“We’re only going to be here for a few minutes,” I said to Lucy as the doorman escorted us to James’s private elevator. “Then, we’ll go and get some ice cream and then pedicures.” Lucy and I stepped inside the small space, and I thanked him before the door closed, the elevator immediately taking off for the penthouse.

“I really want cookie dough ice cream,” she squealed.

“I want strawberry.” I gently dragged my fingers through the front of her hair, her strands long and dark like mine. “I’ll be super quick in here, I promise. I just have to drop off these designs, and then we’ll be on our way.”

“I’m going to miss you tonight, but I can’t wait to see Grandma and Grandpa again.”

I was so thankful she had such a strong relationship with my parents.

“Grandma told me she’s making your favorite for dinner.”

She jumped up and down. “Spaghetti! Yay!”

As a single working mother, I always felt guilty when I had to leave her with my parents or a sitter during the evening, but I cherished our little dates when we went for ice cream and pedicures. She called them Lucy Days. And I especially needed one right now.

James’s request had changed my plans a little. She’d called while I was picking Lucy up from school; she said she was flying home tonight and wanted to review the revised sketches as soon as she landed. Since they were boards, I couldn’t email them; therefore, they had to be dropped off. James told me no one would be at her condo until this evening, so the doorman would let me into their elevator, and I was to leave the designs in the kitchen.

I never took Lucy on appointments, but because no one was home, I figured this one would be safe.

The elevator door slowly opened, and I walked into James’s condo. “Stay right next to me, baby,” I said, “and try not to touch anything.”

Every few steps, I glanced in her direction, watching her eyes widen as she took in the view.

Lucy had been in nice homes before. Shawn’s was absolutely stunning. His just didn’t overlook downtown Miami from one of the highest buildings in the city, nor did it have a long stretch of ocean where boats were passing by. And, even though the little place we lived in was so close to here, our view was of another building with a strip of retail stores below.

“Wow,” she said as she moved over to the windows.

“Baby, don’t put your fingers on the glass.”

I turned the corner, making my way toward the kitchen, holding the designs in my hands. I was so proud of the changes I’d made, and I had a feeling they were going to love them. Once the additions were approved, I would start working on fabrics and finishes, getting down to the details of each room.

“Mommy, look at the boat.”

I took a quick glance behind me, trying to see what she was pointing at, but as I did, I heard, “Samantha,” spoken in Brett’s tone.

My attention was immediately pulled away from my daughter, and I looked to my right where Brett was walking down the hallway.

His eyes connected with mine, and my feet stopped moving.

“Brett, hi, ummm…James asked me to drop off the updated designs. She said no one would be home, so I didn’t know you were here.” I was so caught off guard, I was rambling.

“It’s no problem,” he said. “I just got home a little while ago.” He nodded toward Lucy. “Who’s this?”

I waited for her to join my side before I said, “This is my daughter, Lucy.”

He stuck his hand out, his eyes fixed on her. “Nice to meet you.”

“This is Mr. Young,” I told her. “He’s one of my clients. Can you say hi to him?”

She took his hand and even gave him a little bow. “Hi, I’m Lucy. Fancy to meet you.”

God, I love that kid.

I was positive my brother had taught her that when he was feeling like being a smart-ass. But Lucy was unique, creative, extremely independent, and the fanciness really fit her.

“Here are the designs,” I said, handing him the boards.

He took them from me, but his eyes never left Lucy, his lids even squinting like he was really checking out her features.

And then I watched an expression wash over his face. It moved from his mouth to his stare.

He had put it together. I knew for sure when his gaze shifted over to me, and he said, “I thought she was a toddler. We both did.”

My heart was beating so hard, I swore, he could hear it.

I wrapped my arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “No, she’s seven.”

I called her my little girl, my baby. Is that why Brett thinks that, which means Jack thinks that, too?

“I’m seven and a half, Mommy,” Lucy said.

In any other situation, her response would have been cute. Brett probably would have laughed, and I’d have, too. But I was sure hearing her age only confirmed what he had already suspected.

“Her eyes,” he said.

In that moment, I knew exactly what he was referring to.

They looked identical to Jack’s.

There was no reason to deny it at this point. After this evening, the secret would be out.

I took a breath. “Lucy, why don’t you go back over to the window and see how many boats you can count?”

After she skipped to the glass, I whispered to Brett, “I’m telling him tonight.”

He raked his hand through his hair. “Jesus Christ, Samantha.” He glanced at Lucy again and then back to me. “You’re definitely going to do it tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Because you’re putting me in a hell of a situation right now.” He tugged on the ends of his hair before his hand dropped to his side. “I won’t lie to him, so if he doesn’t know by tomorrow morning, I will tell him.”

“He has to hear it from me,” I said softly, reinforcing that he needed to wait and not say anything before I spoke to Jack. “Please, Brett, trust me when I say, I’m going to tell him.”

He nodded.

I called Lucy over and said, “Are you ready to go get ice cream, baby?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Please tell James she can call me anytime to discuss the new additions.” I then looked down at my daughter. “Can you say good-bye to Mr. Young?”

She put her hand in the air, and she gave him a high five. “See ya later, alligator.”

“After a while crocodile,” Brett said, winking at her.

Then, we made our way toward the elevator and got inside.

When it closed, Lucy slipped out from under my arm, and she faced me. “I counted nine boats, Mommy.”

“That’s so great, baby,” I told her, trying to hide the emotions from showing on my face, but inside, my body was revolting.

That never should have happened.

I shouldn’t have brought her here.

And I shouldn’t have put anyone in a situation where they had to make a connection between my daughter and her father.

The last thing I wanted was to hurt Jack, and Brett finding out first jeopardized that.

“What color toes are you getting, Mom?”

I couldn’t continue looking at her while I was feeling this vulnerable, so I pulled my phone out of my bag and clicked on the screen. “Hold on a second, baby. I have to send a quick message.”