“I’ll tell her.”
Could he mention how sorry he was, too? For not believing in her? For thinking for one second that she didn’t want her child? Their child? And would her forgiveness, if she gave it, ever be enough to get them back to where they were five years ago?
Theo’s SUV pulled into her driveway, so Chelsea skipped down her stairs and waved. She’d had supper with Theo and Jordan the last few nights, but today was Saturday. That meant he had the whole day off, and Jordan didn’t have school. The suggestion they spend it together had surprised her.
At their house, she’d spent time with Jordan chattering on and playing games, then after she was in bed, Chelsea would thank Theo and head back to her grandmother’s house. All alone. And not alone like she’d been in the huge house they had in Westchester, where there were a dozen people who worked for her father bustling about. None of them had ever interacted with her more than they needed to. Probably so she didn’t learn of her father’s betrayal. How many of them had known he’d given away his grandchild and caused his own flesh and blood to have a nervous breakdown?
“Hi, Mama,” Jordan greeted her as she climbed in the front beside Theo.
“Hey, sweetheart. I missed you.” Calling herbabyhad caused a wrinkled nose and pout, so Chelsea had moved tosweetheart. It seemed to sit better with Jordan.
“I saw you last night, Mama.”
“I know, but I miss you every second I’m not with you.”
“Like you missed me all the time you were away?”
“Exactly.” Missed a child she’d thought was dead. Now, it was time to make up for that.
“Well, we’re going to spend all day together, so hopefully that’ll help with the missing stuff.” Theo’s jaw clenched, and his hands gripped the wheel. Was he regretting his offer of the day?
“We…we don’t have to spend all day together. I mean…if you have other things to do.” Her stupid voice couldn’t even muster up any volume.
Clasping her hand, Theo looked her straight in the eye. A smile softened his expression. “Listen, pixie girl. We want to spend time with you.”
Pixie. The nickname sent memories rushing through her and flipped her stomach around. Good thing they hadn’t eaten yet.
Lowering his eyes, Theo took a deep breath, then gazed up again. “I want you to have as much time as you can with Jordan. I know how much you missed, and I still can’t…can’t wrap my head around what happened.”
Guilt. Was that what this was all about? Theo wasn’t to blame that her father had been a ruthless jerk.
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”
The guilt in Theo’s eyes said he still felt responsible. Why? Because of the text he’d sent.
Her eyes crinkled with a smile, and his shoulders relaxed.
“Are we having bweakfast, Daddy?”
Pulling her hand back, she buckled her seatbelt and looked at Theo. His face colored as he gulped down a steadying breath.
“We sure are, peanut. Where do you want to go?”
“We go to Nellie’s?”
Chelsea’s curious stare had him saying, “It’s a new place that opened up last year. It’s in downtown Bar Harbor. Great home cooking.”
“Sounds perfect.”
The drive was filled with Jordan’s little girl chatter, which only slowed down when Theo pulled in a parking space behind the information center at the Village Green.
“Can I get pancakes, Daddy?” Jordan asked as she grabbed Theo and Chelsea’s hands and swung between them every few steps.
“Watch out, peanut. You’ll knock your mother over, jumping like that.”
“I don’t mind,” Chelsea answered, holding tighter to the child’s hand. “As long as I know you’re about to swing.” And for the next few minutes Jordan kept letting her know she was going to swing. Every four steps.
The restaurant, Nellie’s Kitchen, was only a block down on Main Street—cute, homey decor, and a dozen customers at a few tables. A woman with curly red hair pulled back into a ponytail stood at the counter. After tipping his chin to her, Theo guided them to a booth in the corner.
