Chapter 14
Jacob sat behind the wheel of his car, his hands shaking. He’d never laid hands on a woman before, and as soon as he’d done it, he regretted his reaction. But he couldn’t quell his anger over her request.
His mind played over her comment about how she’d changed. Of course she’d claim she was different. Tale as old as time. He could not afford to let her yank their daughter into that world of mercurial tantrums or if he would find her passed-out drunk. He and Kaitlyn had been through enough.
He took several deep breaths to calm his nerves. Jacob checked his car clock once his hands steadied. Shit. He was not going to make it home in enough time to tuck Kaitlyn in. Marissa picked up on the first ring. Her voice sounded breathy, as if she’d just run to the phone.
“Hello? Jacob?” She whispered his name.
“Hi, Marissa. Is Kaitlyn asleep or still up?”
There was a long pause, and he figured she was looking at Kaitlyn. “She is sleepy but fighting it.”
He could imagine how stubborn she was being, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Through the phone, he heard “Is that Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“Is he coming home?”
“Tell her yes but she will be sleeping when I get home.”
He heard his daughter protest in the background. “You need to sleep, Sweety. In the morning, you will see him. I know, but you need to rest for your body to get better.” He could hear shuffling and muffles. “Hold on, Jacob.”
Jacob mindlessly traced his finger along the steering wheel until Marissa came back on the line. “How did it go?”
“It went okay. She is here now and willing to help.”
“Oh, thank goodness. That is great news.” Marissa enthused, her voice carrying enough happiness for the both of them. He smiled, his mood lightened by hearing her voice.
“What’s great news?” He heard his sleepy-sounding daughter pipe up in the background.
“Kaitlyn, get back into bed, now.” Marissa lectured, her voice loving but stern. “Just a minute Jacob.”
“No, it is okay, let me talk to her for a minute and then she can go back to bed and sleep.”
“Hi Daddy.”
He melted inside every time he heard her call him that. “Hi sweetheart, it is time for you to go to sleep.”
“I know but I just wanted to talk to you. Are you coming home now.” Her voice was heavy, tired; he hoped it was just because it was late.
“Yes, soon, but you will be asleep and can see me in the morning. I will be all yours tomorrow.”
“Promise?” And he heard her yawn.
“Yes, promise. We can color and watch all your favorite programs tomorrow.” Jacob listened to her breathing on the phone as she digested what he’d just said.
“Okay Daddy, I miss you.”
“I miss you too, pumpkin, time for bed now.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Love you, baby.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, hon?”
“What is the great news that Marissa mentioned?”
He groaned. Children had frustratingly keen hearing. “It’s nothing, sweetheart.” He said, swallowing down his panic. He didn’t want her to know more than necessary.
“Is it Mommy?” she said, and he sucked in a breath of surprise.
“Pumpkin, why are you asking me about Mommy?”
“I heard the nurses talking, saying that Mommy might be a match for me and then you disappeared and haven’t been home.”
He managed not to curse into the phone; of course his daughter was smart and would pick up on the discussions around her. He rubbed the back of his head in aggravation and sighed. “Let’s talk about all this in the morning, okay?”
He heard another yawn and the low murmur of Marissa’s voice in the background. He wished Kaitlyn good night again and promised Marissa they could talk more when he got home.
After tossing his phone onto the passenger seat, Jacob reached to start the car when he spotted Sierra leaving the hotel, still in the clothes and jacket he’d left her in.
Her gait was slow, relying on the cane. He had been so preoccupied with talking to Marissa and Kaitlyn he hadn’t notice the car pull up in front of him.
It was a black car with heavily tinted windows.
He could not see the driver but could make out just a bit of their outline.
The person was wearing a baseball cap. He scowled when Sierra made it to the car and smiled happily at the person through the window before opening the door and getting inside.
Before he could think to do anything, the car pulled away. Before it went too far, he caught sight of the license plate: Mik. He started his car, intending to follow, but he came to his senses. Where Sierra went and with whom was not his business; he needed to get home to his daughter.
But during the drive home, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to know who Mik was.