Page 52 of One More Yule Log
“Technically, it was the venue.”
“Well, maybe if she had been on it more…”
Maybe if someone hadn’t been an ass…
He made a mudra with his free hand, thinking ooohm thoughts. “She was with us a while, Jack. Cut her some slack.”
“It was her—”
“I’ll send you the file. I have to go.” He hung up without waiting for an answer. Jack was a good man, but he wasn’t a very nice man, and right now, Ben was feeling like dog shit anyway. He found the last file Lawrence had sent him on the Aspen situation and sent that, then left the office for the day.
He needed to confess to his little girl that he was going to disappoint her for a party he didn’t even want to attend.
Ben took a deep breath, then hunted Liv down in her room, where she was playing make-up. “Hey, baby girl.”
“Hey, Daddy man. You get your nasty work done?”
“I did. Can you come sit with me a minute? I have something I need to talk to you about.” He actually felt a little queasy. Her life had changed so much, and she’d taken everything in stride, but it wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t fair, but she was still a kid.
“Uh-huh. What’s the matter? What happened? Are you and Gray breaking up?”
“No. Nothing like that.” He hoped. Ben bit back a little hysterical chuckle. “It’s more work doing us a dirty again.”
“What? I can take my tablet and sit at the office. Promise. It’ll be okay, Daddy.”
“You know that big party Jack and Daddy Dale did every year? The one I threw the phone over?” He took her hand to go to the front room.
“Uh-huh.” She followed him, a frown on her face. “Spit it out, Daddy.”
“The only day everyone can do it is the Solstice, baby girl.” There.
“But, Daddy…that’s our day. It’s special. For us. We have to celebrate. Only you and me do Yule. Only us.”
“I know, baby.” The hurt on her little face damn near killed him. “We can do some stuff before I go, and maybe you can stay up late so we can burn the log…”
“Aunt Frances won’t be home even. Who’s going to watch me?”
“I— I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe you can come with me. There will be a place you can watch a movie…” That was ridiculous. He straightened up, chin rising. “Maybe Gray would come stay.”
“Maybe. Can I go now?”
“Of course.” Okay, wow. She was really mad, and how could he blame her? Ben checked his watch. Gray had a reception he was delivering to, so he was on his own.
She didn’t stomp off, but he heard her door shut and lock, and then there was silence.
Damn it.
Ben sat there on the couch, listening to the clock ticking away in the hall. Dale’s mom’s grandfather clock. He’d loved that thing.
“I hate the business, Dale. I hate it. I want to be home with Liv. I know I’m spoiled, but—”
He sighed. Dale had been the mover and shaker. The schmoozer. It was still his name on the company, though, wasn’t it?
How could he be so selfish? So ridiculous? He wanted to raise babies, cook, and work on his roses.
His cell phone rang, making him jump, and for a wild moment, he thought Liv was calling from her room to tell him he sucked. Then he saw Gray’s name and laughed.
“Hey, you must be psychic. I was just thinking of calling you, but I figured you were busy.”
