Page 24 of Daddy's Little Sunshine

“Oh, no, dear. I’m fine.” Ms. Edith settled into the armchair by the couch and smiled. “I saw Donovan leave earlier, but you weren’t with him.”

Donovan! Finally, she knew his name and she wouldn’t have to call the man Daddy again. Following Ms. Edith to the living room, she curled up on the couch facing her visitor. “He had some errands and I didn’t feel like tagging along.”

“Ah, I see. I just came from a church service myself, and it reminded me I need to reach out to the people around me.” Ms. Edith spread her hands out in front of her. “So here I am.”

“That’s very sweet. What church do you go to?”

“The only church for people like us, my dear. The Church of the Divine Variance.”

Lainey’s stomach lurched violently, with the sudden realization that this visit wasn’t as innocent as it had seemed. Donovan was going to hand her her ass on a platter. She mentally coached herself.Just play it cool, Lainey. “What are you talking about? I’m not a Variant.”

Leaning over, Ms. Edith patted Lainey’s hand with a patronizing smile. “Of course, you are, my dear.”

“How do you know?” This couldn’t be happening. Nobody was supposed to know.

“It’s one of my gifts. I’ve known about Donny for years, but I also know he wouldn’t be open to visiting the church.” Beaming, Ms. Edith clasped her hands together. “You, on the other hand, seem like an open and questioning spirit.”

“I am!” The initial rush of fear began to fade. “I told him we should go to the church for help, but he shot me down.”

“Help with what?”

Lainey nibbled on her bottom lip. Surely it was safe to tell Ms. Edith what was going on, right? Daddy – no, Donovan, his name was Donovan – wouldn’t like it, but they needed help. “There are some people looking for me. Donovan says they want to hurt me.”

Ms. Edith gripped Lainey’s hand. “Oh, sweet girl. I’m so sorry. But yes, the church absolutely can help. You know what, I know Pastor Luke stays at the church for a few hours after our meetings. I bet we can catch him if we hurry.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Donovan won’t like it. He,” she paused, searching for the right way to say he’d whip her ass from here to Sunday if she snuck out on him. “He worries.”

“You have a phone, don’t you? Let him know where we’re going.”

“I lost my phone, actually. And I don’t know his number.” Didn’t know much of anything about him, but she tried not to dwell on that.

Tapping a finger on her chin, Ms. Edith made a humming noise in her throat. “Then we can leave him a note with my number.”

Butterflies danced in her tummy. Donovan wouldn’t be happy about any of this. But then, if the church could help, she wouldn’t be his concern anymore. And really, wasn’t that best for both of them? His life would certainly be less complicated without her around, and she could get the help she needed to really learn to control her powers. “Okay. Let me see if I can find a pen and paper.”

Ignoring her jumping nerves, she found paper and a pen and jotted down a note letting him know where she would be. She was just about to sign it when the front door opened, and Donovan walked in. Looking from Ms. Edith to Lainey, his eyes narrowed dangerously. “What’s up, sunshine?”

Despite the light, nonchalant tone, her bottom clenched. He wasn’t fooling her – he was pissed. “Um, nothing?”

“What’s that?” He nodded to the note on the counter in front of her.

“Oh. This?” Crumpling the note in her hand, she forced a smile. “Just a shopping list.”

Ms. Edith snorted and levered herself out of the armchair. “Don’t tell stories, Lainey dear. Donny, I was going to take Lainey to meet my friends at the church. I think they could help.”

If Donovan had her powers, Lainey had no doubt the mother of all storms would have opened up right over their apartment. “I appreciate the offer, Ms. Edith. But I can take care of Lainey.” Looking over at his elderly neighbor, he gave her an apologetic smile. “Could you excuse us? We have a lot to talk about tonight.” When he looked back to Lainey, the smile took on a sharp edge and it was all she could do to not put her hands over her bottom. Hell, if it hadn’t been for Ms. Edith, she might have thrown herself at his feet and begged for mercy.

“You’re being stubborn, Donny. But I’ll go. You come find me when you’re ready to listen to reason.” She hobbled to the front door, stopping to turn her head and wink at Lainey. “I’m just across the way if you need anything, dear.”

The door clicked shut behind her and Lainey was left facing Donovan alone. “Donovan, look, I can explain.”

“First of all, it’s Daddy to you, little girl. Second, there is no explanation you can give me that will account for you directly defying my rules. Again.”

“Why do I have to call you Daddy? I know your name. You can’t un-ring that bell,Donovan.” She put a little extra sarcasm behind his name and immediately regretted it when he took a menacing step forward.

“You’re going to keep calling me Daddy, because I’m going to keep paddling your ass when you break my rules. Like right now.”

Panic sent her heart tripping against her ribcage. “It was just Ms. Edith! I didn’t think it was a big deal!”

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