Page 45 of Against The Tide

“Oh, baby, I know you’re sad and scared, but it’s going to be okay. Mommy is going to fix everything.”

I don’t know how yet, but I will. Starting with the divorce papers Carl burnt today.

“And we’re gonna stay?”

“Iris…this isn’t our—” I pause at the realization that I’m more at home here than I’ve ever been in our perfect house in DC. I haven’t felt this at home since I moved out of my parents’ house. “You have school and peewee swimmers in Washington, and Mommy has her job.”

“But there’s an aquarium here too. Scarlett said it’s big and that there are lots of fish and tanks.”

“How about we go see it for ourselves and we’ll see how we feel afterward?”

“I never want to go back. I don’t even like peewee swimmers—surfing is a lot more fun, and Doc said he’ll take me anytime I want.”

“You love swimming.” I try to catch her gaze as she looks down at her lap and shakes her head. “I bet they have a peewee club here too.”

“So we don’t have to go back, do we? I can go to Scout’s school, and we can be in the same class, so if you have to work, Callie can take me home.”

Oh man, she’s clearly been thinking about this and talking it over with Scarlett because between the two of them, they have it all figured out. I wish it were as easy as they think, but I have a contract to see through in DC, and everything is there. We have a house waiting for us that’s full of good memories and ready for more.

Picking her up, I take her over to the bath and lower her into it, chuckling at the way she lies back and hums happily.

“If we stay, we would have to find our own place to live. We couldn’t stay with Callie and Rowan forever.”

“I know, but maybe we could find a house on the beach that would make you happy, like Doc makes you happy when he tells you jokes.”

Iris closes her eyes, visibly relaxing as I cup some water over her exposed shoulders.

“You make me very happy.”

“But Doc makes you look more happy, like when he kisses you.”

Thrown by her statement, I fluster for what to say and how to react.

“Rhett doesn’t kiss me,” I tell her hoarsely with the way my throat swells in my panic.

“Sure he does.” Quirking her brow, she opens one eye to look at me. “I saw him kissing you at his house.”

“Umm…”

“Remember when you were in the garden?”

“Mmhmm…”

“Silly Mommy,” she giggles. “You were smiling, and that means you liked it. Doesn’t it?”

“Well…”

“Didn’t you like it?”

“Yes, I guess I did.” At my reply, she shuts her eyes again.

“Doc says you have a pretty smile,” Iris tells me as I sit on the floor, leaning back onto the bath. “That it’s precious.”

“You like Rhett, huh?” I tip my head back and close my eyes, remembering what it felt like when he kissed my cheeks.

With my heart thrumming at the mere memory, I can barely hear when she says, “I wish he was my daddy. He likes me.”

“Iris, baby.” I go up on my knees and turn to find her staring at the ceiling with tears in her eyes. “You have a daddy.”