then, huh? Plus, a trip down Unpleasant Memory Lane on top of all that other stuff, and you’ve got yourself a predicament.”
“Something like that. I want to be supportive of Grant and Dan and you and everyone involved in the telling of our story, but I just don’t know if I can bear to relive it. I feel like we’ve traveled a million miles since then.”
“We have. For sure. Sometimes I even forget about it, you know? Like it’s noon before I remember I used to be locked up.”
“That’s good. I don’t want you thinking about that.”
“I’ll probably always think of it. It’s part of my story, just like you and your mom are part of my story. But I don’t think about the bad stuff so much anymore.”
“I don’t either. There’s so much better stuff to think about now, for both of us. That’s why I’ve been kind of reluctant to reopen that door.”
“Which is totally understandable. When I think about it now, I’m not sure which one of us had it worse—me on the inside or you on the outside fighting our battles by yourself.”
“You had it much worse. At least I was free.”
“Were you, though?”
Leave it to him to cut through the bullshit. Stephanie looked up at him. “Are you going to the premiere?”
“Don’t know yet. Figured I’d decide the day of.” He took her by the chin and gently compelled her to look at him. “Maybe we ought to go together and get it over with, hmm?”
“Don’t do that for me.”
“Who else would I do it for? I think you actually want to see this project that Grant has poured his heart and soul into over the last two years.”
“I do. He’s worked so hard. If it was about anything else…”
“I know that, and so does he. How about we make a date of it, you and me? I’ll pick you up and even buy your popcorn.”
Stephanie could always count on her Charlie Bear to make her laugh and to give her exactly what she needed. “Remember our very first ‘date’?”
He thought about that for a second. “I’m not sure which one was first.”
“You took me to see The Little Mermaid, and you said I could have any snack I wanted.”
Nodding as he smiled, he said, “And you stood at the counter for so long trying to pick something that we almost missed the start of the movie.”
“That was the first time anyone had ever told me I could have anything I wanted. I picked Milk Duds, and every time I’ve had them since then, I’ve thought of that, the first time my dad took me out, just me and him, and how special you made it for me. How special you made everything for me.” She forced herself to look at him. “If you wonder why I spent fourteen years obsessed with getting you out of jail, it was because of the Milk Duds, because of The Little Mermaid and the dance classes you paid for and took me to and the things you taught me about bugs and nature and animals. It was all of it. You were everything to me, and you still are.”
He took a few steps to close the distance between them, put his arms around her and gave her one of the Charlie Bear hugs she’d missed so much during the years they’d been apart. “You’re everything to me, too, kid,” he said gruffly. “Always have been, always will be.”
“How about you pick me up at the Bistro around six thirty tomorrow?”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter 44
Seamus and Carolina had spent two agonizing days waiting to hear if the boys’ father would accept their offer. Dan had called them Thursday night to say they had a deal, that Jace Carson had agreed to the plan that would allow him to see the boys twice a year. When they were both of age—or sooner if all parties agreed—they’d be told Jace was their biological father.
If he stuck around that long, that was.
In exchange for access to the boys, Dan had required Jace to sign a release that stated he wouldn’t challenge the custody arrangements Lisa made before her death. It had been a great relief to Seamus and Carolina to hear that Jace had signed that document.
Jace had wasted no time in requesting his first visit, and he was due to arrive within the next few minutes. Seamus had arranged for Joe to take his afternoon runs on the ferry so Seamus could