Page 98 of Rock On

“Oh.” River looked as if he was truly taking it under consideration. Then he met my gaze with a seriousness that seemed far too intense for someone so young. “My daddy died.”

That choked me up a little, but I reached out to put my hand on his head. “I know, buddy. Your daddy was my friend and he asked me if I wanted to be your daddy, once he knew he wasn’t going to get better.” I hadn’t planned to tell him that, but it somehow seemed important. It wasn’t exactly the truth, but close enough.

Harley had told me that River thought Carter had been sick and the doctors hadn’t been able to make him better. I mean, what the hell else would you tell a two-year-old? He probably didn’t even understand that but at least it gave him a starting point when it came up. She planned to deal with the truth when he was a little older. He could find out the information he wanted with a simple search on the internet, so her plan was to give him the basics until he was ready.

“You knew my daddy?”

“He was my best friend,” I said solemnly.

River nodded. “Okey-okey. I need a daddy. I make Mommy tired sometimes.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I probably make her tired sometimes too, but we’ll try to be better together.”

“Can we have breakfast now?”

Well, that was simple enough.

“Sure, buddy.” I got to my feet. “Let’s go see what there is in the kitchen.” I held out my hand to him and he slid his small one into it.

“I’ll be right down,” Harley said, quickly getting up.

“Take your time,” I told her. “If you recall, I have a breakfast specialty.”

She smiled. “Banana pancakes.”

“And I saw bananas on your counter last night.”

“I love pancakes!” River said, bouncing up and down on his toes.

“And you’re going to love mine,” I told him.

“I’ll be down in five,” she said, padding toward the bathroom.

“I’ll have coffee going.”

“And then I guess we’re going to Tiffany’s,” she said with a chuckle.

I laughed. “Sounds like fun.”

“Who’s Tiffany?” River asked.

“It’s a store,” I told him. “I’m buying your mommy a ring.”

“Cause you’re getting married?”

“Yup.”

“Okey-okey.”

THIRTY-EIGHT

Harley

It was a great day.

After breakfast we took River to preschool and then went and bought my engagement ring. I’d felt strongly that we keep our original wedding rings since we still had them, and Tommy was okay with that, but my engagement ring was breathtaking. He’d chosen an emerald-cut ten-carat diamond in a platinum setting. It was huge but simple, and probably much bigger than I needed, but he’d been right that we’d been broke the first time we’d gotten engaged.

He’d offered to upgrade it a few times but I’d always said I loved my ring.

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