“What’s the status of her…” I try to think of a delicate way to put it. “Father?”
Ember’s eyes cloud, and something like worry fills her expression.
Reaching up, I slide a piece of hair behind her ear. “What’s wrong?”
“Does it bother you?” She’s studying my face, watching me closely.
“What?” A little wave crashes between us, sending salt into my mouth. I spit it out.
Her eyes flicker away, but I’m not having any more hiding. I give her a little shake. “What are you afraid of?”
“My mother said men don’t like other men’s children.”
Heat tightens in my chest. It’s becoming a regular occurrence whenever Marjorie Warren comes up. I’m mentally piecing together what happened after I left… The only unanswered question is why.
“Come on,” I say, leading us out of the water. We walk up the shore to our clothes, the light breeze cooling our heated skin, and I think about my words. “Your daughter is as beautiful as you. I’d like to get to know her.” Ember looks up at me, and I can tell she’s not convinced. “I expect the two of you are a package deal.”
She reaches down and quickly dro
ps the sundress over her head. “I won’t leave Coco behind.” I don’t miss the edge in her voice as she says it, almost like a challenge.
Jerking my jeans over my hips, I catch her around the waist as she tries to pass, pulling her to me. “I would never ask you to.” Leaning forward, I kiss the corner of her mouth. “I’d like her to come with you. Is that possible?”
Her shoulders drop, and she relaxes in my arms. “It should be.”
Releasing her, I scoop up my tee, shaking the sand out of it before dropping it over my head. “Tell me about her. Were you…” Unexpected jealousy hits me as I say the words. “Is her father someone you cared about?”
We reach the truck, and I help her inside before jogging around to climb in the driver’s side. She tells me the story as we drive back to the cottage. Her voice is quiet, cautious, and I hang on every word.
“I’m embarrassed to say it was a drunk hookup, but it’s the truth.” She looks down at her hands, twisting in her lap. I want to reach out and cover them with mine. “I don’t know what I’ll tell her when she’s older… about her dad.”
“Wait to cross that bridge. If she knows how much you love her, she won’t hold it against you.”
She glances up at me, and her lips press into a sad little smile. “I only went out with one guy after you left…”
“Mason Green,” I say, remembering the picture my father showed me.
The photo that killed all my dreams and changed the direction of my life.
“My mother wanted me to try. She said it wasn’t good for me to pine away after a boy who wasn’t coming back.”
My fists tighten on the steering wheel, but I don’t say the words in my head. “What made you believe her?”
She does a little shrug. “I guess I already feared it was true when you left. I knew I was only a kid. You were a man, smart and educated. It was easy for me to believe you wouldn’t come back.”
I feel as if I’ve been punched in the chest. “Was it?” Looking at her, I can’t keep the frown off my face. “I thought you knew how I felt.”
She chews her lip, and I can tell she’s thinking something she’s afraid to say. We drive through the neighborhoods of Oceanside Village in silence. We continue past her storefront, making the left turn headed north into the woods where my mother’s cottage is located.
“We’ll be more comfortable sleeping here,” I say, holding the door for her as she slips out of the cab.
She’s right in front of me, her head only reaching the center of my chest, and I cup her cheek. The shadows are thicker here, the moonlight more ambient. I press my lips gently to hers, and I feel the tension leave her body. When I pull away again, our eyes meet, and we’re back.
I take her hand and continue to the house. “So you didn’t date,” I say, hoping to continue the story.
“After we graduated, Mason left to go to the mission field. I didn’t want to go to college, but I wasn’t sure what else I’d do.”
I unlock the door, and we step inside. She gasps, and I smile. “I know, right?”