Page 131 of Doughn't Let Me Go

Kyrie comes trudging her way out of her bedroom, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“Hey, kiddo,” I say as she takes a spot next to me, curling into my side.

I sling my arm around her, holding her close.

I have a feeling she’s going to need my hugs here soon because I’m not stupid enough to think Dory is going to stick around. She’ll leave, just like everyone else does.

Turns out I am stupid enough to think this could have been different.

“Is everything okay?” Kyrie asks, her voice sounding tired. I wouldn’t be surprised if she passed out in the next few minutes.

“Yeah, sweetie. Everything’s just fine.”

She scrunches her face up. “You’re lying.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because you called me ‘sweetie.’ You never call me that.”

I chuckle. Of course she’d catch on to that. “It’s just that Dory isn’t feeling so good.”

It’s not a lie, not technically. I know she’s hurting right now just like I am.

“That makes me sad.”

“Me too, Kyrie. Me too.”

“Should we make her some soup? Soup always makes me feel better when I’m not feeling good. Well, soup and ice cream.”

“It’s too late for soup, andsomeoneate all the ice cream.”

She blushes. “Pancakes, then. We’ll make her some pancakes.”

I smile down at her innocence. “How about in the morning we make her some pancakes? Besides, tomorrow is Wednesday, and Wednesdays mean…”

“Pancakes!”

“Exactly. Deal?”

She sticks her little hand up, and I clasp it in mine. “Deal.”

She snuggles into me closer, and I brush my hand through her hair, pressing a kiss to her head.

“You better not fall asleep out here,” I warn her.

“It’s okay. You can carry me to bed.”

“Is that right?” I grin down at her.

“Yep. You’ve been going to the gym. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for.”

I laugh. “You’re exhausting.”

“I know, but I’m still your favorite.”

She’s quiet for a long time, and I know she’s almost asleep.

“Hey, Dad?”

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