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Once I regain composure, I trudge up the stairs and find Nora lying on my bed with her fresh clothes on and arms folded across her chest.
I can’t resist the urge to tickle her sides. “What are you doing hiding up here?”
Between giggles, she says, “Just giving you and Daddy time to kiss.”
I freeze at that, dropping onto the bed next to her. “That’s not—your daddy and I aren’t dating.” I caress her bangs away from her forehead.
“Why not? I can see you like him.”
“Liking someone sometimes isn’t enough.”
Nora straightens up, sitting next to me. “Why not?”
I ruffle her hair once more. “Because it’s complicated, Nugget. Now, go. I don’t want your father to think we’re having fun without him.”
“Fine.”
I hear her footsteps as she stomps down the stairs. I quickly change into office clothes and follow her downstairs.
“We’re going,” John says, hands on his daughter’s shoulders. She’s already donned her coat, and he’s never taken off his. “Or we’ll be horrendously late.”
“Oh.” A pebble of disappointment settles in the pit of my stomach. “Aren’t we all going together?”
John gives me strong eye contact. “Nora’s school is in the opposite direction to your office. I assumed you would’ve wanted to skip the detour.”
I pull my coat off the rack and shove my arms into the sleeves. “No, I’m early and I could use the walk. If you don’t mind being stuck with me a little longer?”
The smile that splits his face in response is heart-wrenchingly gorgeous. “I don’t mind at all.”
Nora rolls her eyes. “Can we go now?”
I hook the strap of my purse over my shoulder. “Yeah, let’s go.”
As I close the door behind me, I can’t help but consider how this could become my life. Start every morning in a chaotic mess of missed alarms, rushed breakfasts, and infinite love. The idea is so tempting it hurts.
But I can’t let myself fall into a fantasy. I’ve been down that road. The one paved with good intentions that leads only to broken trust and a broken heart. That road ends with me alone, crying on the cold concrete.
Before I can rely on anyone else, I need to find my footing as a new mother.
I lock the door and let the fantasy slip away.
46
MARISSA
And just as well since the next evening, as I exit a cab in front of my parents’ house, I’m in for a nasty surprise.
Sierra Headey, actress extraordinaire, is getting out of a similar yellow cab, only one door over.
John’s ex-wife and I reach the curb at the same moment. Our eyes lock, and my world tilts.
John hadn’t told me she was in town. What is she doing back in the US? Are they meeting in secret?
I’m about to flee into my parents’ house ready to hash out all the possible worst-case scenarios when Sierra’s lips curl at the corners and she takes a step toward me. “You must be Marissa.”
“I, uh, yeah?” I’m usually more articulate, but I’m thrown off guard by the sudden encounter.
“Yeah, I knew, I googled you.” I’m not sure if her words are meant to be neutral or threatening. “I wanted to learn a little more about the woman who’s spending so much time with my daughter.” She extends a hand and I take it in a daze. “I’m Sierra, John’s ex-wife, nice to meet you.”
