Page 19 of Broken Strings

"It's complicated, lovebug."

"Oh." Her bottom lip quivers. "That means I'm never going to see him, doesn't it?"

"What? No, of course not!" I cup her little cheeks, my heart aching. "Why would you think that, Brinley Grace?"

"Because that's what it meant with Grandpa." She shrugs, her eyes watery. "It was comblicated, and he made you sad, so we never saw him. And then he died."

"This is different," I say, my voice firm. "Even if it's complicated, you will see your daddy. He isn't going to die."

"When will we see him?"

"Soon."

"How soon?"

"I don't know."

She sighs heavily. "Because it's comblicated."

"Because we both want what's best for you, and what's best for you is making sure that you're completely okay with this here—" I tap my finger against her temple "—and here."

"But I am okay, Mommy." She frowns at me. "Daddy is home."

I sigh, pressing my lips to her forehead. "I'm happy he's home too, lovebug. But our job is to make sure that him coming home doesn't make your life feel like it's out of your control. Can you give us a few days to make sure we're doing that the right way?"

She narrows her eyes at me. "How many days?"

"A few."

"Can I meet Kasen while I wait?"

"You know what? I'm not even going to argue with that," I mutter. "If meeting Kasen Alexander means you're okay with this, then fine. I'll find a way to make it happen."

She beams at me, and I'm fairly certain I just got played by my five-year-old daughter. But I exhale a relieved breath anyway.Because, all things considered, this went a heck of a lot better than I was afraid it might go.

Honestly, I expected tears and screaming and tantrums. She's given me a lot of those since we moved. If we're finally on the upswing again, and she's back to swindling me, I'll take it. Especially right now. Because I feel like crying and screaming and throwing a tantrum myself.

All damn day, I've felt that way. And I don't know what to do about it. All I know is that Grayson is back, and it feels wrong that he isn't here right now, holding me.

He said today that my father is the reason for everything that happened. That's replayed in my head all damn day. I don't know what he meant. But the weight sitting on my chest is so freaking heavy. And I don't know if hearing him out is going to lighten the load or crush me entirely.

"Hey, Mommy?" Brinley asks, snuggling back down against me, Grayson's guitar pick clutched in her palm.

"Yeah, lovebug?"

"Do you think Daddy is sad too?" she whispers, worry in her voice.

"I don't know," I lie, unwilling to tell her the truth when it'll just hurt her. I know he's sad. I'm pretty sure he was crying when he left my office today.

God. Why does it hurt so bad to know he's hurting too?

Because you never stopped loving him, a little voice whispers. And you never will.

"Maybe I should give him a present too," she says. "That way, he doesn't miss us too much when he isn't here. He's probably lonely."

"Yeah, lovebug. You do that," I say, another wave of tears rolling down my cheeks.

Chapter Six