“She’s a big bottle of joy, isn’t she?” I asked, watching her fight with her hair.

“She’s Claire. A little bit of my recklessness, sure, but that crazy optimism? All her mother.” His voice trailed off, but then he took a deep breath. “She left us when Fin was about four months old. Got an offer for a pilot in L.A. and said she’d come back as soon as they finished filming.”

“But she didn’t?” I guessed. That look in his eyes…he was still in love with her. It was the same look Will got when he’d talk about Peyton—all wistful but resigned.

He shook his head. “Claire’s always been easily distracted by shiny things, and there are a lot of stars to shine out there. But who knows? Maybe one day…” He shrugged.

My heart sank. Even if she hadn’t really loved Jackson, how could any mother walk away from her child and never come back? “And you became a single father with a baby.”

He nodded, watching Fin with the rapt look of an adoring parent. It was the same way Paisley looked at her son, the way my mama looked at me. “My parents were already gone, and Vivian loves Fin desperately, so I moved here—to the only family we had left.”

“You’re one of the really good ones, aren’t you?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His slight laugh was anything but funny. “No. That’s the kicker. I’m not. Anything I am that resembles good is because of her.” He nodded toward Finley. “I’ve always been an asshole. Selfish, careless, impetuous, you name it. But for her, I’ll be anything she needs. I’ll rip the world apart to keep her safe, and I’ll make damn sure I don’t give her anything to be embarrassed about when it comes to me.”

“And you do it without any help. I can’t even imagine.” I could barely take care of myself, let alone another person.

“I have Sarah—our nanny—and Vivian. She keeps Fin one weekend a month, and she used to take care of Fin while I was at work. I wouldn’t have made it through her baby years without Vivian. Brie helps, too. I’ve never been alone when it comes to Finley.”

“Brie was the redhead at the party, right? The pretty one with the black suit?”

“Yeah. I try to include her in what I can.”

His words jogged my memory. “Oh wow, she’s the other fifth-grade teacher at the elementary school.”

“She is. She recognized you.”

I watched Finley brush off another shell and add it to her collection. “Does she get to see Claire?”

Jackson’s jaw clenched, and I immediately regretted asking.