Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(100)

I feel as if a goddamn knife has been thrust inside my chest. I flex my hand to tamper down the pain searing through me.

I swallow the lump of pain choking me and settle down for the chat. Joce, who has intentionally been keeping one side of her face away from me, slants her head to the side. I suck my breath and gape at the dark spot, right below her chin. My body tenses at the thought of someone hurting her.

“What happened to your jaw, Joce?”

Her body jerks, startled by my question. She thrusts her chin forward, eyes flashing with anger. “She started it. Abigail. She said mean things about my dad.”

“And. . .”

“I punched her in the nose. She hit me back. Then I hit her again.”

What? Prim and proper Joce punched a girl in the face? Cora is most likely to punch someone in the face, but Joce? No. Whatever this Abigail said must have been bad. The worst thing is losing Josh is still a fresh wound that might never heal.

My heart aches for them and my first instinct right now is to get on a plane and deal with this child that hurt my daughter. I sigh and inhale deeply, tampering down that feeling.

I clear my throat. “Baby, I’m so sorry Abigail said the mean thing about your father. Josh was the best father ever. And also the coolest brother.” I pause. Let the words sink in. That fierce look on her face softens and she nods. “Using your fist to solve problems is not the best way to go, though. Did you try to talk to Abigail first?”

Joce shakes her head, her bottom lip quivering. “I was so angry, I couldn’t stop myself.”

Damn it. I wish I could comfort her.

I lift my hand and press it on the screen, and wait. She seems to understand my intention. She places her tiny hand parallel to mine, her lips tugging into a smile.

I pull my hand back and sign, “Do me a favor please?” She nods. “If someone ever says something bad about your father, try to ignore them. Remember all the good things about him. The coolest things he ever did.”

She wiggles her freckled nose, so like Nor’s. “You mean like teaching me and Cora how to fish?” I nod and smile. “Do you know he would let us win when we played basketball? He’d lift me up so I was high enough to throw the ball inside the hoop.” She grins wide.

Cora bounces on the seat beside Joce. “Yes. He used to lift me up too. Sometimes I felt as if I could touch the sky when he did that.”

Shit. I’m three seconds from bawling. Josh did well, raising my girls. “See? Good memories. I’m sure there are a lot more. And you know what? I’d love to hear about everything when I return. Deal?”

They nod, grinning identical smiles.

Cora’s face falls after a few seconds. “I’m sad he couldn’t finish the tree house on the terrace though.”

“What tree house?”

She sighs. “Papa started to build a playhouse for me and Joce, but he became too sick he couldn’t finish it.”

I bite my lip. “I have an idea. How about you pretty girls and I work on it when I get back?”

Cora beams and she claps her hands. “We would love that!” She turns to look at something that’s out of my view then back at me. “Mama says we need to take a bath then go to bed. I can’t wait to see you again, Uncle Cole. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Joce stares at the screen, a little crease forming between her brows. “Do you think Papa can see us wherever he is? Mama says that Papa is in Heaven and he never sleeps. He’s always watching over us. Like an angel.”

I nod and smile softly. “Yes, he is. Always.”

The troubled look on her face fades. She smiles and she stands up. “Love you, Uncle Cole.”

“Love you, baby.”

“I told you,” Cora signs. “Daddy sent that unicorn in my dream last night.” She laughs.

God, these kids are a riot.

After promising the girls to take them to the carnival next week, they blow kisses at me before dashing from the living room. I shake my head smiling.

I f*cking can’t wait to see them.



Nor appears on the screen and my breath leaves my chest.

Christ. She’s f*cking beautiful.

I focus on the stunning woman on the screen, smiling softly.

She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. Her face is so pale and her eyes are surrounded by dark circles. “Hi.”

“Hi.” My hands flex on the table, missing the feel of her skin. Guilt slams into me as I take in the faint worry lines fanning the corner of her eyes. I should have been more considerate. “I’m so sorry for being such an *. I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did the night before I left.”

She drops her gaze quickly, but not before I see her eyes cloud with pain. Hurt. Her chest rises and falls, and she lifts her eyes back to meet mine. She looks exhausted. “You made me feel like I was nothing, Cole.”

Anger storms through me. Shit. I really messed up. I rub the nape of my neck, grimacing, then I sign, “You’re not nothing. You are so much more. I wish you’d see yourself the way I see you. I’m sorry for making you feel like that, Nor.”

The frown on her face is replaced by a soft smile. “I know. God, I’m so tired. I just want everything to be okay.”

She should be angry with me, instead she lets it go. I’m a jackass.