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Abigail spun around and eyed each of us. “What?”
Zachary swallowed hard and tipped his head toward me.
I blew out a breath that clouded white in the air. “Do you remember when you asked me about your daddy?”
Abigail’s eyes widened, her mouth opening in an O. “Yes.” She nodded so hard her hat slipped over her eyes. “My teacher asked about my homework, and I told her I couldn’t do it. She was sad.”
“Well.” I brushed her hat back and took Zachary’s hand. “She doesn’t have to be sad anymore. And neither do you.” I tapped our clasped hands on Zachary’s ribs. “Zachary is your daddy.”
Shock widened her eyes. She blinked and stared, then turned slowly to stare at Zachary. “You?” Her throat convulsed. “You’re my daddy?”
He nodded once. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around. But I’m here now.” He moved like he wanted to hug her but held back. Clearing his throat, he tugged his scarf away from his neck and turned his head, showing her his birthmark.
“You have a kiss like mine.” Abigail lost all her reservations. She lunged for him and threw her arms around his neck. “Hi, Daddy.” She squeezed so hard her face turned red.
Zachary’s arms crept around his daughter, his eyes reddening around the corners. He shot a look at me so full of hope mixed with fear that I threw myself against his side, trapping Abigail between us. It felt like home, like all the missing pieces were finally coming together. There were just a few still missing. Two men by the names of Lennox and Justin. We’d sort that out soon enough, but I knew what I wanted now, and I wasn’t backing down. I smoothed a hand down Abigail’s back and released Zachary.
“Will you play?” Abigail plastered her hands on Zachary’s cheeks, her pink gloves contrasting with his pale skin and dark stubble. “I like the slide best. What about you?”
He cleared his throat. “Slides are fun.”
“Come on.” Abigail scrambled off the bench without releasing her daddy. She pulled on his hand while straining toward the slide. “Let’s go play. I’ll show you all my favorites.”
I couldn’t help the laugh bubbling up in the back of my throat. Now that she’d gotten hold of her daddy, she’d never let him go. And from the look on his face, he had no problems being wrapped around her little finger. “Don’t let her convince you that she can walk across the top of the monkey bars,” I warned as they dashed away.
Abigail huffed like I’d ruined her whole day, but the frown quickly slipped back into a smile. “I can’t make it all the way across yet, so Mama holds me up.” She skipped toward the slide, her head tilted up to look at Zachary. “Can you hold me this time?”
I stayed close but didn’t interfere. They both needed this bonding time. They deserved it after five years apart. Zachary was going to be a great father. He talked with Abigail, never once growing tired of her chatter. He helped her climb the steps to the slide and waited for her at the end, catching her up in his arms and swinging her around. It was the single most beautiful sight in the world. Our daughter was happy. Truly, incredibly happy.
We still had a lot to work out, but things were looking up.
Zachary held Abigail as she worked her hands along the monkey bars. She reached the end and wrapped her arms around Zachary’s neck in another tight hug. “I love you.”
His hand flexed on her back where he held her secure. “Love you too, bug.”
One hour together and he’d already given her a nickname. I grinned at the two of them and snapped a few pictures to add to the fireplace mantel.
“Are you gonna get married?” Abigail swiped her gloved hand over her face, shoving her hair back at the same time. “Then you can live with us all the time.”
Lord, this child. We hadn’t even had a chance to discuss the future and what it meant to be a family, and she was already trying to get us married.
31
JUSTIN
Isqueezed into the booth after grabbing a beer from the bar. Music wound out low and slow from the jukebox, the country song attempting to tug the heartstrings of nearby patrons. I scoffed and rolled my eyes at the cheesy lyrics and sipped my beer.
Lennox joined me a minute later, his own beer tight in his fist. He swigged deep and tossed his sunglasses onto the table. “Heard from Zachary?”
“He’s on his way.” I took another sip. Part of me wanted to chug the whole thing and grab another. The other half—the logical half—told me to shut the fuck up and pay attention because we all knew shit was hitting the fan. Now wasn’t the time to get wasted. God what a mess. I spun the beer around in my hand and tried to think of a way for us to all get what we wanted. “You think Coach kicked him off the team?”
We hadn’t’d seen or heard from Zachary since Coach called him into his office this morning. Practice had been a brutal affair, with Coach running us all ragged. He didn’t seem to take any particular dislike to me or Lennox. I couldn’t figure out whatthe fuck had happened to have Coach riding Zachary’s ass. So the papers had a picture of him and Lucy. Big deal.
Lennox kicked me under the table, drawing my head up with a jerk. “What?”
“Zachary’s here.” He grimaced and leaned back in the booth and stretching his arm out over the back. “Something’s up.”
I shot a look over my shoulder. Zachary approached the bar and took a beer from the bartender before turning and looking our way. I couldn’t tell shit about him from his face. He was as closed off as a brick wall.
