Page 36 of The Beat of her Heart

Natalie shrugged, a grin on her face. “We’re not done yet.”

Giselle raised an eyebrow. “Josephine asked me to make sure you didn’t destroy the place.”

Sophie giggled as she grabbed another pillow. “We didn’t destroy it. We just…redecorated.”

She was just like Addie, Giselle thought—the same eyes, the same smile, the same lively tone when they were feeling chatty.

Giselle sighed and walked farther into the room. She picked up one of the books on the floor, glancing at the cover before setting it neatly back on the shelf. “You need to clean up.”

Natalie pouted. “But we’re still playing.”

Sophie jumped onto the bed, pulling the blankets into their fort. “Just a little longer?”

Giselle felt a faint tug of amusement at their pleading faces, but she kept her expression neutral. “Five more minutes. After that, you clean.”

The girls squealed with excitement, immediately resuming their fort-building. Giselle sat down on the edge of the bed, watching them as they scrambled to finish their creation. Despite herself, she found their enthusiasm infectious. The room might have been a bit of a mess, but it was the kind of mess that came from creativity, from the simple joy of being a child.

As the girls worked, Giselle’s eyes drifted to the window, watching the storm continue outside. It was strange, being here,surrounded by warmth and laughter while the weather raged just beyond the glass. Strange, too, how much her mind kept circling back to Addie, who was still downstairs.

“Done!” Natalie declared, snapping Giselle out of her thoughts. The girls stepped back, admiring their pillow fort.

Giselle glanced at it, impressed despite herself. “Not bad.”

Sophie beamed at the praise, but Natalie’s grin quickly turned mischievous. “You should help us build another one.”

Giselle shook her head, standing up. “Not a chance. Time’s up.”

The girls groaned, but started to pick up their toys and books. Giselle bent down to grab a few pillows and stack them neatly by the bed. Despite her earlier reluctance, she found herself enjoying the quiet, simple task of putting the room back in order. It was a welcome distraction from everything else.

As the girls cleaned up, Giselle stole one last glance out the window. The storm still raged, but inside, things felt calm. Maybe even peaceful.

12

ADDIE

“You think the storm will stop anytime soon?” Addie asked.

She stood in front of Josephine and Ember in the living room. The sight of them cuddling up to each other and exchanging kisses reminded her that it had been ages since she’d experienced anything like that.

Josephine looked up. “Stop? I doubt that.”

“I’m sorry, Addie,” Ember said. “But you have to spend the night here.”

“I’m sure Sophie won’t mind,” Josephine added. “She’d be ecstatic to have a sleepover.”

Addie couldn’t decide how to react. She stared back at the couple that had just ambushed her with an unplanned sleepover.

“Besides, I doubt Giselle would be willing to drive back during a storm.”

Addie sighed. She’d completely forgotten that she’d have to go home with Giselle. If Giselle wouldn’t drive, then she was stuck here for the night.

“I guess it’s not a big deal,” Addie said.

It wasn’t a completely bad idea. Sophie would love the idea of a sleepover here, just as Josephine had said.

“Perfect,” Ember said. “We’ll just set up a room for you both.”

“You both?” Addie blinked furiously. “Sophie won’t be?—”

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