Page 85 of Just My Ex

I see where I get it.

“I’m glad Benson came to the house last night, though,” he says. “There’s something urgent. I can’t put my finger on it. I hired an investigator after I got the DNA confirmation.”

“Of course you did,” I say. But Quinn places a steadying hand on my arm.

“Wouldn’t you?” Dad says. “I needed to know as much information as possible. But everything checks out. He’s a nice guy—a great guy. He’s an engineer and does charity work. Has two kids, even. I’m a grandpa three times over at this point. Navie’s got cousins—sort of. He’s divorced.” He rubs a hand through his hair. “I, uh, I told him I understand having problems relating to a wife and kids. That I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But I get the sense he’s much better at all that than I am.”

I fight the urge to say,I think pretty much everyone’s better at it than you are, Dad.

But I don’t. I just try to breathe.

I load Quinn’s suitcases into the car, a borrowed one from my dad, making myself busy, double checking on her flight, fussing around her.

Because if I stay busy, if I make it about the flight and about making sure her luggage is just so, I tell myself I don’t have time to feel sad.

Yeah right.

And to make things worse, it’s starting to rain.

“It’s just a sprinkle,” Quinn says before I can comment on it. “It’s fine.” She lifts a hand to shield her face.

“How did you know I was worried about the rain?”

“Come on, Henry. I do know a thing or two about you.” Her teasing feels like home, and I’m instantly home sick for it already.

“On another note, just leave the car at the airport in short-term parking, and my dad will send someone over to get it later. Or you could let me take you?” I ask her for the third time this morning.

She shakes her head and offers a brief smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks for the offer, but you need to be here for when your dad tells your brothers about your … other brother.” She shakes her head, her eyes growing large at the thought of that.

We talked about it last night, but mostly, neither of us knew what to say. Besides, I was distracted by thoughts of her leaving in the morning and trying to figure out how to ask her to stay, or to invite myself along.

In the end, I said nothing, opting to support her in her decisions. I can keep chipping away at this quest to win her back, even from afar again, because in the end, patience might help. The last thing I want to do is not respect her wishes or try to rush her into choosing me.

No, I’ll support her decision to go back home. I’ll stay in Denver to help my dad explain everything to the family and then I’ll ask her about visiting her there. Eventually she’ll learn the truth about how short-lived my stay in Bern will be and hopefully, by then, we’ll be in a good place, and I can move near her and Navie.

The thought brings nerves to my middle and a whole lot of longing. And something like happiness.

Navie’s piled her toys onto the back seat next to her car seat. I check my watch. Again. Lots of watch checking and busying myself with unnecessary things. Like using a tire gauge to make sure there’s enough air and running inside to grab a couple of umbrellas for them.

See? Call it stalling. Call it fussing. I don’t know.

“You don’t have to go yet,” I say as I look at the storm clouds rolling in over the horizon. “Your flight isn’t until early afternoon.”

“I thought I’d take her to the children’s museum beforehand,” Quinn says.

Security issues blare in my head like sirens. But there’s nothing I can do about that. I consider trailing them from a safe distance.

But I can’t. If I’m building my life on a foundation of honesty with her, with everyone, then I’m not going to do that.

Besides, it’s not necessary, with Raymond in jail.

I almost,almostinvite myself along with her. I’d love to spend time with them at the museum.

Instead, I just nod. “I think you and Navie are going to be just fine for this last week before the judge signs the money over to you.” Even as I say the words, part of me doesn’t believe it. Does being completely honest mean that I have to admit that I’m still worried for their safety?

I’m wrestling with that thought when her tongue flicks out to the corner of her mouth, her eyes avoiding mine. Finally, she meets my gaze. “I know. Thanks for everything.”

She reaches her arms around my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug.

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