Chapter 45

It rang once before he picked up.

His voice came through low, steady, like it always did. “Hello.”

My throat tightened. “Hey… um, I came to the States. I just arrived. I came for my mum’s anniversary.”

“Really?” His tone shifted, lighter. “Where are you? Daisy’s there, right?”

I glanced over at Daisy. She sat cross-legged on the bed, her small hands wrapped around her iPad while she showed something to Jake. “Yes, she’s here,” I said quietly.

“Okay, great. Where are you guys?”

“A hotel,” I said, adjusting the hem of my shirt. “I just wanted to let you know we’re around. We’ll see you tomorrow after visiting my mum’s grave.”

The line went silent for a beat too long. I could almost picture him, lips pressed together, deciding how much to say.

“Okay then,” he finally replied. “Is there anything Daisy likes so that I… you know, I can get her?”

“She loves video games,” I said, the words sticking somewhere between my chest and my throa