“Miss Summers.”
“Kate. Call me Kate, please.”
“Kate ...” He paused and seemed to have lost his words.
“Did you need anything?” I found myself lacking words and lost in his eyes.
“I-I wanted to thank you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s my job.” I flashed a glance at his daughter and smiled.
“I know.” His eyebrows drew to the center, like he was concerned. “I ... Well—”
“Leonardo. Who are you talking to? I hope it’s not business.” A woman’s voice.
The phone shifted. I got a glimpse of people at a table with candles shimmering. I bristled, my heart thundering. This situation reminded me of the night Jayden had cheated on me. He’d said he was away on a business trip, but he wasn’t. He’d drunk too much and video chatted me. Some girl he was with had showed herself and made out with him.
“I’m talking to my daughter.” His voice sounded muffled, like he didn’t want me to hear, and then I didn’t know what else he said.
“Mr. Medici?” I had to repeat his name.
“Miss Summers. Sorry about that. Anyway ...”
I didn’t bother asking him to call me Kate again. “Well, looks like you’re busy. Please go back to your dinner. Bridget is fine. Everything is fine.” I angled the phone so he could see his daughter one last time before we ended the call.
“Good. I’m not checking up on you. I know Bridget is in good hands. Thank you again.”
“Goodnight,” I said in a professional tone and pushed back into the headboard.
Bridget looked at me with her head tilted when I hung up. The way she crinkled her nose and scrunched her eyebrows reminded me of how Tyler looked when he was thinking over something intently.
“Is something wrong, Bridget?”
“Are you mad?” She pulled her blanket up to her chest.
“What? No. What made you think that?”
“You sounded mad.”
“Oh, no.” I’d been sure I kept a steady tone. Had I raised my voice? “I’m not mad. I couldn’t hear well. Anyway, you want to continue?” I flipped back to the page we had left off.
The corners of her mouth turned down, her eyes wide with concern.
“What’s wrong?” I wondered if I’d said something to upset her.
“Can you sleep with me? I get scared at nights. Sometimes Papa or Mona sleeps with me when I ask.”
“Sure. Not a problem.”
“Thank you.” She shifted to get comfortable among her pillows.
“Bridget, I promise I won’t get mad, but did you do something to my phone? Like change the ringtone by accident?”
“No, I promise.” She shook her head.
I wasn’t even sure when she would’ve had access to it. The only time I hadn’t had it was when I was in the bathroom. But it wouldn’t be the first time my phone had done something strange on its own, so I brushed it off.
“Bridget, where’s your mother?” I attempted to ask once more. I assumed from her previous words that her mother was dead, that she was an angel, but sometimes kids get their words mixed up.
It seemed like a simple question, but she didn’t answer and pointed to the book. I began to read aloud. It was none of my business.
Just do your job. Don’t meddle.
When Bridget fell asleep, I turned off the lights and called Abby as I lay in bed.
“Hey. How’s it going?” Abby said.
“Fine. How’s everything on your end?” I whispered and stared at the nightlight by the bathroom.
“The same. Nothing’s new. I’m in bed.”
“Can I speak to Ty?” I shifted to my side, facing Bridget.
“Sorry. He’s already asleep.” She sounded tired.
“Oh,” I dropped my voice. “Can you make sure he calls me tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“Can you do me a favor?” I yawned and stretched my arms and flexed my bare feet.
“Sure.”
“Can you ask your friend that knows Jessica’s friend’s friend if they know anything about Bridget’s mother?”
“Huh?”
I snorted. That sounded confusing and crazy.
“Oh, gotcha. Sure. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I stroked Bridget’s hair. “Everything is fine.”
Everything was fine with me, but maybe not for this little girl. Kids her age would jump at the chance to talk about their mother, but she’d brushed off my question. It was probably a sensitive subject.
My heart hurt for her. I told myself not to get too involved when I was going to be a temporary fixture in her life, but I needed to be aware so I could be sensitive to her situation.
After I hung up, I slept next to Bridget as promised. I wished for her to dream nothing but unicorns, rainbows, and all the sparkling things.
Chapter Nineteen — Welcome Home Lee
As Bridget and I were coming down the stairs together to eat dinner, the front door opened.
“Papa?” Bridget rushed ahead of me, her feet thudding down the stairs.
Under the crystal chandelier, down on his knees, Leonardo wrapped Bridget in his arms as he stood, giving her tons of rapid kisses on her head. He twirled her and brought her down. Her sweet laughter rang in the air.
I counted the days in my head. Lee had come home a day earlier than expected.
“The meeting went well, so I came home a day early. Unless you want me to go back.” He turned sideways, reaching for the door.
“No.” Bridget yanked on his arm, and then she was swinging from his flexed arm.
I laughed as I hit the bottom step. So much love between them. I was seeing a whole different side of him—more playful and down to earth. Not the businessman I had met in the cab. Even his attire was causal—jeans and a black T-shirt.
The door opened and Phillip walked in with Leonardo’s briefcase and suitcase. “I’ll put them in your room, sir.”
“Phillip. It’s fine. I can do it. Just leave it there.”
“Very well, sir. Goodnight.” He tipped his head to me and walked out.
I cleared my throat and smiled. “Well since you’re home early, I guess that means I can go home. Dinner is already set on the table.” I waited for Leonardo to confirm, but he didn’t say a word.
“No,” Bridget protested, catching me off guard. “Can Kate stay for dinner?”
Leonardo raked his hair back. “Of course, but only if she wants to.”
Bridget jumped up and down as she begged. “Please, please, please.”
I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I was intruding. Leonardo hadn’t asked me to stay, Bridget had. I didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. After days away, he had come home to relax, not to entertain. However, the plea in Bridget’s eyes could not be denied.
Eat dinner and leave. Simple.
“Sure. I’ll stay for dinner. I didn’t make anything special. Bridget wanted tacos, and it was on Mona’s approved list.”
“I love tacos” Leonardo said, and then turned to his daughter. “I think Bridget knew I was coming home.” He tapped her nose with love in his expression.