Page 115 of Desolation

Olivia scrambles to cover up my hand with sand as Makayla covers up my feet. The two of them have made up since their fight this morning. A fight that had me holding a six-year-old in my arms as she cried into my shoulder.

See? That’s why I wonder what is wrong with me. I would never do that. I might have played with the kids at Jackson’s house a few weeks ago but that was a one time thing. I needed him to approve of me because I think he still questions why he hired me.

But what am I doing today? I don’t even know who I am. The strangest part is that I liked it when Olivia clung to me. I liked being there to protect her. Just like I like being around to protect her mom.

They must be done burying me because they both stand and run circles around me. Olivia with her blue eyes and dark brown curls. Makayla with her long caramel hair and honey eyes, just like her mom. They laugh and giggle as they run in circles before they both run to the water.

“Hey!” I shout. “What about me?”

Olivia giggles and Makayla sticks her tongue out at me. I know I can easily climb out of this wet sand but I want them to think I am stuck.

“Aren’t you a superhero? You can get out!” Makayla teases me.

“He’s a teddy bear not a superhero,” Olivia shouts.

I look over at Mari, who is laying on a beach towel, soaking up the warm sun, bronzing her skin even more. Luckily she wore a much more modest suit than the ones she had on in San Diego or else it would be very hard for me to keep my hands off her.

She smiles at me. “You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out.”

I give her the smile that I know makes her knees weak.

“Nope, not working. I am not helping you.” She jokes and turns away from me.

I look over at the girls who are playing in the sand by the water, paying no attention to me and decide at that moment to jump out of the sand trap I am in. I flail my arms out and scream like a monster as I run toward them.

Olivia screams and Makayla takes a squirt gun to me as I rush toward them. Makayla runs down the beach and I pick Olivia up and throw her in the air. Her giggles warm my heart in a way I never thought was possible.

“Teddy bear, want to build a sandcastle with me?”

“As long as we build a moat to keep the princess safe,” I say.

I sit down and follow the instructions Olivia gives me. We build a sandcastle with two turrets and dig a moat around it. She shows me how to make it deep enough so the water doesn’t make the castle sink. Then hands me a bucket and instructs me to go fill it and bring the water back because I am strong.

When I come back she has a barbie doll sitting on the top of the castle. “See we need to keep the princess safe. Like you are keeping Mommy safe.”

I stop pouring the water in. “What do you mean?”

“Makayla told me you and Mark are here to make sure nothing bad happens to Mommy.”

I quirk a brow at her. “How does Makayla know that?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Makayla knows everything though, so I know she’s right.”

I don’t say anything but know I will need to talk to Makayla and Mari later. Maybe Makayla knows something we don’t.

“Stop!” Olivia yells as I pour the water into the moat distracted from my thoughts. “That’s too much!”

I stop pouring and start scooping water out with my hands. She laughs at me before grabbing a small flag to put on our castle.

“You remind me of Daddy. He kind of looks like you. But he doesn’t play with me. He’s always too busy working.”

I frown at her statement. Mari has told me that Michael is always busy and I get it, he is a Senator but it’s sad he doesn’t make time for his kids.

“Will you read me a bedtime story tonight? Daddy only does sometimes but I always sleep best with a bedtime story.”

I look at this little girl and can’t help but fall in love with her. I know she doesn’t like strangers and she doesn’t make friends but for some reason she has put her trust in me. “I would love to.”

“Yay!” She shouts and jumps into my lap, her arms around my neck.

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