Fuck. I’d fallen asleep again, leaving her to cope on her own.
But where the hell was she?
I slipped out of bed, intent on dragging her back to it, forcing her to rest no matter what it took.
Soft light spilled from a doorway down the hall. Jamie sat on the floor of her father’s room, surrounded by papers, clutching one document to her chest. Tears streamed down her face. Her hair was disheveled, eyes swollen, cheeks stained red.
Seeing her like that—broken and hurting—twisted something deep in my chest. I’d do anything to take away her pain, even if I could only ease it a little.
“Hey, beautiful girl. What’re you doing?”
Her eyes met mine, drowning me in heartbreak. “I don’t know.” Her voice was thick with sorrow.
I moved into the room, sweeping papers aside to make space beside her. Close enough to touch, to shelter her with my presence.
“What’ve you got there?” I nodded at the document still clutched in her hands.
She looked at it like she was seeing it for the first time. “It’s from my dad.”
She handed it over without explanation.
It was a business license for Hartley Home Renovations, the registered owners, both Frank and Jamison Hartley.
“Looks like you’re a business owner.”
“I didn’t even know he had his own company. He started it six years ago, and I had no idea.” Fresh tears fell. “He named me in it from the beginning. He was thinking about me, even back then, and I was busy pretending he didn’t exist.”
“Stop beating yourself up. It won’t help anything.”
I shuffled through more papers, which were mostly legal documents, including a will.
“From the look of this, he’s been organizing things for a long time.”
My words only made her cry harder.
“Jamie.” I gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me. “While he was doing this, you were raising your son. Your priorities were exactly where they should’ve been. Don’t ever doubt that.”
I traced my thumb down her cheek, following the trail of tears. One droplet clung to her lashes, threatening to fall. That single tear reminded me of her strength. Her ability to stand alone.
But she wasn’t alone. I wouldn’t let her be.
I cupped her jaw, and she leaned into my touch, seeking comfort.
“I’ll never be allowed to doubt myself as long as you’re around, will I?”
“Never.” I kissed her forehead softly.
She sighed, meeting my eyes. “I guess I can live with that.”
I didn’t want to read too much into her words. There were too many things left unsaid, any one of which could destroy the hope building inside me.
The hope that she’d stay.
After convincing her to leave the mess, I pulled Jamie back to the bed we’d been sharing.
It was too small for me, but I refused to complain when she draped herself over me, her head tucked under my chin. I’d sleep on concrete if it meant holding her like this.
Sleep tried to claim me, but I fought it. Jamie was still awake.
