Page 17 of Sven

“Stacie, before you go, this is my sister, Tillie.”

“Your sister?” she asked Sven. He nodded. She reached her hand out to Tillie. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Tillie said, taking her hand.

Stacie and Winnie disappeared into the kitchen, and Tillie looked at Sven with wide eyes. He just shrugged.

Later that night, Sven was giving Winnie a bath when Stacie came in. She’d been acting weird ever since she found him on the couch with his sister.

“When you’re done, I’ll give her a bottle and put her to bed.”

“Are you sure? I’d like to do it because I leave tomorrow for the road trip,” he answered, his eyes never leaving his daughter as she splashed in the tub.

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you have everything you need while I’m gone?”

“Yeah, we’ll be fine.”

“Is everything okay?” He glanced at Stacie.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know, you just seem kind of off.”

“Nope, I’m good.”

She left, and Sven got back to getting Winnie ready for bed. After giving her a bottle and rocking her to sleep, he laid her down. He quietly made his way down the long hallway to his room.

When he opened the door, he saw Stacie on his bed again. At least she was dressed this time.

“What’s going on?”

“I just . . . I don’t know . . .” she said, looking away from him and sniffling.

Before he knew what was happening, she was in his arms, crying.

“Shhh,” he said, trying to soothe her, even though this was incredibly awkward.

“I just get so lonely,” she said before pulling back and trying to kiss him.

He pulled back and didn’t let the kiss land. “Well, when I get back, we’ll find a Mommy and Me group or something like that. We can find you some friends.”

“I need more than a friend, Sven,” she said as she tried to kiss him again.

He stepped away from her and nudged her back. “Stacie, that’s not going to happen.”

“Why?”

“I think it would just complicate things. I think it would be best if we just keep this about Winnie. When I get back, let’s find you an apartment.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she looked as if she’d just been slapped.

“It’ll be a nice apartment,” he said, trying to comfort her. “I’ll pay for all of it. I promise. And I want to see Winnie whenever I can. I’ll take care of you guys. She can even stay with me when I’m in town so you get a break. I want to help you and be a father to my daughter.” He pulled back and looked at her carefully. “But that’s it.”

The look on her face turned icy. He needed to talk to his lawyer—and fast—to make sure he would always have access to his daughter in case Stacie got angry at him. Something about this situation was starting to feel off.

He didn’t know what to think.

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