He didn’t step onto the porch or try and reach out and shake her hand. He stayed back, giving her space, said, ‘Thank you. I really appreciate it. And I’m sorry.’
And then he left.
He drove straight home, and forced his Jeep through the press camped outside the Hunt Ranch gates. He parked beneath the big oak tree and climbed out, and even though everything had changed he still felt that instant relief the moment his booted feet hit his own land.
He inhaled a huge breath of fresh air and felt his heart settle. In the house, Shadow barked.
Mav leaned into the truck to get his duffel, and by the time he turned around, Poppy and Shadow were out the door and sprinting to him as though he’d been away for years instead of a single night.
‘Daddy! Daddy!’
She jumped and he caught her with one arm, raised her onto his hip easily as Shadow danced around his legs. ‘Hi!’
‘I missed you so much!’
‘I missed you too,’ he said, and he kissed her forehead.
He had too. It was weird, being away from her. Every time he had sat down over the past twenty-four hours, he had felt like he had forgotten an item on his to-do list, only to realize that he didn’t have any list while he was away.
‘Did you have fun with Sisi?’
‘Yeah. Lots!’ She used one small hand to brush her hair back from her face. Her small face puckered into a frown. ‘Where’s Nina?’
‘She has to look after herself for a little while, baby. But she’ll be back.’ He knew he shouldn’t get Poppy’s hopes up, but he needed something to hold on to. He needed to believe that Nina would make her way back to him – to them.
‘Oh.’ Poppy’s eyes welled instantly. ‘Is she sick?’
‘No, she’s not sick. She just has a sad heart, and she needs some time to fix it.’
‘But, Daddy, you know how to fix everything!’
Mav chuckled at that, even as he wished he had that childlike confidence. ‘Cookies don’t work for everyone.’
‘Oh.’ Poppy considered this seriously for a minute before asking, ‘What about cake? Nina likes cake.’
‘How about, next time she comes to visit, we can make her a cake? See it if helps?’
Poppy nodded. ‘’Kay.’
He carried her up the porch stairs and set her down when he saw Sierra leaning against the front door. ‘Poppy, if you take this inside—’ he put the duffel on the ground ‘—there’s a present in there for you.’
Poppy did not hesitate. She lifted the bag, which was comically too big for her, and half carried, half dragged it inside so that she could rummage around in it.
The moment the door slapped shut behind her, Sierra said, ‘So?’
‘I know, okay. I know everything you’re going to say. Hell, I even agree with most of it.’
‘So, what are you going to do?’
‘Give her space. Because she asked. Show up for her when she’ll let me. Be here for her if and when she’s ready to come home.’
‘Okay.’
Mav raised his eyebrows at that. ‘Okay? That’s it? No argument? No calling me an idiot?’
‘Nope.’ But she looked at him, her eyes filled with obvious concern. ‘How areyoudoing, Mav?’
He exhaled. ‘Not great.’
