Page 130 of The Kidnapped

“Mommy!”

“Shit,” Hollis said, coming back down instantly and cupping her hand over her own mouth.

“It’s fine. I locked the door.”

The door opened.

“Shit,” Raleigh said this time, removing her fingers from inside her girlfriend and quickly trying to figure out what to do. “Hi, baby,” she said to Eden.

“I’m ready for breakfast. Can I have cereal?”

“Sure. Can you wait outside for me?” she requested, pressing Hollis against the wall, hoping Eden wouldn’t open the shower curtain.

“Can Hollis take me to school?”

Hollis went to respond on instinct, but Raleigh shook her head and smiled at her.

“You can ask her,” she said to Eden.

“Where is she? She’s not in the bedroom, the kitchen, or the living room. I looked,” Eden replied.

Hollis was trying to contain her laughter, so Raleigh pointed at her, turned, and pulled open the curtain just a little, making sure to only reveal her head.

“Maybe she’s in your room, waiting for you to ask her. Did you check there?”

“No,” Eden said.

“Okay. Go check and maybe get your backpack ready, okay? I’ll make you your cereal when I’m done.”

“Okay,” Eden replied before leaving the bathroom without closing the door behind her and then turning the corner.

Raleigh waited an extra second, climbed out of the shower, getting water all over the floor, closed and locked the door, and then got back inside, where Hollis burst out laughing.

“Where were we?” she said, attempting to kiss Hollis.

“I can’t.” Hollis continued to laugh. “She almost caught me mid-orgasm, Raleigh.”

“Yes. But now, I’d like to be mid-orgasm. You have to leave for work soon.”

“I’ll take her to school first,” Hollis told her, turning Raleigh around and pressing her to the wall as the water sprayed.

“Are you sure? It’s out of your way.”

“I’m sure. She asked for me. That’s a big deal,” Hollis replied, kissing Raleigh’s neck. “But if we don’t stop talking about it, I won’t have time for this.” She reached between Raleigh’s legs and stroked.

“Shutting up now,” Raleigh stated.

It had been a little over a year since Eden had been brought home and they’d lost Olivia. In that time, Eden had gone to therapy once a week, and Raleigh had made it work financially because it was for Eden. She’d picked up a few more clients and changed her benefits plan to include at least some of the appointments Eden would need. Raleigh had continued her own therapy as well but only went twice a month, feeling immeasurably better now that she had her daughter back.

The trial for Eden’s kidnapper wouldn’t likely begin for at least another year, but the woman was behind bars as she’d been denied bail, thankfully. While Eden had remembered Raleigh and had adjusted rather quickly when she’d returned, there was still a lot of lingering confusion she was dealing with. Therapy helped, and when the doctor thought it made sense, Raleigh often joined her sessions so that they could help her work through that together. Raleigh had kept her out of preschool, but when it had been time for kindergarten, she’d wanted Eden in school with other kids to make her world as normal as possible.

“Hey, am I taking you to school?” Hollis asked when she and Raleigh entered the kitchen to find Eden sitting at the table, attempting to pour her own milk. “Let me get that for you.”

Raleigh smiled because Hollis had caught Eden just before she’d been able to spill the milk all over the table instead of her bowl.

“Mom said I have to ask you,” Eden replied. “Will you take me?”

“Please,” Raleigh reminded.

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