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PHOEBE GREETED HER with a wide-eyed expression that asked its own questions. Perci just shook her head. She and her older sister would talk—later. When she didn’t have Nate and Ivy hanging on her every word. The car ride hadn’t started out too well, but Perci had made a point of reassuring Ivy that she could sit in the backseat without Perci right next to her.
Perci gave Phoebe a scaled-down version of events and told her older sister where she’d be staying until Pan returned and could take official custody of Ivy.
Phoebe’s eyes held a knowing smirk that irritated her beyond measure. But Perci said nothing in return. Phoebe agreed to watch Ivy when Nate and Perci returned to work—Phoebe would have the three boys around to help entertain Ivy. They still had two days to get through.
With her and Nate playing Mommy and Daddy.
What she had agreed to do was completely crazy, but when Ivy wrapped little arms around her neck and refused to go to her sister, Perci understood exactly why she had agreed to do it.
For Ivy. And maybe for herself, too. She needed to help Ivy, needed to make a difference again.
Nate waited on the porch, speaking quietly with Perci’s father.
Her dad had always liked and respected all of the Masterson brothers—even with the trouble that had existed between Nate and Perci. Nate stepped back inside, to talk to Phoebe about details, leaving her alone with her father. Her father patted Ivy on the back lightly, then kissed Perci’s forehead. “You call me, baby girl, if you need me.”
“I will, Daddy.”
“Good. We’ll be here...when you come home.” There was a look in his eyes that had her pausing. Wondering.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?” He cupped her cheek gently and just stared.
“What’s wrong?”
He smiled. “Not a damned thing. I’m just thinking of how absolutely proud I am of you. What you’ve accomplished in just a few years—any father would be proud to have you as his daughter. Your mother’s probably smiling down on you now.”
“I miss her.” Perci would never forget the terror from the night her mother had been hurt, the pain that had consumed her after her mother had died three days later. The way no one had believed her when she’d said it hadn’t been her brother’s fault, but the fault of the other driver.
The fear and harassment and anxiety that had been her constant companion ever since.
Now that was coming to light. Joel coming into their lives had changed everything.
But it was a little too late. The damage had long been done.
“I know. Some days it’s far worse than others.” Her mother would have known exactly what to do with the little girl now napping on her shoulder. And would have fought to do it, if need be. Perci always remembered her mother when it was time to fight. There wasn’t anything her mother wouldn’t have done for one of her children. “My arm’s going numb.”
“You look good with a child, sweetie. Natural. More than your sisters, you have a way with the little ones. Maybe someday it’ll be you giving me a grandchild like your sister.”
“I get it. Pip is going to be the favorite for a while.” All of her sisters would be having children of their own soon. Moving on to the next stage in their lives.
Perci wouldn’t. Not yet.
She hadn’t yet found the man she trusted enough to even want to think about doing something so life-changing with. When she finally decided to be in love with someone, trust would come first. A long time before anything else.
Trust. Safety. It would be easy with that man. She’d feel exactly like she belonged.
Nate stepped back outside. Perci looked up at him just as he smiled.
At her.
When was the last time he’d smiled at her just like that? She honestly couldn’t remember.
They had fought for so long.
She felt strange, vulnerable. Tender. Not for him, but like she’d been kicked or bruised and was just learning to deal with it.
Hell of a way to feel about a man. Like a mule had kicked her in the chest and she wasn’t certain if something was broken or not.
“You ready?” he asked, holding out her jacket to her. She’d grabbed it from her room a few minutes earlier and tossed it over the back of her chair at the table. She nodded.
He held the jacket open for her and helped her slip it on around the sleeping child.
It might have been her imagination, but she was almost certain Nate’s hands lingered.
Touched her just a little more than she was ready to think about.