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Karen chuckles. “Now, why on earth would the fact that he’s miserable have you smiling?”
I slump back in my chair, and sigh. “We went on a date last night and, when he walked me to my front porch, things didn’t go too well. Jace deserves to be miserable for hurting me.”
“Now you sound like my daughter when she doesn’t get her own way.” Karen raises a brow.
Chuckling, I drain my cup of coffee and move to the sink to wash it.
“I guess I feel a bit better knowing that he’s suffering as well, which doesn’t sound very kind, does it?”
“You don’t have a bad bone in your body, Savannah, but I’m curious as to what you’re going to do about Jace.”
Leaning back against the sink, I close my eyes and sigh in pleasure when his smiling face appears in my head. I know what I’m going to do. “I’m going to invite him to Tammy’s surprise party and go from there.” I chew my lip.
“That’s a good idea. Tammy will love to have Jace there. You should have seen her today. He had to coach the kids with Tammy wrapped up in his arms.” Karen laughs at the memory. “At one point, he put her on his back so he could help with the kids, but,” she smiles fondly, “that little girl loves him.”
I should have gone today instead of hiding out here, and then I could have witnessed how he is with Tammy. She doesn’t trust easily, so that says a lot about his character if Tammy is so taken with him.
Putting aside my opinion that he should be the one to call, I pull my cell from my back pocket and send Jace a text.
I’m having a surprise party for Tammy, tomorrow at Golden Circle, if you’d like to be there. S
A text message isn’t calling and, I guess with the invite, I’m letting him know that he
’s welcome, and that I want to see him again.
“You look better now, and have more color. You looked so pale when I walked in.” Karen stands, and starts moving toward the door. “I have work to do in the office. Make sure you stop by before you leave.”
“I will,” I acknowledge as she disappears.
My cell pings with a message.
I’d love to, and will really try to make it. Already promised to help Ryder out. J x
My heart sinks. He added the kiss, which I couldn’t bring myself to add on my message to him. But is helping his brother an excuse not to attend, or something to give him time to think about whether or not he wants to be there?
Ugh!
I’m going to give myself another headache if I don’t stop wondering, but can’t seem to prevent my day from going down the drain.
I don’t even bother to reply and instead gather up my things to go home and wait for the two court-appointed interviewers to arrive.
Thanks to my uncle, who is owed a few favors, the courts have managed to process my application for the legal guardianship of Tammy much faster than expected. That is why I’m being interviewed in my home later today.
It feels as though I’m not the one who is going through all this to be able to give a sweet child a home, as though I’m looking down and watching someone else—surreal.
Chapter Fourteen
Jace
For what is probably the millionth time, I glance at my watch and curse silently, knowing that I’m missing Tammy’s party. If my plans had been with anyone else, I would have put them off or at least disappeared for a couple of hours to be with Savannah and Tammy. Instead, I’m sweating my balls off in the heat while Ryder has me painting his new house with him.
He picked the keys up yesterday and wants the place freshly painted so he can move his family in. He works damn quickly. They were only looking at realtor brochures a few weeks ago, and now they’re homeowners. Actually, there are still a few weeks before they close, but the current owners had given Ryder access to the house so it can be finished on moving day.
I don’t blame them for jumping quickly at this property because it wouldn’t have been on the market long. They need a new kitchen and bathroom, which Ryder already has lined up, and is why we’re working on the rooms that only needed cleaning and painting.
The porch is a wraparound and, at the moment the garden is open, but with some work and fencing, it will be an amazing playground for Faith, and any brothers or sisters that might appear in the future.
Stopping to guzzle some water down my parched throat, I glance at my watch again, and sigh knowing that me missing the party isn’t helping to redeem myself with Savannah.
