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Would it have been so much for my mother to have gotten a part time job?
Despite myself, in my father’s arms, I found myself angry at her for putting so much on him. It wasn’t fair.
She also refused to move, even though the house was way too big for them now my sister and I had left. They were still paying the mortgage, and they could have reduced that by selling and getting somewhere smaller. Closer too, to reduce his commute, but nope. My mother liked it here and that was that.
I sighed into the hug, and murmured, “It’s great to see you, daddy.”
He patted my back. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. It’s great to see you too.”
I pulled back when he bussed the side of my cheek. “I want to introduce you to someone.”
His gaze drifted over to Max. “I can see that.” He held out a hand. “Martin.”
“Max,” came his reply, even as he took my father’s hand and shook it. “I’m Jessica’s partner.”
My eyes widened at that.
Not only at the blunt declaration which seemed to amuse my father, if his smile was anything to go by, as well as stun my mother, who gasped. But also at the word.
Partner?
Not girlfriend.
But partner?
I cast him a look, saw the surety in his gaze and sucked down a breath. Was I relieved? Nervous? I wasn’t sure what his statement made me feel if I was being honest. I just knew that something deep inside of me settled down in response to it.
And that, I realized, was the best birthday present he could have given me.
Chapter 9
Max
When I tumbled Jessica out of the car and onto the parking deck of my building, she was half asleep and I had to carry her to the elevator. Mackenzie’s low chuckle followed me even as he drove off and back to his and Eileen’s house.
I felt guilty for keeping him out so late but I hadn’t realized how long tonight would be. After Steve had discovered I’d played college football, he’d been curious to know more. Then, when he’d learned I was the ‘Wall’, he’d hammered out so many games that I realized he’d been a fan of mine.
That had been surreal, but funny too.
It had certainly oiled the awkward moments that had appeared over the meal. Well, the awkward moments that had stemmed between mother and daughter. There seemed to be none between her and her father, just Jessica and Sarah.
Considering what she’d told me, I could understand. Jessica hadn’t forgiven her mother for not being there for her, and I empathized.
That kind of betrayal cut. It cut deep.
With her in my arms, I cuddled her close even as the elevator doors closed behind me. Slipping in the pin code to my apartment, I watched as the lights pinged and we soared upward to the floor that was only accessible by those six digits.
My place was eighty stories high so the journey upward wasn’t exactly brief.
Still, I didn’t mind. Not when Jessica was so close and in my arms. At last.
Not that I intended on doing anything untoward, but it was just good having her here, where she should always be, I mused.
When the doors to my apartment opened, the lights flared on automatically and I swept her through the open plan space toward my bedroom. Nothing would happen tonight, and I’d be on my best behavior even if it was killing me, but she was going to sleep here. With me.
We were ready for that. She was ready for that.
When I made it to the threshold of my room, I carefully lowered her as I murmured, “Sleepyhead, it’s time to change for bed.”
