Jasmine jumps off the couch and pulls her backpack off her shoulders. She digs through it and pulls out a book. “Look,” she says, walking over and situating herself next to me. “It’s my fairy-tale book.”
She reads the title then opens it, reading the first page. Page after page she reads me the story about the princess who has to fight her way through the magical forest to get to her Prince Charming. When she finally gets to him, he professes his love and asks her to marry him. On the last page, they’re smiling and happy, having gotten their happily ever after.
“I found you like she found her Prince Charming,” Jasmine says. “But you’re my daddy not Prince Charming and you’re the king.” Jesus, my daughter is so smart. She hands the book to Natalie. “Here, Mommy, you can keep it now since your book was old and broken. I don’t need it anymore. You can have mine and read it until you meet your Prince Charming.”
Natalie smiles softly, her eyes turning glassy. “Thank you.” She pulls Jasmine into a hug and kisses her forehead.
“Can I see my room?” Jasmine asks once they separate, shocking the hell out of both Natalie and me.
“Umm…” I don’t quite know how to answer that, but luckily Natalie jumps in.
“Remember Liam didn’t know about you? So he doesn’t have a room for you yet.”
“But there are plenty of rooms to choose from,” I add. “And we can have it decorated however you want.”
Jasmine grins. “I want a pink princess room. Does this mean I’ll go to school here?” she asks, jumping from one subject to the next so fast, I damn near get whiplash.
“No,” Natalie tells her. “We still live in Florence, but we’re going to visit for a few weeks, so you can spend some time with your daddy before we go back and you start school.”
Jasmine must not like that answer because her bottom lip juts out. “But I want to live here with my daddy in the castle.” Her words, like a prickly vine, wrap around my heart and squeeze, and I know in this moment, I would do anything in my power to make sure she’s always happy. I don’t know anything about parenting, but I know I don’t like to hear that sadness in her voice.
Natalie frowns. “We live too far,” she explains. “But we can visit. How about we focus on this visit and then we can plan the next one?”
Jasmine’s face falls, but she nods in agreement, and that vine that’s wrapped around my heart tightens, creating puncture holes in the ventricles. With every sad look she gives, it feels as though my heart is slowly bleeding out. I want to tell her she can live here as long as she wants—both she and her mom can—but I doubt Natalie will be pleased with me saying that without speaking to her first. I know she’s planning to go home after their visit is over, but if I have it my way, they won’t be going anywhere.
“Come,” I tell them. “Let’s go pick out a room for you to sleep in and I’ll show you around.” I glance at Jasmine, hoping it will perk her up, and it does. A tiny smile spreads across her face.
“What about your mom?” Natalie asks. Shit, caught up in telling Jasmine I’m her dad, I forgot I still need to speak with my mom.
“Maybe it would be best if we go to our hotel to rest and pack our stuff, and after you speak to your mom, we can meet back up.”
I hate the thought of either of them leaving, but it’s probably for the best. I’m not sure how my mom is going to react to the news, and I would rather we be alone than take the chance of Jasmine and Natalie witnessing any unkind words she may have regarding the situation.
“Do you have a phone?” I ask, taking mine out.
“Yes.”
I hand her my phone. “Put your number in and once you’re ready to come back, my driver will be waiting for you.”
She looks like she wants to argue but thankfully doesn’t.
After speaking with Tomas, one of our security guards and drivers, explaining he is to bring them to their hotel and wait while they pack, however long that may take, and then bring them back, I go in search of my mom. I find her in the reading room, her favorite spot, reading a book and sipping her tea.
“Mom.” She sets her book down and gives me her attention. “We need to talk.”
“That we do,” Stephanie says, waltzing into the room like she owns it. I was hoping to speak to my mom alone, but I might as well tell them both at the same time. Two birds, one stone…