Fragments of Us (A Contemporary Broken Hearts Romance) (Book Book 2)

looked down at the little person pulling on her leg as she walked from the kitchen to the living room. “Just a moment, Rayna.” Nicole sighed and answered the question. “Yes. I made the appointment. Dr. Swanson said she can see him tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Can you take him? You know I have that board meeting with the Angel Foundation at 10:00 a.m. It’s been on my schedule for a month.”
Davis hesitated. “Did you say 9:30 a.m. tomorrow?” He pulled up the calendar on his computer. Of course. It was Murphy’s Law that there would be a meeting set up for 9:00 a.m. Nicole was going to blow a gasket if he couldn’t do it.
She hoisted a sliding DJ back up on her hip. “Yes. I said 9:30.” Nicole ruffled Rayna Denise Chatham’s hair as a distraction to calm her down. But the little girl was not to be placated or ignored. She was as persistent as they came and continued to tug on her mother’s leg. “Is that daddy?” She held on for dear life waiting for an answer just as DJ released another unrelenting scream into Nicole’s ear. “Mommy, is that daddy? Will he be home to read to me before bed?”
“Yes, Rayna. It’s daddy.”
Big brown eyes looked up into hers. “Will he be home?”
“I don’t know. Did you hear your daughter? She wants to know if you will be home in time to read to her.”
Nicole acted as if he enjoyed being away from his family—as if he didn’t have a business to run and problems to fix. Davis snapped more at himself than with her. “I said we were wrapping things up and that I would be there within the hour!” He was frustrated too.
Her anger had been simmering for too long and was almost at a boil. She tried to control her tone knowing Rayna was watching as she whisper-yelled into the phone. “You also said that an hour ago, and the night before, and the night before that!” Nicole was fuming. Davis treated her as if she didn’t have responsibilities too and she was tired of it. Her obligations should be a priority for him at least some of the time. After taking a couple of deep breaths, she felt in control enough to speak without screaming. When her voice came out, it was much calmer than she actually felt. “You never answered. Can you take DJ to the doctor tomorrow, or not?”
If Davis said anything other than yes, he knew he would be sleeping in the guest bedroom for a week, but it was after 6:00 p.m., he didn’t know if it were possible to reschedule his morning meeting this late. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
Nicole saw red and knew that Davis was speaking code for I’m just too busy to handle it.
The next sound he heard was a click, then a dial-tone. Nicole had hung-up on him.
*****
It was more than an hour later, but less than two when Davis arrived home. He found Nicole in their children’s bedroom, sitting in a chair, rocking back and forth with DJ in her arms. He stood just outside the threshold of the door watching. Everything seemed so calm. It was the complete opposite from the tumultuous conversation of a couple of hours before. Davis Jr. had quieted down and had his arms wrapped around his mother’s neck as his head lay on her shoulder . . . sleeping. Rayna sat enthralled at Nicole’s feet, eyes glued to her as she listened to every word Nicole read from her favorite storybook. His chest ached a little that they hadn’t trusted him enough to be home in time to do it. If he were honest, he wouldn’t have believed him either. There had been too many times where he had thought he could make it home for a bedtime story, only to get caught up with work, and miss out. Unlike him, Nicole was a fantastic mother.
After another moment of watching his family carry-on without him, Davis cleared his throat to announce his presence and pushed off the doorframe. Rayna’s head snapped around, and her smile spread wide the moment she spotted him. Surprised, Nicole lifted her eyes to his.
“Daddy!” Rayna hopped up from off the floor and ran to him hugging his legs. “You’re home.”
Davis dropped low and wrapped his arms around her. “I told you I would be.”
Nicole’s heart squeezed. This was the Davis she fell in love with. The one who loved his family and put them first. Her gaze met his, and the anger between them from earlier seemed to dissipate.
Davis lifted a corner of his mouth in a half smile. “I can finish reading to Rayna if you want to put DJ down and relax.” That was his version of an apology.
Nicole wasn’t crazy. She was not about to turn down his offer and responded quietly. “Rayna would like that, and I could certainly use some me time.” She stood and handed DJ over. In the handoff, Davis pulled her body into his. He placed his lips onto the tender spot just behind her ear and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Nothing had been resolved, but Nicole didn’t want to fight anymore tonight. Their truce would remain at least until the next time this happened. She apologized. “Me too.” They stood in place for a few moments holding each other.
Rayna watched them intently.
Nicole pulled away and bent low to plant a big kiss on top of her daughter’s head. “G’night, baby girl. Sleep tight.”
It was as if Rayna had been holding her breath, as she watched her