Page 87 of Protect

“My tummy feels better,” she says with the cutest little grin when the first episode is over. I look down at her and realize that in this moment,I’mher comfort. This little piece of Violette. One little smile and I’m a complete goner for her too.

“That’s great, Hols. Want some crackers?”

“Will you have some too?”

“Sure,” I tell her, realizing I didn’t even eat dinner.

I take some out of the box for myself too, and Hollie holds up her cracker and says, “cheers.” I grin and cheers my cracker with hers. And this is how we spend the next little while, chatting and watching her favorite show until she’s finally ready to fall back asleep sometime around eleven, and I carry her in, placing her beside Violette before tucking them both in tight.

I check Violette’s temp, she’s definitely a bit cooler than earlier. I look down at them for a few minutes, both sleeping peacefully side by side. I don’t know about fate, or about life’s twists and turns to get you to the place you’re supposed to be, but I wouldn’t trade my journey for the world if this is where I get to land. The vision of them sleeping soundly, safely, fills me with a kind of peace I’ve never known, as well as an overwhelming need to care and protect them both fiercely.

When Hollie snuggles close to Violette and winds her chubby little hand in her mother’s hair, I know I’m not just falling for Violette.

I’m falling for them both.

Water

Need water.

My eyes flutter open to the sight of said glorious water and a Gatorade on my bedside table, and it hits me square in the chest that Rowan really came through for me last night. He could’ve left but he didn’t. Instead, he took care of me and Hollie, and he must have slept in my living room.

I sit up at the edge of my bed and get my bearings. The sound of Hollie’s laughter echoes down the hallway along with the sound ofSuperPets. The episode where Power Piggy leads the crew in a dance party on the beach to celebrate World Nature Day.

I pick up the glass and chug my water. The faint growl of my stomach tells me I’m done being sick, and by the sound of Hollie’s energetic chatter, so is she. I grab my fleece robe and put it on, noting that my fever has broken too. I take my timewashing my face and brushing my teeth, making myself feel semi human, then I approach the kitchen.

“Not like that!” Hollie giggles hysterically, and I slow my pace just to listen when neither of them knows I’m here yet.

“I’m not doing it right?” I hear Rowan ask.

More giggles from Hollie.

“No,yousay,‘everybody stomp your feet!’andIsay, ‘come on,pet friends, jump up for the earf.’”

I suppress a giggle as I peek around the corner and see Hollie in little miss bossy mode wearing her superhero cape and glasses, and Rowan wearing a pair of Hollie’s sunglasses and one of my throw blankets secured around his shoulders like his own makeshift cape. Hollie has her toy microphone and Rowan has a wooden spoon.

Rowan rewinds the show a few minutes and the two of them stand side by side. Rowan looks down at her. “Okay, I got it, you ready?”

Hollie nods. “I was ready before.”

I snort back laughter as Rowan chuckles and presses play.

“Come on, everyone, clap your hands as loud as you can!” Rowan sings.

“Evewybody, do your part, find the love in your heart!” Hollie sings.

Both of them jump to the side, put one arm out just like the TV pets and sing together “Shout out for the earth, now LET’S GET LOUD!” they call out, pumping their fists before they both start to jump around.

Hollie jumps up onto the ottoman. “Come on, pet friends, jump up for the earf!”

“Everybody stomp your feet!” Rowan sings, and both of them proceed to stomp until Hollie falls over in fits of laughter as Rowan improvises really, really terrible dance moves.

It's fucking adorable.

I start a slow clap as I enter the room with what I’m sure is a fairly lovesick look on my face.

Rowan spins around; he looks ridiculous, but this might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I start to laugh at the adorable sight that greets me, Rowan makes a surprised face at Hollie.

“Mommy is awake!” he says, reaching his arms out, she jumps into them and he carries her toward me with the same kind of ease I do, propping her on his hip.

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