Chapter 25 #2
She softens, leaning her hip against the counter. “Worth… I’ve known you for years. I’ve seen you at your worst and at your best. You don’t let people in easily. This woman matters to you. I can tell.”
I don’t respond. Not because she’s wrong, but because she’s too damn close to the truth. Instead, I thank her for the advice and kiss her cheek, muttering something about checking on Brianna.
Upstairs, I knock on my daughter’s door and hear muffled giggles before the sound cuts off.
“Come in!”
I push the door open and find her sprawled across her bed, phone still in hand. Her cheeks are pink, eyes bright. She looks so grown up it makes my chest ache.
“Hey, Piglet,” I say, leaning on the doorframe. “Can we chat?”
“Of course.”
I walk over to sit on the edge of her bed. “So… Kennedy?”
Brianna groans and hides her face behind a pillow. “He’s just a friend.”
“Uh huh.” I tug the pillow down, meeting her eyes. “Listen, I don’t care if he’s just a friend or something more one day. What I care about is that he treats you with respect. You know what I mean?”
“I know, Dad. You don’t have to give me the whole lecture.”
“Yeah, I do. It’s in the Dad Handbook.”
That earns me a laugh, and I tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “Just remember, if Ken gives me a reason, I’ll show him exactly how scary a protective dad can be.”
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the small smile tugging at her lips.
“Speaking of friends,” I start, resting my forearms on my knees. “There’s someone I’d like to talk to you about.”
Brianna practically springs upright, her eyes shining. “Oh my God. Do you have a girlfriend?”
I blink. “Why do you sound so excited about it?”
“Because lately you’ve had that… thing. The thing in your steps.”
“The thing?”
“The… pep?” She squints. “The pep-up step?”
I shake my head, laughing. “Pep in your step, Peanut.”
“Whatever. You have it.” She huffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Dad. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how lonely you’ve been.”
“That’s not true. I have you and Maggie.”
“Yes, but me and Maggie aren’t going to warm your bed at night, Dad.”
I choke, gasping. “Brianna! How do you even know to say something like that?”
She bursts out laughing, covering her mouth with one hand. “I’m young, but not stupid.”
“You’re growing up way too fast. It’s terrifying. Please don’t ever say that again. And for the record, you’re not allowed to have anyone warming your bed until you’re thirty-five.”
Bri rolls her eyes again. “So dramatic. That’s not the point.” Her expression turns more serious. “I just want you to have someone other than me. It’s a lot of pressure, you know, to be the only reason you’re happy.”
Her words knock the air out of me. I never thought about it that way—that my daughter might feel responsible for filling a space in my life that no kid should have to fill. I swallow, guilt prickling at the back of my throat.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I murmur, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “I never wanted to make you feel like you had to carry that weight.”
“No, it’s not like that. I just don’t want you to be forever alone. I want you to be happy, Papa.”
My chest clenches so tight it hurts. Papa. She hasn’t called me that since she was little, and the sound of it now nearly undoes me. I have to clear my throat to keep my voice steady.
“Tell me about her,” Bri then says, almost shyly.
“Okay, well…” I take a deep breath. “Do you remember that woman we saw working at Willow’s months ago?”
Her eyes light up instantly. “Yes! I knew there was something there. I could immediately tell.”
I squint at her. “How?”
“The way you both tensed up when she came up to our table. And you were kind of nice with her about the whole grief thing. That’s when I realized you were lonely, Dad. I knew you were really talking about losing Mom.”
I brush my hand gently through her hair, heart aching. “You know I’d never want to replace her, right?”
“I know. And honestly, I haven’t seen much of her, so… there’s nothing to really replace.”
Anger coils inside me at Vanessa again for disappearing and leaving Brianna with nothing but fragments and me to pick up the pieces. This is exactly why I don’t want her barging back in.
“Would you want to see her?”
“Your new girlfriend?”
“Your mom.”
Brianna shrugs, eyes looking away. “I guess.”
“I can make that happen if you want. I’m sure she’d be open to it.”
Her brows knit. “How do you know?”
I exhale, deciding she deserves the truth. “Because she called me, and I saw her in Singapore. She told me she wanted to see you.”
Shock ripples across her face. “You saw her?”
“I did—but I don’t want you to get your hopes up, okay, Piglet? We’ll see if she actually comes through. I don’t want you to get hurt again if she doesn’t.”
Brianna nods. “Thanks, Dad.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, hugging her close. “I will introduce you to Mya soon.”
Her eyes brighten again. “I’d like that.”
“Great.” I force a smile, even as my chest tightens.
I stand, ruffling her hair. “Now get ready for bed. Don’t stay up too late—and no talking to boys on the phone past nine.”
She groans. “Yes, Dad.”
I step out of the room with a laugh, though my mind won’t stop racing.
The door to my office shuts behind me as I head straight for the decanter. I pour two fingers of scotch, and sink into the leather chair behind my desk. The amber burn steadies me, but not enough. My mind is still tangled in Brianna’s words.
I pull out my phone and scroll to the contact I haven’t used nearly enough these last few weeks.
She answers on the second ring. “Worth, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mom.” I let out a rough breath. “I wanted to hear your voice.”
Her chuckle is warm. “Well, that’s a lovely surprise. What’s on your mind?”
I hesitate. The truth would be messy, complicated, and I’m not ready to dump it on her. So I take the easy way out. “I’m seeing someone.”
Silence, then a sharp inhale. “Oh, Worth. That’s amazing. Tell me about her.”
I smile despite the flicker of guilt at lying to my mother, leaning back in the chair. “Her name is Mya. She’s… beautiful. Smart. Sharp-tongued. And doesn’t put up with any of my shit.”
“That’s exactly the kind of woman you need,” Mom says, and I can hear the grin in her voice. “I just want you to be happy, sweetheart. After everything with Vanessa, you deserve that.”
The mention of Vanessa twists something in my chest. I swirl the scotch in my glass, debating whether to tell her. But she’s my mother, and I can’t keep it from her.
“I saw her in Singapore.”
There’s a pause, then her voice drops. “Vanessa?”
“Yeah. She says she wants to see Brianna.”
I don’t mention the impending custody battle because I don’t want to worry her.
Mom doesn’t skip a beat. “And what does Brianna want?”
“She’s not sure, she might be up to seeing her. I just don’t want Bri to get her hopes up. I don’t want her hurt again.”
“I understand,” Mom says softly. “Whatever you decide, I’m here. We’ll handle it together, like we always do.”
The knot in my chest loosens a fraction. “Thanks, Mom. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby. We’ll see each other soon for the holidays.”
I smile. “How’s dad?”
“Grumpy as ever, of course. Just like you.”
I chuckle, the sound easing some of the tension. “Still keeping everyone on their toes?”
“Oh, you know him,” she sighs. “He asks about you all the time. He’s proud, even if he won’t say it the way I do.”
The warmth in her tone wraps around me like a hug. For a moment, it feels like I’m a teenager again, sitting at the kitchen counter while she fussed over me.
We talk a little longer about Mya, Brianna, work, and about nothing at all before we say goodnight. When I finally hang up, my heart feels a little lighter.