Page 62 of Worth the Vow

Hanging up the phone, I wince in embarrassment. Immature? Yes. Grumpy Dominic I can handle. Surly Dominic isn’t fun, but I can manage him. Flirty and outgoing Dominic? Powerful and sexy Dominic?

Nope.

Dominic

I chuckle when the phone beeps to tell me the call ended. Kate has an interesting habit of hanging up on me for a variety of reasons. Usually it’s when she’s mad over something I’ve said, or when I disagree with a decision she’s made regarding my children. I’m not surprised that I’ve shocked her into metaphorically running away from me. But it’s about damn time that she knows my thoughts.

I’m not letting go of Kate.

I came to that realization when she exited the highway toward Matt’s house and I continued north. I was so fucking close to following her. If it had been any other reason, I would have. But I knew Aspen needed me. Even doped up, she burst into tears when she saw me, then promptly fell asleep.

I’m getting cried on a lot today, it seems.

It takes a few hours for the doctors to confirm with a radiologist that Aspen’s ankle is indeed sprained, and then we have to wait for the staff to locate a pair of children’s crutches. Once Aspen woke up, she had a million questions about how life would be for her with a sprained ankle, but even more about why I left town to find Kate.

“Is Katie gonna come home?” she asks. Aspen doesn’t always call her Katie, but I think Kate likes it when she does. I doubt Kate will ever admit she loves it when I call her Katharine as well.

“Yes.”

“Today?”

I sigh and look at my watch. I’ve now been up for about twenty-four hours, and the sleep I got the previous night was subpar at best. “I believe she will be home today, yes.”

“Did she leave because of you?” Aspen asks bluntly. I should be angry at her question, but it’s a fair thing to ask. The last thing Aspen saw was an argument between Kate and me.

“I’m pretty sure she did leave because of me. We had an argument.”

“About what?”

“A few different things, most of which is grown-up stuff, Aspen.”

“It’s cuz she uses the money you leave her to buy us ice cream, isn’t it?”

I stare at her in shock. “Uh, yeah, that was one thing. How did you know that?”

She rolls her eyes, reminding me she’s going to be an awful teenager one day with a hormonal attitude. “Jeez, Daddy. I pay attention. She always packs food for herself on nights we get ice cream. It’s not hard to see that.”

“I don’t think your brother or sister recognized that,” I comment.

“I pay the most attention,” she comments. “Is that what you fought about on Friday?”

“Yes,” I answer simply.

She nods. “I thought so. I asked Katie about it too, you know. Right before you got there. I think she doesn’t want you to worry about her. But I like Kate. I don’t want her to move away like Savannah. So be nicer to her.”

It’s not lost on me that Aspen refuses to call Savannah mom, instead using her real name. “What do you like about Kate?”

“Lots of things,” she says, her eyes closing as a hint of a smile graces her beautiful face. Aspen’s cheeks have recently lost most of their baby fat, making me realize my baby is no longer one. “I like that she braids my hair and does space buns, and how she always sings to the music on the radio. She tells the best stories, and she always puts her phone away when I’m talking to her. She lets me help cook dinner sometimes, too. But most of all …”

“What?” I ask quietly.

Aspen yawns. “She loves me. I can tell she loves all of us. Even you, Daddy. Maybe not so much when you’re grumpy, but most of the other times.”

“You think she loves me?” I ask.

“Uh-huh.”

“How do you know?”

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