Page 39 of Ruin

“I’s get the brush,” she sings and skips out of the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returns with the brush and her favorite headband that has Disney princesses on it. “Can you put this on, Mommy?”

“Sure, baby.” I brush her long hair out. Then, I move in front of her and fix the headband in place. I lean down and place a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Pretty girl,” I tell her.

She presses her hands to my cheeks. “Not as pwetty as you, Mommy.”

“No way!” I exclaim. “You’re way prettier than Mommy.”

She grins at me.

Jesus, I love her so much, it hurts sometimes.

I just pray to God that Zeus doesn’t hurt her.

I glance at the clock on the wall. Ten fifty-five. I told him to be here at eleven. He’d better not be late. Zeus and being on time didn’t always have the best relationship.

A minute later, the doorbell rings.

And my heart gallops off into a race.

I open the door.

Zeus is standing there, looking as handsome as ever in blue jeans and a black sweater.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hey, Cam.” His eyes hold mine for a beat before coming down to Gigi. “Hey, Gigi.” He smiles widely at her. “You look really pretty today. Is that a tutu?”

“Gigi dressed herself today,” I tell him.

“Well, I think you did a great job. These are for you.” He brings his hand from behind his back. He’s holding a large gift bag and a bunch of daisies that are all wrapped up and look like they came from a florist.

“You got me a pwesent? And flowers? But it’s not my birthday.”

I see the pain that flickers across his countenance, and I just know he’s thinking about the four birthdays that he missed.

“I know, but I wanted to get you a gift. I hope that’s okay?” His question is more for me than Gigi.

I give him a small nod, telling him it’s fine, and his expression relaxes.

“Say thank you, Gigi.”

“Thank you.”

“And I got these for you.” He pulls out from behind his back a bunch of Oriental lilies—my favorite flower—and hands them to me.

I blankly stare down at them, my heart racing in my chest.

“You don’t like them anymore?” His face falls.

“No. I mean, yes. It’s just…” I glance down at Gigi and then back to Zeus. “You don’t have to bring me flowers.”

“I know I don’t. I wanted to.”

“I just don’t think it’s appropriate,” I whisper that last word.

His brows furrow with a flash of anger in his eyes; if I didn’t know him as well as I do, I would have missed it.

“It’s just a gift, Dove.”