A Thief of Nightshade(89)

presence,

particularly as of late.

“Tell her,” Grant said, “that I love her. And I’m sorry I never told her when she was here.”

“She knows, Daddy. She said you’d say that.” Aubrey giggled like she’d been let in on some private joke. And at that moment, Grant was tempted to believe that perhaps his daughter had been.

“Did she say anything else?” He fought for clarity in his words.

“That I have the best daddy in the world.” Aubrey smiled, her little grin as innocent and unaware as her namesake’s had once been. And for the first time in decades, Grant felt nearly whole.