Page 66 of The Forever Play

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Sienna moving toward us, and I raise my hand. “I got this!”

She nods and stays put, turning back to keep talking with Teah.

I have no idea what they’re discussing, but Sienna’s animated expression tells me she’s into it. She and Teah are the same age, I think, and it makes me wonder if Sienna has had contact with anyone her age since she got pregnant.

From what I can gather, she’s been living with Russell, and before that, she was traveling with her parents and… she cut off everyone from her life in Everett.

Wow.

Checking on Zoey, I spare one last glance in Sienna’s direction, smiling as the girls take a seat on the park bench and continue talking like they’ve been friends for life.

“Wash me,” Zoey demands, and I spin back to watch her climb the little ladder and whistle down the slide.

I catch her at the bottom and hoist her back up. Her padded little butt looks so cute waddling up the ladder, and my insides are pure mush by the time she climbs and slides another dozen times.

After that, she’s running to the swings, and tenminutes later, she wants to check out the rope pyramid thing, which she’s too short for. But damn if she doesn’t give it her best shot.

That determined look on her face reminds me so much of Monica, it knocks the breath out of me for a second.

I’d love to see old photos again. I want to compare what I looked like at that age too.

But all those images are at my parents’ two houses, and… I still haven’t told them about Zoey yet.

I want to get things cleared up with Sienna first.

And although today is a pretty awesome step in the right direction, we’re still on uneven ground. I can sense it.

But having her show up today…

I couldn’t believe it when I heard Wily shout, “Cowgirl!” and then my daughter replied.

They’d come to find me. I could have floated out that door.

After a really hard game yesterday afternoon, I was feeling kind of dark this morning, but one look at Sienna’s face, one sound of Zoey’s giggle, and I was filled to the brim.

I can’t stop smiling as I watch Zoey climb and fail.

“Can I help you?” I walk over to steady her, but she shakes her head.

“No help. Zoey do.”

“Okay.” I raise my hands but hover close by.

She’s getting it. Sort of. If her arms and legs were longer, she’d be scrambling up that thing in a heartbeat.

Her little fingers curl around the ropes and she stretches as far as she can go, making it one step higher.

Looking over her shoulder, she gives me a proud grin.

“Good job, kiddo.” I give her a thumbs-up and keep cheering her on until she gives up and asks for a rescue. Plucking her off the pyramid, I set her back on her feet, and the second she’s free, she charges for the sandpit.

But she doesn’t quite make it, because three teenage boys who are obviously fucking blind come barreling through the playground on their way to the basketball court and knock Zoey right off her feet.

She lets out a little wail as she goes flying, and I race toward her.

“Hey!” I bark at the boy whose knee caused my little girl to lose her balance. “Watch it.”

He turns to me with a sneer as I crouch down and lift Zoey into my arms. “Whatever, man.”

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