Page 60 of Renewal After Dark

“Oh.” She took a sip of the water. “We can talk to her later if that’s better. You need to go back to work. I heard you on the phone with the mayor.”

“The mayor can kiss my ass. My wife needs me, and I’m not going anywhere. My team has everything covered, and I’m in regular touch with them.”

“I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“I won’t. He needs me more than I need him, and he’d better not forget that.”

His vehement support of her triggered more tears. She was getting sick of them, but damn if she could stop them.

“Should we tell her now, then?” she asked.

“I suppose it won’t get easier later.”

“No, it won’t.”

Tiffany got up and held out her hand to him. “Let’s get this over with.” She’d never dreaded anything more than she did having to tell her sweet girl that her daddy was dead.

They went upstairs to Ashleigh’s room, where she was playing school with her dolls and stuffed animals.

Tiffany stopped him in the hallway so they could listen.

“If you get all your work done before recess, there’ll be a surprise snack for everyone. But you all have to get your work done, or there’s no snack for anyone.”

Tiffany placed her hand over her heart as more tears filled her eyes. She was one big pregnancy hormone on a good day, crying as easily as she breathed. This was most definitely not a good day.

Blaine’s hand on her back gave her the strength to wipe away her tears, put a smile on her face and step into Ashleigh’s room, bringing the weight of what she needed to tell her daughter with her.

“Hey, sweetie.”

Ashleigh smiled as she looked up at them. “We’re playing school.”

“We see that. You’re an excellent teacher.” Tiffany sat on the bed next to Blaine. “Can we talk to you for a second?”

“Sure.”

“Come here, will you?”

Ashleigh got up and crawled onto Tiffany’s lap. “Are you sad, Mommy?”

“A little.”

“Is the baby okay?” She placed her warm little hand on Tiffany’s belly. “I think he’s a boy baby.”

“I think so, too, and he’s fine.” Tiffany took a deep breath and forced herself to say the words that would change Ashleigh’s life forever. “So after the hurricane…”

“We couldn’t watch TV. I’m so glad the power came back on. I missed watching Bluey.”

“I’m glad it came back, too. Remember how the storm was so loud and the wind was so strong?”

Ashleigh nodded. “It was scary.”

“I have to tell you something about the storm that will be hard to hear.”

Her little dark brows knitted in confusion as Tiffany’s heart shattered into a million pieces.

“What is it?”

“Since the storm ended, honey, no one has heard from your daddy. They’ve been looking for him and his friend Billy.”

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