Chapter 458
“Adoption is always an option, Jackson,” Ella says, a bit too casual, quietly cutting another piece of cheese from the block. “If you don’t think you’re up for being a father. We could have her placed with a very nice family –“
A rough snarl breaks from Jackson’s throat and Marigold goes still, turning towards her father in surprise. He works hard to reign himself in, passing the little girl a bit of comfort down their bond, letting her know that the snarl was not for her – never for her.
Marigold hesitates for a second but then turns back to the apples, continuing to eat.
“Good answer,” Ella says, flicking her eyes up to Jackson and smirking at him.
“Was that a joke?” he growls.
“No,” Ella says with a happy sigh, putting the knife down and taking a sharp little bite of her cheese. “But it was a way to get you to realize that even if this is a surprise, and you may not have thought you wanted it before, that you want it now.”
Ella nods towards Marigold, who Jackson can tell is listening, even if she keeps her eyes on her food.
“That’s your daughter, yes?” Ella asks, pride already ringing in her voice.
“Yes, she’s mine,” Jackson says, his voice deep and serious.
“And…no one else’s?” Ella’s eyes flick up to Jackson’s and he knows immediately what she means. He shakes his head, because Tasha…she’s gone. He presses away, for a moment, the mental image of Marigold alone in the house with her mother’s body…
Because it’s just too horrible to imagine.
“Marigold is mine,” Jackson murmurs, running a hand over the little girl’s hair, cupping the sweet curve of the back of her head.
“Wonderful,” Ella says, giving him a sweet, loving smile so deep that her eyes crinkle up at the corners. “Then you’re going to have to learn how to become a dad.”
Jackson sighs, long and slow, as he realizes that she’s right.
But he nods once, accepting the challenge.
Then he sighs, dropping his head a little and closing his eyes. “Is this going to kill Ariel?”
“Oh, don’t you worry about Ariel,” Ella says, waving a hand to casually dismiss the point. “Ariel loves kids!”
“Mom,” Rafe murmurs, laughing a bit as Mark comes over with a big pot of macaroni and cheese, setting it on the table before going to get some bowls and forks. “I mean, I think this is a bigger deal than Ariel just liking kids –“
“Oh, our Ari is a very flexible person, Rafe. Honestly, I don’t think that’s a major concern.”
Rafe and Jackson glance at each other, dubious, as Marigold gasps and drops her apple from her hand, her nose lifting as her eyes move right for the pot, an eager little whine sounding in her throat.
“Do you want to try this, Goldie!?” Ella asks, laughing and reaching for the wooden spoon as Mark comes back with the bowls and grins, sitting down with them.
Marigold’s eyes dart away from the pot for a moment and land on Ella. A little frown takes her mouth as she points to her chest with her thumb. “Marigold.”
Jackson’s teeth clench and his eyes slam shut as he hears, for the first time, the sound of his daughter’s tiny, adorable, perfect little voice.
Well, first time if you don’t count all the wailing at the start. Which he supposes he doesn’t.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ella says, laughing. Jackson opens his eyes to see her beaming at his little girl, leaning close. “Would you like to try this, Marigold?”
Marigold nods once, solid, and Ella spoons out a small portion in a little white bowl, blowing on it before placing it in front of the little girl.
Marigold reaches for it with her fingers but Jackson’s hand flashes out, covering hers. “It’s very hot, Marigold,” he murmurs, reaching for a small spoon with a little cartoon duck drawn on the handle. “Use this.”
He hands it to her and Marigold takes the spoon, looking at it dubiously. But then she sighs, and clumsily begins to scoop up the noodles, blowing on them before bringing them to her mouth.
“Holy crap, Jacks,” Rafe says. Jackson turns to see Rafe grinning at him. “That was…already very dad-like.”
“She was going to burn her hand,” Jacks murmurs, frowning and gesturing towards it.
“Dad instincts, kicking in on day one,” Mark says, laughing a little, leaning back in his chair and popping a mint cookie in his mouth.
Jackson sighs, thinking he’s getting a bit too much credit for that. He turns his eyes back to Ella. “How do I do this?”
“Oh, it’s not so bad when they’re little like this,” Ella says with a sigh, leaning forward to study Marigold. “She’s what…four?”
Marigold’s eyes flick up and she gives Ella a single steady nod before returning her gaze to her noodles, eating with gusto.
As one, all of the adults at the table break into a smile at that.
“God, she’s like…a teeny tiny Jacks,” Mark murmurs, leaning closer. Marigold ignores him but Rafe nods in agreement.
“So serious,” Rafe says, laughing a little. “And intent on her food.”
Jacks smirks, studying the girl, realizing that that’s at least a little true, and thinking again that…well, that she looks like him. Sweeter, and softer, and – obviously – tiny. But the stern set of her mouth, and her broad forehead onto which her hair flops, all dark and messy…
God, but she’s…his little mini.
And he never, ever knew before how…damned cute that could be.
“Four-year-olds are easy,” Ella says quietly, studying Jackson alongside the girl. “They’re potty-trained, so you don’t have to deal with any of that mess. And they can talk and tell you what they need, beyond using the bond. Is your bond…”
Ella’s words fade but Jackson lifts his head and gives her a single nod. She smiles softly, trying very hard to keep the fluttering joy in her heart from showing on her face.
“Well, really, then your job is to just…care for her, Jacks. Keep her clean, feed her, educate her. Talk to her, make sure she’s loved and engaged and getting a good start in life. And we’ll help you,” she says, giving a simple shrug.
Jackson looks up at Ella in surprise at this offer. Mark nods eagerly too, already on board, spooning some more macaroni and cheese into Marigold’s bowl.
“Of course we will, Jacks,” Rafe says, popping a cracker in his mouth before patting his friend on the back. “You’re my brother now, right? Which makes this little one my niece.” He grins, leaning over on the table and bending low so that his eyes are even with Marigold’s. “I always wondered when I’d get one of those. Never thought this is how it would happen.”
Marigold narrows her eyes a bit at Rafe, still unsure about this big man grinning at her like that, even as she continues to eat her supper. Rafe bursts out laughing, sitting up straight, utterly charmed.
“Well,” Ella says with a sigh, crossing her arms over her chest as she studies the little girl. “Regarding the niece question, I think a great deal of that depends on Ariel.”
“What depends on me?” a cheerful voice calls from the door.
Jackson goes still, his eyes opening wide as he panics. Ella, Mark, and Rafe likewise go rigid, turning towards the door.
“What’s going on?” Ariel asks, smiling around the room as she steps in. “I’ve been looking for you guys everywhere – Jesse’s upstairs with a bunch of bags, he can’t find you either, and he won’t tell me what’s going on.”
Her eyes finally settle on the little girl, who continues to concentrate on her food, and Ariel laughs a little, moving towards her.
“Who is thi-“
But then the child’s scent hits her.
And Ariel stops in her tracks, her mouth falling open as she stares down at the top of the little girl’s head.
The little girl whose genetic lineage is…undeniable.
The room goes very silent, Ariel staring at Marigold, everyone else staring at the Princess, at her bloodless face, at the absolute horror in her expression.
Marigold puts her spoon down and turns, frowning up at the beautiful woman whose lovely rose-gold hair spills over her shoulders. Marigold swallows hard, glancing around, not knowing why everyone is being so quiet.
Then, not knowing what else to do, she lifts her hand and again points to her chest, looking up into the Princess’s eyes.
“Marigold,” the little girl whispers.
Ariel stays perfectly still, just staring at her mate’s daughter.
Unable to move or think or feel anything but shock.
