Page 27 of Take Me to the Valley

Just as we reach the top of the stairs, Skye finishes picking out her clothes and runs over to show me the outfits. It’s the perfect moment for me to stop and catch my breath.

“Okay, now, why don't you go take a shower? I will be in to help wash your hair,” she says, making Skye's eyes light up.

“She just plays in the shower,” I say, while I slowly and laboriously make our way down the hall to my room.

“I know, but this gives her a sense of being a big girl. Then I’ll go in to help with her hair and make sure she is scrubbed up and clean. I know it's not your routine, but I'm not here to replace you, so we made our own routines,” she says.

I swear my heart is hammering like a train, and it has to be from the stress of climbing the stairs.

Right then, with her statement, the wall that has been firmly put in place crumbles. That she gets what it's like, just a little to be a parent, makes the task of ignoring her impossible. Suddenly, she is too close and is making me feel things I don't want to feel. Things that are dangerous to feel.

With that, I push myself to get to my room and into bed. I need some space. But before I know it, she is back to check on me.

“Alright, all settled in? Need anything?”

“Nope, I'm good,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief when she leaves to check on Skye in the shower.

Day one, and I already feel like I'm losing my mind around here. It has to be the pain pills that are messing with me. Besides, she is Cody's older sister. She has zero interest in his youngerbrother's friend. I just need to not act on this over the next week or two, and things can return to normal.

The shower down the hall shuts off, and there are giggles coming from the bathroom. It’s both Skye and Calista, and the sound goes straight into my heart. They are getting along so well, and Skye is happy. While I know she is happy with me, I’ve felt for some that she has been wanting another woman around. How will she feel when Calista has to leave and go home? I already know I'm going to hate it, and it's only been a few hours for me, but Skye has been around Calista for several days now.

“Daddy! Will you read to me?” Skye comes running out of the bathroom, but stops at my door.

“Of course. Did you brush your teeth?” I ask her.

“Yes, and my hair, and I even put some of Calista's lotion on!” she says with a happy smile.

“Okay, go pick out a book.”

When Calista comes out of the bathroom carrying Skye's dirty clothes and a wet towel, she looks at me with a question.

“Oh, the laundry room is by the back door behind the kitchen,” I tell her.

“Ok, I'm going to run these down there,” she says and leaves.

Skye is still picking out her book. Judging by how long it's taking her, I'm willing to bet she is pulling every book off her shelf to decide which one to have me read.

When she finally comes in with a book in her hand, Calista isn't far behind her

“Calista, will you read to me, too? Daddy can do the prince voice, and you can do the princess's voice,” Skye says.

Waiting for my reaction, Calista looks up at me, so I smile and give my head a slight nod. I'm not going to deny Skye this despite my feelings. That is my problem, not my daughters.

“Sounds good. Let's do it,” Calista says, helping Skye onto the bed. Skye sits in the center near me, and I wrap an arm around her to hold her close. I missed her like crazy when I was stuck in the hospital.

Calista settled in on the other side of her, and my hand brushed against her hip, as she was leaning against the headboard. Neither of us moves. I don't know if she doesn't feel it or if she doesn't want to draw attention to it, but something about holding my daughter and having this small connection to Calista has me calm. I don't feel the pain in my shoulder, and there is this rightness that clouds everything.

Skye opens the book, and I start reading. Calista jumps right in at the princess’s parts, and she gets really into the book with overexaggerated emotions. She even forces me to up my gamewhile I'm reading. The whole time, Skye is giggling up a storm, and there is a huge smile on Calista's face, too.

“That was the bestest way I've heard the book read,” Skye says when we are done.

“Okay, girlie, it's time for bed. Gently give your dad a hug and I will be in to tuck you in,” Calista says.

Skye gives me a gentle hug and whispers in my ear, “I love you, Daddy. I'm so glad you are home.”

I fight tearing up because she has no idea how close I came to not coming home again. That thought is what has been swirling around in my head for days.

“I love you too, princess,” I tell her, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.

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