Page 50 of Jaime
“All this time, I just thought you were being nice and that maybe… you were even into me from the start.” He laughed bitterly. “Turns out you just pitied me.”
“Please don’t think that,” I whispered, aware of the way Evie’s eyes were drooping sleepily. “It wasn’t about you as much as it may seem like it was.”
He gave me an incredulous look, and I shrugged awkwardly.
“Yeah, you reminded me of my mom a bit. And yeah, you looked tired and alone, but I put on shows for kids, Jaime. Not to mention two of my friends, Scott and Anthony, havetwins. I see lots of tired parents. Something pushed me toward you two, specifically. Especially Evie... she looks a lot like Amelia did...”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
“I was only a child when they passed,” I said softly. “I was completely helpless. I didn’t even understand what was going on. I didn’t get that parents had their own issues they were going through and needed to be helped too. Learning that has been a driving force for my entire life. Everything I’ve done—”
I swallowed back the emotions threatening.
Jaime watched me, pain and sympathy in his gaze while he waited for me to go on.
“Seeing you two, just made me want tohelpthe way that I couldn’t before.”
Jaime’s lips pursed. He looked down at Evie, shaking his head, and tears were suddenly in his eyes.
“I can't imagine what you’ve been through,” he whispered.
I swallowed.
“Hey, I’m a grown man now... I’m okay. But apparently, I hadn’t moved on quite as much as I’d thought because I couldn’t resist checking in and doing what I could for you two.” I smiled ruefully. “I mean, the fact that you’re so easy on the eyes did help a little.”
Jaime chuckled quietly, setting the bottle gently on the side table.
“Come with me to put her down,” he said softly.
I stood, surprised, and followed Jaime to the bedroom.
He very carefully laid Evie into her crib and then straightened and turned to me, pressing into my arms for a deep embrace.
“You really forgive me?” I asked, pressing my lips to his hairline and breathing him in.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he said gently, his hand stroking my back. “We’re all human, right? We all get driven to do things based on our pasts. In this case, I hope...”
He drifted off, took a shuddering breath, but didn’t seem able to speak.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I asked, rocking him.
His arms tightened around me, and he pressed his face into my neck before forcing the words out.
“I hope that being with me and Evie, seeing that we’re okay, will help you to move on for real.”
He lifted up, forcing himself to look at me through the tears in his brown eyes.
“What happened wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t up to you to fix anything or make her better.”
He licked his lips and swallowed back more tears.
“I’ve been telling myself that for a long time about my dad and Liz too. Sometimes, you just have to do what’s best for yourself.”
Overcome, I stroked my thumbs over his cheeks, wiping quickly drying tears.
“How is it that, all these years later, what happened brought me to you.”
“We must be meant for each other,” he chuckled.
