Page 128 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

“Cheers!” Glasses clink and laughter and conversation resumes.

Delilah leans into my hold, nestled where she belongs, right over my heart.

“We did it, Connor. Can you believe this is our life?”

“Yea, baby, I can.” I duck down stealing a kiss from my wife.

EPILOGUE

We dig into our meals, and deep satisfaction sinks into my marrow. One minute the dining room’s alight with a calm joy, the next, Greyson’s choking on his food, with James pounding on his back to dislodge the blockage.

Harper, his adorable daughter, is stricken, eyes wide like a baby deer.

“I’m sorry, what did you say sweetheart?” Greyson asks her, hoarse from coughing.

“I…um…I was trying to ask you a question.” She flushes a deep red.

“Can you ask daddy again? I think I misheard you,” Greyson says.

“I asked how come you don’t have a girlfriend,” Harper says behind a curtain of her jet-black hair.

Everyone’s eyes go wider than hers were a second ago, heads ping pong-ing back and forth with the same what the fuck do we say expression.

The story as we know it is Harper was born from a short-lived, casual relationship between Greyson and a woman named Vanessa. She decided motherhood wasn’t for her and bolted, leaving Greyson to raise an infant alone. He eventually tracked her down to get the legalities worked out.

As far as I know, she signed away custody and he changed Harper’s last name to Clark, effectively erasing Vanessa from history. He hasn’t dated since. And by the panicked shock painting Greyson’s typically emotionless face, this is the first time Harper’s asked this question.

“Well, sweetheart, some families have a mom and a dad, or just a dad, or just a mom. Maybe grandma and grandpa are the main adults, or an aunt or uncle. All families look different,” Greyson manages. “Daddy doesn’t need a girlfriend. I have you.”

It isn’t the answer Harper was looking for, and family dinner isn’t exactly the best place for such a sensitive conversation.

“But Gramma and Grampa Andersen are in love. And Gramma and Grampa Dalton are in love. Reid and Izzy are in love, Delilah and Connor are in love. Aunt Livy and James are in love,” Harper whines.

The temperature in the room drops a solid twenty degrees from the icy glare Greyson shoots at James. I don’t dare laugh, because now isn’t the time, but the fact the nine-year-old has noticed Olivia and James’s behavior proves they haven’t been nearly as careful sneaking around as they think they’ve been.

“Aunt Livy and James are not in love,” Greyson snaps.

Unperturbed, Harper continues. “But how come you aren’t in love? How come I don’t have a mommy?”

Time stops, the room so silent the only sound is Greyson’s teeth grinding.

“Harper, little love, we’ll talk about this later, okay?” he manages.

“May I please be excused?” she asks so quietly I barely hear.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Greyson offers, but Harper’s already scurrying away.

Uncharacteristically rattled, Greyson looks to Mr. and Mrs. Andersen. As his pseudo-parents, of course he’d lean on them for support.

“We’ve got her,” Mr. Andersen says as he and his wife follow behind Harper.

“Fuck. FUCK,” Greyson barks. “Made it nine fucking years before having to break my daughter’s heart. Goddamn it.”

“This couldn’t come at a worse time…” Greyson groans, head in hands.

“What do you mean?” I ask softly. Connor squeezes my shoulder in solidarity.

“I’ve got to find a new nanny. James, Liv, you’ve been life savers helping out whenever you can, but it’s not stable enough for Harper and she’s been unsettled. It can’t be easy watching her friends get picked up every day from school by the same parent, in most cases, a house with a mom and a dad.