She often pondered the question he’d asked in Los Angeles:What does this mean for us?
“Nothing,” she’d said. But the truth she’d wanted to give him waseverything. Having him back meant everything.
But she couldn’t tell him that. Not now, maybe not ever. Every night, watching him leave to live a separate life stung, and yet she was still reluctant to trust him with her heart again.
And then there was Matt. Steady, good Matt—waiting in the wings for her to choose him, even while her heart carried thescars of Jameson’s betrayal. None of it was simple; none of it was safe.
Past feelings had her questioning everything, but the truth was she did love Matt, and she couldn’t keep this ride going forever. She would have to choose. It pained her to listen to her daughter talk to him, knowing she owed him an answer. He wanted forever, but Daisy didn’t know if she was capable of giving him that. She waited for her heart to tell her what to do, but it had been over a month since they spoke and still…nothing.
She found herself comparing the two men—something a therapist, if she had one, would surely advise against.
Matt was safe; Jameson was wild.
Matt wanted to settle; Jameson lived on the road.
Amelia loved Matt; Amelia loved her father, too.
An impossible loop, playing daily in her mind. Daisy knew she’d have to get her act together sooner rather than later.
They drove up the long driveway to Jameson’s new house. He was officially a resident of Hillsborough in San Mateo County. Daisy still couldn’t believe the size of the place, and judging by her daughter’s wide-eyed expression, neither could she.
“It’s like a castle. Do you think my bedroom will be done?”
“Yes, sweetie. Jameson said it would be.”
When Daisy parked, she expected Amelia to bolt for the front door. Instead, Amelia lingered, sighing.
“Are you okay?” Daisy asked.
“I think so.”
“Youthink?”
Amelia sank into her seat. “I’m a little sad, I guess.”
Daisy laughed softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear. “What’s there to be sad about? You’re about to see your awesome new room.”
“I’m excited for that,” Amelia said honestly. “But I’ll kind of miss my old one. And you.”
The words snagged in Daisy’s chest. “You do realize that you’re still going to live with me. Your old room isn’t going anywhere.”
Amelia’s mouth tipped into a sly smile. “You could always stay here when I’m with Daddy. He said there’s a room for you.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not? Then we could all be together… like a real family.”
And there it was. Daisy had often wondered whether Amelia longed for the tidy family picture so many of her friends had. She’d never asked—why rock the boat if there was nothing she could do? But there it was, in Amelia’s voice.
“That’s not going to happen,” Daisy said gently.
“But why not? Why can’t we just be normal? I think Daddy would like it. Even Matt wants us to be a family. But you don’t!”
Guilt rushed in. This was a lot for an eight-year-old. Daisy knew Amelia had sharp ears and even sharper intuition, but she hadn’t realized how much her daughter had pieced together.
“Don’t raise your voice at me.”
“I’m sorry,” Amelia whispered. “I just don’t understand. You deserve to be happy, Mom.”
