“I don’t know about keeping her out an entire week—” the principal began.
“That’s fine,” the teacher cut in. “It’s a light week. I’ll send the work home.”
Amelia threw her hands up. “So I don’t have to come back here for a whole week?”
“That’s correct,” her teacher said, fighting a smile.
“Hell yeah!”
After Daisy promised to wash her daughter’s mouth out with soap for cursing in front of her teacher, the three of them got back into Jameson’s SUV.
Barry glanced in the rearview. “Paparazzi are swarming your building, Ms. Daniels. It’s safest to head to Mr. Kingston’s. We’ll collect your belongings.”
“I’m not being run out of my home.” Daisy’s voice sharpened. “We’ll manage.”
“Daisy,” Jameson said softly, “please. Stay with your parents. Or Anna. Somewhere gated. I’ll breathe easier if you’re not alone. This is different than anything you’ve dealt with.”
She was ready to argue, then she saw the tightness in his jaw, the worry sparking off him.
“Anna’s place is more remote,” she said. “We’ll stay with her.”
“Slumber party at Auntie Anna’s!” Amelia cheered.
Relief washed over his face. “Thank you. We will have the guys stop by your place and collect some of your belongings. Then I will make a statement, confirming that Amelia is indeed my child and that we’d appreciate it if everyone left us the hell alone.”
“Ooh,” Amelia said, eyes dancing. “Jameson said a bad word. Does he get his mouth washed out with soap, too?”
Daisy and Jameson smiled at each other over her head.
“Yes,” Daisy said. “He absolutely does.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
THEY STAYED LOCKED IN ANNA’Shouse for two full days, never once stepping outside. Barry and his team ring-fenced the place, securing it like Buckingham Palace. Before Jameson made the announcement, Daisy called her small circle and dropped the bombshell she’d been guarding all these years.
Jessica was her first call; she unsurprisingly freaked out for five straight minutes. Then Daisy called a few college friends she still kept up with, apologizing in advance for the press Barry said would come knocking. Lastly, she called Sean, who knew about Jameson’s return by way of their mother, but other than a couple of texts, hadn’t talked to him much about it.
“Hey, sis!” He answered on the first ring.
“Hey.”
“I was hoping you’d call. I was gonna reach out but didn’t want to pile on.”
“I appreciate it. I’ve definitely been in a bit of a bubble the last few weeks.”
She walked him through everything, Jameson’s reentering their lives, the awkward but inevitable reconnection with Ky andLenny, and the looming statement that could hit the media any minute. By the time she finished, Daisy felt like she’d lived the last month twice over in the retelling, every memory sharper and heavier spoken out loud.
“Damn.” He paused. “How’s Amelia holding up? That’s a lot for a kid.”
“You know your niece—she loves the attention. And she’s… kind of smitten with Jameson.”
“Sounds familiar,” he teased.
“Ha. I was a bit obsessed once, until reality slapped me in the face.”
“How areyouholding up? Being around him again can’t be easy. Not after… everything.”
“It wasn’t. At first.” She exhaled. “But you know Jameson.” And he did. Once upon a time, they’d been inseparable, almost brothers, until Sean left for college and the distance grew. Then came the breaking point: when Jameson hurt Daisy, Sean cut ties and never looked back.
