Page 45 of Until I Have You

“Ah, a native New Yorker.Me too,” he says.“Although, Brooklyn.Long time ago, though, before it became trendy.But I moved away a long time ago.Just visiting.I’d never been to the Statue of Liberty, can you believe it?”

I grin.“Me either.This was my first time.”

“Good on you, getting an early start,” he says before looking out at the statue.“You get to be my age you never know when it might be the last time you do things, you know?”

Bonnie presses into me again, her hand traveling higher and gripping the inside of my arm.

I glance down at her and find her eyes in mine, a solemn smile on her face.

Big things for a child to hear, the way loss creeps up in life.Except there’s a knowingness in her eyes.A sheeny sort of grief.

She knows more than I’d give a six-year-old credit for.

Something tugs in my heart.For Bonnie.For Theo.

And I realize I only know their story through the news.Through everyone but them.

What really happened to Theo and Bonnie?Why is he really in New York?

§

When we walk down the gangway, we say goodbye to Fred, our new friend, who goes off in one direction while we dally in another.

Bonnie swings our hands as we walk.“I’m hungry.”

“It is probably a good time for an afternoon snack,” I glimpse the time on my phone.“What are you in the mood for?Sweet or salty?”

“Sweet!”

“Cold or hot?”I smile.

Bonnie gasps.“Daddy!”

“Huh?”

She tears away from me and bolts down the sidewalk.I’m about to cry out after her, tell her to stop, until I see she’s running right toward Theo who is jogging toward us.

He’s beaming at the sight of his daughter and somehow looks even better than he did this morning.

I had to push away the thoughts of his handsomeness earlier, but now…

Dammit.

His swoop of dark hair is asunder after a day’s work, but his impeccably tailored suit still looks as well-pressed as it did this morning.He’s wearing glasses now, the dark circular rims.

I love how he loves her.I can think whatever bad thoughts I’d like to about him, but that is one thing I can’t take away from him.

When Bonnie reaches him, he scoops her up off the ground and pulls her into his arms like she’s weightless.

She kisses his cheek harshly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

That’s when I realize now he’s looking at me.

His smile has fallen the slightest bit, which I know is my own fault.I haven’t been the friendliest toward him.In fact, I’ve been downright standoffish.

Still, at least he smiles.

As I get closer, I call out, “You’re early!”

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