Page 13 of Paternal Instincts
“Yep. Orange pop.”
Quaid sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Chuckling earned me a narrow-eyed glare. “Lovely balance of foods, by the way. A plus.”
“I aim to please.”
“No wonder she’s talking a mile a minute. How many gummy bears did she eat?”
“A hundred!” Sparrow said with a grin.
“A handful,” I corrected.
Quaid sneered, knowing Sparrow’s approximation was likely more accurate than mine, but my husband knew me too well to stay angry. Hell, it was never anger. Exasperation, sure, but Quaid loved me, flaws and all.
He shuffled, and his expression turned to a familiar picture of worry and despair as he glanced to the hallway to no-man’s-land. Sparrow must have caught the shift in the atmosphere as well.
“Is my daddy still crying?” The child’s joy melted, and her anxious concern returned, making her voice meek and her chin wobble.
“He’s still sad,” Quaid explained, “but we’re going to help him.”
“Did you find Crow yet? He went to soccer but must have forgotten how to get there and got lost. Do you think he’s lost, Detective Quaid?”
“Maybe. We have a lot of looking to do.”
Sparrow glanced at the hallway. “Do I have to go home now?”
If heartbreak could be communicated through the eyes alone, Quaid displayed it. “Yeah, sweetie, but… it’s going to be better. I promise. Mommy and Daddy won’t forget you need them too. I’ll make sure of it. We’ll get someone at the house to help.”
“They forgot my breakfast today.”
“I know.”
“Nobody tucked me into bed last night. I had to go all by myself. No hugs and no kisses.”
“That won’t happen again.”
Sparrow’s bottom lip wobbled. “I wish Crow would come back, then everyone wouldn’t be sad and yelling anymore.”
“I know, sweetie.” Quaid blinked heavily a few times and cleared his throat. “Az…” Even with his gaze locked on Sparrow, I knew what he was going to say.
I spared him the agony. “Take the case.”
He waffled, pressing a fist to his mouth for a long minute before shaking his head. “No. We’re technically on leave, and—”
“And you’re technically a detective whose replacement doesn’t start until Monday.”
“Our baby could be born before Monday. Bryn’s already dilated. The doctor said anytime.”
“Then you’d better find this boy fast.”
He craned his neck, staring at the ceiling. “I can’t.”
“You can.”
“No. I’ll make some calls. I’ll find Jordyn help.”
“But you don’t want to.”
