Page 73 of Pain in the Axe
Those words hit me like an arrow to the chest.
“This baby is the most precious thing in my life,” she said. “And I’ll be damned if I let you disappoint it in any way.”
I was chastened. She wanted me gone, and I wasn’t sure I blamed her. “I will do anything to earn your trust back,” I said softly, stung by a sense of defeat. “And there is nothing I will not do for this child.”
“Please stop.” She sniffled.
She was crying now. Great, I had made things worse.
With an audible swallow, she opened the front door. “I need to be alone.”
Like I told her, I’d do everything I could. And right now, she needed me to leave. So I left, with Clem following me. Once I was in my truck, I dropped my head back and closed my eyes. Shit. How had the best day of my life so quickly turned into one of the worst?
Chapter 20
Gus
“Merry, we’re on a mission,” I explained, maneuvering the boat out of the marina. Sam had come through, letting me borrow his boat for the day. Now that his kids were grown, it didn’t get as much use, and I’d promised to help him rebuild his deck as a thanks.
My niece pushed her heart-shaped sunglasses down and squinted at me. “Really? Explain yourself.” She was eleven and far too jaded for her own good. Tween girls were terrifying.
“We’re going to see a girl. I mean awoman.” I cleared my throat. “A friend of mine.”
She sprayed one arm with sunblock, then the other. “So you’re not just hanging out with me for the pleasure of my company?” she deadpanned.
I started to pick up speed, relishing the feel of the fresh lake air. “Of course I am. How often do I get Merry time? You’re growing up and busy with your own life, so I gotta take my time when I can get it.”
“While also chasing after a woman.”
“I’m not chasing her.”
“We’re racing around in a boat. Seems like a chase to me.”
I eased up on the throttle, and the engine jolted.
Merry crossed her arms over her life jacket. “Do you know how to drive this thing?”
“Course I do. It’s been a few years, but it’ll come back to me.”
With ahumph, she rooted around in the bags of snacks. I’d let her raid the gas station before we took off. She’d been staying with Finn and Adele for the past few weeks while her mom and stepdad were on their honeymoon, and if I knew Finn, he was feeding his daughter kale and protein shakes every day.
“Thanks for coming with me.”
She nodded and gave me a small smile. “I love hanging out with my funcle. You’re not afraid of my mom and Adele like Uncle Jude or Uncle Owen. And you don’t make me do any lame stuff.”
I smiled. That was high praise from a tween.
“You like having a new baby brother?”
“He’s cool,” she said, lifting one shoulder. “He cries a lot, but Adele lets me hold him, and I’m pretty pumped about having a sibling, even if he’s boring right now.”
She popped the top on the Diet Coke she’d chosen.
“On the plus side, I get to dress him up in whatever I want and take photos. He doesn’t fight me.”
I huffed a laugh. “He will someday.”
With a shrug, she took a sip of her soda. “It’s all good. My dad is so happy with Adele, and my mom and Mike are finally married. My people are happy, so I’m happy.”
