Aspen nodded. “Thanks, Law. I know keeping this under wraps is tough, but I appreciate it.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help.” He gathered his things and headed for the door. “See you later, Charlie Bear,” he called.
“Bye, Dad!”
Aspen followed Lawson and locked the door as it closed.
I turned, watching her make her way back to me. “How do you do it?”
Her expression turned puzzled. “Do what?”
“Laugh with everything that’s going on and truly mean it?”
She rested a hip against the table, looking down at me. “Everyone has their struggles, but sometimes I think those who have gone through the worst are the ones with the deepest ability to find joy, even in moments of hardship and heartache.”
I stared at Aspen, taking in her beauty and letting it fully hit me for the first time. It wasn’t just her gorgeous red hair, piercing green eyes, and lush lips. It was the light that radiated out of her, casting a glow on everyone and everything around her.
Truly seeing that for the first time? I knew one thing.
I was completely screwed.
22
ASPEN
I leaned back in the uncomfortable plastic chair and watched girls in various shades of tutus and leotards twirl across the room. I loved watching Cady dance. It wasn’t that she was insanely gifted; it was the sheer joy that surrounded her while she did the thing she loved the most.
But my mind kept drifting today. Back to the man who had stolen way too many thoughts. To the one who’d slept on my lumpy couch yet again. I’d awoken to cussing about a demon cat and laughed into my pillow.
Roan had scowled at me when I emerged in my fluffy robe and slippers. “That cat needs a muzzle,” he’d said.
I’d just nodded and told him I’d look into it, knowing I never would.
The truth was, I loved his cranky scowls just as much as I enjoyed when his expression lightened. Because those glowers, grimaces, and glares just meant that the lip twitches and chuckles hit that much harder when they came.
Movement from Cady’s pink glitter tutu caught my eye. She executed a spin, but she didn’t have her typical beaming smile when she stopped. And her eyes were red as if she fought tears.
I instantly straightened, going on alert. Heather and her two awful sidekicks were snickering together as they sent looks in Cady’s direction. Anger and worry surged inside me.
The ballet teacher clapped her hands. “That’s it for today. I’ll see you tomorrow. Make sure you get lots of practice.”
Cady made a beeline for me, and I crouched low, pulling her into a hug. “What happened, Katydid?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled. “Can we go home?”
“Of course.” I slid on her winter coat and helped her with her boots. I’d talk to her once we were home, and she wasn’t at risk of falling apart in front of her classmates. But that didn’t stop me from throwing a death glare at Katelyn and her daughter as we headed out. I wanted to slip some serious ex-lax into their drinks.
I bundled Cady into my station wagon and slid behind the wheel. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror at my girl. She just stared at her hands, not saying a word. The sight had tears burning the backs of my eyes. The only time she was ever this quiet was when she was sick.
My insides twisted into an angry pretzel. I’d been trying to teach her to rise above, but that obviously wasn’t working. I needed to have a conversation with Katelyn, but I feared it would only make things worse.
Turning into our drive, I saw Roan’s truck in the distance. Something in me eased. Reassured me, even with all that was going on.
I pulled to a stop in front of the house and climbed out, helping Cady from the back seat. She trudged up the steps and waited for me to unlock the door. When we got inside, Roan was sitting on the couch, Chauncey curled at his side.
Everything in me warmed at the sight. At his mere presence. I loved the thought of him letting himself in with the key I’d loaned him. Of him letting Chauncey out and giving him scratches. Of him waiting for us.
I loved it all. A little too much.
Cady slid her coat off, hanging it up.
Roan grinned at her. “Hey, Tiny Dancer.”
Cady’s lower lip began to tremble, and then she flew at him.
Roan’s eyes widened in surprise as he caught her, tutu and all.
Cady burst into wild, racking sobs. I expected Roan to freeze, unsure what to do with the ball of emotion in his arms. Instead, he simply rocked her back and forth, rubbing a hand up and down her back and whispering nonsensical things to her as she cried.