Page 78 of Their Forever Daddy

Guilt coated her stomach as the thought crossed her mind. It wasn’t fair to compare lovers, and it certainly wasn’t fair when one of those lovers was no longer around to defend himself.

“Hey.” Reaching across the table, Grant laid a hand over hers, drawing her attention back to him. “What’s wrong? You look so sad all of a sudden.”

“Nothing. It’s fine.” But when she tried to pull her hand away, she found herself caught in his immovable grip. Narrowing her eyes at him, she gave her hand another tug. “Please let me go.”

“Not until you tell me what put that look on your face. And please don’t insult my intelligence by telling me it’s nothing, Edie. You were smiling one second and now you look like you’re about to cry.” His voice lowered as he ran his thumb across her knuckles. “Tell Daddy what’s wrong, little pixie.”

Because she was about to cry and she didn’t want to risk embarrassing herself—or ruining the makeup Jesse had worked so hard on—she swallowed hard several times before speaking again. “I was just thinking how different you are from Ken.”

“Yeah?” To her surprise, Grant grinned. “How so?”

“Ken’s idea of romance was checking the oil in my truck before I headed off to rescue some animal. Or popping open the good whiskey and belting out an old country song while he spun me around the kitchen. It’s not that I didn’t love him, or what he did for me, it was just…”

“Different,” Grant supplied, his grin still firmly in place much to her relief. “Did you really think I wouldn’t understand?”

“I don’t know. It just seems wrong to compare you to him.”

“Edie.” Understanding filled his tone as he squeezed her hand. “He was a big part of your life for several years, and from everything you’ve told me I can tell you loved him very much.”

Blinking back tears, she nodded when he paused for a moment before continuing. “It’s only natural you’re going to compare, especially when we’re still just getting to know each other. Do you think I don’t notice all the ways you and Jesse are very different women?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t,” she muttered.

His laugh was deep and throaty, but not in a way that made her feel mocked. “Well, I have eyes, my little pixie, so I certainly have noticed. But your differences are part of what I’m learning to appreciate about both of you. Jesse’s playfulness and your wit. Her openness and your strength. I could pinpoint a million ways you two are different. But do you know what’s exactly the same?”

“What?”

“The way I feel about both of you. And I can see the terror in your eyes, but don’t freak out. I’m not saying it’s exactly the same just yet. We haven’t known each other long enough for that. But what I feel when I’m with you, it reminds me so much of how I felt for Jesse at the beginning. And I don’t think it would take much for me to fall completely, hopelessly in love with you, just like I did with her.”

Jesse

* * *

Staring at the front door of the sweet little house in the center of town, with its fresh coat of white paint and cute little bunny hanging from the metal hanger declaring it was time to “Hop Into Spring!”, Jesse felt like she might be sick.

But she’d come all the way out here, and there was nothing waiting for her back at Edie’s except an empty house and enough donuts to actually make her sick, so she made herself take a deep breath and press the doorbell beside that perfect white door.

From the inside of the house came the sound of dogs barking and a child screaming with delight, both sounds growing closer and closer until finally the front door was yanked open and Jesse found herself looking down at herself.

It wasn’t actually herself, she knew that, but the little girl in the pink sparkly tutu had Jesse’s blonde curls instead of her mother’s straight dark hair, and the resemblance was so striking she could only stare. She’d seen pictures, even done a couple video chats over the years, but nothing had prepared her for the reality of seeing a tiny version of herself live and in person.

“Aunt Jesse!” the little girl cried with a wide smile that showcased her tiny, slightly crooked teeth. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Sophia.” Bending down, Jesse opened her arms, relief and love flooding her when her mini-me didn’t even hesitate before launching herself at her aunt.

“Jesse?”

Looking up, Jesse tried to ignore the pounding of her heart as she waved at her sister through the glass of the storm door. “Hey. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”

“Your neighborhood is three thousand miles away.” Unlike her daughter, Courtney Thompson’s expression didn’t hold the slightest hint of welcome. Confusion, yes, and more than a little anger, both of which Jesse figured she deserved.

“I know.”

Rising to her feet, Jesse stood there on the porch, growing more and more aware with every passing second how awkward the entire situation was. Sophia was between them, looking from her mother to her aunt with wide eyes.

Tears blurred her vision and Jesse shook her head as she took a step back. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.”

“I didn’t say that,” Courtney said as Jesse turned to leave. “You’re here, so you might as well come in. No sense in you coming all this way for nothing.”

---