Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Delaney
“You’re going to wear out the carpeting,” Levi says, sprawled out on the couch. “It’s Bennett. She’s fine.”
I’ve almost bitten off all of my fingernails. This hour feels like a damn week. I wave him off, glancing out the window again.
“You act like he’s going to kidnap her. Maybe you should’ve done a swap. Like you take Wren, he takes Leia, for extra security.” He laughs to himself, his attention never leaving the television.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this. I could’ve kept this secret.”
He laughs. “You’re delusional. I bet half of Willowbrook is already talking about how much she looks like him.”
“You’re not being helpful.”
His feet drop to the floor. “Listen, don’t you feel better knowing it’s all out in the open? There are no more secrets to be discovered. I don’t see how you thought you’d ever get back with him while keeping the existence of his daughter from him.”
I stop and cross my arms. “Okay, we weren’t getting back together, and I wasn’t hiding.”
He quirks his eyebrow.
“It wasn’t like I was never going to tell him.”
His eyebrow grows higher. How does he do that?
“What are you looking for? A thank you?”
“That would be nice.” He relaxes back on the couch.
“Don’t you have your own place?”
“You don’t want to spend quality time with your brother?”
“Not when he’s calling me out on all my shit. Believe me, I will be paying back the favor.”
“Didn’t Mom tell you? I’m perfect.” He smiles wide, his two dimples shining proudly.
Headlights cast a glow on the front window, and I step forward.
“Don’t,” he says.
I whip back around. “Why not?”
“Let him get her out of the car and walk her up to the door.”
An aggravated sigh escapes me. “Since when did you become Dr. Phil?”
“Didn’t Mom tell you? I’m smarter than you.”
I flip him off, and he laughs. I stay hidden behind the window, watching Bennett climb out of his truck and help Leia out of the back seat.
She slips her hand into his as they walk to the door. She didn’t reach for his hand because Bennett offered, she did it on her own. Tears prick my eyes. She’s talking to him, and he’s staring down at her, laughing at whatever she’s saying.
I shouldn’t be surprised that after just one ice cream date, she’s already comfortable with him. He makes it easy to be yourself. That’s why I never stopped loving him.
The door creaks open, and I pretend to just be walking past.
“Mom! I’m home,” Leia says.
Bennett steps inside with her, and we all stand awkwardly, unsure how this goes.
“What’s up, B?” Levi calls from the family room.
“Hey, Levi. Heading out tomorrow, right?”
Levi joins our uncomfortable little circle looking completely unfazed by the tension surrounding us. “Yeah, just soaking up some sister time.” He puts his arm around my neck and pulls me closer. “You two have fun?”
“Yeah, can we go again?” Leia asks. “Sprinkle Town is so good, and I want to try putting Oreos on my sundae next time.”
She seeks out Bennett, and the two of them share a smile—an inside tidbit that happened tonight, I guess. My heart squeezes because I’m not a part of it. As if Levi can sense it, he tightens his hold on my neck.
It’s good for her to have that. She never did with Sean. There are memories that should just be between a child and parent.
“And I need to try the cookie dough ice cream,” Bennett says.
“Moving up from vanilla, huh?” I ask, as if I’m part of the joke.
“Leia’s sundae convinced me that I might be missing out.” He winks, and she smiles.
Again, my heart pinches. “Well, let’s get you up to a bath, tell… say thank you,” I stumble over my words, unsure how to refer to Bennett. He is her dad, but it sounds weird saying it out loud to Leia.
“Thank you,” she says.
Bennett gets down on his haunches. “Could I have a hug? Only if you want to.” He holds out his arms.
Levi’s arm tightens across my shoulders. The weight of this feels too big, as if we shouldn’t be an audience, but I’d never be able to strip my gaze away.
“Yeah.” Leia steps into his arms.
They fold around her while she wraps her arms around his neck. Bennett’s eyes close, and his back rises and falls with deep breaths.
God, what have I done?
“Good night,” he says. “You’ll probably dream about swimming in sprinkles.”
Leia laughs. “Bye.”
Bennett lingers for a moment, stepping back and stopping a few times before his eyes find mine, and he nods. “Good luck, Levi.” Then he walks out the door, the screen door shutting behind him.
“So, sweetie”—I’m careful to keep my voice light—“you have fun?”
She nods, pulling her braid over her shoulder. “Yeah, the sundaes are huge.”
I smile. “That’s what makes it the best.”
She walks into the family room, looking at Bennett through the window. I’m buzzing with nerves, but I don’t want to crowd her.
“How was it?” I ask softly. “Being with him?”
She shrugs. Not in a dismissive way, but rather thoughtful. “He asked me how I felt about him being my dad.”
I pause, sitting in the chair. Levi takes the couch next to her. “Yeah?”
Her eyes find mine. All I see is her as a baby, rocking her to sleep at night. As a toddler lining up her stuffed animals in a perfect row. The girl whose life has changed too much and too fast.
“I told him I didn’t know,” she admits.
“That’s okay.” I move to sit on the other side of her, folding my hands in my lap. “You don’t have to know yet. You can take all the time you need.”
She picks at a piece of fluff on her pants. “That’s what he said.”
Levi looks at me over Leia’s head with an expression that says told you so.
“He didn’t get mad or anything.”
“No,” I say gently. “He wouldn’t.”
And that’s the truth. Bennett is the kindest person I’ve ever known. He’d never rush Leia to accept him.
“I thought maybe he’d try to act like he was my dad. But he didn’t.” She says it as if it surprises her.
“What did he do?” I press, and Levi gives me a warning glare.
What does he know? He doesn’t have kids.
She shrugs again, but the tiniest curve of a smile edges on her lips. “He just… listened. He said he wants to know everything about me. What I like and don’t like.”
I blink back the sting in my eyes. “That sounds like Bennett.”
“He listened to my stories and asked questions about school as if Wren hadn’t told him it all before.” She looks at me. “I liked that.”
I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “He sees you. That’s good.”
A beat of silence falls between us. Then, quieter than before, she whispers, “Do you think I’ll like him?”
I swallow hard. “I think… if you give him a chance, he’ll show you he’s worth liking.”
She nods slowly, then leans into my side long enough for my heart to crack open. “Can I go to my room?”
“Of course. I’ll be up in a minute to get your bath started.”
She heads up the stairs, braid swinging behind her, and I remain on the couch, watching her.
“You did good,” Levi says once she’s gone.
“We both knew he’d be gentle and patient.”
“Yeah, now you two just need to get your heads out of your asses about each other, and you can be one big happy, annoying family.” He heads into the kitchen.
Jeez, I wasn’t prepared to fall a little deeper in love with Bennett from seeing and hearing how he is with our daughter.