Page 58 of The Single Dad Project

“Her birthday, Jenn,” he interrupted, voice quiet. “Her birthday. You didn’t even call her or show up for her on herbirthday. You’re right about one thing—no one could ever replace her mother. And Justine’s starved for her mother’s attention. But don’t be surprised or mad at anyone but yourself when she finds that attention somewhere else. You only have yourself to blame.”

A cold silence shivered down their connection. He wouldn’t be surprised if his ear came away frostbitten.

“I need to go,” she said, ice clinging to every word.

“You can be as pissed off at me as you want to be, Jennifer. Frankly, I’m used to it,” he added, his grip tightening around the phone. “But don’t take it out on Jussy. For her sake—and yours—keep to the visitation and calling schedule. Don’t start again only to disappear and disappoint her.”

“Bye, Adam.”

The call ended before he could reply, and he lowered the cell, staring at the screen for several long moments. Anger pitched inside him, swirling in his chest. But he couldn’t find the strength to hold on to it. Thinning his lips, he dragged a hand over his head. He was just so fucking tired.

Tired of holding it together.

Tired of feeling guilty for being tired.

Tired of failing.

Inhaling a deep breath, he dropped his arm and stared blindly at the cracked bedroom door. The lightheartedness that had been so much a part of the evening dissipated, leaving him hollow, weighed down and a little defeated.

In a way, he should be grateful for Jennifer’s call, he mused, moving toward the door. It’d served as the sharpest of reminders that the ability to sustain successful, healthy relationships wasn’t wired into his DNA. All he had to do was look at his father. And at the wreckage of his own marriage that still littered his life.

No, his sole focus needed to be his daughter, her security and welfare.

A father, first.

He didn’t have room for anything—or anyone—else.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“OOH,IT’SADOLLHOUSE,” Justine breathed, the wonder in the little girl’s voice clear from the back seat of Flo’s car.

Flo grinned as she slowed to a stop in front of Kinsale Inn. She could see it. Tilting her head, she studied her family’s bed-and-breakfast and her childhood home. With the pitched roofs, colorful doors and shutters, she could definitely imagine how it would appear like the perfect dollhouse to a child.

I was blessed to grow up here.

The thought flittered through her head, and she glanced in her rearview mirror at the wide-eyed girl in her booster seat. At Justine’s age, Flo had lost her biological parents and a father figure. But she’d also gained the loving and supportive family that had circled around her, protecting and nurturing her. Including a mother and father who had been there for every scrape, every heartbreak, every discovery, every celebration. Justine had Adam, and his love for her sometimes snatched the breath from Flo’s lungs when she observed them together. But still... The girl’s family was fractured, her mother absent.

Flo cleared her throat, dislodging the sudden thickness gathered there. She’d been fortunate to have the parents, the family, she’d been given. And as she slid the car into Park, opened her door and stepped out, she admonished herself to remember that more often.

“My mom and dad are excited to meet you, Jussy,” Flo said, helping Justine out of her booster seat. “I’ve told them about you.”

“This is your house?” she asked, her usually on-ten volume cranked down to about a three. Awe colored her words, and Flo held back a chuckle.

“It’s where I grew up. I lived here when I was a girl, like you. But I always come back here to eat and see my parents and brothers and sisters. You might get to meet some of them, too.”

“Cool.” Justine grinned and wrapped her fingers around Flo’s, her gaze fixed on the inn.

“Let’s go.” Leading her up the stairs and across the porch, Flo approached the front door and opened it, stepping into the wide foyer. Immediately, she noticed Leo behind the small desk tucked next to the curving wooden staircase that led to the upper levels and the family wing of the building. Smiling, Flo led Justine forward. “Hey, Leo, I have someone special for you to meet.”

Her sister’s blue-gray eyes brightened, a big smile curving her mouth as she moved out from behind the check-in desk.

“Let me guess.” Twisting her lips to the side, she squinted and tapped a finger to the corner of her mouth. “Beyoncé. Nope, nope,” she said over Justine’s giggles.

“I’m not Beyoncé,” Justine objected.

“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me. I got this.” Leo waved a hand, shushing the little girl, and Flo snickered. “I got it.” Her sister snapped her fingers. “Taylor Swift.”

“Nooo!” Justine shook her head, her delighted laughter filling the lobby. “I’m Jussy!”

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