Page 40 of The Widower
“He didn’t tell me anything about that.”
“Between us, I think this might start happening every day.” He winked, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Right… okay.”
Still, I couldn’t help replaying that in my head. Colin wasn’t exactly known for his goodwill, and he’d been acting strange lately.I mean, with me he was still the same cold brute as always—but something felt… different.
When we arrived at the mansion, Colin was sitting on the couch, reading a magazine.
That wasn’t typical. I let it go.
“Hi, Uncle Colin!”
Hanna greeted him first, and I was grateful she did—gave me a chance to really look at his face. It was odd… how do I even explain it?
It was like he froze for a second, then “came back” to himself.
“Hey there, sweetheart. I’ve got a surprise for you!”
“What is it?” Her whole face lit up.
“It’s in the kitchen. Helen will show you.”
Helen immediately took her by the hand, and the two disappeared down the hall.
“Didn’t forget anything, did you, kiddo?”
“Oh! Thank you, Uncle Colin!”
“You’re welcome.”
Colin and I stayed in the living room.He watched me for a few seconds but said nothing.
“I didn’t know Tito was coming to get us.”
“That’s my way of preventing you from being late.I made the decision last minute.”
Of course he did.
“I’ve got a lot of work today. I hope you don’t interrupt me.”
Tell that to your new best friend, Uncle Colin.
“Got it.”
Was it possible I was… jealous? Probably not. My issue was more about understanding why he was like this with my daughter—because I’d never seen him show that kind of affection even toward Joshua, his own son.
“Can I ask you something?”
“No. But knowing you, you’ll ask me anyway some other time, and I won’t realize it’s the same question.”
“Does Hanna remind you of your late daughter?”
I braced for the worst. Colin was blunt and impatient even with harmless questions—so how was he going to react to one that personal?
“Actually, no. Maddison was more reserved, very attached to her mother. But when she was with me, we had a lot of fun together.”
I… was… stunned.
