Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(85)

Plus, I didn’t exactly trust myself not to say something crazy.

I’m an idiot. Come back. I love you. Stay with me.

But I was desperate for news about her too. Was she okay? How was her new apartment? Her new job? Did she love it? Did she miss home? Did she miss me? Every time I thought of her in that soft white sweater, I pined for her a little more. Was it possible I’d never hold her in my arms again?

“Can you read it to me?” I asked.

Hallie went to get her iPad, and Luna wiped her sticky hands on her nightgown. “I got some jelly on the counter,” she told me. “And on the floor.”

“Great.”

“And Freddie Purrcury stepped in it.”

I frowned. “Even better.”

Hallie returned, carrying her iPad instead of her Cheetos. “Dear Hallie and Luna,” she read. “I was so happy to get your email and the photos you sent. You did a great job painting your nails! I miss playing salon with you too. My new job is keeping me very busy. I meet lots of new people every day. Piglet misses you too. She isn’t used to our new home yet, and I think she is mad at me about the move. But it’s very nice, even if my next-door neighbors are not as fun as you. You asked when I was coming home for a visit, and the answer is next weekend. I will be there from Friday to Sunday for a work event at Cloverleigh Farms. I don’t know if you will be with your mom or your dad, but let me know and maybe we can work something out. After that, I am not sure when I will be home next. Write back soon and send me more pictures. Here is one for you. Love, Winnie.”

“Did she send you a picture?” I asked, desperate to see her face.

“Yes.” Hallie showed me the screen, and my heart lurched at the sight of Winnie’s deep blue eyes, soft smile, and pink cheeks. She held Piglet, who looked about as happy to be in the photo as I felt staring at it. Something the size of a golf ball was lodged in my throat.

“Where are we next weekend, Daddy?” Luna asked. “Can we see her?”

“Uh . . .” I had to think. “That’s your mom’s wedding.”

“But that’s Saturday,” Hallie said. “Couldn’t we see her Friday when she gets here? Or Sunday, the day after?”

“Maybe.” I tried to swallow and couldn’t. “I’ll—I’ll text her and find out when she gets in. I also need to check with Mom about the wedding schedule.”

“Okay. Can we go out for breakfast?”

“I guess.” But I didn’t want to go anywhere. I just wanted to stay in bed, stare at her photo, and feel sorry for myself.

“Can we go to Winnie’s bakery?”

“Can’t we go somewhere else?”

“No, that’s our favorite place on Saturday mornings.” Luna giggled. “You still have Cheeto dust in your chest hair.”

Dropping my chin, I gave her my best grumpy Dad face. “Go get dressed, and put that nightgown in your laundry basket. It’s got jelly all over it.”

“Can you text Winnie right now and ask about the weekend?” Hallie pleaded.

“No.” I needed to think about exactly what I was going to say to her. “I want to talk to Mom first. I’ll do that when I drop you guys off today. Now go get dressed.”





That afternoon, after hugging the girls goodbye in the driveway, I asked Naomi if she had a minute.

“Sure.” She sent the girls into the house with instructions to clean their messy rooms, and turned back to me with her arms folded. “What’s up?”

“Winnie is going to be in town next weekend, and the girls want to know if there’s any time they can see her.”

Naomi sighed. “Next weekend is going to be really busy with the wedding.”

“I know. I can tell them it won’t work.”

“No, no, don’t do that. They talk about her all the time, and they’ll be sad if they miss her visit completely.” A chill October wind blew her hair across her forehead, and she tucked it behind her ear. “How long will she be here?”

“Friday to Sunday.”

“Is she staying with you?”

I made a face like the question was crazy. “No! I have no idea where she’s staying. Why would she be staying with me?”

“Take it easy.” Naomi held up her hands. “The way the girls have talked about the situation, I sort of thought you might be more than friends.”

“Well, we’re not. She’s not in town to see me.”

My ex studied me carefully. “But you care about her.”

I closed my eyes. Clenched my jaw. “Naomi, don’t.”

“Dex, come on. Don’t get mad. In the two years since we split up, the girls have never once mentioned a female friend, and after she came around, it was nothing but Winnie this and Winnie that. It’s obvious she was around a lot.”

“She was,” I admitted.

“It’s okay. It’s not like I expected you to be alone forever. And you’ve always been very accepting of my relationship with Bryce.”

“Me being alone forever is a lot more likely than a relationship with Winnie.”

“Why?”

I scowled at her. “Why do you even care?”

“Because I care about you, Dex.” She poked a finger at my chest. “Maybe you find this hard to believe, but I do actually want you to be happy. It’s true that our marriage didn’t work, and I don’t think you tried hard enough to save it, but I don’t believe it’s because you weren’t capable. That’s what drove me crazy all the time. You could be a good partner to someone—if you let them in.”