Page 149 of A Temporary Forever

Shit, I need to call Dominic Cressard to make sure Reese won’t get into trouble for this. The hospital has probably reported her already.

Mia settles against me while I close my eyes for a moment, the events of the day running in a distorted loop in my mind. Fuck, I’m tired.

I pull out my phone and send a text to Celeste.

Me

Good night, blackswan.

I screen several messages from Xander.

“Will Celeste be okay if I’m your daughter for real?” Mia’s voice sounds tentative.

“You are my daughter for real.” I ruffle her hair. “Celeste will be delighted to have you around more. We both will, if your mom is okay with that.”

Another bright smile hits me in the chest.

Mia fidgets, and then bites her lips. “Celeste looked sad today.”

“Yeah, we’ve been having a tough day.” I want to leave it at that, but then something prompts me to continue. “She’s from France, as you know. We need to prove our marriage is real so she can keep living here.”

Being honest and open with someone about an issue or a problem, not carrying it by myself, feels strangely liberating.

“But your marriage is real.” The conviction in her statement is endearing.

“I hope the authorities see it the same way.”

“I’ll tell them.” She looks at me with hope.

“I don’t think that will be necessary, but thank you.”

She slouches into her seat, restless. Shit, I wish I could take her mind off her mother, this endless waiting, or all her other insecurities.

I turn to her. “Actually, do you have any photos on your phone from any of our outings?”

She pulls out her phone and scrolls through. “What about this?” She points the screen at me.

Mia, Celeste and I are grinning in front of the smashing room, all of us still in goggles. I forgot the attendee took this picture with Mia’s phone.

We look like a happy little family. A strangely formed one, but nevertheless real. I study my face and almost don’t recognize myself.

“Can you send it to me?”

This was our first outing, and I was definitely faking my marriage and failing at the parenting gig back then. And yet, the genuine joy in my expression is undeniable. I don’t think I have another picture where I look like this.

“Why are you smiling like this?” She cocks her head, studying me.

“Like what?”

“Like you found a treasure.”

I look at my little girl and shrug. “Because I feel like I found one.”

She leans into me and I hug her, giving her the support she needs, but equally getting some from her.

With a renewed energy, I decide to call Xander, and finally resolve at least one of the issues looming over my head.

Atdawn, I take an Uber from the hospital, after I put Greta and Mia into another one.

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