Mack Daddy(34)

“I won’t be in Boston forever. I don’t suspect that Torrie’s job here will last. It’s just a contract position. And I have to go wherever Jonah is. So, this is a window of opportunity that I can’t waste. You asked what I plan to try? Everything. Every goddamn thing, Frankie—until you tell me to stop. Until you look me in the eyes and tell me there’s no point in continuing.”

“You have to go where your son is. I get that. Your hands are tied. I can imagine that the past several years have not been easy for you.”

“They haven’t. But my biggest regret is hurting you. I don’t regret my son. I may not know what I’m doing all of the time, but that boy means the world to me.”

“I know he does.”

“I used to think staying with his mother was the best thing I could do for him. I was wrong. Having two parents who are constantly fighting was never gonna make his life better. I’ve finally realized that if I’m not happy, I can’t truly be the kind of father my son deserves. He can see right through me.”

“He keeps to himself, but he’s very aware.”

“You talked to him about your father.”

“He told you that?”

“Yeah.”

“I did. We had a lesson about diverse families. He’d drawn a picture of you, Torrie, and him with thick lines separating each of you.”

Wow. That broke my heart.

“No shit, huh?”

“Yes. I wanted him to know that many people have different family structures and that it’s okay. That was why I shared that piece of info with him.”

“Thank you for doing that. I know it’s not easy for you to talk about it.”

“He asked me if I forgave my dad...for abandoning me.”

“Really?”

“I thought that was a good question and answered him honestly. I told him I wasn’t sure, but that I would get back to him on it. He seemed to accept that.” She gazed out toward the water then back at me. “Are things better with him at home?”

“I think we’re slowly getting to a better place. This was a good weekend.”

“I’m glad to hear that. What about your father? How’s your relationship with him now?”

“Same as it always was. He’s not happy with me—from my career choice to my refusal to marry Torrie. But his opinion doesn’t matter to me at this stage in my life. He can’t change my decisions. And more than that, I don’t allow him power over my thoughts anymore. That’s been the biggest change. But Dad’s been good to Jonah. I have to give him that. Otherwise, he’s the same miserable prick he’s always been, concerned more with his public reputation than anything else.”

Our conversation was interrupted when Frankie’s phone chimed. She looked down at it.

“Is that Victor?”

“Yeah. He just wants to make sure I’m okay.”

“Does he think I’m gonna hurt you or something?”

That wouldn’t have been off base, considering I’d definitely already hurt her enough for one lifetime.

“No. He’s just doing what any boyfriend would do in this scenario.”

“I know. I don’t blame him one bit.”

She began to shiver, and I fought the urge to wrap my arms around her. As much as I wanted to do that, it wasn’t my place.

Her eyes glowed in the moonlight. “It is getting late. I should get back.”

“Let’s get you home, then.”

The ride back to her neighborhood went by way too quickly. My time with her was always limited; I hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface of everything I needed to say.

When we pulled up around the corner from her house, I asked, “When can I see you again?”

“Victor is going to England in a couple of weeks to consult on a new anthropology program at Oxford.”

“For how long?”

“For a week.”

One week.

Despite all of the evil planning in my brain, I attempted to sound casual. “Dinner, then?”

“We’ll talk,” she said in a non-committal way.

My heart beat faster. I knew this was my one chance to really spend time with her, to have my Frankie back—even if just for a week.





Victor zipped his suitcase. He was being unusually quiet this morning as he prepared to leave for his trip. Seemingly lost in thought, at one point he paused then placed his hand on my forearm, pulling me into him.

Hugging me tightly, he whispered in my ear, “I wish you were coming with me.”

I breathed in the scent of his signature Givenchy cologne and said, “Me too, but you didn’t ask me. I didn’t know that was even an option.”

“I think we need this week apart. You need to figure some things out. I’m giving you the space to do that for a week. I won’t question anything that happens while I’m gone. I don’t want to know.” He pulled back to look at me. “But, Francesca, I can’t live like this forever. At some point, I’m going to need to know your heart is mine. I may come across as a very strong person, but lately, I’m realizing more and more that I may not be as strong as I thought I was. I love you so much. But I can’t bear to be with you if your heart isn’t in this with me.”