Page 97 of Ice Darling
“She’s making progress.” The older woman beams at me. “May I ask, though, Mr. Renthrow, do you ride motorcycles?”
“Me? No.” Cordelia’s beautiful face comes to mind. “But we know someone who does.”
Mrs. Raina bobs her head as if that explains a personal mystery.
“Is… she drawing motorcycles in her book?” I jut my chin at the journal.
Mrs. Raina holds it close. “Yes.”
“And… is the fact that she’s drawing motorcycles good?”
“Good and bad are hard to tell in the present.”
Lady, I need more than that. My daughter’s life and health are at stake.
“What seems good to us now may actually be very harmful. And what feels painful now, may be very good. You can only view what’s truly good and what’s truly bad in the rearview mirror of time.”
“If something hurts my daughter now, I want to know now. Not in the future,” I say firmly.
“I understand, Mr. Renthrow. And to answer your question, the motorcycles seem like a new, positive development.” The therapist taps the book twice. “But with attachment disorders, we have to be careful and observant with everything.”
I blow out a worried breath.
“Gordie knows she has her father in her corner. The fact that you bring her here faithfully every week is already helping her. Being patient when she can’t articulate her feelings is helping her, as well.”
“I just want her to be okay,” I whisper roughly.
“With time, I believe she will be.” The psychologist pats my hand and then waves to my daughter. “See you next week, Gordie!”
“Bye!” Gordie waves back. “Daddy, can we go see Delia now?”
“I don’t know.” I tap my chin, pretending to consider it.
“Daddy, youpromised.And you said we always keep our promises.”
I swing my precious little girl into my arms. “Alright, pumpkin. I’ll keep my promise. Let’s go see Delia.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Renthrow
Gordie receives a warm welcome when we arrive at the garage. Rebel and April shower her with compliments, which is a totally understandable reaction.
My daughteriscute, adorable, and smart—everything they’re saying.
She responds to April and Rebel politely and then shoots straight to Cordelia. The mechanic pops her earbuds out of her ears and grins when my daughter hugs her leg.
I hang back and let them have their moment.
“Feels like you’re always over here, Renthrow,” Rebel teases, arching an eyebrow in Cordelia’s direction.
I ignore the insinuation. “I’m sure you’d prefer to see Kinsey’s face more than mine,” I tell her. “But you’re stuck with me until we get through this school project.”
Rebel laughs and flings her blond hair over her shoulder.
April motions me over. “Chance tells me you guys are planning something for the team?”
My eyes stray to Cordelia who’s bending her knees to be on Gordie’s eye level. She’s smiling brightly, but something about her seems different. She looks tired, I think.
