He blinked. “What?”
She grabbed a paper napkin and started shredding it. “At least she’s communicating with you. Tell her she has to start talking to me.”
“Amy—”
“You’re going to refuse my one request?” Her voice broke, and she turned her head to the side when the waitress appeared.
“We need a few more minutes,” Daniel said.
After the waitress left, Amy glared at him again. “I can’t believe this,” she said, her eyes filling. “All these years, you were never there for us. I ask you for one simple thing, and you can’t even do that.”
Guilt almost flattened him. But he stood his ground. “I want to, Amy. I want to do everything I can to make up for abandoning you and Brittany. But I can’t tell our daughter what to do and who to talk to.”
“Then what good are you!” She jumped up from her chair and rushed out of the restaurant.
Daniel yanked his wallet out of his pocket, threw a few bills on the table, and went after her. She was getting in her car as he reached the parking lot. He ran and blocked her.
“Get out of my way!” She tried to shove him aside.
He didn’t move. “Not until you calm down.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
“But you want me to tell Britt what to do.”
She halted, staring up at him. Tears dripped down her face. “I—”
He couldn’t stop himself from wiping her cheek with his thumb, nearly melting with relief when she didn’t stop him. “You’re not alone in this anymore, Amy,” he whispered. “I’m right here by your side.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.
“I tried my best to be a good mom,” she said, weeping against his shoulder.
“You’re an amazing mom.”
“I’m too overprotective. I worry too much about her. I—”
Daniel shifted her in his embrace so he could see her face. Her beautiful, anguished face. “It’s going to be okay, as long as we handle this together. She’s never seen us united. Right now, she needs us to be.”
There were people filtering through the parking lot, the eveningsun blazing down on them, and he was still wearing his chauffeur uniform except for the jacket and tie, and his clothes were sticking to him... but neither of them let go of each other, didn’t stop gazing into the other’s eyes.
Having her in his arms again felt so incredible, so right. How had he been such a fool for so long? He could have been with her all this time, and they would have raised their daughter together.
“Don’t,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “Don’t beat yourself up.”
“You could always read my mind. It’s kind of eerie.”
“You’re an open book... when you’re sober.” She moved out of his arms.
“I plan to stay sober, for the rest of my life.”
Amy looked at him. “I think you mean that.”
“I do, but it won’t be easy.” He held her gaze. “I’ll have my problems, my temptations. But I will fight them, because I want to be a part of yours and Britt’s lives.”
“Daniel—”
“I don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms, or even forgiven right now. Not until I’ve proven myself to you and Britt. I’m going to do that for the rest of my life, if that’s what it takes.”
***
