Page 71 of Unexpected

“Maybe not at first—she’s too young to really understand. But I’d hate to think that she’d be made fun of for our choices. You’re her nanny. I’m—” she puffed out a breath “—so much older than you.”

“Let me ask you something,” I said, rolling on my side and tucking my hand beneath my head. “Those kids who made fun of you growing up…”

“Yeah?”

“Where are they now?”

She laughed, though it was devoid of mirth. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“My point exactly. They don’t matter.”

“Yeah, but—” She stopped, shook her head. “It still affects me. I’m still trying to live that down. And I would never want that for Sophia.”

“Nor would I,” I said. “But she’s strong and she’s resilient. And we can get through this—together.” I believed it. I just wondered what it would take for Alexis to see it too.

She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling with a deep sigh. “What about the Hartwell Agency? Your job?”

“Like you said, the summer’s almost over. Besides, I can find another job,” I said. “Those are short-term issues. In the long run, you and Sophia are what matter.”

“You say that now, but what about in ten years, or even twenty? I’m not getting any younger, Preston.”

I smoothed a lock of hair away from her face. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’ll always be beautiful to me.”

I leaned in, needing to kiss her, needing to know I wasn’t going to lose her. Perhaps I was pushing for too much, too soon, but life was short. You never knew what was going to happen.

She was quiet, and I so desperately wished I knew what she was thinking. “You were right,” she finally said.

“Can you repeat that?” I teased, prompting her to slap my chest. “Okay, fine. But at least tell me what I was right about.”

“Money. Sometimes, albeit unintentionally, I go overboard to try to compensate for not being around as much. I’m sorry for doing that to you, and I’ll try to be more aware of it with Sophia.”

I gathered her in my arms. “You know that Sophia adores you, right? That she’d love you even if she didn’t have an insanely over-the-top mermaid party or the latest designer clothes?”

She nodded, but I wasn’t sure she believed it.

“I love you too,” I said, unable to resist telling her again. “And I would never, ever want you to feel like you have to buy my love.”

She sighed, sinking farther into me. “I know,” she sighed again. “I know that, but it’s sometimes hard to believe.”

“Because of Cal?” I asked, doing my best to keep my voice even.

“Cal, but mostly, my parents. After all the years they struggled, I was more than willing to give them money. I wanted them to have what they needed, to have a nice, comfortable life. But they just kept asking for more and more.

“Sophia is their only grandchild, and they only spent time with her when they thought it would benefit them. And when they started demanding money from me, expecting it…” She swallowed hard. “I’d had enough.”

“So, they’re not in her life at all?” I asked.

“My parents? No. I told them they could be, if they met certain conditions. But until then, they will not have access to her. The sad part is, I’m not sure they even care.”

“That’s really shitty.” I smoothed my hand up and down her back, wanting to comfort her.

No wonder she struggled with trust—her ex-husband, her parents had all done a number on her. I could never in a million years imagine my parents treating me like that. And it only made me even more determined to show Alexis that she could trust me, love me.

* * *

The following afternoon,Sophia had just returned from camp and was showing Alexis and me a new game she’d learned. The three of us were playing in the living room when the doorbell rang. Alexis went to answer it, returning moments later with a raven-haired man at her side—Cal.

“Daddy!” Sophia jumped up from her spot on the floor and ran over to him.