Page 65 of Tortured Tones

Ava had charged into the room behind me. She’d checked the walk-in closet, the en suite, and the windows. “The room is secure, Cole. There’s been no perimeter breach. No alerts have come through to my cell phone.”

I nodded. This person hanging outside my house had unnerved me more than I wanted to admit, but I had to stay focused on Charlotte. I grabbed a tissue out of the box on the nightstand. “Can I dry those tears?” And wipe that snot away.

Her little chin trembled as she sobbed and cried and wailed.

“Cole?” Frustration sliced through Ava’s tone. “Pick her up and cuddle her for God’s sake.”

Shit. Okay.

“Come here, baby girl. I got you.” I drew her into my arms and cuddled her. She didn’t put up a fight as she rested her head against my shoulder and continued to shudder and bawl. “Did you have a bad dream?”

I stood and paced the floor. As I rubbed and patted her back, I straightened the hemline of her blue pajamas T-shirt. Now what do I do? I’d seen movies. Other people with kids. This couldn’t be that hard. I walked back and forth across the room. Nope. She still cried. I stopped and rocked side to side. That didn’t work either.

I turned to Ava standing by the door. “What’s wrong with her? Why won’t she stop crying? What the fuck do I do?”

“Ride it out. She’ll settle. Just give her lots of cuddles. Talk to her in a soothing voice. Maybe try singing.” Ava scanned through her cell phone, then put it to her ear. “I’m just calling Tank. He’s on duty outside tonight. I’ll make sure he hasn’t seen anything.”

“Okay.” I nodded and closed my eyes. She’d suggested I sing to Charlotte. I wasn’t a good singer. I didn’t know any kids’ songs. “Twinkle Twinkle” was about it.

So be it. I’d try anything.

I sang the first verse. Softly. Slowly. God. I felt like an idiot. But Charlotte calmed down after the second time though the nursery rhyme.

I slumped my shoulders and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Ava.

“It’s okay.” She softened her voice. “Tank said everything outside is fine. He’s doing a walkaround just to be sure..”

“Good.” I nodded as I stroked Charlotte’s hair and combed her curls through my fingertips. “Hey, Char? Do you want to tell me what made you sad?” Not that I could do anything about it.

She sniffled against my hoodie. “I want my mommy. I want my daddy.”

Fuck. My heart twanged and splintered. I did too. I didn’t know how to cope with this shit.

“I know. But you have Ma and Pa who love you very much. You have me.”

She clutched Barney underneath her arm and wiped her snotty nose across my clothes. Ergh.

The minute I stopped moving, Charlotte cried again.

Where was Hannah? How could she sleep through this noise?

I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes. Exhaustion twisted and twitched through every muscle in my body. My head throbbed. I needed a couple hours sleep before I hit rehearsal tomorrow. How could I survive the tour if this kept happening again and again?

Charlotte screamed and kicked.

“Fuck.” Frustration got the better of me. “Please. Stop. Crying.”

“Cole?” Ava snapped in a chilling but quiet, calm tone. “You can’t talk to her like that.”

“Please?” Desperation tore through every cell in my body. “Help me.”

Doubt loomed in her eyes before she let out a breath, walked over, and took Charlotte from my arms. “Hey, sweetie. I’ve got you.” She cradled Charlotte’s head against her cheek. “It’s okay to miss your mom. When you feel like this, you have to remember something really good about her. I’ve seen a picture of her. She was very pretty. She had a beautiful smile, just like yours. What did she do when you were upset? Did she read you books, or sing, or give you big hugs?”

“Hugs.” Charlotte sniffled.

“Is it okay if I do that? Or would you like Cole to? He’s got big strong arms, perfect for cuddles.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You like my arms and my smile. Careful, Ava—I might begin to think you like me.”

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