Page 76 of Daddy P.I. 3.0

“Hi, Emmy. Everyone here?”

I shake my head. “Mistress Maude, Georgie, and DirtyGurl.”

He grunts and pushes off the door, following me into the house. He’s used to Daddy’s rules so he takes off his shoes without being asked and hands me his coat.

This is the first time since things got ugly with Brenna and the thief who stole her designs that I’ve seen Master Theo. He doesn’t seem angry or resentful at the way Daddy and Master Mac treated him, just very tired.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee, Master Theo?” I ask when we reach the kitchen.

“God, yes. Make it a double. This is going to be a long-ass day.”

“Yes, sir.” I start a pot perking, then answer the door for Mistress Dana and Austin and make them drinks, too.

Everyone’s got drinks and seats when Daddy and Mac arrive. A skinny, brown-haired girl walks between them. Her head is up, jaw jutting but her eyes dart to every face and away.

I greet her before Daddy and Mac make her feel anymorelike she’s walking to her own execution.

“Hi, I’m Emily. It’s so nice to meet you.” I hold both hands out.

She glances at my hands like she’s not sure what to do. Then she bursts into tears.

I look to Brenna, who hands Olivia off to Mac and comes up on the girl’s other side. We put our arms around her. Maude fishes a pack of tissues out of her bag and passes them over to us. I help the girl mop up her tears.

“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “You’re in a safe place.”

She blows her nose and looks around uncertainly. “I don’t know.”

“I promise it is. Would you like some breakfast? I made sausages and bacon and lots of waffles.”

“You really made waffles?”

“Sure.” I tug on her hand. “Come and see all the toppings. I’ve got strawberries and bananas and blueberries and peaches.”

The girl follows me without much prompting. Brenna trails after us. We load up a plate and I get her settled at the table across from Master Theo and next to Daddy. Then I go and make plates for Daddy and myself.

Daddy rewards me with a forehead kiss when I serve him and seat myself. He has Livvy tucked into his right arm, her head cradled in the curve of his shoulder. She’s looking up at him, her face shifting with his every expression. I know from reading baby books that she’s listening, learning, the way babies do but she looks up at him so adoringly. I can’t believe it’s not love. When he notices, he hums a bar of “Gaston” fromBeauty and the Beast. She breaks into giggles.

I blink back tears, seeing how much Daddy’s relaxed with his daughter.

Everyone serves themselves and eats. I’ve topped up everyone’s tea and coffee before Master Theo finally addresses the elephant in the room.

“Sorry to play the heavy but I’m the cop Logan spoke to last night while you were listening,” he says to True, who has been introduced to everyone by name only. The girl goes rigid in her chair. “I’d like to say that I’m not going to involve your social worker but I have legal obligations if I determine you’re unsafe, so I’m not going to make a promise I’d have to break. Can you tell me why you felt your placement was unsafe?”

True looks at Master Mac, then Daddy. She shakes her head.

Brenna leans forward in her chair. “True, I was in the foster system for years. I had bad placements, too, including some where the fosters hurt me. I promise no one here is going to judge you for protecting yourself by leaving and seeking a safe place.”

True swallows hard, her eyes darting around the table. She tips her chin at Mistress Maude. “What about you?”

Maude smiles. It’s a gentle smile but even that looks pretty scary, I’ll admit. Mistress Maude can only tone down so much. “What about me, dear?”

“You and him have the power in this room,” True says, lifting her chin at Theo. “He’s a cop. What are you?”

I glance at Daddy. He’s folded his lips together to control his expression. I think he’s as surprised as I am by how quickly True’s picked up on the hierarchy in the room.

“A retired nursing administrator,” Mistress Maude says with an amazingly straight face.

Brenna snorts. “Okay, stop trying to bullshit the kid. You’re right, True. Maude and Theo hold a lot of power in this room.”

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