“No, it’s not like that. I just don’t want you to be forever alone. I want you to be happy, Papa.”
My chest clenches so tight it hurts.Papa.She hasn’t called me that since she was little, and the sound of it now nearly undoes me. I have to clear my throat to keep my voice steady.
“Tell me about her,” Bri then says, almost shyly.
“Okay, well…” I take a deep breath. “Do you remember that woman we saw working at Willow’s months ago?”
Her eyes light up instantly. “Yes! I knew there was something there. I could immediately tell.”
I squint at her. “How?”
“The way you both tensed up when she came up to our table. And you were kind of nice with her about the whole grief thing. That’s when I realized you were lonely, Dad. I knew you were really talking about losing Mom.”
I brush my hand gently through her hair, heart aching. “You know I’d never want to replace her, right?”
“I know. And honestly, I haven’t seen much of her, so… there’s nothing to really replace.”
Anger coils inside me at Vanessa again for disappearing and leaving Brianna with nothing but fragments and me to pick up the pieces. This is exactly why I don’t want her barging back in.
“Would you want to see her?”
“Your new girlfriend?”
“Your mom.”
Brianna shrugs, eyes looking away. “I guess.”
“I can make that happen if you want. I’m sure she’d be open to it.”
Her brows knit. “How do you know?”
I exhale, deciding she deserves the truth. “Because she called me, and I saw her in Singapore. She told me she wanted to see you.”
Shock ripples across her face. “You saw her?”
“I did—but I don’t want you to get your hopes up, okay, Piglet? We’ll see if she actually comes through. I don’t want you to get hurt again if she doesn’t.”
Brianna nods. “Thanks, Dad.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, hugging her close. “I will introduce you to Mya soon.”
Her eyes brighten again. “I’d like that.”
“Great.” I force a smile, even as my chest tightens.
I stand, ruffling her hair. “Now get ready for bed. Don’t stay up too late—and no talking to boys on the phone past nine.”
She groans. “Yes, Dad.”
I step out of the room with a laugh, though my mind won’t stop racing.
The doorto my office shuts behind me as I head straight for the decanter. I pour two fingers of scotch, and sink into the leather chair behind my desk. The amber burn steadies me, but not enough. My mind is still tangled in Brianna’s words.
I pull out my phone and scroll to the contact I haven’t used nearly enough these last few weeks.
She answers on the second ring. “Worth, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Mom.” I let out a rough breath. “I wanted to hear your voice.”