Page 83 of Cold As Ice

Imogen was a force to be reckoned with, but so long as she wasn’t being outwardly mean or difficult at pre-K, I made a point to try and not dull her sparkle.

“He wents crying to Miss Lauren and called me a bully. Me, Uncle Jer.”

“Wow, what a little ass—”

“Okay, why don’t we see if Jer has a snack you can have.” I wrestled Imogen out of his arms and lowered her to the ground. “Go wash up, and I’ll make you something quickly before I leave.”

“Okay, Mommy.” She skipped off down the hall, almost as familiar with his apartment as our place.

“Rough day?” he asked as I let out a weary sigh, rubbing my temples.

“You could say that. Miss Lauren asked me to talk to her about using her kind words.”

“Sounds like Keenan was being a whiny little bitch.”

“Jer!” I smothered a laugh.

God, I was so lucky to have him, especially while my parents were on vacation.

“So she’s wise beyond her years. It’s not a bad thing.”

“No.” I glanced down the hall, lowering my voice. “But I worry.”

“Hey now”—he leaned over and squeezed my hand—“Immy is perfect just the way she is.”

“But she has questions, Jer. Questions I don’t always have the answers to.”

“You mean Warren.” His expression hardened, and I nodded.

“I can only withhold the truth for so long.”

“She’s four, babe. There’s time—”

“You just said it yourself. She’s four going on fourteen.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far—”

“Jer! Not helping.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. Come here.” He came over and pulled me into his arms. “You know I’ve always got your back, right? Both of you.”

“I know.” Taking a second to compose myself, I inhaled a deep breath and stepped out of his embrace. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He constantly went above and beyond to help me and Imogen out. Like tonight, he’d agreed to babysit so I could work my shift at O’Shea’s.

“Wook who I founds.” Imogen appeared, carrying Vader baby-style in her arms.

“I wondered where she’d gotten to.” Jeremiah smiled, mouthing, “We’ll be fine,” at me.

“It looks like you’ll be getting pizza,” I said after inspecting his sparsely filled refrigerator.

“Nothing but the best for the princess.”

“You spoil her.”

“I try.” He winked.

“There’s some crackers, baby, and some juice on the counter. I need to go if I’m going to make it.”

---