Page 18 of Legacy

I’ve spent years building the ice-cold fortress that protects my daughter. No way in hell am I letting some pretty little spitfire melt her way through it.

5

Reagan

Bea runs up thestairs so fast that she almost trips on one. “I’ll get the dolls. You get the teacups.”

I have no idea where Jesse keeps teacups or if Bea’s referring to toys buried in a giant bin in the living room, but I can’t help smiling at her excitement.

We spent the morning coloring, playing on the swings, and watching a movie. But it seems she’s gotten a second wind after lunch because she’s been running circles around the house like a little tornado while I chase after her and try to keep the mess under control.

At first, I thought Beatrice King must run on an endless supply of energy, but then she made a comment about how Margaretused tobe able to play outside with her, and the past tense weighed heavy in the room.

If the exhaustion that seeped out of Aunt Margaret when she returned from her appointment this morning is any indication, she hasn’t had the energy to entertainBea the way she used to. I get the impression Bea needs a little attention.

My heart hurts as I watch the back of her blonde head disappear around the corner. I wish my presence was enough to fix the bigger things at play here. Her slowly losing Margaret. Her father silently struggling to fill the role. Her general loneliness. At least I gather there’s no shortage of love in her life. Bea lights up every time she talks about her father.

He’s a biker, yet somehow, he’s also a man who shows his daughter the kind of unconditional love I thought was made-up when my parents always had strings attached to theirs.

Bea is the one person Jesse is the slightest bit softer for.

Unlike how he is with me—cold, clipped, and to the point. Proven by his short texts earlier.

Jesse: How’s Bea?

Reagan: Running around like a hurricane. We played in the backyard, but it got too hot without a shade over the porch, so we came inside and colored while we watched a movie. Then she read me a book. Smart cookie you’ve got here.

Jesse: Thanks.

He couldn’t be less friendly if he tried. The man is downright difficult, and while that should put me off, it only makes me that much more determined to prove to him that I can be the help he needs around here.

For Bea’s sake.

For mine.

There’s nothing for me to go back to.

I swallow that thought as the doorbell rings. Jesse didn’t mention anyone stopping by, so I can’t imagine who it is.

Jesse might not want me answering his door, but I can’t make them stand there wondering, so I walk over and swing it open to find Luna and a brunette smiling at me.

It’s a warm relief when I’ve been faced with Jesse’s cold frowns for the past twenty-four hours.

“Luna.” I smile.

Before last night, it felt like a lifetime since I’d seen her. We were friends as teenagers, but when she moved out of the area with a new foster family, I assumed I’d never see her again. I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong.

Luna was always someone real in a sea of fake niceties. She was a genuine friend.

Luna holds up a bottle of tequila and margarita mix. “Figured I’d drop by with some reinforcements. I thought you might need it after Legacy was such a ball of fun yesterday. This is Steel’s old lady, Tempe.”

She tips her head in the brunette’s direction.

“It’s so nice to meet you.” Tempe beams as a little boy rushes past them and darts into the house.

“Austin!” Bea’s excitement is palpable.

Her little footsteps echo like a stampede as she darts from her room and down the stairs to meet him at the door. They nearly collide, but just when I think they’re going to hug, they stop short, face-to-face. Bea twists her fingers in front of her as they stare at each other.

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