Page 31 of Chasing Forever
I quickly clean my hands with the large wet wipes I keep in here and rush back over to her. “It’s okay, Wren.”
She shakes her head violently. “No, it’s not. Daddy is going to be so mad at me.”
I run my hand gently down her hair, smoothing back the soft strands, and pull her into a hug. She weeps into my chest, her small frame shuddering against me, every broken-hearted hiccup slicing through me.
The door opens with a creak, and Bennett stands there, the doorknob still clutched in his hand. His eyes lock on Wren in my arms, and he exhales a slow, heavy breath, clearly thankful he found her.
I shoot him a soft look, silently telling him she’s okay.
He crosses the room slowly and crouches beside us, grounding all that worry in the steady way only a good father can. He places a reassuring hand on Wren’s back. “It’s okay, Wren.”
She lifts her head, her cheeks damp and blotchy, and looks at me for reassurance. I nod, giving her the little push she needs. She spins around and throws herself into Bennett’s chest, clinging to him as if he’s her security blanket.
“I broke Mommy’s mug. I just wanted to surprise you with breakfast, and it slipped out of my hand,” she sobs.
“It’s okay. Calm down. Calm down,” he murmurs into her hair.
I stand up, giving them space, tucking my arms around myself.
After a few minutes, Wren’s cries soften.
“Come here.” I wave her over, smiling softly. “I’ll walk her home.”
Bennett nods, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before rising to his feet.
I position Wren between the wheel and me, the familiar scent of clay and water wrapping around us. For the next half an hour, we work together on a new mug—our hands side by side, shaping something new.
It will never replace the mug her mom once sipped from, but it’s a distraction—for Wren and for me.
We don’t talk much. Her small hands are steady against the clay while my bigger ones guide her.
When we’re finally done, the mug sits on the shelf to dry before I can fire it. We clean up, and I lace my fingers through hers and walk her back across the property, where we find Bennett waiting on the steps of the guys’ house, staring at the lake in the middle of Plain Daisy Ranch.
“I think this is yours,” I say, handing Wren over with a playful nudge.
Bennett hugs her fiercely. “She sure is.” He whispers something into her ear that makes her smile through the last of her tears.
“I’ll let you know when it’s ready to glaze,” I promise, waving goodbye.
As I walk back to my shed, my shoes crunching against the gravel, I realize how good it felt to share that with her.
How Wren pulled me out of my head without even trying.
And that’s when an idea springs to mind.
I know exactly how to dodge Brooks Watson and his stupid scheme to get close to me.
He said I get to plan the first date. Well, he’s about to find out two can play this game.
Chapter Fourteen
Brooks
Monday morning, I stop by The Harvest Depot, just like always, except now Lottie’s my wife. The door is unlocked, which is a good sign, but as I step inside, Lottie isn’t in the front area as she normally is. I spent the entire night counting down the seconds until I got to see her again, so I’m hit with a wave of disappointment even I didn’t predict.
But then the back door springs open and shut, and she strolls in, already wearing her apron over a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve T-shirt. She stops in the doorway from the backroom to the storefront. “You’re early.”
“The door was open.” I thumb behind me.
