He strides from the room, already back on his phone, barking out orders to someone about calling the doctor as the door shuts behind him.
39
SLADE
“She’s getting better.Kids bounce back remarkably fast,” Sullivan says, fixing me with a stern look as I struggle to keep still.
I curl my hands around the edge of the kitchen counter as Molly sits on the living area rug, rocking a doll in her arms. I have to physically hold myself here so I don’t walk over there and scan her tiny body, searching for little red patches, looking for signs of returning illness. She already looked at me funny when I did it earlier. But I can’t help it. Sullivan said she had a bad fever and a rash, which turned out to be nothing serious. But the way he stormed out of Jude’s place yesterday, and I was left guessing if she was going to be okay, was like a sucker punch to my gut.
I stare at her.
She’s mine.
Only, she’s not. She’s Sullivan’s.
My heart knows that. I see it every time she looks at him with complete trust and love. And every time my usually stiff brother softens, gazing at her like she’s his reason for living. And she is. He had a baby left on his doorstep and he stepped up. If thingswere as easy as they used to be between us, then I’d pull him into a hug and tell him how damn proud I am to be his brother.
Sullivan’s the best father Molly could have. He was ready to discuss what was best for her the moment I came back. But I see it clearer than I’ve ever seen anything.Thisis best for Molly. Sullivan’s her daddy. Not me. It doesn’t stop me feeling fiercely protective over her, though. It doesn’t stop me wanting to get to know every tiny thing about her.
My shoulders soften as I watch her play, oblivious to everything that has exploded around her.
The past twenty-four hours have been… strange. My family has continued to field the press, offering no explanation about my reappearance. But it’s only a matter of time before they have to say something. They have, however, given Jude and me some breathing space while we figure things out. She’s had to go into work today to check on things.
She’s been gone three hours and I’m missing her like crazy.
Which is how I found myself turning up at my brother’s door.
I’ve watched Tate bake cookies with Molly, listening to her giggle and watching her eyes light up when they came out of the oven. I’ve soaked it all in, trying to make up for three years of missed memories like this.
“Daddy?” Molly calls.
My heart seizes as bright blue eyes look in our direction.
“Yes, Sweetheart?” Sullivan calls.
I swallow. Sullivan still won’t talk about the day of the fire with me. But he has spoken about Molly, insisting me being her father isn’t a secret we can keep from her forever. But while she’s this young, I don’t want to burden her with it. I want her to keep the innocence she has. I want her to have a happy, carefree childhood. Like we all did.
“Uncle Shade play?” she asks hopefully.
My brother looks at me, quirking an eyebrow. Tate’s gone to visit her dad—I think she wanted to give us space—and Molly has been playing alone for the past ten minutes.
“I’d love to.”
“This one yours,” she says, pushing a baby wearing no clothes into my arms.
“Who’s this?” I ask.
“Baby,” she says seriously, her lower lip poking out. “She needs clothes.”
Something is thrust toward me and I take it and unscrew it. “Baby wants to wear her duck T-shirt today, huh? Good choice.”
Molly giggles like I’ve said something funny, then watches me as I dress the baby, being careful like I would be if it were a real one.
“Now diaper,” she announces.
I peel off the pretend diaper the baby has on and pinch my nose. “I can’t.” I pretend to gag. “Oh, it’s awful. Smells like your daddy.”
Molly erupts into more giggles, her eyes darting to Sullivan who’s watching us intently with a hint of a smile.
