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“When did she begin to act odd?”
“Around the time we were doing IVF. The doctor explained to us the hormones would change her mood at times. I tried my best to deal, but I wasn’t a saint. There were times I couldn’t control my mouth, and instead of diffusing the argument, I would escalate it to the point that she’d kick me out of the house.
“When she finally got pregnant, we had like two seconds of peace and happiness before she started doing… well, more of the same. At ten weeks, they diagnosed her with breast cancer. The doctor wanted to treat her, but that involved terminating the pregnancy.”
Mitch snaps his fingers. “Suddenly, she saw me as her enemy.” He runs both hands through his hair several times. “It was like Sophie’s choice, but I had no say. She shut me out, and here we are.”
The pain in his voice fractures my soul.
“The lawyer told me she had surgery,” he continues. “They need me here in case—”
“She’s going to be okay,” I mutter.
He looks at me. “Sure, but you know what else they want me to do? To give up my child. The daughter I wasn’t allowed to meet. They—whoever they are—already profiled me as an unfit father. I didn’t stand a chance.”
The bigger-than-life man who defeated demons and withstood a terrible childhood begins to cry. I let the tears flow the same way Mom used to do when any of her foster children were having a bad day or were new to our house.
“I should show them how a bad father behaves. They break your body and your soul because they can. I might’ve yelled at Anya, but I never did anything to her.”
“Hey, we’ll figure this out,” I promise him, but I’m not sure how.
“I can’t meet my daughter until I pass some psychological test. Only then can I have a supervised visit.”
“She’s safe,” I assure him.
He nods. “Of course she is. She’s with you. That’s the only reason I’m going along with this shit, because I know she has one of the best people taking care of her.”
I pat his cheek. “Try to rest. Everything will be sorted out, and you’ll have your family back.”
Mitch shakes his head. “That’s the thing, Siobhan. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get past everything that happened. How can I?”
“When the universe gives you a second chance, you don’t say no. You don’t toss away that gift, you fight, and you try to figure out how to make things work,” Iskander says.
“A chance for what?” Mitch scoffs. “You can say all that shit because one of the best people in the world loves you. I don’t have anything.”
“You’re wrong,” Iskander argues. “I don’t have Siobhan because I was an idiot, but I’m working hard to be worthy of a second chance. Plus, you have a beautiful, loving daughter. Also, a good friend who’ll fight for you.”
I squeeze Mitch’s hand. “Rest, order some room service. If you need to, go to the sports bar. Tell them Siobhan sent you.”
He gives me a hug. “Thank you for not condemning me just yet.”
On our way out, Iskander says, “I get it.”
“What?”
“Why you’re upset, and yet, you understand him. The poor bastard is a dead man walking.” I nod. He pulls me closer to him and says, “You’re an amazing woman.”
“That’s playing it a little too thick, Cantú.”
“No. I saw it when I arrived. Abuelo’s business was starting to crumble without him and you were trying your damn best to keep it together even when you had no idea if you were going to be fired the next day. You always look after everyone. The employees, the town, and mostly your friends.”
I hook my arms around his neck. “Fetching compliments, Cantú, because I’ve seen you work hard. Also, you’re fantastic with everyone—family, friends, and misfits. I’m starting to think that you just bitch about it, so they don’t see you’re a softy.”
He dips me, taking my mouth and kissing me hard. I let him take me, melt me with his lips, and sear me with his tongue. He’s right. The universe is gifting us something and I shouldn’t let this gift—us—go to waste.
ChapterThirty-Six
Iskander
