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Will walks over.

“I’ll stay with Sage.”

“No.”

I look at him.

He crosses his arms.

“You need someone with her.”

“I know.”

“You also need someone you trust.”

“I need you at the mine.”

“You need Taylor and Arthur at the mine. You need me protecting your daughter.”

I hate that he’s right.

Again.

Sage looks between us.

“I can stay with the sheriff.”

“No.”

“Sean.”

“No.”

“You can’t say no to everything.”

“I discovered I had a daughter less than twelve hours ago. I’m allowed at least a week of unreasonable behavior.”

Taylor laughs from beside the truck.

“Month.”

Arthur opens his door. “I was thinking a year.”

Sage looks at them.

“Do you always help him?”

“No,” Taylor answers. “We mostly make his life harder.”

Despite everything, Sage smiles.

It’s small.

Barely there.

But it looks so much like Hayley with those dimples that my chest hurts.

Will touches my shoulder.