Page 34 of Broken Strings

"Oh, baby girl," I breathe, tears springing to my eyes. "He could never not like you. He already loves you so, so much. All he wants to do is make you happy."

"I want him to be happy too." She chews on her bottom lip. "Do you think he'll like my teddy bear, Mommy? He gave me a special present. My teddy bear is the most special thing I have."

Lord have mercy. I knew today was going to wreck my emotions, but I did not anticipate my daughter doing it in the parking lot of her school while asking if her daddy would like the gift of her most prized possession. And yet…here we are. Because that's the little girl we created. Together. We created her together. The best of both of us.

"Yeah," I whisper, my throat so tight the word cracks. "I think he'll love it, baby girl."

When we pull into the driveway half an hour later, Grayson is standing on the porch, waiting for us with his hands shoved into his pockets. He looks nervous as hell.

Brinley gasps quietly from the backseat, her eyes locked on him. "Mommy," she breathes. "He's just like my dreams."

I cover my mouth with my hand, choking back a sob.

Grayson strides toward us as Brinley fidgets with the buckles for her seat, trying to unlatch herself, already straining toward him, too eager to wait. Already obsessed with her daddy.

He meets my gaze through the windshield, a question in his eyes.

I give him a subtle nod of encouragement as I climb out, reaching for his hand. "Come on," I whisper. "She's so ready to meet you."

His hand shakes in mine as we circle around to the passenger side together to find her little face pressed to the window, her eyes locked on him.

"Should I…?"

"Go to her," I whisper, stepping out of the way so they can have this moment. "Hold your daughter, Grayson."

"Daddy!" Brinley cries, lifting her hand in a little wave.

Her sweet voice breaks the spell he's under.

He inhales a sharp breath, rushing forward like she just screamed for help. His hand lands against the handle, wrenching the door open. As they come face to face for the first time, they both go completely still. Neither moves. Neither speaks. They just…stare at each other for the longest time.

And then Grayson kneels beside the car, holding his arms out. "Hi, baby girl," he whispers, his voice a rough rasp of sound. "I'm your daddy."

"Daddy!" Brinley sobs, flinging herself out of the car directly into his arms.

He catches her, his shoulders shaking as he pulls her up against his chest. She burrows in, clinging to him the same damn way I do. Her little head nestles against his shoulder, her hands fisted in his shirt…and she cries.

"I m-missed you my w-whole life," she says.

"I missed you for your whole life too, sweetheart," he whispers, the pain in his voice breaking me all over again. "But I'm here now. And I promise you, I'm never going to miss another minute of time with you." He glances over his shoulder, his eyes wet as they meet mine. "With either of you."

I break down, sobbing.

Chapter Eleven

Priest

"What's your favorite movie?" Brinley asks, bouncing excitedly on the couch beside me after her bath.

"The Iron Giant," I say. It's not technically my favorite, but it's the only one near the top of the list that's remotely suitable for a five-year-old. Mina will kick my ass if she starts asking to watch anything else on my list. And I already know she'll ask.

She's been relentless with her questions for the last four hours. Every time I answer, she demands every detail. Her mind is fascinating. It's like it never stops. The world is a vast, exciting place to her, and she wants to know everything, see everything, experience everything right now. She's so much like her mama, it's unreal.

"What's it about?" she asks, her nose scrunched up as she stares up at me, her eyes shining with curiosity. And Christ, those eyes are just like Mina's, too. She's like a tiny little replica of my wife, so fucking perfect my goddamn heart squeezes in a vise every time I look at her. I see little pieces of me in her, too. She has my smile, especially when she's feeling particularly mischievous, and my cheekbones. But everything else is Mina.

Especially that spirit. She's handling this like a champion. I was so goddamn terrified that she'd be afraid of me or clam up and not want to talk to me. But she hasn't stopped talking since she leaped into my arms and told me she missed me her whole life.

Hearing that shit broke me. Seeing her cry killed me.