Jordan chattered away to herself on the drive back, mostly retelling herself the princess story he’d made up. Partly. The basics had been true, yet he’d never known for sure if Chelsea would ever return. Still didn’t know what her plans were. Maybe he should have asked her before he let mother and daughter meet. She hadn’t even realized Jordan was alive until this morning, so perhaps whatever plans she’d had would change. Could he change them, so they benefited him and their daughter?
Theirdaughter. He’d have to get used to that. For almost four years, the child had been his exclusively.
The car had barely stopped moving when Jordan pulled on her restraints. “Let’s go see Mama.”
After lifting her from her seat and placing her on the ground, he reached in for her bag. The little girl dashed up the walk and onto the porch. By the time he got up there, she’d pushed open the door and barreled into the living room.
“Angie, my mama is here. Did you see her?”
His cousin lifted her gaze to his, then looked down at Jordan. Chelsea wasn’t in the living room. Had she left? No, her car was still parked outside, and she’d said she wanted to meet her daughter.
“She’ll be right out.”
Angie glanced at the bathroom door. The sound of water splashing came through, then the door opened. Chelsea drifted through, pale, washed out, and looking petrified.
“Mama?” Jordan stopped in the middle of the room and stared. Had excitement dimmed as reality set in?
As Chelsea dropped to her knees, the pain that pierced his heart was agony.
“Hi, baby.” Tears poured down her face as she reached for the child. Jordan stepped close and lifted a hand to her mother’s cheek.
“Why you crying, Mama?”
“I missed you so much.” He could see the control Chelsea was trying for, but deep breaths shook her petite frame.
“Daddy said you were sick. Are you better now?”
“I’m getting there.” Chelsea ran her fingers over Jordan’s hair and down her cheek as she studied the little girl. “You are so beautiful.”
“Daddy says I look like you.”
Chelsea continued her appraisal of Jordan. “Being with you is going to help me get better a lot quicker.”
“Oh, wait.” Jordan froze, then ran off into the bathroom. Chelsea’s hand reached out after her. A cabinet crashed open, then she came skipping back with a pink box in her hand.
“These are my princess bandages. They make me better with princess magic. Since you a princess, they make you better, too.”
As Jordan babbled on about princesses, Theo moved to empty the child’s backpack in the kitchen. Angie trailed after him.
“How long did she sleep?”
“Few hours. She must have been exhausted.”
“I think a lot of it might be emotional exhaustion. How was she when she woke up?”
“Confused, quiet, sad. She didn’t come out and say it, but she seemed upset that you weren’t here.”
After wiping out Jordan’s lunchbox, he placed it on the counter. “I tried to get back sooner, but you know how Norma is when she gets going.”
Angie’s lips twitched at the corner. “She thought we were together.”
“Together? Chelsea thoughtwewere? Did she seem upset?”
“I couldn’t tell. She said that I shouldn’t worry, that she wasn’t here to break us up.”
What was she here for then? His gaze strayed to the doorway, so he could keep an eye on the two girls. Jordan was chatting in her typical way.
“I think I’ll slip out the back and let you deal with this.” Angie headed for the back door. “Call me if you need me.”
