Always With You: Part One by M. Leighton Page B

believe it,” she says stubbornly.
    “Did you see her eyes?  Those are Davenport eyes.”
    “I hate to be the one to tell you, Liv, but there are other men in the world with dark brown eyes.”
    “But they’re almost black. Just like Cash’s.”
    “And there are other almost-black eyes in the world, too.  Don’t jump to conclusions.  And even if it is, so what?  So he has a kid with someone else. That changes nothing unless you let it.  You can still have babies with him. Little black-eyed babies that he’ll get to hold when they’re born and watch grow up.  This woman has nothing on you, Liv. Not one damn thing.”
    “If you could just convince my heart of that.”
    “That’s not my job. That’s your husband’s.  And he’s already trying to do that. You just have to let him.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He made her leave right after you excused yourself.”
    “He did?” 
    “He did.  Said he’d talk to her later, that he needed to check on you.”
    Even though it’s rude and inconsiderate to ask her to leave when she’s really done nothing wrong (not technically), it makes me feel good that Cash did that for me. 
    “And don’t you dare say that was rude of him, Miss Southern Hospitality.”
    My mouth drops open.  “I wasn’t… I didn’t…”  She knows me far too well.
    “You were gonna.  But it wasn’t rude.  She interrupted.  Dropped by unannounced.  To drop the mother of all bombs.  At Christmas, no less.  Sweet baby Jesus, who does that?”  When I don’t answer, Ginger shakes her head.  “No decent person.  Which means she’s obviously dumb as a box of hair.  Makes me wonder if the little girl is that stupid.  If she is, I feel even sorrier for Cash. I mean, who wants an idiot for a daughter?”
    I smile again.  Ginger is good for me. 
    I throw in with her. Not because it’s right, but because it just makes me feel better.
    “Right?  And what if she won’t work when she grows up?  What if she’s really lazy and she just wants to live in the basement of the new house until she’s fifty?”
    “A basement-dwelling fifty year old—every father’s dream.  Hell, she might even be toothless by that point. They look like two women who are prone to dental hygiene problems, don’t you think?”
    At this, I laugh outright.  Both Sophie and Isabella look clean and neat and nowhere near the vicinity of having bad dental hygiene, but I love the picture Ginger paints. Although completely unrealistic, it somehow soothes me to think of them this way.  At least for a few minutes. Until my poor heart can recover from being devastated by the two beautiful interlopers.
    “I love you, Ginger,” I tell my friend.
    “I love you, too, Livie.  And if you want to become lesbians and run away from this mess, I’ll consider it, but only after I’ve had a run at Gavin.  Deal?”
    “Deal.”
    She leans over to kiss my cheek before she stands and practically pushes me across the floor when she opens the door. 
    “Your turn, Thor!” she calls out.  She glances back at me long enough to wink before she disappears and the door closes again.
    I’m ready for Cash to come to me now.  I’m ready to feel his arms around me.  I’m ready to feel his lips brush my temple. I’m ready to hear him tell me he loves me and that I’m the only one.  I’m ready to hear that more than anything.
     

 
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Cash
     
    G inger gives me a thumb’s up when I pass her on the way to Olivia.  When I reach the bathroom door, I twist the knob and push. I feel resistance against it, so I push, slow and hard, until I can get it open enough to make it through. I’m a big guy. I can’t squeeze through a damn crack like Ginger.
    Once inside, I look down into my wife’s pale face and my anger returns.  Damn Sophie and her unexpected appearance!
    Without a word, I bend, scooping Olivia into my arms and then turning to sit against the door like she was, cradling her against