not sure if I should scream or faint from the bomb that was just dropped.After all these years, after everything I’d been through, did that really just happen? Is fate biting me in the ass again?
I don’t believe in coincidences—not anymore.But how in the world is my life about to collide with his, especially here, in this small-ass, nothing town, so far away from that world I once knew?
2
Adam
“Fifteen minutes until showtime,” my PA hollers as he sticks his head in my dressing room.
I search for my phone to call my daughter. No matter where I am in the world, my watch keeps the time of home, Northern California, where my heart really is.
My painted pinkie fingernail comes into view, putting the biggest smile on my face. Mine is black, and Cailin’s is purple. It’s a reminder we constantly have of each other, no matter how far apart we are.
People think it’s my way of being hard or a drug reference. I’d die to see their faces if they found out it was actually my five-year-old daughter wanting to do my makeup, and that was our compromise. We liked it so much that it’s stayed.
“Thanks. I’ll be ready,” I say over my shoulder with my feet kicked up on the dresser.
He nods and then shuts the door, closing out the chaos that is my life. I used to live for this shit. I still love it, but every day I’m away from my daughter, it gets harder and harder.
I dial Linda’s number.
“Daddy!” Cailin yells into the phone as my angel comes into view for our FaceTime call.
Thankfully, she has my eyes, and the freckles that line her nose remind me of baby pictures I’ve seen of myself.
“Where are you tonight?” she asks.
Hearing her voice lifts my spirits up to where I’m flying high in the sky.
“I’m in Texas,” I respond.
She sets the phone on the counter, so all I see is the ceiling while she starts her search. I can picture her tiny finger circling over the map I gave her, looking for the state. She puts a sticker over every one I visit, so she can keep track of me.
“Is that spelled T-E-X-A-S?” she yells out, taking her time in telling me every letter.
