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“He’s very capable, Ash. He’s just… broken. And I’m tired of trying to hold it together for him.”
“So, you were going to leave him too?”
I heard the edge to his tone. “You said it yourself, it’s not good for him to be around Hannah. It’s so sad because he loves her and she loves him, but he’s lost.” I put the little mermaid nightgown down, unable to concentrate enough to fold it. “We’re staying, Ash. We’ve sold the house so I don’t know where we’ll end up, but we’ll stay in the city or close to the city. You don’t have to worry about me taking her away.”
He gave a curt nod. “I still want it on paper that I’m her father.”
“Yes, of course.”
“And whatever you need for her, I’ll provide it.”
I tensed and knew it was my pride. I didn’t want to be indebted to him, but he was Hannah’s father and she deserved the best in life. Ash could provide that.
His phone beeped and he pulled it out. He shook his head and put the phone back in his pocket.
“Do you need to go? I’m sure your father and brothers are wondering where you are.”
“I quit.”
My heart dropped. “What? Why?”
“This situation we’re in, Beth, is partly our father’s fault. I’m done being a pawn in my father’s game. But don’t worry, Hannah will be well taken care of.”
“I’m not worried.” I knew he had his own money outside of Raven Industries. “I just…I thought you liked your work.”
“I did. But now I have a daughter I want to get to know.”
His phone beeped again. “Fuck.” He pulled it out and read the text. “I should probably call.”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll see myself out.”
“Okay.” I watched as he walked out. I was happy he was committed to Hannah even as my heart broke that I killed what he’d felt for me. “Oh, Ash?”
“Yeah?” He looked at me over his shoulder.
“I say ‘fudge.’”
His brows drew together and then understanding dawn. “Right. I’ll work on the swearing.”
When he left, I sank down in the chair. This was going to be my life. A single mom whose daughter spent part of her time at her dad’s. As happy as I was for Hannah to have him in her life, and knowing there’d be financial help to care for her, I was sick that I could have had it all. The man and the child. A life with him. Maybe more children.
“Where’d Daddy go?” Hannah stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
“He had to go to work.”
“When will I see him again?” she asked, her little face a mixture of seriousness and worry.
“Soon, I’m sure. He didn’t want to go and I bet he’ll call or visit soon. Do you want a snack? How about apples and peanut butter.” She needed something to offset the dirty water dog and ice cream.
“Okay.”
I made a place for her at the table, as she climbed into her chair.
“Do you think he’d like it if I made a picture?”
“I know he’d love it,” I said, pulling an apple from the fruit basket and getting the peanut butter from the pantry.
“I’m going to make a picture of all of us and the red panda.”
29
Ash – Monday
The last thing I wanted to do was go into the office. I’d quit, goddammit… er… gosh darn it. When I got outside Beth’s house, I called Chase.
“I’m not coming in.”
“I heard. Listen, I’m not going to talk you into coming back—”
“Then let me be.” I supposed he’d heard by now that I was a father and it was a little perturbing that he was focused on work when I was having a major life crisis.
“You told Hunter this McAdams thing was important, and to do it, we need to talk to you. And if you’re quitting, you need to offboard your work to us. I’m sorry little bro, you need to come in.”
“Fuck.” Ah… fudge. “I’ll be there in twenty.
I drove to the Rookery, the home office of Raven Industries. Walking into the building, I took the elevator to the top floor and went straight to Chase’s office. As I passed various employees, I nodded to those who acknowledged me but ignored everyone else. It was hard to tell if the word had gotten around about my altercation with my father and the fact that I had a five-year-old daughter. But I didn’t give a fuck what people knew.
I strode into Chase’s office prepared to make the case for the McAdams purchase and then leave. Offboarding could be done later.
I went straight to the bar, got a drink, and sat in my usual spot, trying not to feel strange at the way my brothers were looking at me.
“Let’s get this done,” I said.
Chase was at his desk, while Hunter stood to the side of the room, and Kade sat on the couch.
