Page 20 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it under control. It happens sometimes with kids, but I’m currently cell phone-less. Do you not remember me telling you that this morning?”

“Apparently not,” I said. “Listen, Clara’s sick. Her school just called.”

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Small fever. Not eating. She’s sleeping through the day.”

“I’m grabbing my things right now. Carter, I’m so sorry. I’ll be at her school in ten minutes.”

“Calm down. Take a breath. I don’t want you behind the wheel of the car-”

The phone call went dead and I heaved a heavy sigh. Shit. Of course I would’ve missed a detail like that. Now the woman probably thought I was upset with her over not having her cell phone. I looked down at the paperwork on my desk and began to pack it up before a notification flashed on my computer.

Fuck. I had a damn investor’s meeting over lunch.

I packed everything in my briefcase and endured the grueling meeting. It was a bunch of rich men bitching about small things. Logan was video-conferenced in to help mitigate and answer their questions, but my mind was elsewhere.

I was worried about Natasha and Clara.

I rushed out of the meeting, taking my paperwork with me. I drove home like a bat out of hell, whipping through traffic and running through yellow lights. My daughter was sick and I wanted to be there for her. I wanted Natasha to know that I wasn’t upset with her for not having her cell phone.

I also wanted to have a talk with Joshua once he got home from school.

I parked my car and raced up to the porch. I barreled through the front door and tossed my briefcase of paperwork off to the side. I shrugged my coat off and hung it up, then strode up the stairs to Clara’s room.

“Clara?” I asked. “You awake, honey?”

But when I pushed her door open to see my sweet little princess, she wasn’t there.

Furrowing my brow, I went back downstairs. I knew Natasha was here because I had parked behind her, but I didn’t know where they were. I walked around upstairs, thinking maybe they had fallen asleep in one of the guest rooms.

But it wasn’t until I made my way into the living room that I found them.

The two of them were fast asleep on the couch. Natasha was propped up with some pillows and Clara’s face was smashed into her chest. Natasha was cradling her close, protecting my daughter even while she slept.

I grinned at the scene as I pulled a blanket from one of the chairs.

I fluttere

d it over their bodies, but the sensation woke Natasha up. She jerked and her eyes flew open, and I jumped back as she shot up. Her arm was held up in front of her face and she tucked Clara into the crook of the couch. Protected between her body and the couch cushions.

And she was panting for air.

Like I had startled her.

“It’s just me,” I said.

Natasha’s eyes grew wide as she whipped her head over to me. She looked down at Clara who was still sound asleep against her body. She quickly put her arm down and raked her hands through her beautiful brown hair, and I saw the fear still percolating behind her eyes.

Who did she think I was?

What had she been reacting to?

“Sorry,” Natasha said breathlessly. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Just wanted to make you guys comfortable,” I said.

“Let’s go get Clara in her bed. I think she’s going to sleep the majority of the day.”

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