Page 45 of Wandering Souls

Standing, she waved goodbye before skipping down the steps of the deck. He watched her climb into her SUV and drive away as a gust of cool wind brushed across his face. Damien picked up his mug and sipped again. Behind him, the back door squeaked and a moment later, his wife settled into the seat vacated by his daughter.

Neither of them had gotten much sleep, staying up late because—like Stevie—she wanted all the details of his meeting with Abigail. He’d told her what he could, including everything Bob and Ray had shared with him. Much as he knew the truth would hurt, he understood hiding it would do more damage. After everything they’d been through, lying would never be an option again.

“She’s curious,” Penny explained in reference to Stevie.

Damien lifted his arm and she slid beneath it, snuggling against him. Hugging her to him, he pressed a kiss to her temple. “No more than you or I, my love. We’re all going to have to do something we’re not very good at and be patient.”

“She may never forgive me, Damien.”

His heart lurched at the fear in her voice, but he couldn’t ignore the possibility. “Don’t jump the gun.”

Penny’s arms wound around his waist and she held on tight. “It doesn’t matter. So long as she accepts you and Stevie, that’s a good outcome.”

Liar.“Let’s cross all those bridges as we come to them, Penny. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.”

On the ground below, an enormous blue utility pulled into view as the back door squeaked again. Damien waved at big Ben behind the wheel of the truck. The Maori grinned, his teeth practically glowing in the darkened cabin, as he waved back. A child gurgled and clapped. Riley stepped in front of them, carrying his son, Max. The kid grinned, showing off a single front tooth. The shock of black hair on the nine-month old’s head fluttered in the breeze as he was handed to Penny.

She rocked the hell out of grandmother-hood in a way Damien could never have predicted and her motherly instincts had proven life-saving not so long ago. The idea that Abigail would begrudge her for what she’d done threatened to bring him undone, but he held fast onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, his younger daughter could see through the heartache to the mother who’d only wanted to keep her safe. He’d tried to explain it and hoped meeting Penny would prove to Abigail she did the right thing. All he had to do was engineer a meeting.

Easier said than done.

“Ben and I have a security system to install in the new estate. We should only be a couple of hours. You’ll be alright?”

Damien pulled a face at his cheeky son-in-law. “You don’t need to ask us every time you leave the house, you know? We are capable of looking after a child.”

Riley chuckled, the deep scar on his cheek that he’d sustained in East Timor giving him a lopsided smile. “I know, old man. I know.” He turned to go.

“Maybe on your way home you could stop by Hollywood’s and check on Abigail?”

Riley stopped and shook his head. “I’m not spying for you. I’m sure Hollywood or Mia would call if there was a problem. In the meantime, you could stop by yourself, or pick up the phone.”

With that, he jogged down the steps and climbed into the big blue vehicle. As it drove away, Max squealed. The high-pitched sound was enough to burst an eardrum. Even so, Penny giggled and tickled him until he broke into a fit of laughter. It was shortly followed by hiccups.

“You should,” she said, tucking Max against her as she prepared to stand. “Go and visit her.”

“It might be too soon.”

She smiled gently and touched Damien’s arm. “You’ll never know if you never go, honey.”

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