Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Unable to vocalize that, I whisper, “My name is Audrina. Maria is my middle name.”
Ruby doesn’t even react; she only holds my hand tighter. “I don’t care what your name is. I only care about the woman before me. She is strong, she is resilient, and she is a damn good mother. You have given in to your fear for way too long. Feel it—but fight it, my love. Because you, Audrina Maria, are meant for more than this place, and so is Arwen. Go home.”
Before I can agree or make up another excuse, the door opens and Thatcher comes barreling in. He’s holding a pharmacy bag, but also a little Bluey plush. “Okay, so—” His words cut off when he sees I’m not alone. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He swallows hard, his shoulders falling as he walks toward me, handing me the bag.
Ruby stands, tucking her hands in her pockets. “Not at all. I need to apologize. I didn’t introduce myself downstairs. My name is Ruby.”
Thatcher holds out his hand. “Thatcher Orlov.” She takes it, and he gives her a weak but charming smile. “Thank you for taking care of my girls.”
Ruby looks back at me with a knowing look. I want to yell I’m not his, but this is already messy. He’s trying to be civil, so I need to do the same. “Hey, Audrina, I could use your help downstairs.”
I stand at that, but then I point to Arwen. “I can’t leave her here by herself.”
Ruby throws her thumb toward Thatcher. “Her daddy is here. He can watch over her.”
Before I can answer or even look at Thatcher, Arwen whines as she sits up. She looks around the room, her face still a bit flushed but not too bad.
Coming out of her slumber, her wide brown eyes focused only on me, she signs, Mommy, my ears hurt.
I know, my love, I sign back, sitting beside her. Can I give you some medicine to help?
I look up to find Thatcher handing me a syringe with the right dosage. He just jumps in, not that I expected anything less from him. I look back at my daughter as she gazes up at Thatcher. Even through the haze of a lingering fever, she knows who is before her.
My chest goes tight, and I know I did the right thing, making sure she knew who he was as she grew. I showed her endless amounts of pictures and told her everything about him. The only thing I didn’t do was give her a chance to meet him.
A fact I’ll need to live with for the rest of my life.
She looks back at me, her brows pulled in tightly before she opens her mouth for me. After giving her the meds, I hand her a juice cup. I rub my knuckles along her cheek before I look up at Ruby. “I’m coming.”
“Great. We’re slammed for some reason on a Monday afternoon.”
I send her a small smile as she turns to leave. I look back at my daughter and sign, Do you know who this is?
Arwen looks up at him, and a little grin comes over her mouth. Is it really my daddy?
Thatcher lets out a pained grunt, and I know I can’t look at him. When her eyes shift to me, I nod. Yes.
She blinks a few times and then asks, Will he leave again?
Another pained grunt comes from him before he sits beside me, causing me to move over since I refuse to touch him again. Last time, I almost gave in to my need for him, and I have to keep my eyes on the prize here.
But then he signs effortlessly, I’ll never leave you again.
And I know I’m not only protecting my heart but Arwen’s too.
CHAPTER TEN
I’ll never leave you again, I tell my daughter.
Learning sign language was hard, and I swear the frustration was real, but being able to say those five words to Arwen makes all of it worth it.
Especially when her little face lights up.
I know what I said is a promise I’ll never break.
“Don’t promise her that.” I look over to find Audrina shaking her head before she meets my gaze. “Even if we were to come home, you’re a professional hockey player. You have to leave her.”
“That’s different. It’s my job,” I tell her. “I’ll never leave her again.”
“She doesn’t understand that.”
“Then I’ll quit,” I say simply, and I believe the words I say with total confidence. Audrina, on the other hand, gasps, her eyes going wide as I glance back down at my sweet girl. “I have to make up for the time I lost.” I chuck her under her chin, and Arwen beams at me.
“You aren’t quitting hockey,” Audrina mutters, rolling her eyes.
“And I’m never leaving my daughter again.”