Fling. That’s what he had called it in his text. The one that had ripped her heart to shreds.
He glanced down, then focused his eyes on her. “Why did you put Lapierre as your name on the volunteer form?”
It was her turn to shrug. “I don’t know. When I think of this place, I think of you.” Turning, she gazed out on the crystal-clear water of the lake. The mesmerizing liquid usually eased her stress, but it didn’t do much today.
“I don’t get you, Chelsea.” His rough voice snapped her back to attention. “You use my name on the form, yet you seem surprised we’re still married. How did you not know this? Did you sign divorce papers? Because I never got any.”
His anger drilled through her, causing her to shake and look anywhere but at him. Or maybe it waswhyshe didn’t know.
“I looked through my father’s papers at the house but didn’t find them. I don’t remember signing any, but I was sick for a while. I wasn’t sure if he made the arrangements.”
“Did you ask him to make arrangements?”
Shaking her head, she blinked back tears, keeping her emotions in check so Theo didn’t see. “No, he usually did stuff like that without telling me. Maybe he didn’t know where you were.”
Dark eyes bore into her as Theo turned to stalk away. “Oh, he knew.”
“Daddy, can you tell me that story again?”
Theo perched on the edge of Jordan’s bed and fixed the covers.
“What story is that, peanut?” He had a slew of them he’d made up to entertain her if she wasn’t in the mood for a book.
“The one about Mama.”
Seriously? Where was this coming from? Had he exuded some vibe, making her want this specific story? Was there some psychic connection to her mother that told her she was close by?
“You sure you don’t want another one? How about The Little Mermaid? The book’s right here.”
“No, I want the Mama story. Please, Daddy.”
The power those little eyes had over him was intense. Sighing, he nodded.
“Once upon a time there was a handsome park ranger,” he began, and she giggled.
“Daddy, you so silly.” She reached up to hold his face.
“What?” He tried for stern, but a grin slipped out. “You don’t think I’m handsome?”
Another giggle escaped.
“It’s my story. I can make the park ranger handsome.”
“You are handsome, Daddy.” The hero worship in her eyes killed him every time. What would he do without this precious little girl?
“So this ranger lived in the beautiful Acadia National Park near the Atlantic Ocean. He had lots of friends but was still lonely. Something was missing from his life.”
“It’s Mama,” she whispered.
“One day, as the handsome ranger was gazing out at the shimmering waters of Jordan Pond, he saw the most stunning woman. He thought he was imagining things. No one could be more beautiful than the lake. But the woman turned and smiled at the ranger, and right there he lost his heart to her.”
“But your heart wight here, Daddy,” Jordan assured him. If it wasn’t for her, he would have doubted it.
“The ranger was pulled by the beauty of the woman. She said she was a princess from far away and had come to see for herself if the water of Jordan Pond was as magical as she had heard.”
“It is.” The soft words floated up to him from the dark-haired child.
“‘It is’, the ranger told the princess. ‘It brings peace and harmony to all who gaze upon it.’ The woman never wanted to leave. The ranger stayed with her, and they did lots of fun things during the summer.”
