I twirl Harlow around on the beach then drop her into the sand as Ava skips through the water.
“What would you think about going over to the Santa Monica pier tonight? They have a Ferris wheel and music and lots of fun places to have dinner.”
“Is Vanessa coming with us?” Harlow asks as we walk back toward the house.
“No. I thought you’d want to be alone with Daddy. Just the three of us.”
“We think it would be more fun if she came with us,” Ava agrees. The girls stand next to each other, arm in arm, smiling up at me.
“Well, since it’s a rarity that you both agree on something, I guess I should give her a call.” As I grab my phone off the stairs, I catch them high-fiving each other behind my back.
“What was that all about?” I ask, crossing my arms in front of me and giving them my sternest look.
“Um, nothing,” Ava says, unconvincingly.
“Girls, don’t lie to me.”
“Uncle Cam promised us money if we could get you to spend time with her,” Harlow admits.
“How much?”
“Twenty dollars,” Ava says softly.
“Each!” Harlow exclaims, only to be punched in the arm by her sister.
“You can never keep a secret,” Ava says to her.
“Tell you what,” I say, stepping between them. “I’ll give you each twenty dollars right now if you’ll sit down and talk to me honestly about Vanessa. Do you really want her to come with us?”
Ava grabs my hand and pulls me down on the step next to her. “It’s okay with us if you have a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, you’re not getting any younger, Daddy,” Harlow says, plopping down on my lap.
“And she’s really pretty,” Ava adds.
“And nice,” Harlow says. “She rubbed my face while that silly Knox told us a bedtime story. And Grandma says you are getting old. And someday we will go off to college and you will be alone. We don’t want you to be lonely, Daddy.”
“I was married to your mom for a long time. And I didn’t know how you would feel about me dating someone.”
“It’s okay, Daddy,” Harlow says. “Mommy is in heaven. God is her boyfriend now.”
“I think she’d date Jesus. He’s younger.” Ava says.
“Yes, Jesus,” Harlow agrees. “Mama and Jesus. But Mama would make him shave his beard.”
I laugh loudly envisioning Whitney ordering Jesus around.
“You two are silly,” I say, tickling them.
“Daddy,” Ava says seriously, “it’s been two years since Mama died. Uncle Cam says if you don’t use it—it will fall off and die. I’m pretty sure he was talking about your heart. Everyone needs someone to love.”
“And me and my friend saw this movie where a dolphin was separated from her boyfriend and she wouldn’t swim anymore,” Harlow says dramatically. “And it was so sad. Her poor little heart just withered up and died! We don’t want your heart to die or fall off!”
“Well, I certainly don’t want that either.”
“Then call her!”
I hit Vanessa’s number but it goes to her voicemail. “Hey, it’s me. The girls are I are going to the Santa Monica pier tonight and they wanted to know if you could join us. I know it’s last minute. Sorry. So call us if you get the message. If not tonight, maybe we could do something tomorrow night. Um, if you’re free.”
“Hi, Miss Vanessa!” the girls both yell into the phone. “Call us!”
I hang up the phone feeling worried.
And afraid that Vanessa won’t be calling me. Ever again.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH
Eastbrooke Academy - Connecticut
RILEY
We drop off our bags at the hotel and go straight to Eastbrooke.
“I’m surprised we even got a room,” Dallas says as we pass through the gates.
“Tyler can work miracles and somehow managed to find us a suite. But for all I know, we may be sleeping together in one bed,” I tease.
“Like old times,” Dallas says, grinning.
Of course, Tyler would never allow that. I know it’s a large multi-bedroom suite, one for each of us, with a large living space to hang out in.
Keatyn glances at her watch. “It’s getting late. We’re going to have to hurry, so we don’t miss the start of the game!”
Once we get out of the car, Dallas says, “Keatyn and I will get us checked in. Do you want to come or would you like to be alone?”
“Why don’t you two go,” I say. “I think I’d like to be alone. Just for a few minutes.”
“Are you okay?” Keatyn asks.
“Yeah, go. I’ll be fine.”
I must be a glutton for punishment because I’m not drawn to all the happy places, I'm drawn toward the spot.
The spot where it happened.
We had graduated, thrown our caps into the air, and posed for a million photos.
I pick her up, twirl her around, and kiss her.
When I set her down, she's crying.