Page 118 of Summer People
I won’t ruin that.
Fisher gives me a singular nod and pulls me to his chest, hugging me fiercely. “I’m not giving up on you, Princess.”
“That’s good.” I hold him tight and inhale his scent. “I’m holding you to that.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
fisher
“She’s better at the voices,”Sutton pouts as I stick the bookmark inKristy’s Big Day. Book six of the Baby-Sitters Club is apparently one of Libby’s favorites. Can’t say I love the series, even if the girls gush over it.
“Libby does a lot of things better than I do, sweet pea.” I wrap an arm around her and pull her closer. Her little head drops to my shoulder and she sighs.
Bing looks up from the end of the bed and whines. Even the dog misses our girl.
She left this morning. The sun had barely crept over the horizon when the three of us snuck down to the beach and took the dingy out toGlory Days. Cank was more than happy to let us borrow his boat for her escape.
The rest of us? There was no happiness to be found as we dropped Libby off at the Boothbay dock and watched her slide into the waiting limo.
All day my skin crawled. It hurt, sending her off on her own like that. There are moments in life when it’s important for one’s partner to be present, to be supportive. And for Libby, this is one of them. I should be with her, holding her hand. Staringdown Brad Fedder and memorizing reporter’s names so if even the slightest negativity about my girl is published, I know who to exact vengeance on.
“Why can’t I come?”
I sigh. “I never said I was going.”
But I am. I’ve already talked to Mrs. K about keeping Sutton.
“It’s like you’re half gone already.” She sinks farther into the mattress, her little lips tugged down. “You’re moving on, and you’re leaving me behind.”
Those words slice through my chest with so much force I have to press a hand to my sternum. I’m worried I’ll bleed out if I don’t.
“Sutton.” Once I can breathe again, I place my index finger under her chin and tilt her face up, forcing her to look at me. “Whether I go support Libby or I stay here—or if I visit her in Boston—I amneverleaving you behind.”
She blinks rapidly, her eyes pooling with tears. “Are you sure?”
God, this kid is gutting me. “You and me, sweet pea.” I grasp her hand. “We’re family. We’re a package deal. You’re mine and I’m yours. Always.” The words stick in my throat, but I’m determined to get them all out. “I loved your mom and dad. They were two of my favorite people in the whole world. And I will always make sure you remember them. I’ll make sure you know where you came from. But Sutton, as far as I’m concerned, you are my daughter, and nothing—nothing”—I swallow past the lump in my throat—“will ever change that.”
A tear slips from her eye and she launches herself at me.
“I love you, sweet pea.”
She sniffles. “I love you too.” For a minute we stay like that, but it isn’t long before her little body tightens. “Can I tell you a secret?” The words are so soft I barely hear them.
I pull back and nod, holding eye contact. The seriousness of her expression makes my anxiety spike. But I inhale deeply and exhale slowly, forcing a calm I don’t feel.
Sutton picks at her quilt. “I like it here. But sometimes…” Her voice trails off. With her lip caught between her teeth, she drags her focus up to my face. “Sometimes I wish we didn’t live here. I wish we could be like Grams and Gramps. I wish we could live somewhere else and come here just to visit.” She heaves a breath, and her words come faster. “Where I could go to school with lots of kids my own age and see a movie in a movie theater. And go on an airplane and try McDonalds.”
The idea doesn’t shock me. I figured she felt this way. But she’s never voiced any of this before.
“Do you ever wish that we didn’t live here?” she asks.
I could lie, but she’s giving me her truths, and I owe her the same. “All the time, sweet pea.”
“So why can’t we leave?”
I wish there was a simple answer to that question.
She drops her gaze and goes back to picking at her quilt. “Maybe we could leave for a visit. Go see Libby, then see how we feel?” Her little voice holds so much hope.
