by Mia Kayla
Sarah’s gaze flicked upward, her face unreadable, and immediately, my stomach dropped for a different reason now.
After dinner, I stood, ready to clean up. Sarah picked up all the plates, discarded the uneaten food into the garbage, and handed me the plates, so I could rinse them and place them in the dishwasher. Mary wiped down the table with the dishcloth while Charles put the leftovers in the fridge.
I loved these moments—the togetherness, the simplicity of everyday, mundane tasks. I craved them. Craved the normalcy. These small things were what made me feel like we were all a family.
I had never wanted acceptance as much as I did right now. I’d never belonged anywhere, bouncing from foster family to foster family, but I wanted to belong here. I wanted them to claim me and love me because I already loved them—Mary, Sarah, and inevitably, Charles.
Charles
Sweat beads pebbled the back of my neck, and I adjusted my T-shirt to get myself to cool down. Even though I was eating rocky road ice cream on a cone, I sat utterly still in our booth, sweating profusely.
Thank God for Mary because there wasn’t a silent beat between us, therefore making it seem like it was a normal day out for ice cream, though I had to talk about serious topics. But in essence, Mary was right. Now, she was going to think I was always going to take them out for ice cream to reveal shocking revelations.
Becky’s eyes focused on her bowl of cookies and cream, and she slipped the spoon in her mouth. It was her favorite flavor next to mint chocolate chip.
Every day, I filed away little tidbits on her favorite things in a Rolodex in my head. She preferred her coffee black and her chicken parm lightly coated, not fully breaded. Her absolute favorite movie was You’ve Got Mail.
She was a hopeless romantic at heart even though she didn’t believe she deserved or would receive that romance in her life, but I was about to change all of that. I’d use everything in my arsenal to romance her because I was determined to give her everything she desired and wished for, just like I did for the rest of my family.
Now, I only needed them on board with the plan.
After finishing the last of my treat, I straightened and awkwardly smiled at my children. “So … girls …” I cleared my throat, smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt.
Mary tilted her head and double-blinked at me. “Uh-oh. Now comes the bad news, doesn’t it, Daddy?”
Sarah and Becky laughed, and the sound was music to my ears because it loosened some of the tension in my shoulders.
“No bad news. Not this time.” I blew out a breath. “So, you know that Daddy’s never really …” I fumbled with my fingers, my gaze teetering from the table to my children and back again. “What I’m trying to say is that in the past, I’ve been too busy to …” Which was a lie. I was still busy, but now, I’d found someone I wanted to make more time for. I scratched at my temple. “What I’m really trying to say is that recent events have happened where …”
My gaze flicked up to Becky, but she bit her bottom lip and tore her stare away from me, equally nervous. This was unlike me. I never fumbled with words. I was concise and articulate when I was in front of the boardroom or on a pedestal at the Hilton at our annual convention, but today, I was at a loss. But I needed the words out, so I could move on with my life, make myself happy for once.
“Recent events have happened between Becky and me and …” I choked, stopping mid-sentence. Damn it.
Mary chewed at the edge of her spoon, peering up at me with the bluest eyes.
I gazed at Sarah helplessly, and she sighed, saying, “Daddy and Becky are dating now.”
Mary scrunched her nose, and I wondered if she didn’t agree or didn’t know what that meant.
“Daddy and Becky are a couple now,” Sarah added. “Like Janice and Uncle Mason.”
It took a few seconds, but as soon as Mary registered her sister’s words, she screamed and jumped from her chair. She clapped her hands and ran to me, hugging my middle. “Yay, Daddy! I’m so happy.” Then, she jumped into Becky’s lap, wrapping her arms around Becky’s neck, and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “Now, I won’t be the only kid without a mom on Muffins for Moms day.”
“Oh, honey.” Becky pulled Mary flush against her, and my heart hurt.
Even though I gave them everything they possibly needed and wanted and I took time to be with them at school events, there were things I could never give them, just by being me. Year after year, I was the only dad at Muffins for Moms with Mary. Patty had always gone with me, and I thought by us both being there, she’d get two for the price of one, but it was never the same.
Mary pulled back and cupped Becky’s cheeks in her small hands. “I’m so happy.” She spread her arms wide, beckoning me forward. “Bubble of love, Daddy.”
I stood and moved over to them, grinning.
“You too, Sarah.” Mary waved her hands, getting Sarah to stand from her chair.
I encased the four of us in our new little bubble, feeling my heart expand to an immeasurable size.
Sarah peered up at me, and for the first time since we’d sat down, a genuine smile surfaced on her face. “I’m so happy for you, Daddy.” Then, she sidled up next to Becky. “Happy for all of us.”
And so was I.
So. Damn. Happy.
Chapter 36
Becky
“That’s why Daddy doesn’t want us in the bathroom,” Mary said from the back of the car as I drove them to school.
I laughed. The things these girls had witnessed, seen, and heard, just by being brought up by three men.
“Mary, just stop talking about Daddy’s private parts,” Sarah groaned.
I could see Mary’s pouty face from the rearview mirror.
“That’s why I was late. I had to wait for Daddy to finish taking a shower.”
“Mary, you have your own bathroom,” Sarah said.
“But there was a spider in there the other day,” she whined.
I laughed.
Mary had screamed so hard that I thought she’d slipped, fallen, and broken a bone. I’d never, ever experienced such fear for a child before. This was all so new to me, and my imagination was taking me for a ride.
After the incident, I’d disinfected and cleaned her bathroom, to the point where you could basically eat off the floor, but the girl was traumatized. She wouldn’t be using her bathroom again anytime soon.
Mary flipped to other topics. At times, she’d go into full-on question mode, asking me about things I didn’t want to talk about—mainly about me and her father.
“You think you’ll get married soon?” Mary asked.
“Stop with your questions, Mary. You can’t be asking those types of things,” Sarah responded.
“But I wanna know when I can start calling her mom. Is she still our babysitter? What do I tell my friends?”
“You tell them it’s none of their business.”
Thank goodness for Sarah because I didn’t have to answer the difficult questions.
I pulled into the school parking lot, noting the bustling parents trying to get their kids off to school. Usually, I’d drive through the drop-off line, but this time, I had to go down to submit Mary’s preschool field trip form, so she could go to the pumpkin patch today.
When I stepped out of the car, two small hands filled mine—Sarah on my right side, Mary to my left—and we crossed the parking lot as a threesome. My heart filled so high that I thought it’d spill over.
I swung their hands between us as we entered the building. Before I had the chance to tell them to have a great day, tiny arms wrapped around my waist, and a body crushed into my side.
“Thanks, Becky. See you later,” Mary said, squeezing me tight before skipping down the hall to her classroom.
Sarah side-hugged me before scurrying off. I watched her walk leisurely down the hall, her strides long and confident and with purpose. And then I smiled.
This was my life now.
My mornings were filled
with breakfast with the family, whom I’d grown to love, and my nights were filled with me being in Charles’s arms. Some days, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was all real.
I entered the office, and my high suddenly deflated. Carol, the principal, was at the front desk, talking to her office assistant. Maybe it was childish, but I still couldn’t get over how she’d dealt with the whole bullying situation with Sarah and that other little girl. I was sure Charles had taken care of it with the parents, but I was still sour about it.
When Carol’s eyes met mine, I focused on the task at hand and placed the signed permission slip on top of the table. I wasn’t going to get into it with this woman today and ruin my mood.
I turned my attention to the secretary. “I’m just dropping this off for Mary Brisken. It’s her permission slip for the pumpkin patch. It’s late, so I wanted to turn it in directly to ensure that she can go today.” I offered a small smile.
“She’ll be able to go. Thanks for dropping it off.” Carol smiled.
I tipped my chin in farewell. I was about to turn and face the door when she approached.
“About the other day,” Carol began, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to escalate the situation and have both girls in the room. I know that the Brisken girls have been through a lot, but that doesn’t mean that Sarah’s actions should be overlooked.”
My whole body tensed. “Did I ever say that?” My voice came out low, barely controlled.
Carol raised her hands, already on the defense. “I’m not saying you said that.”
“If you know Sarah, you’d know she wouldn’t do something unless she was provoked. I’m not excusing her either, but that other girl should have held some sort of responsibility in the situation.”
Carol’s face softened. “I know. What I wanted to say is that I’m sorry how it came across. Jennifer and her parents have been talked to. Sarah and Mary are great girls. It was very out of the ordinary, what happened, and I admit that I could’ve handled it in a calmer and more collective way. For that, I apologize.”
A low breath escaped my lips. I was being stubborn, overly emotional maybe because of my strong feelings for Sarah. Maybe I needed to forgive and forget.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’m sorry too. For maybe getting a little too heated that day.”
She blinked, and her smile widened. “No need to apologize. I’m just glad the Briskens have another person in their lives who will always be in their corner.”
I smiled, giving a nod of acknowledgment, and then made my way back to the car. I had a list of things to do—mostly laundry and groceries. But I wanted those menial tasks done before tonight because we were having a Harry Potter marathon.
The sun was shining brightly overhead, and I inhaled the crisp fall air. I stepped into the car, mentally making a note, prioritizing where I needed to go first. Post office. Drugstore. Grocery store.
After I placed my key into the ignition, I screamed. My blood thrashed in my ears, and my whole body went on high alert, tensing and quivering and heating.
I see you live the cushy life now, huh? Does that mean you don’t need me?
I shoved the door open, ripping the Post-it Note from the dash. Outside, I searched the vicinity, looking past the cars, the school, doing a three-sixty to find him—Paul.
I knew he was here. Around this school, lurking in the shadows because I couldn’t see him anywhere. The only ones walking around were a few women congregated by their cars.
I hopped in the car and circled the school three times, but he was nowhere to be found, so I did what I knew I had to do to keep my girls safe—I drove to Brisken Printing Corporation.
I knew they’d be fine at the school. They had a security system and a guard on the premises and adults accompanying them to the pumpkin patch. They would not allow the girls to leave without a signed confirmation.
All these thoughts played in my mind as I tried not to panic but think straight. But the shock was too great. How the hell did he find me? I’d been so careful. And even though I thought I’d seen Paul on the street that one day, this was different. He knew where the girls went to school. He knew my car. He knew where we lived.
This was a nightmare. My literal nightmare come to life.
When I pulled into the parking garage, my brakes squealed to a stop. My feet could not move fast enough out of the car, into the high-rise, and toward the security desk, where I was stopped by a turnstile.
Shit, I didn’t have a badge to swipe.
I told one of the guards, “Hi, I’m Becky Summers, Charles Brisken’s children’s nanny. I need to see Charles.”
The stocky over-six-foot male with the burly beard towered over me. “Do you have an appointment?”
My arms crossed over my chest, and I peered up at him, straight on, unblinking and agitated. “I don’t, but it’s an emergency.”
Before he tried to deny me entry again, I plucked out my phone from my purse and called Charles.
He picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Becky.”
“Charles, I’m down here at security, but they won’t let me up.” I tried to keep the panic out, but I couldn’t.
There was a note of worry in his voice. “I’ll come get you.”
And then he hung up.
“He’s coming to get me.”
The security guard’s tough-looking demeanor wavered. Minutes later, Charles was down at the security desk.
He swiped his card to let me pass through the turnstile. Then, he turned to the stocky male. “Becky Summers. She gets a permanent all-access pass. Make sure she has it before she leaves today.”
Charles surprised me by taking my hand and leading us toward the elevators.
A few bystanders paused to gawk at us. If there was any doubt that we were together, it was squashed by Charles’s proximity to me.
We entered the far elevators, where it was less busy.
As soon as the doors shut, his face clouded with concern. “What brings you to the office?”
I trembled with unrelentless fear and placed a heavy hand on his chest. “Charles. I …” Sheer black fright swept through me, clouding my vision, swallowing up my words. My gaze dropped to the ground as I visibly shook. “I’m not here for a friendly visit.”
Both hands framed my shoulders, and Charles ducked to get in my line of sight. Tense lines of anxiety formed on his features.
Icy fear twisted around my heart, and my face crumpled.
I swallowed hard. “He’s found me. Paul has found me.”
Chapter 37
Charles
Becky paced the room while I stayed utterly still.
How the hell did he find her? What does this guy do for a living that he had the means to come find her?
I’d tried to search for this guy, and I’d hired the private investigator, but without knowing a lot about him, and with so many searches of Paul Clark coming up, there was no way to pinpoint whether I had the right guy.
“Where’s the note?” I shot out.
She plucked a three-by-three-inch yellow Post-it Note out of her purse.
My body tensed when I read the words. I had the sudden urge to punch something. Crushing it in my hand wasn’t enough. This man had to be found.
“I need you to find him.” She ran both hands through her hair and pulled at the ends. She shook her head back and forth. “Ignore everything I said before. All of it. Find him.” Her voice trembled. “Put a restraining order on him. I don’t care. Keep him away from the girls, from you, from your life here. Once I know you’re all safe, I’ll go.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” I said, my voice firm.
When she dropped her face into her hands, I went to her and brought her into me, needing to comfort her and feel her—alive, heart beating, in my arms—as much as she needed comfort from me. I hated that she was feeling this way. Hated that I was helpless to do anything about it.
“You’re shaking.” I rested my chin against the top of her head
and tightened my arms around her, whispering into her hair, “He’s never going to hurt you again.”
“I don’t care about me,” she said softly, her voice cracking with heartbreak. “It’s the girls I’m worried about. He’ll use me working for you as leverage. He knows you have money. What I need to do is leave. I need to go and stay far away from—”
I didn’t let her get the next words out because I pulled back and gripped her chin to force her to look at me. “You’re not going anywhere.” My voice was strong with conviction. “Especially because you’re scared. I swear to you, I will never let anything happen to you or my girls. I swear it.”
Her face crumpled. “You don’t know what this guy is capable of.”
I read the fear and anxiety in the span of green staring up at me, and it gutted me. I tilted her chin further up. “Do you know who I am?” I said with a sly smirk, trying to break the sullen look in her eye. “Do you know what I’m capable of?”
“Charles …” She wasn’t convinced.
I cupped her face, brushing my thumb tenderly down her cheek. “I’m Superman, don’t you know? I can lead a whole company even though the world is falling apart around me.” Wasn’t it the truth though? I’d still had to show a brave face when Natalie died, showing up to work every day. “Above that, I’m a man raising two girls. Girls who have turned out pretty all right by my definition.”
“They’re great.” A small smile surfaced, and I took it as an opportunity to kiss her.
“They’re more than great. They’re perfect.”
She blew out one shallow breath. “I’m scared.”
“Do you trust me?”
She nodded.
“Then, trust me when I say, I will protect you and my girls till the very end.”
She let out a long sigh and buried her head into my chest.
I rubbed a hand along her back. “First things first. I need more information on Paul and anything you have on him, so we can identify him and track him down.”
“Okay,” she said, her voice shaky.