Page 32 of Unwrapping Romance

I held onto her tightly as she tried to push me away.

“Hey, Ellie. Let’s go take your suitcase up to your room,” Sierra said. “Which bedroom is hers?” Sierra looked at me.

“She doesn’t have a room here. I guess she can stay in one of the guest rooms on the fourth floor.”

“She’s four. And if I recall correctly, the third floor, where your bedroom is, has an extra room and bathroom. You shouldn’t put her on a floor by herself, Jack.”

“Fine.”

Sierra grabbed Ellie’s suitcase, and we went up to the third floor.

“This is your new bedroom,” I told Ellie, setting her down.

“It’s plain for a little girl,” Sierra spoke.

“Did I know Claire would drop her off and then take off?” I cocked my head at her.

“I want to take a nap.” Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down.

Walking over to the chair, I grabbed the blanket and covered her with it.

“We’ll be downstairs when you wake up.” I ran my hand down her hair.

Sierra and I left the room and went downstairs.

“You’ll need to go home and pack a bag.”

“For what?”

“You’re staying here for a few days. I’ll need your help with her at night and in the morning. Eric will drive you.”

“Seriously, Jack? You’re that incompetent that you can’t deal with your own kid by yourself?”

“I suppose I am in the father department. Go on. Eric is outside. Hurry and get back before she wakes up.”

Sierra shook her head and walked out the front door. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called Daniel.

“Where are you, Jack?” he answered.

“Home. Claire was here. She left Ellie with me and took off.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. She showed up when Sierra was here after running errands for me. Claire left some bullshit letter about how she can’t do it anymore and feels like she can’t breathe half the time. That selfish bitch.”

“Hold on a second. Are you saying that Claire took off for good?”

“It sounds like it.” I sighed.

“What are you going to do? You don’t know the first thing about raising a kid.”

“I sent Sierra home to pack a bag. She’ll be staying at the house for a few days and helping me out until I can hire a nanny.”

“Does Sierra know anything about kids?” he asked.

“She said she doesn’t. But she’s a woman. Don’t they all have that maternal instinct? Well, except for Claire.”

“Man, Jack. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe Claire left Ellie right at the holidays.”

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