Page 83 of Hearts Aweigh
People swerved around them in their rush to sign their kids in to the center. A large man bumped Spencer. He moved closer to Madeleine and wrapped his arms around her to shield her from the crush. He stared at her tear-streaked face. Dismay surged.
This was Abigail O’Brien’s fault. She got a person attached and then disappeared without any remorse.
“I-it’s okay.” He patted Madeleine’s back. “It’s a trick. She’s not really gone.”
“Where is she?” Madeleine cried louder than he’d ever heard her. “Abby?” Her voice broke. “Abby!” She dropped her head to his chest and sobbed.
Spencer’s composure crumbled. His panicked gaze darted around the room. Could anyone help him? He was completely out of his element. How did one make a child stop crying?
A thunk and then a rustle sounded behind him. Abby appeared at his side, almost like another magic trick.
“Here I am, sweetie.” She knelt on the ground and wiped Madeleine’s wet cheeks.
“Aaaaabbyyyyyyy,” his daughter wailed. She threw herself into the woman’s arms.
“Shhh.” Abby hugged her. “Everything’s okay. I didn’t like it in fairyland, and I came home quick.”
Madeleine scrubbed her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I missed you so much.”
“You won’t leave?”
Abby cuddled Madeleine closer. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
Spencer waited. Silent. A childhood memory of weeping in his closet, ever so quietly so his father wouldn’t catch him and deliver another lecture, assailed him. Crying was for losers. It didn’t befit a Masterson. But as the red-haired miracle worker in front of Spencer coaxed a laugh from his daughter, the thought occurred that his early years might have been very different if he’d had someone like Abby to hug him. He didn’t intend for his daughter to experience the same abandonment.
His jaw firmed. “You do realize, Ms. O’Brien, you’ve committed yourself.”
She focused on him for the first time. Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“You promised my daughter you weren’t going anywhere. That counts as a verbal contract.” He leaned close and whispered so Maddie wouldn’t hear. “But more importantly, if you don’t want to break her heart, then you’ll have to be our nanny for the rest of the cruise.”
Her eyes flared, and she jerked away. “I warn you, sir, those things they say about the temperaments of redheads aren’t unfounded rumors. You’re treading in dangerous waters.”
Was it a coincidence that he was kneeling on the ground? It certainly felt like he was willing to beg.
“Please.” He flinched at her furious eyes. “I wish I knew the right words, but I don’t. I … just …please?”
CHAPTER 43
EMILY ANDGERRY STOOD OUTSIDEDaisy and Althea’s cabin door. A stream of passengers rambled down the hallway. Several groups swerved around a couple at the end who were arguing about where to eat dinner.
Gerry frowned at them. “They could use our help.”
Emily didn’t even turn. “We barely have enough time to service our current client.”
“Doesn’t help that two of our crew aren’t answering their walkie-talkies. It would’ve saved us the long walk.”
Emily pounded on the door. It opened to reveal a sleepy Daisy. “Where’s your walkie-talkie?”
Daisy yawned. “It ran out of battery.” She allowed her friends into the small cabin.
Gerry crossed the threshold. “Your son’s looking for you.”
“I’m well aware.” Daisy ambled to her closet. She chose a black cashmere cardigan and slipped her right arm through the sleeve. “That’s why I avoided him until the cruise ended in Galveston and he debarked.”
“Bad news.” Emily leaned her cane against the desk. “He reboarded.”
