“Sometimes, what you win means more because you never stopped trying.”
Our eyes hold for a moment longer than they should. And for the first time in a long time, I let myself hope that maybe we’ll be able to weather this storm too.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Bennett
Somehow, Delaney said it was okay for me to take Leia out for ice cream after dinner. Since it’s the last week of school, they don’t have any homework.
Wren wasn’t pleased when I explained to her that it would just be Leia and me. Nash was home and said they’d make their own sundaes that would be so much better than Sprinkle Town’s.
As I turn my truck down Delaney’s driveway, a nervous knot rests in my stomach.
Will she ever see me as her father? Allow me to see the true little girl behind her shyness? God, I hope so. I keep reminding myself that I need to take baby steps even when I want to wrap her in my arms and hold her tight. Tell her how much I love her just because she’s mine. Every time I hold myself back, my anger rises. And it’s usually pointed toward Delaney.
I’m not even parked when Delaney walks Leia out of the house.
I leave the engine running and climb out, meeting them halfway.
“Hi, Leia,” I say like a stranger when she’s my own blood. She should be running into my arms and me squatting to grab her and swing her around. She should at least be smiling.
Delaney nudges her with a kind hand on her back.
“Hi,” she says.
No Daddy.
Patience, Bennett. One day this nightmare will be over.
“I didn’t think you’d need the booster. You have Wren’s, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, but I—” Why am I embarrassed to admit that I already bought another one for Leia?
’Cause it’s presumptuous, you idiot.
“I bought her one. In case I ever have them both.” I run my hand down the back of my head and pull on my neck.
“Oh,” Delaney says. “That’s nice.” Again, her hand falls to Leia’s back.
“Thank you,” Leia says.
It’s clearly their thing and how Delaney gives her daughter a silent sign to be polite. So much better than saying it out loud. So Delaney to do that.
“You two should go.” Delaney scrunches down and holds out her arms.
Leia walks into them with no hesitation. Jealousy slithers up my spine. Delaney whispers something, kisses her cheek, and stands, guiding Leia’s hand toward me.
I hold out my hand, and Leia takes it. “We’ll be an hour or so.”
Delaney nods, one hand across her stomach, her other elbow resting on it with her hand on her cheek. “Have fun.” It was a failed attempt to show excitement.
I remember the first time I ever left Wren for a conference, so I understand her hesitation.
“Butterflies,” Leia quietly says when she sees her booster.
I might have asked Wren a few questions, and she said Leia loved butterflies.
Had I known this whole time that she was mine, I’d know that myself.
