Page 19 of Escaping the King
The universe must be on my side tonight.
“Dada?”she said in a soft, tiny voice.
I smiled even though it killed me.“Yes, dada's waiting for us in the car,” I lied to my daughter.“Come with me and we'll go find him.”
She grinned at me so big it broke my heart.
Her legs folded in underneath her, and she pushed up.“Dada.”
And my heart broke again.
“Yes, honey.Shh, we have to be very, very quiet, okay?”I scooped her up and kissed her cheek.“Not a sound.Shh,” I whispered into her tiny ear.
Amazingly enough, she listened.Her little arms wrapped around my neck.“Shh,” she repeated, like we were playing a game.
I made sure to grab her bunny and yellow bear from the crib.And her blankie.
I covered her back with the blanket and started walking out of her room.
Before we left, I took one more, deep inhale of her room.Baby powder, the flowery shampoo I used on her hair.And Daniella.
“Goodbye, Dani's room,” I said softly.
And Dani immediately copied me.“Bye, bye room.”Her little hand reached out and waved.
A few more steps and we were in the hall and then the living room.
At the door, I turned and scanned the kitchen where Stefan and I had spent hours and hours cooking.And laughing.And learning how to be friends.
And preparing to be lovers.
Then I looked at the living room, missing its couch.
The couch where Stefan made love to me for the first time.
“Goodbye, kitchen.Goodbye, living room.”
Dani again repeated after me.“Bye, kitchen.Bye, living room.”
I silently opened the door into the dark, cool night air.
5
Carlo
The sun shined in through Giselle's shitty window.I really needed to invest in some better window coverings in here.
What was I talking about?
If I had anything to do about it, this would be the last night we'd spend in this postage stamp of a house.
I stretched and yawned loudly.I looked around and didn't see Giselle.I didn't hear her either.Or Dani, for that matter.
Hmm.
Odd.
I yawned again and sat up.My muscles felt a bit stiff today.Probably from all the extra use last night.
