“You’re very hands on.”
“I have to be. She’s been through a lot.” He hesitated. “I want this move to Marietta to be good for her. I’m doing this for her. I think she needs cousins and family and all those traditions I had growing up that I took for granted.”
It was such a surprising thing to hear him say. He’d never been overly interested in family or tradition before, and he certainly hadn’t been fond of big family get-togethers. If anything, he was the Sheenan who didn’t attend the birthdays and celebrations. “You have changed.”
“Daisy’s influence,” he said.
“She’s good for you. You’re not the Ice Man you used to be.”
“Ice Man?”
“You could be pretty chilly when you wanted to be.”
He was silent a moment. “I suppose that’s true. I’m sure it’s true. I froze you out, didn’t I?”
There was something so open and real in his expression that the air caught in her throat, reminding her of a time when they’d been so close. When he could do no wrong. It hurt remembering. And she couldn’t help wondering if it would always hurt, remembering. “That’s the past, right?”
“Right,” he said grimly.
She wagged her finger at him, determined to keep things light. “And we can’t live in the past.”
“True.”
“And everyone makes mistakes.”
He was smiling faintly now. “Yes, you’re right. But that’s also why we’re back in Montana. Life is too short, not to do the right thing, and in this case, the right thing for Daisy is to be here, close to April’s parents and my family.”
The bronze elevator doors opened behind them and a couple stepped out but neither Cormac nor Whitney paid them any attention.
“Have you stayed in touch with April’s parents?” Whitney asked, surprised.
“We’ve tried to stay in touch with both sets of grandparents but after Daryl’s mom died, his dad, who has dementia, was put in a home and isn’t able to really participate in Daisy’s life. Fortunately we do see April’s parents a couple times a year. We always see them once a year in Bozeman and then I try to fly them out to Orange County each year, too. The last time Joe and LuAnne visited we all went to Disneyland, but I know they’d love to see more of Daisy, and by being here in Marietta, they can see her regularly.”
Whitney was moved. April would be so happy if she knew. And maybe she did know. “That’s wonderful. I’m impressed.”
“I can do the right thing, Whit.”
“I never said you couldn’t.”
He lifted a brow.
She grimaced. “Well, maybe I have expressed my doubts.”
“Maybe.” He started away and then turned. “But there is a reason we moved now instead of at the end of the year. Something happened in California that woke me up, made me question everything. I’m meeting Heath at the house now but would you be free a little later? I’d like you to hear it from me before Daisy says something.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“It wasn’t good.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be scared. Daisy is here, fine, and everything is going to be fine. But it was a wake-up call. I realized Southern California was just too crowded. There’s too much traffic and too many people and she’ll be safer here in Marietta. More secure.”
The idea of anything happened to Daisy made Whitney physically ill. “When will you be back so we can talk?”
“I hope to be back here by five, and then I’m supposed to meet everyone for dinner at six.”
“How about we meet at five thirty? Would that work?”
“I’ll meet you here.”
He turned to go but she reached out and caught his sleeve, stopping him. “Just tell me one thing. Did anyone touch her? Hurt her?”
“No. Nothing like that. I promise.”
*
He’d said it was nothing like that, but still, whatever had happened to Daisy had to be serious for Cormac to want to move her back to Marietta…the one place he never wanted to live.
Whitney found it hard to concentrate on her calls and work that afternoon, waiting for her meeting with Cormac.
It wasn’t easy keeping her imagination from running wild, either, but she was determined to stay as calm and focused as possible until she talked to Cormac.
Finally it was time to head downstairs. She was a few minutes early but he was already there.
They entered the hotel’s bar for an espresso-style coffee. The bar was cool and dark, reminding Whitney of an elegant pub. Cormac went to the long counter and ordered coffees, carrying them back to their corner booth.
“So what happened?” Whitney asked once they were both seated, facing each other.
“There was an incident at her school.” Cormac’s eyes met hers. “A shooting.”
Whitney’s jaw dropped.
He nodded. “Her school went into lockdown. Two were injured, one a child.”
“Why didn’t I hear about this?”
“It was in the news, but there were two other shootings that week so…” His voice drifted off and he ran a hand across his jaw. “So…here we are.”
“Who was the other person injured?”
“The PE teacher. She’s a woman in her fifties and a total bad ass. Tried talking to the gunman and when he pulled the trigger, charged at him, taking him down. Her actions saved countless others.”
Whitney just stared at him. “I can’t believe it.”
“I couldn’t, either. And I was in L.A. meeting with Hartag Media when I got the first text, alerting me that the school was on lockdown. I left immediately, but I couldn’t get there for hours.” His voice dropped, deepening. “I couldn’t reach her when I needed to. The traffic. The distance—” He broke off, lips flattening into a hard line. “I thought I was going to lose my mind.”
She sat back in her seat, still trying to process everything. “Wow.”
“I know there are those who think this is extreme…me moving my entire company here, to Marietta, because of one incident—”
“I don’t think it’s extreme at all,” she interrupted.
“You don’t?”
“No. I think it’s remarkable, and one of the best moves you’ve made in your life.” Her eyes burned and she felt ridiculously close to tears but they were the good kind. “Well done, Cormac. I approve.”
*
She was smiling at him, and her eyes shone, and his chest grew tight. It was the first time she’d smiled at him since…
…since….
It was too long ago to remember.
So long ago that there was no point in trying to remember. It was just good to see her smile now. No one had a smile like Whitney. It lit her face, warmed her eyes, turning her into one of those Disney princesses Daisy loved so much.
Belle maybe, the one that loved the Beast.
“Why are you smiling?” she said challengingly, holding her cup between her hands, eyes shimmering with light.
“I watch a lot of Disney princess shows,” he said. “And I was trying to decide which Disney princess you’d be.”
“I can’t picture you watching anything Disney, much less Disney princess shows.”
“I have a little girl.”
“Yes, you do.”
He saw her smile falter and he hated to see the light dim from her eyes. He reached across the table and tipped her chin up so that she couldn’t hide.
“Belle,” he said, holding her gaze. “That’s the princess you look like.”
Color swept through her cheeks. “I don’t think Belle is a princess. I think she’s the daughter of an eccentric inventor, a girl who longs to leave her little village behind to find adventure and a new exciting life in a big city.”
“Just like you.”
She laughed huskily, lips curving, and it was all he could do to keep from leaning across the table and kissing her.