Chapter 16
”And then, the balloons just flew away,” Flora told me after dinner when we sat in the living room, catching up on our day.
We always did that before she went to bed; it was our ritual, one I cherished deeply. Flora, now four, was the love of my life. My affection for her was unconditional and steadfast, unwavering since the moment she was born. This bundle of gorgeousness was the source of immeasurable happiness.
”How about you? What was your day like?”
”Well, I met with Luisa, and we did some exercises to help her walk,” I told her. ”And that”s where I got you all those new clothes.”
”I”ll make a thank-you card for Renata in kindergarten tomorrow.”
”I think she”ll like that.”
”And?”
And I met the man who still, for some bizarre reason, has my heart.
”And—”
The doorbell rang, and Flora jumped. ”Uncle Mick is here. Uncle Mick is here.”
Mick Watford was one of my neighbors, a close friend, and Flora”s favorite babysitter. Mick owned a bar down the street and was happy to take care of Flora if I had an appointment or needed to work late. Mick was bringing Flora a bunch of coasters from his bar for show and tell the next day.
I opened the door, with Flora standing behind me, peeking out.
”Hello, Isha.”
I stared at Rowan, my breath catching. I never expected to see him again. Never expected him to be at my doorstep. I was expecting something more along the lines of Renata firing me after he told them I was a money-hungry gold digger.
”Hi, you”re not Uncle Mick.” Flora peeked from under my arm to look at Rowan. ”And you”re very tall.”
He smiled at her. ”I”m Rowan.”
”Well, come on in then, Rowan,” Flora said, imitating her grandmother, who luckily also lived close by.
”May I?” Rowan asked.
I nodded. I hoped he”d behave in front of Flora. And if he didn”t, I”d kick him out. I didn”t want my daughter to hear him insult me.
Rowan looked at the children”s books on the coffee table and smiled. ”I love this one.” He picked up Pebbles and the Biggest Number.
”You do? You know this book?” Flora”s eyes went big. ”It”s my favorite.”
”I read it to my nieces,” he said.
So, Ace had daughters.
Rowan looked the same. He had a more than a five o”clock shadow. Instead of jeans and a t-shirt, he was in linen pants and a loose linen shirt. The cream of his shirt looked good against his tanned skin. He smelled the same. Leather, horse, and man. Rowan.
”Have a seat.” I gestured to the sofa, and he did as I asked.
”Flora, why don”t you brush your teeth so when Uncle Mick gets here, you can say hello and goodnight quickly?”
She thought about it for a long moment. ”How quickly?” she asked.
”Five minutes quickly.”
”Deal.” She ran into her bedroom.
I looked at Rowan and sat across from him on a matching armchair. I bought the sofa set on sale when I first moved in, a few days after Flora was born. The coffee table was a hand-me-down from Flora”s grandparents.
”I like your place,” Rowan said, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
What did he see, I wondered? It was a modest condo in Rego Park in Queens. It had two bedrooms and one bath. It was on the third floor and was bright, which I loved. It was the nicest house I”d ever lived in, except for my three weeks in Montana.
Flora and I had made it our own. The prints on the walls were bright and lively—Monet, Joan Miro, and Kandinsky. The décor was colorful with pillows, throw blankets, and rugs.
”Can I get you something to drink?” I asked politely.
He shook his head.
”How…how did you find out where I lived?”
”I asked a friend in the NYPD to look you up.”
I nodded. ”Wow, you went to some effort. I thought you”d…I didn”t expect to see you.”
”What did you expect?”
”A call from Claudio saying I was fired,” I told him honestly.
Sadness and regret flashed in his eyes. ”I deserve that.”
”I didn”t say it to offend you,” I quickly added.
What happened was a long time ago. I had a little girl to take care of. A small business that took up all my time. I was sleep deprived and exhausted. I didn”t have the energy for this new Ledger drama, whatever it was.
”Why are you here, Rowan?” I asked the same question I”d asked when he”d come to that hotel room in Billings six years ago.
I thought he”d give the same answer as then: I don”t know.
He shocked me by saying, ”I want to apologize.”
There was a knock on the door and I was glad for the interruption.
”Hey, cupcake.” Mick came in with a grocery bag and kissed me on the cheek.
”Yummy…you smell like…lasagna? You made lasagna?”
I laughed. ”Yes, I did.”
”I haven”t eaten.”
”Fine. I”ll pack you some to take with you.” I walked to the fridge, ignoring Rowan, and pulled out the container I”d already packed for him and his husband.
”Ah, Isha, love, I adore you.” Mick pulled me into his arms and gave me a big smack on my lips.
”Uncle Mick, Uncle Mick.” Flora came running. Mick picked her up and hugged her.
”How are you, my beautiful flower girl?”
”Did you bring the coasters?”
I took the grocery bag from him, and showed Flora one of the coasters with Mick”s Pub written on it.
”Thank you, Uncle Mick.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
”Okay, now I have to go to bed. Mum, will you read to me?”
I looked at Rowan, and finally, Mick noticed that there was a man in the room. He quirked an eyebrow. ”Well, hello. I”m Mick.”
”Rowan.”
Mick”s eyes narrowed, and he looked at me. ”That Rowan?”
I nodded. ”Come on, Flora, get into bed. I”ll be with you in a sec.”
”Okay. Goodnight, Uncle Mick. Goodnight, Rowan.”
”Goodnight, Flora,” Rowan said with a smile while Mick gave her another hug and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
Once she was gone, I looked at the two men in my living room.
”I”ve got to read to Flora,” I said quickly before Mick could suggest he”d put Flora to bed, which he did from time to time.
”I”ll wait,” Rowan said.
”I don”t want you here,” I finally gave up trying to be polite.
”I know. I just need ten minutes of your time.”
”And will you, during those ten minutes, not refer to Isha as a whore?” Mick asked.
Mick was pretty jacked and he could probably take Rowan. I smiled in amusement.
”Yes, I won”t,” Rowan agreed simply.
”Now, go on, cupcake, and put my flower girl to bed while I talk to this hunk of a man.”
”You have a bar to run; so go do that before your employees revolt for abandoning them on a Friday night.” I pointed to the door.
”Mister, if you don”t behave, my husband is next door, and he”s bigger than me. I promise he”ll fuck you up good.”
Rowan nodded. ”No doubt. I promise I”m going to be on my best behavior.”
That Rowan wasn”t picking a fight with Mick was strange because he had a short temper, from what I could remember, and Mick was certainly provoking him. But then I used to be a doormat, and no one could say I was one now. So, maybe we”d all grown up for the better.