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“He doesn’t.”
“Promise me you’ll let me tell your Dad about the accident, Stephi. It’s going to be hard for him to hear about it, especially about how serious it was, and I want to be the one who helps him deal with that.”
“How serious was it?”
“It was bad Stephi. Really bad. I’m lucky to be here at all.”
“Dad told me that you’re getting back together.”
“Are you all right with that?”
“No.” Stephi shakes her head. “Ashleigh, I don’t like the Dad I have when you’re not around. You come and you go and you come and you go and he changes every time. I’d rather have the miserable Dad all the time than get the brief periods of a happy Dad because it’s so hard seeing him so unhappy.”
I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath, acknowledging something that’s easily forgotten because of her attitude. She might say she hates him, but Stephi needs Sean. It’s time to stop being the enemy.
“You know.” I pull her into a hug. “Your dad is going to break my heart all over again.” As we separate, I slip her fingers between mine and look her in the eyes. “There’s nothing I can do about it and I’ll probably never get over it. But I’m okay with it, and I want you to be okay with it too.” The question rises instantly in Stephi’s eyes. “You’re the most important person in the world to him, Stephi. He stayed with your mom for as long as he could because of you. He’d do anything for you. Even walk away from me. Above all, I’d do anything for you. If you want me gone, just say so and I will walk away again and he will let me. For you.”
Stephi’s startled wide eyes stare back. “You’re not the bitch everyone says you are.”
“No, I just act like one for the rest of the world because I don’t want anyone to know I’m a big softy.” I lean forward and kiss the hair at the top of Stephi’s crown. “You look beautiful, Princess. Your Dad’s going to be so proud of you.”
CHAPTER 17
ASHLEIGH
The sound of sudden giggles draws my attention toward a secluded corner of the hotel's function room. My heart leaps into my throat. Sean holds Tommy above his head, blowing raspberries into the baby’s tummy as he wriggles with delight. That could be our baby one day, and maybe soon? The wave of hope catches me off guard. When did that clock start ticking?
A good life partner wouldn't let their relationship begin with a foundation based on secrets and lies, right?
I rub my thumb into the palm of my other hand. The cricket on my shoulder is right again. It's time I tell him the truth.
“Hey gorgeous!” I coo at baby Tommy. “You think there’s room for me in this sandwich?”
“Not in public, Ashleigh.” Sean dismisses me.
“Oh okay.” A crease develops in my forehead, I glance around the gathering family members. Stephi is watching us. “Sean, I want to talk to you about something before we leave Las Vegas.” He continues playing with the baby like I haven’t spoken. “Sean?” I place a light hand on his bicep and he flinches. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing's wrong.” Sean shrugs, stepping out of my reach “Why would I have a problem with you begging Tristan Michaels to ring Justin Ramirez and explain your behavior?”
“How did you—”
“Apparently your sister thinks more of me than you do.”
My blood runs cold. Mimi told him? She told him I called Tristan after our conversation yesterday afternoon. But she obviously didn’t tell him why. I called Tristan to tell Justin if he didn’t get in touch or bring my niece home, then I was coming after him.
Why would she do that? Unless… Ryder's warning comes back to me. Mimi’s deliberately sabotaging my relationship with Sean. But why? She has nothing to gain by driving us apart.
“What?”
“Yeah. She made a few things quite clear at breakfast this morning.”
Mimi said she had a migraine. I hadn’t questioned her because she has morning sickness and was suffering from headaches like she had when she was pregnant with Macaulay. Obviously not, if she’d eaten breakfast with Sean. Tears water in my eyes. Why would my sister do this? What have I ever done to Mimi?
“So if you're finished using me to keep your secrets out of the press, Justin would like to apologize.”
“W-w-what? Where is he?”
“He'll be here any minute. Have a nice life with him, won’t you?” Sean steps away and then stops. “I do have just one more question, off the record...” The look of contempt turns my stomach inside-out when he smiles and adds, “Will you be handling the divorce yourself?”
