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Penelope appeared a little shell-shocked, then patted her mother. “Have fun with that. I was going to tell you breakfast was ready, but I think I’ll take mine to go.”
“I’m not going to pressure you,” JoJo said quietly.
“If grandchildren are what your mom wants, I will.”
They both gaped at me.
“Good thing I wouldn’t mind. At least I know where you stand on the issue.” Penelope pushed off the bed. “I made banana pancakes. They’re warming in the oven.”
It was then I noticed the briefcase. She was carrying it already. Pride filled me.
“Send me Naomi’s phone number when you get a chance,” I said. “I’ll call you when I hear from my sources today.”
The light in her features dimmed.Dammit, Kane.I hadn’t meant to upset her.
“I’ll text it to you now.” She kissed my cheek and then JoJo’s. “I should be home for dinner.”
She almost reached the door when she turned around. “Mom, why do they think we have fifty million dollars?”
In that moment, my respect for JoJo grew exponentially. By their surroundings here, it was clear they had money. But JoJo hadn’t made that the focus of our daughter’s world. She’d taught her the important things.
Money had been all I had.
“Because we do,” JoJo said honestly.
Penelope swallowed hard. “But we don’t use it to help others? We could never spend that much.” Then her eyes grew large. “Is it you that’s anonymously donating?”
“Not me, sweetheart. And we can talk about the money when we have more time.”
“I need to be in on that conversation because you’re going to inherit a whole lot more than that,” I said.
“Why do you need all that money?” There wasn’t judgment in the question.
“Because I didn’t know there was anything more important until your mom showed back up in New York.”
She gave me a confident smile. “We have a lot to teach you, Dad.” She clamped her lips shut.
I felt like I’d been shot in the chest.
Dad.
She’d called me Dad.
“You already have, Lamb,” I said hoarsely.
“See you tonight.” She flounced off without having any idea the gift she’d just given me.
But JoJo did.
“She didn’t mean to say it,” I said, my voice rough. “Somehow that makes it all the better. It was natural.”
“Hopefully you’ll have something nearby to lean on until you get a little more used to it.” JoJo twined her fingers with mine.
“I don’t think I will get used to it. In a good way.”
Was it only a few weeks ago that my days and most of my nights were consumed by work and avoiding Alma?
How quickly JoJo and Penelope had painted a bright streak over that dark part of my life. It was already dimming. That once ever-present bitterness was no longer so easy to find.
