Page 51 of The Hottest Daddy
He nodded but she could see in his eyes there was something wrong. He blinked a couple of times and she realized what it was. “Oh, River …”
River stopped, nodding. His color-sight had been fading fast over the last months, his untreatable condition, cone-dystrophy, robbing him of the brilliant hues and shades he had so loved for so long. Sunday’s eyes filled with tears. “When?”
“The day before the wedding. I woke up and the world was black and white.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
River smiled sadly at her. “Because in the end, it doesn’t matter. You and Berry … you’ll always have color for me. I’ve memorized every shade and hue of your skin, the deep chocolate of your eyes, the tawny and gold streaks on your dark hair. The color of Berry’s eyes. The way her cheeks get pink when she’s about to have a tantrum. I know those colors and, in my mind, I can see them.”
Tears spilled out over her eyes. “River …”
He drew her to him. “Honestly, baby … after what we’ve been through in our lives, this is nothing. You told me, months ago, that we need to see our reality differently. I’m putting that into practice, literally.”
“Don’t joke.”
“It’s like you said … they’re my eyes. I get to joke.”
She laughed through her tears then. “Ah, damn it, trapped by my own words.”
River grinned at her. “Yup, suck it up. Speaking of sucking … last one back to the villa goes down first …”
Sunday darted off before he’d even finished the sentence and with a holler, he chased her, both of them collapsing with laughter as they tumbled into the villa. As he swept her up into his arms, admitting defeat, she giggled. “God, I love you, you crazy man.”
“Good,” River said, dropping her onto the bed, “now show me.”
Berry ran into their arms as they got out of the car and they took turns hugging the little girl. “Have you had a nice time with Auntie Carmen?”
“Yes,” Berry nodded her dark head, “in fact, we agreed you should go on vacation again soon.” She giggled mischievously, obviously have been coached to make fun of them by a grinning Carmen.
“Charming,” River kissed Carmen’s cheek, “next time, we visit the s’mores factoryrightbefore we leave her with you.”
“Like she wasn’t high on sugarthistime.” Carmen rolled her eyes and hugged Sunday. “You look glowing.”
“A week of sun, sea, and, um, snacks, will do that,” Sunday grinned.
“Yeah, can’t enough of the snacks,” River intoned, and they both giggled.
“Ugh, you’re so revoltingly loved up,” Carmen said. “Get in the house before I throw up.”
They were going to fly back to Colorado to finish packing up their home before the permanent move to Italy. River, though, refused to sell the place. “We need a base in the States,” he reasoned, “and I know a few people that could live rent free here … if they wanted.”
He was talking about Daisy and Aria—Carmen had already turned him down, politely—but when he put it to the two sisters, they looked at each other. “Um … actually, we’re going to be moving too. To your old haunt, actually, Sunday.”
“New York?” She looked surprised but Daisy nodded.
“To be nearer Sloan Kettering,” was all she said and River and Sunday nodded.
Sunday held Aria’s hand.
“Good, that’s good. Fight,” she said to her friend, who grinned.
“Believe me, I am,” she said, “I’m fighting this damn thing all the way.”
“Damn straight,” River said, “whatever treatment they come up with, it’s covered.”
Aria shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that, River.”
“It’s not up for debate.”
