Daddy Crush - Adriana Anders Page 0,58

in and go from curious to wary. Which is exactly why I brought Harper.

“Afternoon, ma’am.” If I wore a hat, I’d take it off. Anything to seem like an upstanding guy. Like the type of man who deserves a woman like Jerusha. “I’m Karl McCoy and this is my daughter Harper. We’re, ah, here because…” I swallow, still unsure of what I’m doing. No. I’m unclear on how to do this, but I know it’s the right thing. And that’s what makes me pull the invites from my pocket and hand them to her. She takes them, unhesitatingly, and then seems unsure of what to do with them.

“Those are for you. From Jerusha.”

“Oh!” Her eyebrows lift, her features go wide and bright. She looks behind me, as if searching for her daughter. Her eagerness twists something in my belly.

“I’m sorry. She’s not here, I’ve just… Listen, Mrs. Graff, when she got the invite back in the mail, she was pretty upset.”

“I don’t… What do you mean?”

“This show’s a huge deal for her. For her career. She’s the youngest artist to have a solo exhibit of this size at the Werner Gallery and she really wanted you to be there.”

She squints down at the postcard. “I’ve never seen this.”

“She sent you one. It was returned.”

Mrs. Graff puffs out a breath, which seems to deflate her, chest-first. She’s a fairly tall woman, maybe in her late fifties or early sixties, with rosy cheeks and smile lines around her eyes and mouth. Right now, though, she looks drawn and sad. A little hollowed out. “He sent it back?”

I open my mouth, consider placating her and decide to go with the truth. “Your husband. Yes.”

“All right. Well, um. Thank you.” She takes a hold of the door, as if to close it and then maybe realizes this isn’t the polite thing to do. Looking shaken, she drops her arms, half-turns, and waves at the dark, still house behind her. “Would you care to come in for a—”

“No,” I interrupt, though I’d love to see where Jerusha grew up. The invitation’s clearly half-hearted. I share a look with Harper, who gives a quick shake of her head. “Thank you. We’ve got a couple hours on the road and… We’ll let you get back to…” I don’t even know what to say. Life? That seems cold.

Thankfully, Harper steps in to help. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Graff, but Dad and I need to head back. For Jerusha’s art opening. It’s today. Have a great afternoon, okay?” Her smile’s so warm, so genuine, that I can’t help feeling pride. Not that I can take credit for how sweet she is, but I can appreciate it.

We say our goodbyes and get back in the truck, without another word. We’re halfway up the driveway when Harper tells me to stop. “Take me back.”

“Why?”

“I want to give her my number. In case she needs to get in touch.”

I nod, impressed that she thought of that. I pull a three-point turn and park, then watch from the truck as she charms Jerusha’s mother.

“I’m proud of you, Harper,” I tell her when she’s back in the truck.

Her eyebrows fly up. “Yeah? Why?”

“You’re a good person.”

“Well, I can thank you for that.”

I shake my head. “I’m proud, but I had nothing to with making you this way.”

“You’re an idiot.” She snorts, shakes her head, rolls her eyes, and turns to look out the window, but not before I see the emotion on her face. “Now, get me that ice cream you promised.”

I reach out, squeeze her hand, happy when she squeezes back, and sniff, fully aware of who’s responsible for the stuff I’ve been feeling lately.

Jerusha Graff, the love of my life. I can’t wait to get back to Richmond to tell her how much I adore her, how much she’s changed me. For the millionth time this week.

With a sigh and an eye-roll of my own, I put the car in drive. I’m about to start for home when something slams in the distance. “Dad, hold on!” Harper says, pointing at the two women on the front porch. “Looks like we’ve got company.”

25

Float on

Jerusha

The doors opened half an hour ago and Karl is nowhere in sight. He should have been here earlier. He promised he’d be at my side all night.

I swallow, hard, and plaster a smile on my face, though I’m worried. This isn’t like him. And, aside from a text earlier, telling me to get ready for a big surprise,