Taking a deep breath, she looked at Angie and said, “Yes.”
Chapter four
“Iseverythingallright,Theo?” Dina Brannon, the administrative assistant to his boss, asked as he exited Norma Eldridge’s office. “You didn’t make your earlier meeting, and I wondered if something was up with Jordan. Is she sick, poor dear?”
Theo glanced at his watch and exhaled. He’d wanted to pick Jordan up early and get back to the house. Leaving Chelsea after her reaction this morning hadn’t felt right.
“Because if she is,” Dina continued, “I’d be willing to come over and help you out tonight. I know it must be hard taking care of a child all by yourself. I could even bring a bottle of wine to help relax you after.”
“Thanks, Dina. Appreciate the offer.” Not really, but he couldn’t afford to tick off the person who basically ran headquarters. “But no, it wasn’t Jordan.”
“Are you all right then? Is it anything I can help you with?”
Might as well let her know. Part of it, anyway. The island was small when the tourists weren’t here. She’d find out soon enough, regardless, then be upset that he hadn’t told her first.
“Jordan’s mom showed up at the house this morning.” No need to tell her she’d been at the lake all week.
“What?” Dina’s eyebrows couldn’t possibly get any higher. “Why is she here? Is she looking to get back together? Make sure to tell her you have moved on.”
Even if he hadn’t? He’d been stuck in limbo for so long, and Dina knew that. Every time she asked him out, he’d used the excuse he was married.
“Legally, she’s still my wife.”
“Well, maybe now you can get that divorce. Let her know exactly how you feel about someone who abandons a poor, innocent baby. You’ve done such a great job as a father, but you know a little girl needs a mom. One who’ll stay by her side and help her figure out the way to dress and wear makeup and navigate all those social niceties.”
Dina sure knew about clothes and makeup and the effect they had on people. Men, especially. If he hadn’t been hooked on a petite brunette with pixie ears, he might have looked twice at the buxom redhead. Or maybe not. Dina was too pushy sometimes.
“Jordan’s not even four yet. I have a little time.”
Stepping forward, Dina placed her well-manicured fingers on his arm. “Know that I’m here for you if you need me.”
With a contrived smile, he moved toward the door. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Norma knows I’m taking the rest of the day off. I have to deal with this situation.”
“Call me if you need a shoulder later. I’ll be home.” She waved as he marched out.
Taking a deep breath, he got behind the wheel of his SUV and started the engine. Get Jordan, then head to the house. How would he tell his little girl her mother had finally come home? Had she come home or was she only visiting? Was she planning to stay or head back to her fancy estate in New York? He needed to know before he left his daughter open for more heartache.Like your heart isn’t in the mix, too.
Rico had texted him this morning to let him know Chelsea hadn’t shown up at the pond. He figured Theo would want to know. When he’d texted back that she was at his house, Rico had only replied, “Okay, let me know if you need anything.”It was great having a friend who cared without sticking his nose in everywhere.
“Daddy, you early?” Jordan squealed when he showed up to get her and she’d only recently finished her lunch. Usually, he didn’t pick her up until closer to five.
Throwing her backpack on his shoulder, he scooped her up and said goodbye to the school staff. When they were close to the truck, she whispered in his ear, “Daddy, who the lady at the house? The one who look like my mama?”
After tossing the bag in the back seat, he placed her on the ground and crouched down to her eye level. “That lady is your mama.”
She practically vibrated. “It is? She came back. Where she been, Daddy?”
Thinking of how pale Chelsea looked and how thin she’d felt in his arms, he answered, “She’s been sick and wasn’t able to be with you.” He was sick thinking about all Chelsea had gone through, being told their child had died. It was unimaginable.
“Can we go see her?”
“That’s why I got you early. She’s still at the house.”
Jordan bounced up and down squealing. “My mama came back for me! She did! Like you said, Daddy.”
After getting his daughter situated in her car seat, he started the engine and steered toward home. What would he find? He hadn’t asked Angie too many questions. She’d said Chelsea was okay. What that meant was anyone’s guess.
The summer they’d been together, she’d been strong and loving, sad about her grandmother’s passing but delighted to be on the island and outside in the beautiful, fresh air. The woman he saw this morning had been a shell of the one he’d fallen in love with. Still as enchanting yet hauntingly so. Because she thought her child was dead? Who did that to someone?
