"I know." He pulls me against his chest, and I let him, because my legs don't feel like they're working anymore. "I know. But he's gone now. And he's not coming back."
"You don't know that."
"Yeah, I do." His arms tighten around me. "He's a coward. Cowards don't come back when they know someone's watching."
I'm crying. He just holds me, one hand in my hair, the other splayed across my back.
"Mom?"
Amelia's voice from the doorway. I pull back, wiping my face, trying to put myself together.
"Hey, baby. It's okay. Everything's okay."
"Was that Dad's car?"
Shit. "Yes. But he had to leave. He just stopped by to say hi."
She looks at me, then at Diesel, then back at me. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm not—" I touch my cheek. Still wet. "I'm fine. Just got something in my eye."
She doesn't buy it. But she also doesn't push. "Can I watch TV?"
"Sure. Thirty minutes, then bath time."
She disappears back into the house. I sag against the doorframe.
"You should come inside," Diesel says.
"I should put her to bed first. Do the routine. She needs normal right now."
He nods. "I'll be next door. When she's asleep, come over. Or I'll come to you. Whatever you need."
I look at him — this man who just appeared out of nowhere and stood between me and my worst fear. "Why do you do this?"
"Do what?"
"Show up. Every time. I'm a mess, Diesel. I've got an ex who's trying to destroy me and a kid who needs stability and alife that's held together with duct tape and caffeine. Why do you keep showing up?"
He's quiet for a moment. Then he reaches out and cups my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears I didn't know were still falling.
"Because you're worth showing up for."
He kisses my forehead. Then he walks back to his house, and I go inside to give my daughter her normal evening.
An hour later, Amelia's asleep.
I stand in her doorway for a long moment, watching her breathe. She's sprawled across her bed, one arm hanging off the edge, her stuffed rabbit tucked under her chin. She has no idea what happened tonight. No idea how close her father came to ruining the fragile peace we've built here.
I close her door quietly and pull out my phone.
She's down.
He's at my door in two minutes.
I let him in, and then I'm in his arms, and then I'm crying again.
"I've got you," Diesel murmurs into my hair. "I've got you."
