Simon is meeting a new client today, so he flew back to New York yesterday to prepare for the meet. Our work here in Boston is almost done and I will be out of this hotel and flying back home soon. Tate will let me know if he needs me for this particular project again.
After hopping out of the shower, I dry my body and quickly rub my hair with a towel and leave the bathroom. I pull on a pair of jogging pants and T-shirt, before settling down on the couch in front of the laptop on the table to Skype with my favorite girls. I contemplate the past few weeks since I went back home up until I left Florida. I was in a shitty mood and I regret how rough I was with Nor. At least my time away has worked wonders on my attitude and put things into perspective. I feel more like a human being and not an animal, ready to piss a circle around her to warn everyone to stay away.
I shake those thoughts away and focus on Cora’s little face when she appears on the screen, grinning at me.
God, I make beautiful babies.
Correction.
Nor and I make beautiful babies.
I grin back and wave at her just as Joce scoots up next to her sister and wraps her arms around Cora’s neck.
“Hi Uncle Cole,” Cora signs.
My fucking heart shatters as it always does every time I hear that name.
Uncle Cole.
I feel as if a goddamn knife has been thrust inside my chest. I flex my hand to tamper down the pain searing through me.
I swallow the lump of pain choking me and settle down for the chat. Joce, who has intentionally been keeping one side of her face away from me, slants her head to the side. I suck my breath and gape at the dark spot, right below her chin. My body tenses at the thought of someone hurting her.
“What happened to your jaw, Joce?”
Her body jerks, startled by my question. She thrusts her chin forward, eyes flashing with anger. “She started it. Abigail. She said mean things about my dad.”
“And. . .”
“I punched her in the nose. She hit me back. Then I hit her again.”
What? Prim and proper Joce punched a girl in the face? Cora is most likely to punch someone in the face, but Joce? No. Whatever this Abigail said must have been bad. The worst thing is losing Josh is still a fresh wound that might never heal.
My heart aches for them and my first instinct right now is to get on a plane and deal with this child that hurt my daughter. I sigh and inhale deeply, tampering down that feeling.
I clear my throat. “Baby, I’m so sorry Abigail said the mean thing about your father. Josh was the best father ever. And also the coolest brother.” I pause. Let the words sink in. That fierce look on her face softens and she nods. “Using your fist to solve problems is not the best way to go, though. Did you try to talk to Abigail first?”
Joce shakes her head, her bottom lip quivering. “I was so angry, I couldn’t stop myself.”
Damn it. I wish I could comfort her.
I lift my hand and press it on the screen, and wait. She seems to understand my intention. She places her tiny hand parallel to mine, her lips tugging into a smile.
I pull my hand back and sign, “Do me a favor please?” She nods. “If someone ever says something bad about your father, try to ignore them. Remember all the good things about him. The coolest things he ever did.”
She wiggles her freckled nose, so like Nor’s. “You mean like teaching me and Cora how to fish?” I nod and smile. “Do you know he would let us win when we played basketball? He’d lift me up so I was high enough to throw the ball inside the hoop.” She grins wide.
Cora bounces on the seat beside Joce. “Yes. He used to lift me up too. Sometimes I felt as if I could touch the sky when he did that.”
Shit. I’m three seconds from bawling. Josh did well, raising my girls. “See? Good memories. I’m sure there are a lot more. And you know what? I’d love to hear about everything when I return. Deal?”
They nod, grinning identical smiles.
Cora’s face falls after a few seconds. “I’m sad he couldn’t finish the tree house on the terrace though.”
“What tree house?”
She sighs. “Papa started to build a playhouse for me and Joce, but he became too sick he couldn’t finish it.”
I bite my lip. “I have an idea. How about you pretty girls and I work on it when I get back?”
Cora beams and she claps her hands. “We would love that!” She turns to look at something that’s out of my view then back at me. “Mama says we need to take a bath then go to bed. I can’t wait to see you again, Uncle Cole. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Joce stares at the screen, a little crease forming between her brows. “Do you think Papa can see us wherever he is? Mama says that Papa is in Heaven and he never sleeps. He’s always watching over us. Like an angel.”
I nod and smile softly. “Yes, he is. Always.”
The troubled look on her face fades. She smiles and she stands up. “Love you, Uncle Cole.”
“Love you, baby.”
“I told you,” Cora signs. “Daddy sent that unicorn in my dream last night.” She laughs.
God, these kids are a riot.
After promising the girls to take them to the carnival next week, they blow kisses at me before dashing from the living room. I shake my head smiling.
I fucking can’t wait to see them.