Page 145 of A Temporary Forever

I have no idea who her aunt is or what happened yet, but holding this scared girl—my daughter—takes precedence. The ride to the hospital was the longest half-hour of my life.

Right now, everything feels like an endless ordeal. Like I’m in flux, floating aimlessly, trying to put out fires, but I can’t fucking stop the flames. They’re licking mercilessly, burning me with hopeless frustration.

“I’m glad you called me. What happened?” I keep stroking her hair.

A quiet sob racks through her small body. “I found Mom on the floor in the kitchen.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I keep stroking her head, strangely aware that I’ve never needed to comfort anyone. Two important people are leaning on me, and I have no clue how to be here for them. How to make their situations better.

My gaze finds Celeste. She gives me a weak smile and a nod. It smooths the edges of my frayed mind, but I’m still at a loss about what to do next.

Reese never wanted to talk to me, so what’s my role here? I should have tried harder.

As if Celeste could feel my inadequacy, she steps closer and pats Mia’s back. “Let’s have your dad find out what’s going on, and when you can see your mom.”

My hopelessness recedes as Celeste’s words give me a jolt of purpose. Mia squeezes me before she turns to Celeste.

My wife wraps her arm around my daughter. “Let’s get hot chocolate, and when we’re back, I’m sure Caleb will know more.”

Celeste pats my biceps, and her sad smile reassures me. Of what, I don’t know, but as I watch the two of them walking away from me, I vow not to fail them.

It takes quite a lot of effort to get to talk to anyone, including waving around Benjamins, my paternity test results, and various threats.

By the time I finally get to talkto a young doctor who is trying to stifle yawns, I almost donate an entire wing to the hospital.

It’s what I learn that steals my oxygen, and makes me question every single decision—all of them cowardly—as a father.

“What’s going on?” Celeste’s warm hand on my shoulder brings me back to the bleak reality.

I turn to find her standing behind me, while Mia sips her chocolate on a seat a few feet away. My eyes dart between the two of them.

How does one’s life go to shit in the span of several hours?

“Overdose,” I whisper, knowing that it explains a lot and nothing at the same time.

“Merde. Is she—”

“She’ll be okay.” The words leave my mouth, but I know they’re only a partial truth. “I mean, she’s alive.”

“Good.” Celeste takes my hand and leads me to Mia.

I almost bolt, because I don’t know what to do or say to her. Why the fuck is her aunt working tonight? Who even is her aunt?

I halt abruptly, and Celeste stumbles. Mia’s head is down like she’s staring into her cup. She looks much smaller in that moment.

It hurts looking at her, a girl that’s the spitting image of me in a darker, more feminine, version.

A girl who courageously found me, and instead of my time and affection, I offered her my credit card.

A girl that has been—I’m assuming—living in less-than-ideal conditions, and I didn’t bother to gain her trust enough for her to confide in me.

She didn’t spell out her problems when she showed up in my life, but fuck, she showed up, and I…

“I’m like my father.” A bitter chuckle gets lodged in my throat. My new personal low blurs my vision.

Celeste pinches my chin between her thumb and finger, forcing me to look at her. “You can wallow later. That girl needs you. You have the entire rest of your life to choose not to be like him, but you need to start right now. Because right now is what matters.”

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