aren’t capable of surviving without one. I’d proven him wrong, and yet, it felt good now, to have someone to lean on.
But Frost wasn’t taking over. He was still letting me handle it, he was just there as support. It was different than it’d been with Gil.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “If he tries to keep the kids from me because of you, it’ll backfire on him. I mean, I can’t stop him, but I’m not going to let him dictate my life. I love the kids, and I want to be there for them, but he’s their dad and if he decides to be a cunt, I can’t stop him.”
“Maybe tonight has reminded him how much he needs you? It can’t be easy, being a single parent. You and I are too new to be talking about parenting, and yet, I feel the need to say that if I stick around, I’ll step up and do what’s needed, too. Admittedly, I’ll probably be better with the boys than with Nora, but there’ll be three adults instead of two.”
I’d kind of figured that out already, based on what he’d said, but it was nice to hear it. “I liked the way you handled Nora. Compassion without backing down. Being a teen is hard, and she’s a teen and a new werewolf, and she had to leave her old school and join the one with the other freaks — her words, not mine.” I pushed my hair out of my face and looked at my phone. “I feel for her, but she can’t just go running off when she doesn’t get her way.”
I was about to text Gil and ask if he’d heard anything when my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, and I answered it fast.
“Shy? Dad said I had to call you and tell you I’m okay.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved to hear her voice.
“I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried. Where are you?”
It turns out, she’d had trouble staying human, and had gone to the school principal’s house for help. And yes, she’d had her boyfriend drive her, but she’d used her head and hadn’t let him take care of her. She’d gone to an adult.
“She told us we could come to her anytime we found ourselves having a hard time with our wolf,” Nora told me, “and she helps me with it more than Daddy. He makes the wolf want to come out and eat his face off, and I know I can’t do that, but I couldn’t go to you for help, so I came here.”
Which wasn’t a terrible decision, if that’s where she was with her wolf.
“And you didn’t call me because your father told you I was dead to him, or something equally stupid, right?”
“He told us to forget you were ever in our lives, that it was just the four of us now.” She drew in a shaky breath. She was on the verge of tears.
“I love you, Nora. Your father is dealing with his own shit right now, and he dragged you into it. That was wrong, but he’s human too, and none of us are perfect. Since he brought me in to help tonight, I hope he’s changing his mind. He has the legal right to kick me out of your lives, but as long as I’m allowed to be in your life, I will be. Promise.” I took a breath. “And if he forbids it, we only have two and a half years until you’re eighteen. It won’t be forever.”
She burst into tears, and I wished I could hold her. “I love you, Nora. I’m sorry it seems as if everything’s gone to shit right now.”
I heard the phone being handled in a different way, and a woman’s voice came on. “This is Dianna Phillips. To whom am I speaking?”
“Cheyenne Grace. I was Nora’s stepmom, but her father and I are divorced. I’ve still been a major part of her life, but I’m dating someone for the first time, and her father didn’t deal well with that information yesterday. I’m afraid he dragged the kids into his drama.”
“Thank you for the explanation. I think I have it from here. I’ll feed her and get her to sleep until shortly before time to eat again and leave for school.”
“I appreciate the care you’ve obviously given Nora, since she trusted you enough to come to you.”