Page 31 of Wishing for Love
Elsie wrapped her legs around his waist like she used to do and hadn’t in weeks. He heard the sniffle. “It’s okay to cry even if it’s a good memory.”
Elsie laid her head on his shoulder and let the tears fall. “I miss her.”
He ran his hand over her head. “I miss her too.”
He heard a noise and turned his head and got a glimpse of Crystal trying to sneak out of the kitchen and was positive she’d just witnessed what happened.
He wouldn’t be embarrassed over letting his guard down either.
11
HOPING AND WISHING
Ten days later, Phoenix pulled up to Maryn’s house after he and Crystal dropped Elsie off at school.
He’d been putting this off for too long and needed to get it over with.
“This is a big house,” Crystal said. “I thought yours was big.”
“Maryn liked stately things.” The older brick colonial had five bedrooms and four baths and plenty of other space and rooms that were staged to look pretty but not utilized.
He used to almost hate to come over, as it felt like he couldn’t relax and just have a beer to hang out for fear of breaking something or dirtying it.
He had to admit that Elsie wasn’t as neat at his house and he was fine with it. Kids were meant to be kids.
The little girl picked up her toys if they weren’t in her room, but they weren’t always as organized in her room as they were here.
“It’s stunning,” Crystal said when he opened the front door and then moved into the white marble foyer. There was a massive chandelier hanging twenty feet up and a staircaseoverlooking a formal living room. One of those rooms that looked elegant and was never used.
“It is,” he said. “Not practical, but that was Maryn.”
“Really?” she asked. “You’re nothing like that. I’m surprised you got along so well.”
He smiled softly. “I let her be her and she let me be me. It’s hard to find that.”
“It is,” she said. “I know it’s still hard for you and I’m sorry if being here is sad.”
“It is,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. But it has to be done. I asked Elsie if she wanted to come and she said no. I think it’s for the best. She gave me a list of things she wanted. I think if she can’t remember toys then she doesn’t need them anyway.”
“She has a lot already at your house,” she said. “Plus with Christmas coming.”
He’d ordered a bunch of things in the past week thanks to Crystal giving him a list, plus he saw the list that Elsie was starting too.
Good thing for technology because she was just as good on the iPad as most adults and saved her choices.
“Exactly,” he said. “And I appreciate you going shopping with me after we are done here to get some clothes.”
Clothes shopping for a five-year-old wasn’t anything he was looking forward to.
“I think it will be fun,” she said.
He smiled. He found he smiled a lot around Crystal. He definitely needed it today.
“Glad you do,” he said. “I don’t even know where to start. I guess I should go pull the things out of Elsie’s room.”
He moved to the stairs. He’d just been standing there talking to Crystal, his feet cemented in the spot. He kept thinking he’d hear Maryn’s laughter as she came out of a room. Maybe he was just hoping for it.
Hoping and wishing were things he’d learn to let go of.