Ahh. That would be it.
Angie groaned and buried her face in her knees.
“A massive dildo?” Jared asked, trying to keep himself from laughing.
“Yes, truly massive. I don’t think our dicks combined were as large as it,” North told him matter-of-factly.
“It was a gift!” Angie wailed. “It wasn’t mine. I mean, it was mine, but I didn’t buy it and I certainly didn’t use it. It was intimidating. Keira and Honey bought it for me.”
“Ahh, is that also why there was a tube of lube, a vibrating egg, nipple clamps, and handcuffs?” North asked.
“Yes,” she cried. “Oh my God. I have never been more mortified. Well, actually, I was completely and utterly embarrassed when the bag broke and stuff scattered everywhere and the . . . and the dildo landed on Zander’s foot.”
Jared couldn’t stop it. The laugh burst out of him. It seemed to surprise North and Angie who gaped at him.
“It wasn’t funny, Daddy! I didn’t want that dildo. It’s scary. It’s the size of my arm.”
“It really was.” North nodded.
Jared shook his head. “Sorry. You’re right. You should have thrown it out.”
“I know, but I . . . it seemed rude. I never got presents before I went to live with Keira. Well, other than those books you bought me when I was married to Fergus.”
Fuck.
Of course she hadn’t. His father wouldn’t have bought her anything and it sounded like her father wouldn’t either.
“And some things from church or school.”
That was it. They needed to shower her with gifts. North had made a good start, but Jared needed to up his game.
“What do you do for these bad headaches?” Jared asked.
“Well, I usually get warning signs that one is coming, like feeling nauseous and dizzy. I just take some painkillers and lie down. It doesn’t happen very often.”
“I don’t like that it happens at all,” Jared said.
“Not much I can do about it. The doctor thinks it’s from an old head injury.”
From his father.
Shit.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“That’s it. Sometimes a bit of vertigo. But other than that, I’m fine.”
“Vertigo?” Jared asked.
“Yeah, my balance goes a bit off and I feel dizzy.”
Christ. He couldn’t take anything more. Guilt flooded him.
He should have taken her from Fergus.
“Daddy? Jared? Are you all right?” she asked.
His hands clenched into fists. He should be the one asking her that. Not the other way around.
