"All set!" Linda hands Sierra two key cards. "Room 204, second floor. There's an elevator if you need it, but the stairs are faster. And Cade?" She looks at me with warmth. "I'm happy for you. She seems like a special girl."
"She is," I say, and mean it with everything in me.
We head upstairs, Ruby chattering about how cool the Inn is, how she's never stayed in a place with such fancy wallpaper and pretty lights. Sierra's quiet, probably as exhausted as I am by the emotional roller coaster of this day.
Room 204 is at the end of the hall, decorated in soft blues and creams with two double beds and a small sitting area by the window. It's one of the nicer rooms, overlooking Main Street.
Ruby immediately claims the bed by the window, bouncing on it. "This is perfect!"
Sierra sets down their overnight bags, and turns to me.
"So," she says finally. "Tomorrow. What time should we—"
"Nine?" I suggest. "That gives you time for Linda's pancakes, and trust me, they're worth getting up for. I could pick you up here, or you could meet me—"
"You could pick us up," Sierra says. "If that's easier."
"Nine o'clock then." I should leave. Give them space to settle in, decompress from the day. But I can't quite make myself move toward the door. There's so much we need to talk about—custody, visitation, the future. Whether I could move back or if they'd ever consider moving here.
But not now. Not with Ruby in the room, exhausted and happy and calling me Dad like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Ruby saves me from the awkward moment by launching herself off the bed and wrapping her arms around my waist in a surprise hug.
"Thank you for today," she says, her voice muffled against my shirt. "This was the best day ever."
My arms come around her, holding her close, and I have to blink back the sudden sting of tears. "Thank you for being brave enough to come find me."
She pulls back, grinning up at me. "See you tomorrow, Dad."
"See you tomorrow, Ruby."
She bounces back to the bed, already pulling out what looks like a stuffed elephant from her bag. Sierra walks me to the door, stepping into the hallway with me.
"Thank you," she says quietly once the door is closed behind us. "For being... For handling this the way you are. I know it's a lot."
"It is a lot," I admit. "I'm still processing. Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I have a daughter. But Sierra—" I make sure she's looking at me. "I meant what I said in there. I'm not leaving. I'm not walking away from her."
"I know." Her voice is thick with emotion. "I can see it. The way you look at her, you already love her."
"Of course I do. She's amazing. And that's because of you." The words feel important, necessary. "You raised an incredible kid. All on your own."
"Not all on my own. I told you. My parents helped. And the guys from the old station, they—" She stops, wrapping her arms around herself. "But thank you. For saying that."
Chapter 6 - Sierra
"But thank you. For saying that," I finish, my arms wrapped tight around myself like I can hold all my scattered pieces together through sheer will.
Cade's standing so close I can see the flecks of darker blue in his eyes, the way his jaw is tight like he's holding back a dozen things he wants to say. The hallway is quiet except for the muffled sound of a television from one of the other rooms and the distant hum of the inn's heating system.
"We should talk," he says finally. "Really talk. About logistics, about how this is going to work. But not tonight. Tonight you should rest. Ruby needs to rest."
"Tomorrow," I agree. "After you show us around. Maybe when Ruby's occupied with something?"
"Tomorrow," he repeats, and there's a promise in the word.
He turns to leave, makes it three steps down the hallway before stopping. "Sierra?"
"Yeah?"
