I find Ash’s car parked by the curb in a picture-perfect neighborhood. Nice houses line the street. There are kids riding bikes on the sidewalk. This is the life I was trying to give her when I sent her away, but it didn’t keep her from hurting right along with me, did it?
Walking up to the porch, there’s a swing and a tiny Minnie Mouse folding chair. A half-empty cup of coffee sits on a glass-top table. My eyes meet the storm door in front of me, and I ring the doorbell before hearing the chimes from inside the house. I suck in a breath as the moment comes into focus. The wait is finally over.
Hopefully.
I guess she could send me away, but I don’t think so.
We aren’t over. We never were.
Footsteps thunder on the other side before I finally hear the click of the lock.
This is it. I’m about to get my girl back. Warmth spreads across my chest, and electricity surges through my veins.
As the dark wood door swings open, a little girl wearing a princess dress, a pink sock on one tiny foot, and a purple sock on the other stares up at me.
Whose kid is that?
I look at the number on the house again before taking inthe wild blonde curls, half pulled up on top of her head with frizzy ringlets falling around her face like she’s been rolling around on the floor.
Her wide grin falls, and her big blue eyes lose a bit of their shine.
“It’s not him, Mommy!”
Mommy?
Clattering rings out from deep within the house, and Ash shouts, “Who is it, then?”
Her lips twist, and her shoulders slump as she looks back at me with those eyes.
What color were her ex’s eyes?
My heart thumps in my ears, and my chest squeezes.
This isn’t real.
“How old are you?” I manage to croak out.
Her brows pinch, but then she grins big and holds up an open hand. “Five.”
All the air whooshes from my lungs.
His eyes weren’t blue.
I step back, sweat collecting on my brow. It didn’t feel this hot before.
“I think he’s sick! He looks green!”
“What? Close the door, Mag?—”
I can see Ash out of the corner of my eye, but I can’t tear them away from the little girl.
“Gabriel…”
She’s staring back at me with those eyes.
My fucking eyes.
Ash steps in front of her.
