Before she could answer, a voice came from behind.
“I wasn’t ready, Amelia.”
They turned to find Jameson standing there, his face etched with regret.
“You weren’t ready for what?” Amelia asked, her voice fragile.
“To be a dad,” he admitted, stepping closer. “My life was reckless. I made mistakes, too many. Your mum was protecting you from all of it. Don’t be angry with her. If anything, thank her for raising you into who you are… kind, smart, good. I don’t know if you’d be that girl if I’d been the father you had back then.”
Daisy’s tears blurred her vision. He was taking it, every ounce of blame, onto his own shoulders so Amelia wouldn’t turn her hurt on her. The love Daisy felt for him in that moment was sharp and painful.
His voice cracked as he continued. “I was just a kid when you came into this world. I thought you’d ruin my career. I couldn’t see what mattered most. I was wrong. And I’m so sorry. But if you’ll let me, I’d really love the chance to be your dad now.”
Amelia stared at the ground as he spoke. Daisy’s grip tightened around her small hand, her own heart pounding so hard it hurt.
When Amelia still didn’t respond, Jameson crouched to her level. His voice a whisper. “What do you say, love? Can I be your dad?”
For one breathless beat, Daisy feared silence would stretch forever, but then Amelia lifted her head at last, a tentative smile breaking through her tears. “I’d like that.”
Then she threw her arms around his neck.
Daisy pressed both hands to her face, tears spilling freely, her chest fluttering with a mix of grief, relief, and gratitude. This was the moment she had dreaded and prayed for all at once and she knew she would carry it with her for the rest of her life.
Chapter Twenty-Three
DAISY AND AMELIA WERE SILENTthe entire way back to their home. It wasn’t an uncomfortable or even an angry silence, but a thoughtful stillness, one they both needed before any words were spoken. Jameson had offered to accompany them home, mostly because he desperately wanted to make sure they were all right, but Daisy amiably refused, stating that she and Amelia needed to have a conversation without him present. Jameson was more than understanding and sent them on their way with his driver, Barry.
While Daisy was grateful that Jameson had taken the majority of responsibility for being absent from Amelia’s life, she couldn’t let him take the blame for everything.
Amelia deserved honesty, and that’s exactly what Daisy was going to give her.
It was the longest walk up to their apartment as Daisy prepared her mind and her heart for that conversation.
She let Amelia go to her room and get ready for bed before she went in. She knocked twice and turned the doorknob. She found Amelia in bed with a copy of the magazine she’d been browsingthrough that morning. Daisy giggled when she found her staring intently at a page with Jameson on it.
“It’s so weird,” Amelia said, eyes still focused on the page.
“I know,” Daisy agreed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But you can’t always believe these things. Sometimes they write stuff that isn’t true.”
“Then why do you and Auntie Anna read them?”
Daisy was stumped. Amelia made a very good point. “I don’t know. I guess I like the fashion.”
Amelia shrugged and threw the tabloid down onto her bed. The girls were quiet for a few moments before Amelia said, “I’m not mad or even sad—just confused… I guess.”
Daisy scooted closer and waited for her to keep going.
“Like… why now? Even if he was doing all those bad things and not ready to be my dad, why didn’t he just come over once a year or send me a card on my birthday?” she said, picking at a loose thread on her blanket. “I keep all my birthday cards.”
Daisy leaned back on the headboard with Amelia and wrapped an arm around her.
Time for the truth.
“It’s because he didn’t know you existed.”
Perplexed, Amelia looked up at her mother and started, “But he said—”
“I know what he said, baby,” Daisy interjected, “and while it’s true, he left out a couple of… important details.”
