Page 23 of Best Kept Secret

Neither Beau nor Fallon looked impressed with that.

Fallon asked a few basic questions—softball stuff, like how old Pari was and if she liked her bunny—and Pari buried her face in my chest.

Beau tried to help, asking his daughter to show Fallon her toys, but it was no use. Pari was done with the world, and honestly, I couldn't blame her. I felt the same way.

"She's tired." I offered Fallon a weak smile. "She missed her nap."

Fallon didn't miss a beat, still smiling as she looked up at me, but there was something sharp and judgmental in her eyes. "Of course," she stated smoothly. "That happens when children aren't on a proper schedule."

Her words felt like a slap, but I didn't have time to react before Beau was stepping in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Maybe we should reschedule," he remarked, glancing between Fallon and me. "Like Mira said, Pari is having a tough day. Aren't you, Angel?"

Pari's lips trembled as she nodded. "Miramashi, wanna sleep." Like she always did when she was upset, she stuck her thumb in her mouth, and as always, I gently pulled it out. She grumbled but didn't resist.

"Does she have a binky?" Fallon asked me.

I shook my head. I didn't like pacifiers, and we did much better without them.

"Should she have one?" Beau asked.

"No," I stepped in. Like hell he was going to introduce Pari to a pacifiernowat the age of two and a half. Pacifiers were hellon teeth, and smelled nasty. I didn't want to have anything to do with them. "She's just tired, Beau. She hasn't used oneever."

"Some kids find it comforting," Fallon asserted.

"I know," I replied patiently, "Pari is not one of those kids."

Would all the decisions I made for Pari be questioned now? Would they ask me why she took a nap when she did? What she ate for breakfast? How we played? How we talked? When did she get outside time? My God! This was as bad as having CPS interrogate me.

Fallon shook her head, her smile never faltering. "I have worked with a lot of children, Mira."

"And I've known Pari since she was born." I would let people say what they wanted about me, but they were not going to make decisions for my baby. "Pari's pediatrician in Atlanta was very pleased with hernotusing a pacifier—she told me that was one of the reasons why Pari slept so well."

"But you said she didn't sleep well last night?" Fallon pointed out.

"Because she's not feeling well." I curbed my temper because, when I was stressed or angry, and Pari was this close to me, she picked up on it and got upset. I nuzzled her hair and kissed her, letting this beautiful child bring me peace as she always did.

"Don't get defensive, Mira," Fallon didn't quite snap, but it was close. "I'm only trying to help. Beau?"

Beau, who was sitting on the floor beside us, gave me a small smile. "Hey, we're just tryin' to get the lay of the land, darlin'."

Weare? So, this wasn't just Fallon, it was also Beau.

And which land were they trying to get a lay of? This was Pari, a human being, not a piece of property.

The rest of the afternoon dragged. Fallon kept trying to engage Pari, asking her questions, trying to coax her out, but Pari just grew more withdrawn, more tired. I held her in my arms, her warm little body leaning against mine, and I felt everyjudgmental glance Fallon threw my way. I could practically hear her thinking:You're not enough. You're doing it wrong.

Pari finally fell asleep, and I took her to our room. Fallon followed. I'd hoped that Beau would come along, but I saw Fallon shake her head at him. I didn't like this woman at all. She wasn't nice. I had a radar for people like her.

I lay Pari down on the bed, surrounded by pillows so she wouldn't fall. Beau had told me that he was having people over tomorrow to set up a room just for Pari. I liked having my baby with me, but I knew it was better for her to have her own space.

I kissed Pari's forehead, and waited until her breathing was regular.

Fallon had closed the door of the bedroom behind her. All the warmth drained from Fallon's face, leaving something much colder in its wake. She straightened her jacket, and then turned to me with a look I could only describe as predatory.

"Parenting isn't easy." Her tone dripped with false sympathy. "I'm sure you've been doing your best, Mira. But...Pari needs more structure. More consistency. Especially now that Beau is stepping in."

I felt my throat tighten, the words getting stuck there as I tried to respond. "She is on a schedule. She's not feeling well today, and—"

Fallon cut me off with a tight smile. "I know you've been doing your best, but that's not good enough with children. From what I can see, and I have the experience, Mira, it's a good thing Beau is here to give Pari the stability she needs." Her eyes raked over me, assessing me. "I can tell you're...tired."

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