Page 219 of Keep This Promise
Eden smiles and then starts to pull her covers back. “Where’s Duck?”
I move her pillows and check under the blankets, but I don’t see it. “Did we bring it to Mama James?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Duck stays in bed. He likes the blankets.”
This duck has been in her bed since she was born. “I remember.”
I get up and search under the bed, but it isn’t there either, so I walk around the room, checking to see if maybe it was thrown or . . . who knows. Eden’s routine has always been to put Duck on the pillow with the blanket pulled up.
“Did you find him?”
“Not yet.”
He’s not on the floor or in the laundry basket, so I go through her drawers, and when I pull open the last one, he’s sitting on top.
“Eden, did you put Duck in the drawer?” I ask with a smile.
“No.”
“Well, he got in here somehow.”
Her hands are outstretched for her beloved animal. “You ran away, you silly duck.”
“You misplaced him and need to make sure you don’t put him in a drawer next time.”
Eden’s big eyes find mine. “I didn’t. He was in bed. I kissed him before I left.”
I release a sigh and give her a smile.
“All right, let’s get you tucked in.”
She nestles down in the covers a little more. “I miss Daddy, but I like Holden.”
My heart stutters for a beat because I know this is an opportunity to say something, but I’m not sure what. She is much too young to comprehend biological father and what all that means. Holden and I discussed not making it a thing and allowing everything to fall into place naturally.
“I like Holden too,” I admit.
“And Holden likes you both,” he says from the doorway.
“Can you tell me a story?” Eden asks.
He enters the room and settles on the other side of her. “I could, but I’m not sure you’ll like it, it’s about a crazy cat.”
She giggles. “I like cats!”
“Yes, we’re going to work on that. Emmett is going to bring his puppy over and see if we can get you cured.”
“If I remember correctly,” I break in, “Blakely said that Sunday is a crazy dog.”
“Yes, the people in this town need help with their domestic animals, but that’s for another time. Do you want to hear the crazy cat story?” Holden asks.
Eden nods enthusiastically.
“There was this cat named Mopey. She was the prettiest cat in all the world. But Mopey never told anyone her name.” His eyes widen. “She was a mysterious cat with mysterious eyes. If anyone asked who she was, she wouldn’t speak.”
“Why not?”
Holden looks to me. “Why do you think she did that, Sophie?”
