Page 24 of Cold As Ice

“Did you have fun with Grammy and Pops?” I gently nudged her out of my neck. She nodded, her big blue eyes full of wonder and innocence.

“I wiked the Christmas store.”

“I bet you did, baby. And do you know, I think you’ve grown. Look at you; you’ve gotten so big.”

“Don’t be silly, Mommy. I was only gone for four days. I didn’t grows any.”

“Oh, I think you did. You must have grown at least an inch or two, just like a sunflower.”

“Silly, Mommy.” She giggled. “People don’t grows wike sunflowers.”

“Sure, they do. Give them enough love and hugs and tickles.” I grabbed her waist and started tickling.

“No, no, not the ticky monster.”

Her laughter rang out through the room, and I smiled to myself.

I was a twenty-one-year-old single mom working two jobs just to make ends meet. I’d done a lot of things I wasn’t proud of. But Imogen was the one good thing in my life. My biggest achievement and greatest joy all rolled into one. Even when things hadn’t been easy with her father, she was the light of my life.

I smothered her with kisses, tickling her until she shrieked and writhed with laughter. A second later, a knock at the door came, and my mom poked her head inside.

“Sorry for the unexpected visit.” She gave me a smile, but I saw the strain there. “She was desperate to see you.”

“It’s okay. Come on, you.” I plucked Imogen into my arms and climbed off the bed with her wrapped around me like a tiny spider monkey. “Let’s go see Pops. I bet he’s thrilled you guys had to drive to Lakeshore.” I shot Mom a withering smile, and she rolled her eyes.

My parents were a godsend where Imogen was concerned, and they loved her dearly, but Mom had struggled to let me forget my teenage mistake.

I was their daughter. Full of hopes and dreams, and, in their eyes, I’d thrown it all away when I’d fallen in love with the wrong guy.

I was forever grateful for their help and support in raising Imogen, but things weren’t the same between us as they once were.

“Fawny,” Imogen sang as we joined her and my father in the living room.

“Hi, Princess Immy. You got some hugs for me?” Fawn held out her arms, and I put Imogen down. She skipped toward my best friend, and Fawn scooped her up. “You hungry?”

“I wike pancakes.”

“Sure thing, princess. Pancakes it is.”

“How was the trip?” I asked my parents.

“Good. Immy was a dream. Asked for you a lot, but we kept her busy,” Dad said.

“Jacqueline called,” Mom added. “They want to take her over the holidays. You know, Madi, you don’t have to agree.”

“They’re her grandparents too, Mom.” I glanced over at Fawn and Immy mixing the batter and smiled. “She loves spending time with them.”

And I needed to keep them on my side in case their son ever decided to show up again.

“Yeah.” She let out a weary sigh. “I know. It’s just hard watching you send her to his family after everything.”

“I know, Mom, but I won’t punish them for his actions.”

She gave me a begrudging nod. “Anyway, how was your long weekend? Did you enjoy some time with Fawn and her friends? I hope you didn’t party too hard.”

Her words struck my heart. Even now, even after raising Immy for the last four and half years—four of those alone—she thought I was still the wild party girl from my past.

It hurt, but I locked it down.

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