Page 49 of Twenty Years Later

Despite the cold air, a flush crept up her cheeks. "So you like the beanie hat?"

"On you, yes." I whispered near her covered ear, "It's hot."

A shiver went through her as I nipped her neck. "Whew, okay. I'll have to remember that," she said, a mischievous look in her eyes that made my imagination run wild thinking about Jayda wearing the hat and nothing else.

Mentally sighing, I realized I shouldn't even go there right now. Tonight was still many hours away, and I could only take so much torture. I wondered if Jayda felt the same. Through my arm, I could sense a tenseness to her body and noticed her breathing was ragged.

"You okay, sweetheart?" I asked.

Staring straight ahead at the girls who had quieted down a bit, she nodded and dropped her arm from my waist. And then the ring twisting began. "Alex, I need..." Her face turned pale. "I'll be right back."

She ran off inside, leaving me bewildered. But I didn't get a second to even think about it because suddenly a screaming Gabby hurdled her little body my way.

"She fell," Audrey shouted, running after her.

"Where does it hurt?" I asked, swooping her up into my arms.

But obviously, she couldn't tell me.

"Her knee," Audrey answered, hovering by my legs.

I inspected both knees to find a new hole in her pants that revealed a few scratches. Okay. It wasn't anything too awful, and her crying had already started to quiet.

Squatting down, I smiled at Audrey. "You know what? Thank you. You were a big help."

She puffed out her little chest. "I was?"

"Yes, you were. Gabby can't really say much yet, and I never know where she hurts herself. But you knew and could tell me."

"Of course, I could. I'm literally four."

I almost died laughing. "Literally?"

"Literally," she repeated, mangling the word.

Man, was this kid Jayda's or what?

Gabby struggled out of my arms and took off toward the small slide. Glancing back at the open door, I wanted to check on Jayda. But I didn't want to leave the girls, so I waited, wondering what on earth had happened. She'd looked kind of sick. Or nervous. Or both.

What the heck was going on?

Walking to the back door, I looked in to see Jayda in the kitchen not too far away. "You okay?" I asked, my voice competing with the noise of the microwave.

"Yeah, just needed the bathroom real quick. I'll be right out after I make some tea."

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. Was she sick or something and too embarrassed to tell me? I could definitely understand that. But I wished she'd just tell me whatever it was because the not knowing was killing me, and I wondered if I'd have to wait till tonight to find out.

Gabby burst out crying again, making me realize it was probably about time for a nap. I walked over to pick her up.

"I don't know what happened," Audrey said.

"Aw, don't worry about it, Audrey. I think she's just tired now."

"Does she need a nap?"

"Definitely. And I think she's extra tired trying to keep up with a big four-year-old."

I opened the door wider for Audrey to go inside with us, and we kicked off our shoes by the mat.

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