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well. Your daughter must come first if you want a relationship with her. The love of a
child is warmer and sweeter than anything else in the world. Don t miss out on it.
I need to think, Jacob said, then turned toward the door.
Mary was halfway through a sigh of relief when he turned back toward her. He
pointed to the pencil sketch on the wall she d done of Jacob and Angel in the park
feeding pigeons. That s very nice.
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Thank you, she said politely, but frowned.
Angel s got real talent, too, doesn t she?
Mary nodded.
His jaw ticked a few times as he stared at the sketch. She can use Jacquelyn s
things. And let me know if she needs anything else. He turned away again, but Mary
called his name.
She hates the piano.
His head thumped against the wall and he sighed. Fine. She doesn t have to take
lessons anymore. He reached for the doorknob.
One more thing?
What? There was no mistaking the annoyance in his tone.
Dance class.
Do what you think is best, he said on another sigh. He was tired and she should let
him go.
She smiled and added the final thing she d been aching to ask him. I d like to find
some art classes for her to take. I m not very good at teaching.
He tipped his head and looked at her. A look that warmed her from the tips of her
toes. You re better at teaching than you think. And then he walked out of the room,
leaving her standing there, tingling under his praise.
****
Jacob stepped out of the steamy shower and briskly dried himself. He was running
late, and the hell of it was, he was terrified of seeing Angel this morning. He d lain awake
most of the night, staring out the window at the lights of the city, and tried to figure out
exactly how he was supposed to apologize and make her understand it wasn t her fault.
That she d done nothing wrong.
For that matter, Mary hadn t done anything wrong, either. He d treated her like
garbage last night. He d yelled at her and then grabbed her like a lifeline and cried. Cried.
And then he d had the audacity to fantasize about her. Stone men didn t cry. Ever. If his
mother had seen him last night, she would have been ashamed. Totally ashamed.
Probably would have disowned him.
He quickly dressed, then grabbed the book he d bought in Toronto for Angel and
headed toward the kitchen. Mary was at the stove and Angel was sitting in her seat at the
kitchen table, her nose buried in a book he was sure she d already read.
He silently pulled out his chair and sat down. Mary set a cup of coffee on the table in
front of him. He couldn t bring himself to meet her eyes. The I m sorry stuck in his
throat. He glanced at Angel, but she d raised the book higher, blocking her face with it.
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He cleared his throat.
Mary brought a plate of fried eggs and ham to the table and set it down. He finally
looked up, and she gave him a little smile and nod. It s okay, she whispered, then
turned and disappeared into her rooms.
Jacob s heartbeat quickened. Alone with Angel. Mary had abandoned him.
After clearing his throat again, he said, Angel.
After a few long moments, she lowered the book to the table. She stared at his tie.
Self-consciously he ran his hand down the blue silk. Angel, he said again, this time
with a little strength. But then he ran out of words. He shoved the book in its plastic bag
across the table toward her. I got this for you.
Angel s gaze darted from his tie to the white plastic bag.
Go ahead, you can open it.
She carefully reached for the bag, but her gaze kept darting back at him, as if she
expected him to yell at her...or worse.
His breath whooshed out of him as a deep ache settled in his chest. He loved her so
much. Mary was right. He loved his baby and he had the urge to grab her up and squeeze
her hard. To hold her and never let go. He let the words come from his heart, opening
himself to his baby as he had to only one other person. Mary.
Angel, I m sorry.
She d just been pulling the book from the bag when she dropped it and her eyes went
wide, finally focusing on his face.
I didn t mean to scare you yesterday, and I m sorry I... His throat closed up on
him. He reached over and took her hand in his. That she didn t pull away eased a bit of
the pain in his chest. Your painting was beautiful. I d like to get it framed and hang it in
the den, if that s okay with you.
A small smile flitted over her little mouth and she nodded. Her hand opened under
his, turned so they were palm-to-palm.
His heart felt so full he thought it might bust out of his chest. He was afraid, but
thought it was time to push the limits of his comfort zone. Angel?
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