Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(84)

Christmas. He’d never had much reason to acknowledge the holiday. He’d usually been working and often out of the country. He would guess that in Fool’s Gold the season was celebrated with gusto and festivals.

There would be snow, he thought. Traditions. It would be a time of memories and belonging. Did he want that? Could he let go of his past and be a part of something that lasted?

Patience raced down the stairs and handed her daughter a pale silver box. The fancy script said Jenel’s Gems in the corner.

Lillie’s eyes widened. “For me?”

Patience hugged her. “I’m so proud of you. You’re a good student. You’re interested and curious and you work hard. This isn’t all about your grades, though. This is because you’re a wonderful daughter and I love you so very much.”

Lillie’s eyes filled with tears. She held on to her mom and mumbled, “I love you, too.”

He watched them, both in the moment and separated from it. He’d never had anything like this, he thought. He was sure his mother had been tender with him when he was young, but by the time Justice was six, Bart didn’t allow any signs of affection. He didn’t want to “weaken the boy,” as he put it.

What his father had never seen was the power and strength in love.

Lillie straightened then she opened the box. Inside was a gold butterfly charm on a delicate chain. She gasped.

“Do you like it?” Patience asked. “I saw it and thought of you. Here, let me put it on you.”

Lillie turned.

Patience slipped the necklace over her daughter’s head, then fastened it. Lillie ran toward the downstairs bathroom.

“I want to see! I want to see!”

Patience smiled at him. “Her birthday’s in a couple of months and she doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to let her pierce her ears. I already bought the butterfly posts for her.”

He touched her cheek. “You’re a good mom.”

“I hope so. Thanks for helping with all this. Her last day of school crept up on me. I’m totally not prepared.”

“You’ve had a few things going on.”

Lillie returned and threw her arms around both of them. “I love it, Mom. I really love it!”

“I’m glad.”

Justice squeezed her tightly before letting her go. They all stood.

“Okay,” Patience said. “Eleven-thirty. We’ll all be there.” She looked at him.

He nodded. “I’ll be there on time. I promise. We’ll take pictures.”

Lillie beamed. “There’s not a ceremony or anything. It’s not like next year when I graduate. But there will be cookies.”

Patience bent down and kissed her daughter’s cheek. Lillie moved to Justice, her body language expectant.

It took him a second to realize what she wanted—the same kiss on the cheek. He bent forward and lightly touched his mouth to her smooth skin. When he straightened, she danced away.

“Bye. See you at eleven-thirty.”

“Bye,” Patience called after her. When the door closed, she turned to Justice. “Okay, I have to get back to the store. You know where the school is and everything?”

He nodded.

She kissed him on the mouth, and then she was gone, too.

He was left standing alone, apparently the only one aware of what had just happened.

* * *

“YOU’RE NOT listening,” Felicia said.

With any other woman, the words would be a complaint, but with Felicia it was simply a statement of fact.

“I know you find the topic of the business interesting,” she continued. “So your inattention must have another source.” She raised her eyebrows. “Patience?”

They were at the dining table of the small, furnished town house Felicia had rented. Papers were spread in front of him, but he hadn’t read any of them.

“Patience,” he agreed.

“It wasn’t a significant guess for me. She’s been on your mind a lot lately.”

“It’s not just her. It’s Lillie, too. And Ava, although less her. She’ll be moving out to live with Steve.” He rose and walked to the window, then turned back. “I can’t sleep anymore. I can’t stop thinking about them. Lillie’s going to be eleven. I don’t know anything about eleven-year-old girls. But she hugged me and wanted me to kiss her on the cheek.”

“She loves you. You’re a natural father figure. Did you think she wouldn’t bond with you?”

“I didn’t think about it one way or the other. I was focused on Patience. I like Lillie. I’d do anything for her. But what if I hurt her? I could hurt them both.” He felt his hands curl into fists and had to consciously relax his fingers.

“How can I know I’m good enough? How can I be sure he’s gone?” He shook his head. “I know my father is dead. You don’t have to remind me. That’s not what I mean.”

She stood and crossed to him. “I know what you mean. You’re afraid that who he was is a result of biology and that you’ve inherited his, for lack of a better word, evilness.”

“I can’t risk it.”

She pressed her palm against his chest, over his heart. “You love them.”

He closed his eyes, then opened them again. “I don’t want to put them in danger.”