Never to Keep (Accepting Fate #1) by Aimie Grey Page B

soldier. He met my mami , your abuela , when he was stationed in Europe.”
    “What happened to him?” she asked.
    I hated my answer to her question. “When his time in the military was over, he signed up to be in the reserves. When I was ten, he got called for duty and died fighting in a war. He was a hero.”
    “Do you miss your daddy?” she asked.
    “Very much. I was my daddy’s girl, just like you were your daddy’s girl.”
    “Did he teach you how to play football?”
    “Your daddy taught me everything I know about football.” I smiled as I remembered Ryan’s pride when I finally got the hang of timing my routes.
    “I miss my daddy,” she said with a shaky voice.
    “I miss him, too, baby. He loves you more than anything and would have never chosen to leave you, just like my daddy didn’t choose to leave me. I know they still watch over us.”
    “Like guardian angels?”
    “Yes, exactly like that.”
    I was relieved when I put my Camaro in park outside of the skilled nursing facility, a.k.a. rehab center, where Olivia was staying. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could fight back my tears.
    As usual, Peyton took off at full speed the second her mother came into view. The facility was beautiful, but not excessively so. The most important thing was that it had the best team of medical professionals in the state. Olivia deserved the best care possible, so I didn’t protest when she used Ryan’s life insurance to pay for what her health insurance didn’t cover.
    I strolled leisurely through the indoor garden to give them a few moments of privacy. I admired the vibrant colors of the leafy plants that surrounded the stone paths and made a mental note to find some for Dad and Ryan’s graves.
    Peyton sat on Olivia’s lap with her momma’s arms wrapped tightly around her small frame. I was a few feet away when Olivia’s gaze met mine.
    “Good to see you, sis,” I said as I reached out to her. She held my hand in one of hers as I took a seat beside her on the concrete bench. She kept her other arm firmly around her little girl. I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
    “Thank you so much for coming to see me every week. I know it’s a long haul out here.” She pressed a noisy kiss to the top of Peyton’s head. “I miss you both so much.” Her grip tightened on my hand.
    “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.” Her eyes lit up at my words.
    “Tell me about your first week at your new school.” Olivia gave her daughter another smile.
    “It was okay. My teacher is really nice, because he doesn’t make me talk when I don’t feel like it. Next week, we’re going to take a big test and then go to the park. Mr. Ramsay said I can teach everyone how to play football.”
    Peyton looked up at me with mischievous eyes. “Yesterday, I forgot my lunchbox in my cubby, and when I went back to the room to get it, I heard Mr. Ramsay on the phone. He told the lady that he couldn’t wait for her to meet the class. He said he might have the parents come meet her, too,” Peyton whispered, as if she was spilling government secrets. “Then he told her he loved her.”
    My heart stuttered at her words. I would not be making a trip to the school to meet his fiancée. “You are such a gossip,” I said as I ruffled her hair in an attempt to hide my reaction. “I have no idea where you got that from.” I gave Olivia a poignant look over Peyton’s wild curls and suppressed a laugh.
    “Oh, I made a new friend! Her name is Brianna. She says we fit together ‘cause she only has a daddy and I only have a mommy. Can she come over to play?” Peyton asked me with her best puppy dog face. She climbed into my lap. “Please, please, please?” I couldn’t refuse even if I wanted to.
    “Of course, as long as your room is clean.” I had to get something out of the deal.
    “Yay! You’re the best, Mama!” She hugged me tightly.
    I turned my attention to my sister-in-law. “Brianna’s dad is Charlie Morgan. You