“You want to live with your mom instead of here?” His gaze turned intense.
Jordan nodded. “But her house not weady yet, so we can stay here for now.” She skipped over to Theo and stared at his leg, then up at him.
“Daddy, how your leg feel?”
A crooked smile smoothed out the scowl on Theo’s face. “It’s feeling pretty good, peanut. Nothing to worry about.”
Jordan frowned. “I want it to not feel good.”
“What?” Theo’s eyebrows nearly climbed off his face. “Why would you say that?” He threw a questioning look in her direction. Did he think she was a bad influence on their daughter?
“If your leg still hurt, Daddy, then Mama can stay here again. I want Mama stay here.”
“Oh, I see.” The apologetic look he sent her confirmed that he did.
Limping over to them, he struggled to get on the floor. Finally down, he pulled both her and Jordan over near him. The thumb he rubbed back and forth over her skin was so distracting she had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying.
“Your mom is welcome to stay here if she wants to, but remember she also has to take care of her house. It’s kind of hard to fix it up if she isn’t there.”
Warmth filled her at his touch. Nothing could be better than staying here with him and their child. He’d also given her an out if she wanted to take it. Did she?
Her mind whirled with confusing thoughts and emotions. The kisses Theo and she had shared recently had given her hope for the future. The blame for their split had shifted, and they were starting to grow closer again. But would that remain once Theo discovered her secret? The fact he’d looked her way when Jordan had suggested moving into the oceanfront property made her realize something. He’d looked at her with blame.
There was still a level of trust and comfort that they hadn’t quite reached. Until they got there, she couldn’t think about a future with all three of them together.
Chapter fifteen
“Whydopeoplethinkgoing out in fog this thick is a good idea?” Theo asked as he switched the windshield wipers on. It was only misting, but it was enough to make visibility next to nothing.
“It’s a Saturday in late May, and they’ve paid big bucks for their weekend hotel. They’ll come out and enjoy the park whether they can see it or not,” Rico replied from the passenger seat. Fog always made things more dangerous, so they’d doubled up today.
“Making our jobs of keeping them safe even harder.” They’d been scanning the Park Loop Road for the last hour. Fortunately, not too many visitors had ventured out. But there were always a few.
“We might want to stop and check at Thunder Hole. Always a handful of stupid tourists who think climbing on the slippery rocks is cool.”
In agreement, Theo maneuvered into the parking lot and put the truck in park. His leg had healed fairly well over the past week and a half and only stiffened occasionally. Like now. Most likely the damp weather.
As they slowly crossed the street in the thick fog, Theo thought about when he’d first gotten injured. Chelsea had decided not to stay over again the second night, and he had to admit to being disappointed. He also knew she’d been hurt when he’d aimed his silent accusation her way. He hadn’t meant to indicate she’d been responsible for Jordan wanting to stay with her, but thinking his daughter had chosen her mother over him had stung. Eventually, he’d realized their child simply wanted to be around both of them more. At that point, regrettably, it had been too late to take it back.
“I don’t hear a lot of chatter.” Rico maneuvered carefully down the stairs toward the attraction. “Maybe no one’s here.”
“I can’t believe how thick this pea soup is. Seriously, I can’t even see my hand.” Or the flashlight he held in it. The sun wasn’t scheduled to set for another few hours, but the low clouds that shrouded the land made everything darker.
“Is Chelsea planning to cook dinner tonight for all of you?” Rico’s teasing voice reached him, though the man himself had vanished in the mist.
“I told her not to, but she always feels like she has to earn her keep. Having her stay with Jordan during the weekends I work is a blessing and more than makes up for the food I feed her. Not that Angie minds, but I hate bothering her when it’s her only time off. She’s got a life, too.”
The granite under Theo’s feet was slick. He held tighter to the railing as he made his way toward the crashing sound of Thunder Hole. Aside from the noise, there wasn’t a whole lot to see. Only another hour of his shift before he could clock out and go back home.
Would Chelsea have attempted to make dinner? The hot dogs and beans he’d gotten were easy enough. Hopefully, he could get her to at least stay. If she tried to drive in this fog, his nerves would be on edge until she got home. He’d made her text him every night after she’d left, so he knew she was all right. His way of making up for his stupidity. That and the gentle kisses he’d given her before she left. Nothing too passionate, even with his body wanting more. Enough to let her know he cared for her.
Had it been only a month ago that she’d shown up here, turning his world upside down yet again? They’d come so far yet not far enough. Not for what he ultimately wanted. But he’d be patient. If the end result was Chelsea back in his life and Jordan having her mom full time, then yeah, he could wait it out.
The roar of the crashing waves got louder, and Theo could tell he was right on top of Thunder Hole. The tide was coming in, even if he couldn’t see it.
“Looks empty down here,” Rico commented from beside him. Yikes, this fog was bad.
“Looksempty? Like you can actually see anything.”
