Until There Was You(114)

“I don’t remember,” he said, putting his arm around her. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t beat anyone up, though.”

“Well, I would have,” Jon muttered.

“Oh, man, look at the time,” Posey said. “I better get going. Nicole, see you later. You already look gorgeous.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven,” Jon said. “Bye! Nicole, dear, tilt your head the other way, now. Hold still, we’re not done yet.”

SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. Liam’s daughter was perfectly beautiful, and it was killing him.

“What do you think, Daddy?” She twirled around, her long blue dress swishing around her.

“You look twenty-five.”

“Seriously? Thanks!”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

She grinned in the mirror anyway, then applied some lip gloss. The ache in Liam’s heart tightened. Emma should’ve seen this. She would’ve loved this moment. She would’ve known what to say; she would’ve been excited for Nicole, not filled with dread. She would’ve laughed at Liam’s anxieties and made him feel better, because even if they hadn’t been the best couple on their own, they’d always been good parents to this beautiful, magical creature in front of him.

“Hang on a sec,” he said and went into his bedroom. In the back of the closet was a safe. Liam twisted the combination and opened the heavy door. The safe contained the usual items—the deed to this apartment, his garage, the life-insurance policy, a couple grand in cash—no son of a criminal ever really felt safe without cash.

And there in the back was a black velvet box. Liam opened it and took out the strand of Emma’s pearls.

For a moment, the memory of her was so intense that he could smell her perfume, feel the soft skin of her neck, see the pearls glowing against her throat. He could almost hear her laugh.

The pearls were cool in his hand. For a second, he pressed them against his lips and let himself remember just how much he’d loved his wife. Once, the strongest truth in his life was that Emma Tate had chosen him. Those days…those had been burnished with gold, and even if the light slowly faded over the years, those days had happened nonetheless.

Liam cleared his throat and went back into his daughter’s bedroom. “Here,” he said gruffly. “Your mom wore these on our prom night.”

Nicole’s mouth opened. “Oh, Daddy,” she whispered, and her eyes filled with tears.

“She’d be so proud of you,” he said unevenly, fastening the pearls around her neck. “She thought you were the best thing that ever happened.”

His daughter wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him.

“Nic,” Liam whispered into her hair, “I’m sorry for being such a jerk this past year. I just love you so much. When I look at you, I think of the little girl I held in the hospital. You were so pink and perfect, I couldn’t believe I got to keep you. And you loved me so much…I don’t want to lose that. I know you’re growing up, and I’m so proud of you and the person you’re becoming…but I’m so…scared that you won’t need me anymore.”

“Daddy! That would never happen!” She pulled back to look at him. “Oh, wow, you’re going totally sentimental on me.”

“I just want to protect you. I never want you to get hurt or be heartbroken.” He swallowed. “I don’t want you to make mistakes and fall for the wrong guy. I’d jump in front of a bus to keep that from happening. All I want for you is to be safe and happy.”

“Are you crying, Dad? Are those, like, tears in your eyes?”

He gave her a mock scowl. “Give me a break, Nicole. My baby’s growing up. It’s hard.”

She hugged him once more, the smell of her hair so precious it made his heart ache. She pulled back a little, then wiped her eyes with a tissue, careful not to smear her mascara. “Dad,” she said firmly. “I am safe and happy. And like, chances are my heart will get broken someday, and I’ll screw up plenty, right? But if that happens…” She turned to face him. “I know where to come.”

He looked at the floor and nodded. Why were little girls allowed to grow up? And get smart?

“Daddy? You’re doing a good job, you know. You’re a really good father.”

This would be one of those golden moments. He’d keep this moment with him till the last day of his life. “Thanks.” It was the only word he could get out.

She planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then turned back to worship her reflection. “You’re such a softy. Mom always said I should marry a guy like you.”

His head snapped up. “What was that?” he asked.

Nicole slipped an earring into place. “She said to make sure I picked someone who’d take care of me the way you took care of her.” She smiled at him in the mirror, oblivious to the fact that her words had just about knocked him down.

Emma had told their daughter to marry a guy like him? “When—when did she say that?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes when you were going out on a date, and I’d watch her put on makeup, and I’d say how I couldn’t wait to get married, and she’d say, ‘Make sure you pick someone like Daddy.’” Nicole smiled at him and put in her other earring.