Page 152 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
“But Jamison… I want to know her, Simone,” he continued. “I want to get better and know my daughter. I can’t make up for all the wasted time, but can you help me with this? Can you give me a chance to put my head on straight and find my way back to her?”
Simone remained quiet for a long minute. “She is so much like you. Stubborn and with a damn temper that’s hard to tamp down when it gets going. We’re heading into the tough middle school years. She has no real friends. All the kids keep their distance because of her last name. I even offered to let her have a slumber party at the house.” She shuddered at the thought. “She invited twelve little girls, and none of them showed up.”
He remembered those years. Without Albie and Ty, he would have been miserable. “Kids are assholes.”
“They are, and yes, your little girl is growing up. It’s time to move on. Get yourself together and come be part of her life.”
It was a goal. One he could hold close and work towards. To see his boys enter the world as men, to help Evie as she navigated this new phase in life, and to be there for Jamison. For every moment, good or bad, he would be there and become the father his little girl deserved.
But first, he had to get better.
“I need time. A few months.”
“Take it,” she said, rising to stand. “But remember, life is passing us by, Benjamin.”
He watched as she headed for the door, calling out to her before she could disappear from his sight completely. “Are we okay? You and me?”
“One day we might be,” she replied, as honest as ever. “But pull another stunt like this, and I will follow you down to the depths of hell, where you will have to live in eternal damnation with me right at your side.”
He liked that idea and crawled back under the covers, thinking he might rest until the boys got home. When they did, he would help them unload, help them cook a meal, and just be with them as a father should.
Then, in the future, Jamison would join them. Maybe even Evie, too. If she could handle listening to Samuel’s smartass mouth.
Reclining back on the pillows, he smirked. “You’re a little dramatic sometimes.”
Simone’s big brown eyes went wide, sweeping over him in a wholly judgmental way. “Says the man wearing striped pajamas.”
“This has to be Selah’s doing.”
“Don’t tell the boys I was here.” Hand on the doorknob, Simone hesitated before leaving. “Josie has agreed not to, and I want you to do the same.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Why?”
“Let them think they’ve got a secret to keep. It’s good for them.”
“You just want to see how long they’ll be able to hide it from you before cracking.”
And there it was. Her smile. “Oh, absolutely.”
Chapter 35
“Holden will be there soon.”
Liam didn’t reply, and Rowan shot Ben a worried look. They were back at Haven House, having left Izzy and the feds to protect Evie. Josie stayed behind at the hospital with Simone and Abe, but Annabeth and the Cohens had returned with them. Will said he needed quiet to think, and Rowan couldn’t agree more.
“Liam, check in with the authorities when you arrive,” Rowan told him, holding the phone out so everyone could hear him. “Anderson has two teams en route to Eureka Springs.”
“He’s not in Eureka Springs.” Will studied the map spread across the folding table in front of them. “Holden said Beaver Dam.”
“Western side,” Liam mumbled. “I’m starting there and working my way around.”
Bernie came up behind her husband. “Local officials can help.”
“Then someone can call them because I’m not stopping for a chat.” Liam blew out a lengthy exhale. Rowan had no idea how he was still going after driving straight through the night. “Ben, when are you coming?”
“My jet is ready. The FBO landing field is on the lake’s western side, and I’ll have a car waiting.”
“Does Holden have a car waiting?”
