Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Gage
I’m dressed and out the door of Katie’s bedroom before I end the call to Dylan.
I can’t believe that my daughter will be in my arms in less than twenty-four hours.
“Katie,” I call out her name as I pocket my phone. “Where are you?”
“In the kitchen,” she says in an even tone.
I round the corner and almost run right into her. I study her face. She’s been crying. I don’t have to ask why.
“You always cried whenever I got good news.” I skim my fingers over her chin. “When I was accepted into medical school, I think you cried more tears of joy than I did.”
Her lips part but she doesn’t say anything.
I want her next to me when I see Kristin, but that’s asking too much of her and too much of my daughter.
I want her to know Katie. Hell, I know Kristin is going to eventually love Katie as much as I do, but I have to pace this. They both need time to adjust to the presence of the other in my life.
“Kristin is on her way to Los Angeles.”
Surprise draws her brows up. “I thought she was in London.”
“I thought the same.” I rub my jaw. “Madison is visiting family in L.A. and Kristin is with her. They’re set to board a flight within the hour. I need to get home and pack. I’m heading back to California.”
I kiss her hard. I can’t contain everything I’m feeling. I want to head to the top of the Empire State Building so I can scream to the world that I’ve got my life back.
I fucking have everything I’ve wanted in my hands and I’m never letting go.
“I love you, Katie,” I tell her so she knows that this time I’m coming back to her. “I’ll be back in a few days.”
“You’ll be back,” she repeats.
“I. Will. Come. Back,” I say each word slowly and with purpose. “Nothing is going to keep me away from you.”
Her eyes lock on mine.
I kiss her again, wrapping my arms around her. “I’ll call you after I see Kristin.”
I turn and march to the door of her apartment. Glancing over my shoulder, I see her standing next to the window staring up at the blue sky.
I can’t wait to get back to her, but for now, I need to get my ass to California so I can hug my little girl.
“Daddy!”
I’m on my knees before Kristin reaches me. I don’t give a shit that we’re in the middle of a hotel lobby.
I’ve waited for this day for months.
I cradle her face in my hands, studying the light in her eyes and the smile on her face.
Her features have matured. She’s at least an inch taller than she was the last time I saw her.
Madison cut off video messaging between us months ago before she axed text messages too.
I have less than two days to catch up on my little girl’s life.
“I’ve missed you, Tin.”
“Oh, Daddy.” She kisses my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much. Mommy said I get to see you more.”
I look up at Madison. I haven’t given her a second glance since she waved me over after I walked into the hotel.
“Madison,” I say her name curtly.
“Gage.” She nods, her arms crossing her chest.
Nothing about her has changed. Her brown hair is still cut in a bob. Her blue eyes are tinged with sadness.
“How’s Perry?” I ask without a hint of resentment.
I never wanted Kristin to be subjected to the bullshit around her.
I tried to keep things calm after I found out I wasn’t her biological father. I didn’t want anything to change, but Perry wanted the family he thought he deserved.
“Divorcing me,” she quips, waving her bare left hand in the air.
“Daddy Perry is divorcing us.” Kristin shrugs. “He found a new family, Daddy.”
I raise a brow at Madison. “He what exactly?”
“Fell in love with his assistant.” She pats her stomach. “She’s having his baby. He calls it a new beginning. I call it an alimony check.”
I toss her a look meant to silently tell her to shut the hell up.
Kristin doesn’t need to hear that.
“We’re going to look for a new house.” Kristin wraps her arms around my neck. “You can live next door.”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes.
This is exactly what I’ve wanted.
“Daddy has a new family now too.”
I glance at Madison and the look I toss her this time is a clear, what the fuck are you talking about?
“Granny and Papa Burke met us at the airport.” Madison smiles. “Your mom said that you were back with Kate Wesley.”
My parents had to have been overjoyed to see Kristin. They missed being called Granny and Papa. They missed everything about her almost as much as I have.
When I called them before I left New York, I mentioned that I reconnected with Katie. I didn’t expect a response from them, so I wasn’t surprised when my dad changed the subject to the weather.
There was no offer from them to meet me when my flight landed.
“Is Katie your new family, Daddy?” Kristin nudges my face so she can look into my eyes. “Does she have a baby in her tummy too?”
“No baby.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Katie is my old friend. I want you to meet her.”
“Slow down.” Madison’s hand jumps into the air. “One step at a time, Gage.”
“Our first step is having dinner together.” I give Kristin a big hug as I look at Madison. “We can take care of everything else after that.”