Page 111 of Tortured Tones

“While resting with an IV in your arm.” Lewis waggled his finger toward my drip.

I grabbed a pillow and pegged it at him. “Fuck you.”

As we laughed, Charlotte skipped into the room dressed in a Christmas dress and red tights. She crawled onto the bed and plonked down beside me. She curled against my arm. “Can we go see Santa now?”

I hooked my arm around her. “After lunch when I get this medicine out of my arm.” A couple hours out of bed wouldn’t kill me.

“Does it hurt?” She leaned across me and touched the edge of the waterproof gauze covering the needle above my wrist.

“No. It’s making me better.” I kissed the top of her head.

Lewis wriggled Charlotte’s foot. “This little lady has definitely stolen your heart.”

“Yeah. She certainly has.” Something good had come out of fainting. I’d have more time with Charlotte.

After the guys left and Jade had returned to remove my IV, Ava and Riley—another security team member—escorted Hannah, Charlotte, and me to see Santa. Jade wasn’t happy I was going out, but I’d promised not to be out long. Avoiding the crowds as much as possible, we headed to Lafreniere Park. With a beanie, jacket, and sunglasses on, I tried to remain inconspicuous. But it didn’t work. Luckily I wasn’t too overwhelmed by overzealous people. Being recognized and stopped by excited fans, asked for photos and selfies, and the random request for an autograph still blew my mind.

Fuck, I loved my job.

As Charlotte sat on Santa’s knee and rattled off a gazillion toys and books she wanted, Hannah touched my arm. The trembles in her hands seemed worse today.

“Are you feeling better, Cole?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I was. The IV had helped. So had another hour of sleep before lunch. “You?”

“I’m well.” Hannah always had a friendly smile and light in her eyes. She was the best grandmother Charlotte could ever have had. “While you were resting before lunch, Arilla from children’s services called. To help put your mind at ease, I gave you a five-star report. I’m proud of you, Cole. You’ve made changes, and you’re spending time with Charlotte. You’ve just got to work on you now. Promise me you will. For Charlotte.”

“Wow.” Humbleness swelled in my chest. “Thank you for the report. And yeah, I promise. I’ll take better care of myself.”

“Good. I don’t want to have to ask Ava to kick your butt into line again.”

I stuffed my hands into my coat pockets and smiled. “No. Me either.”

Ava stood off to the side of the crowd, on duty like she always was. The butterflies in my stomach threatened to take flight as I daydreamed about stripping off her uniform when we got back to the hotel, but something about her was off. My skin prickled. I followed her line of sight. She’d zoned in on a middle-aged man standing on the other side of Santa’s fenced-off area. He had a high-end camera, pointed in our direction. Was it just the paparazzi? Some sick fuck taking pictures of kids? He didn’t look concerned about any of the children. Oh shit...Was that the guy who’d been outside my house?

Ava spoke into her headset. A chill ran down my spine as Riley nodded and edged toward him.

But the moment Riley got within a few feet of the man, the photographer lowered his camera and disappeared into the crowd. Fuck.

So much for lowering my stress levels.

Hannah fidgeted with her scarf. “Cole, it was hard not to overhear some of your conversation with your friends this morning in our small suite. I’m sorry that you and Ava can’t work things out, but I understand where she’s coming from. Her family comes first. And for you, so does yours.”

Ava nodded at me, easing my concerns a fraction. “Hannah, some things aren’t meant to be.”

“No, but some are.” Hannah smiled at Charlotte, still chatting to Santa. “I miss Shelby every day. There’s a hole in my chest that hurts all the time. But a higher power had other plans. You were meant to be Charlotte’s father, not Keith. You have a good heart, Cole. You’re a brilliant musician. Enjoy your music. Your fun and parties and friends. But treasure time with Charlotte. Work on that balance. You’ll get there. I know you will.”

“Thanks.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. “You might like me even more because I’ve got you something special for Christmas.” I’d had enough of the crowds; my anxiety wasn’t under control yet.

“Oh, I like surprises.” She tightened her scarf. It wasn’t cold though.

“It’s back at the hotel. Shall we go?” I tilted my head toward the parking lot.

“Yes.”

After I took more photos of Charlotte with Santa and I managed to coax her off his knee, we zoomed back to the hotel.

As we walked into the lobby, Hannah cried. “Paul!” She rushed across the lobby to where he sat in his wheelchair by the sofas, having a cup of tea.

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