“Are you coming?” Fern shouts.
I silently curse my ex-wife. With a groan, I let go of Lilly and step back. I can’t trust myself when I’m close to her. “Are you gonna tell the kid he has to stop his game or me?”
Lilly smiles as she brushes past me, her hand caressing my chest. “I’ll bribe him away.”
I leave Lilly to it and head downstairs where Fern waits, her eyes glued to the framed photographs on my wall.
Her fingers reach up and touch the sunset on one of her photographs. “You framed my prints?”
I shrug my shoulders. “They’re stunning images. You’re a great photographer.”
“I don’t even own a camera anymore.” Her eyes sadden like a crystal blue lake icing over in winter. “I can’t believe you kept these.”
“They were too good to throw out.” I gaze at the one at the festival with Lilly on my shoulders. Acid burns the back of my throat as thoughts of what I’ve done with her eat away at my insides.
Fern’s fingers trace the image of Lilly with her ice cream. Our happiness captured in the frame is infectious, reminding us both of that day. “She loved hanging out with you back then. She was always asking when you were coming home.”
“I was just the big brother she never had, that’s all. You can hardly call that piece of shit Asher a brother to her.”
Fern bristles her spine at the mention of Ash. “Has he been in trouble with the cops again?”
“Not that I know of.”
“He got out on good behaviour, apparently.”
“Have you seen him?” I ask, wanting to know his whereabouts. I promised Lilly I wouldn’t hurt him, but if he gets himself in trouble with the police force, there’s not a lot I can do to help.
“No. He knows not to come near me. After he stole from me, I want nothing to do with him.”
“What about Lilly?”
Fern huffs. “If she has any sense, she’ll stay away from him too, but you know what she’s like.”
I nod, knowing all too well what my nightingale’s like. She’d do anything to help someone in need.
“Do you have any idea who it was that broke into her house?”
I shake my head. “What about your ex? What’s that crazy bastard up to these days?”
She pinches her brow. “You think it could be him?”
“I’m not ruling anyone out.” My fists clench in my sweats pockets, thinking of some man hurting my ex-wife. I’m not in love with Fern anymore—unsure if I ever was—but I do care about her. “You know I’d have kicked his ass if I knew he hit you. I’d never stand by and let anyone hurt either of you two. You know that, right?”
She smiles. “I know, but you don’t need to worry about him. Last I heard, he was living abroad. And I kicked his ass myself. A man only hits me once.”
Harry and Lilly walk down the stairs. Fern opens the door and looks down at Harry. “Have you said thank you for playing on his games?”
“Thank you.”
“Any time, bud.” I give Fern a nod as she smiles, taking Harry’s hand in hers and making her way to the car.
Lilly hangs back a moment, clutching her bag as if she doesn’t want to leave.
I rub the ache in my chest, not wanting her to go either, but I fear if she were to stay another night, I won’t be able to control myself. “I’ll get your door fixed while you’re staying at your sisters.”
“Thank you.” She reaches up on her tiptoes and pecks my lips before rushing out the door.
I lick the gloss residue left on my lips, willing my feet to stay put on the flagstone tiles and not run outside to drag my girl back in here where she belongs.
