Page 85 of Rising Star

With both arms now free, I fastened my grip around them. “Oh girls, I missed you two so much. I can’t wait to hear about all you did while I was away.”

Justine placed a wet kiss on my cheek and nestled her head in the crook of my neck.

“Are you in pain?” Mikaella asked.

I cringed. “Yes. Sometimes. But being with you makes it all better.”

“Are you staying with us forever?” she asked.

I nodded, and my eyes trained on hers so she could see the honesty in them. “I am. As long as you guys have me, I’m not going anywhere.”

Even though I tried to convince myself otherwise, and I was sure I would try to leave from time to time whenever I felt dejected, I knew my place was beside them.

I had no more doubts.

“Did Daddy kiss your booboo?” Justine asked.

I heard laughter around me. Adult laughter.

“Yes. He did.”

“Did he make it go away?”

“Not totally, but he’s working on it.”

“Listen, girls,” Sam said, sitting in a chair next to me. “There’s something we gotta talk about. All of us.”

That brought their full attention to him.

“Madison and I, we are lovers. It means she is my girlfriend.”

We had already decided the terms sounded juvenile, but we hoped it would resonate with them.

A spark of joy ignited in me as he confirmed the status of our relationship in front of everyone.

Mikaella’s eyes ping-ponged between us, her features hardening.

“Are you my mama now?” Justine asked, her tone full of expectations before we could clear the air.

Mikaella backed away from me, incomprehension filling her golden eyes. “Daddy, because of you, Maddie will leave. She already left once.” Fury distorted her face. “I don’t want another Mama,” she screamed. “And I don’t want Maddie gone. You’re mean, Daddy. You’re not nice. I hate you. I hate all of you.”

Before we could react, she went to our bus and sat on the step, ignoring us.

Sam started to stand, cursing under his breath.

“How can she still blame me for her mother leaving? Lisa abandoned them. She quit on them. Without ever reaching out or explaining herself. How can I be the one responsible for her actions? How am I the mean one?”

I reached for his elbow before he could go after his daughter.

“Maddie, I gotta fix this.” He dragged a hand over his face.

“Sam, if you’re serious about us having a future together, about all you said earlier, you’ll let me talk to her. She’s mad at you right now, not that it’s justified, but I wanna do this. I’m as deep into this as you are. Trust me.”

Before he could argue, I placed Justine in his arms, kissed her cheek, and managing the crutches, joined Mikaella. Her shoulders heaved with heartbreaking sobs.

“May I hold you?” I asked once I took my place beside her, resting my crutches next to me.

She nodded, and I wrapped one arm around her shoulders to bring her closer, until she sunk into my embrace, her small body quivering.