Page 222 of Broken Daddy

He sighed and settled on the coffee table in front of her. “I might have something to confess.”

“What?”

“I arranged with Michelle to pay the transportation costs for your pieces. The exhibition is still going ahead. And they’re fine with you being short a few pieces.”

Devi gaped at him as those words penetrated. And then she burst into tears. He sat next to her, pulling her onto his lap, of his thick, firm arms surrounding her, of the note of panic in his voice.

But she couldn’t seem to stop crying. What was wrong with her?

Finally, he grew silent and just rocked her. She grasped hold of his shirt with her good hand, holding it close to her nose as she sucked on her thumb.

She didn’t know why, but she’d discovered the other day that she liked scrunching up his shirt in her hand while sucking her thumb. Hayes had tried to get her to suck her pacifier instead.

But it just wasn’t the same.

“I’m sorry, baby. I made a mistake, didn’t I?”

She took in a deep breath and forced herself to let him go, leaning back. He was ready with a tissue, wiping her face and holding it up so she could blow her nose.

Devi still thought that a bit gross. But she blew and he threw the tissue away, brushing back her hair.

“I thought you shouldn’t make a big decision while in the hospital. So I went to Michelle in secret. Didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset.” Then she grimaced. “I mean, I’m not crying because you did that without telling me. Although you shouldn’t do that.” She shook a finger at him and he gently nipped it.

Rude.

Now she couldn’t remember her train of thought. Oh, right.

“I was crying because . . . I’ve been upset with myself for giving up so easily on the exhibition. For not trying to figure out a way to get the money. And you . . . you and Michelle . . . I get my exhibition?”

“Yes, baby. We’ll have to go back to Angel a few days before the exhibition, but Michelle seems to have it all under control.”

She buried her face back into his chest. “Thank you, Hayes. Thank you so much.”

He hugged her tight. “Anything for my girl.”

Devi was sitting on Hayes’lap on the front porch with a blanket over her when she saw movement between the trees.

Hayes sighed as she stiffened.

“Is someone there?” she asked.

Truthfully, she thought someone would have visited before now. Well, other than Kent and Eden who had returned a few times.

Maybe they didn’t want to meet her?

“Yes, a naughty little someone. Daisy, is that you?” he called out.

It was getting rather cold. The storm was close and they’d come out to watch it as they drank hot cocoa. Well, she was. Apparently, Hayes didn’t drink hot cocoa. So weird.

“Yep, it’s me!” A woman with brown hair stepped out. She gave them a shy smile. “Sorry, I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding,” Devi told her, wanting to put her at ease. She had her hands clenched together as she shifted from foot to foot.

“Is there something wrong?” Hayes asked.

“I, um, wanted to come and say hi! Jed said we had to leave you alone for a while because Devi was recovering. But I didn’t want you to think we were being rude by not coming over.”