Page 6 of Where We Belong

“Oh, anything I should schedule around?” I ask tentatively, wondering if I should stick around San Francisco in case he needs me.

Though, Paradise Bay is only an hour away from him. If he needs me, I can be there almost immediately. But will he need me?

He waves a dismissive hand. “Of course not. We’ll be back by then,” he assures me, flashing a big grin.

Bodhi might not rely on me when it comes to his children, but I’m determined to change his mind. He needs to see that I’m not just fun, but I could be an excellent addition to his family.

“You know, I’m great with kids. My brothers and sister all have them. The kids adore me.” I try to sound casual, not clingy and insecure.

He nods, studying me carefully.

I can’t stop myself from adding more. “Twelve.” I pause to let it sink in. “Twelve nieces and nephews and three more on the way. They all adore me.”

“You do have a big family,” he says, almost scared at the thought of how many Spearmans are repopulating the world.

“I’m the fun one they all beg to babysit,” I continue brightly. “Super responsible too.”

Bodhi exhales, his brown eyes boring into me. “Is everything alright, Cordelia?”

“Sure, I just…” I shrug, not sure how to express my feelings. “Sometimes you make me feel like I’m in the middle of an audition—or a test. I want to pass it and get an A+ on it.”

Bodhi scoffs. “So what happens when you pass this alleged test?”

I bite my lip, considering. “I guess… I’ll finally figure out my future.”

“And what kind of future do you envision for us?” he asks pointedly.

I stare at him, trying to gauge his intentions. As I just said, sometimes it feels as if he’s testing me, but there are days when I don’t know how to respond to him.

Bodhi caresses my jaw tenderly. “Cory, of all the women in the world, I chose you. I hope you’ll continue to grace me with your company. I’m not an easy man to be with—or to love.”

His words don’t soothe me, and the doubts still nag my mind. What does our future hold? What exactly does he want from me? I wish I could read his thoughts as effortlessly as he seems to read mine.

Chapter Three

Benedict

The shrill beep of the alarm jolts me awake. I slap a hand on the clock and stumble out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my gritty eyes. Trudging to the bathroom, I catch sight of my unkempt reflection in the mirror, and a grimace tugs at my lips. Bloodshot eyes stare back. They’re the evidence of yet another restless night spent tossing and turning.

I splash cold water on my face, hoping it’ll breathe some life into my tired soul. As I brush my teeth, I make a mental list of everything I need to accomplish today. Make breakfast. Get Bernie dressed. Drop her off at daycare. Go to work—the mundane routine of single fatherhood.

Down the hall, I hear the pitter-patter of little feet. Bernie’s up. I plaster a smile on my face before entering her room.

“Good morning, sweet pea.”

“Dada.” Her face lights up like a thousand suns when she sees me. Her joy is infectious. I swoop her up, eliciting giggles as I blow raspberries on her belly as we make our way to the kitchen.

“Let’s get some breakfast, munchkin.” I settle her into the highchair, and I’m rewarded with a grin that could melt glaciers. I hand her a sippy cup with milk and a bowl of berries while I prepare her oatmeal. As I’m busy cooking, I feel her curious eyes tracking my every movement.

“Co-ee?”

“She’s still on vacation,” I respond with forced brightness, placing the bowl with oatmeal before her.

Bernie studies me, as if expecting more. She probably wants a specific day for when she’ll finally see Cory again. We often give her a countdown for when she’ll visit with aunts and uncles. Though she can’t fully count yet, numbering the days soothes her.

Though, in this instance, there’s nothing I can tell her. It’s been six months since Cory disappeared from our lives. I hoped she would come to Bernie’s birthday party, but she only sent a present in her place.

“Tomoow?” Bernie inquires, her big eyes searching mine for the answer she craves.

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