Page 64 of Finding Out

Baby Girl: Again with the too sweet.

Me: How’s it going?

Baby Girl: Avery seems happy.

I stared at the message,annoyed. As much as I wanted my daughter to be happy today, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the woman I loved. Dammit. I shouldn’t have had to dance such a fine line. I wanted them both to be happy.

The idea of walking away from Wren was inconceivable, and yet I didn’t want to trade my relationship with my daughter. Worse, I didn’t want to ruin the girls’ relationship, and I had. Making them both unhappy was a knife in my chest.

I understood why Avery was upset. In my ideal world, I wouldhave talked to her first. When it didn’t work out that way, I should have forced her to talk to me. But I hadn’t wanted to push. Now I was questioning myself and messing things up with Wren. It felt like I was losing the two most important people in my life, and I didn’t know how to fix it.

Lunch had been easy. Chris was on cloud nine, without even a hint of any cold feet. I hadn’t expected any issues, but it was a comfort to know my daughter was in good hands.

Pacing outside the bridal suite, I checked my watch, then finally knocked on the door.

Jana answered, her eyes bright and her smile wide. “Hey, Mr. Wilson,” she chirped. “Welcome to the party.” She tilted her head, and her red curls brushed her bare shoulders.

“Everyone decent?” I asked.

“Yeah, Dave’s been in here for a while.”

“Perfect.” I forced a smile and stepped inside. I never let myself get jealous of Avery’s stepfather, and I wouldn’t start now.

“You look beautiful Avy.” I swallowed. All grown up and ready to start her new life.

“Thanks.” She beamed and then held out her hand to me. “You got the perfect something blue.”

I smiled. “It seemed like you.”

“And it matches the earrings Chris got me.” She tucked her hair over her shoulder.

“He has good taste.” I assured her. “And not just in jewelry.”

She rolled her blue eyes.

“I just want to say I’m sorry.” I stepped closer.

“No.” She shook her head. “We’re going to pretend like none of it happened. Just move on.”

That was a hard statement to swallow. I was willing to give her the happy wedding day. I wanted it for her. But I couldn’t pretend Wren and I had never happened.

Avery turned back to her mother, and my attention got snagged on a head of dark hair in the corner.

Wren.

My heart clenched painfully at the sight. She was stunning, withher dark hair curled and wearing a red dress that matched her lipstick. My breaths came quicker as my entire focus shifted to my girl. Despite how gorgeous she was, it hurt to look at her like this, with hunched shoulders and dull eyes.

“You take my breath away, baby girl.”

A smile lifted her lips, and she gave me a thorough once-over. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Chest swelling, I squatted in front of her. “I think it’s the red tie. It’d make anyone look good.”

“No.” She reached up and straightened it, then rested her palms on my chest. “It’s not the tie. It’s the man wearing it.” The soft words settled deep in my bones.

“We need to get pictures with the father of the bride,” the photographer called.

“You better go.” She brushed a lock of hair off my forehead.

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