Page 65 of Stolen Kiss

I found them in Elodie’s room, having a pretend tea party. I said nothing as I leaned against the door frame and took them in.

Neither one of them noticed me, too busy having fun.

Emilia was wearing one of Elodie’s plastic tiaras on her head. Her coat, hat, and scarves had long been removed, and she was pretending to sip on the tea, speaking in a terrible British accent, which had Elodie running absolutely wild.

“Why, thank you,” Emilia said, when Elodie poured into her teacup. Elodie had a pretty big room, mostly because she had a lot of toys—some from me, but most from my mother, who would spoil Elodie rotten if I let her.

Elodie moved around the table, making sure none of her stuffed animals was feeling left out and that they all had their cups filled. That was one thing I had never realized about kids until Elodie.

They were restless.

Elodie was always moving around, even when she was sitting down for dinner. It made for some pretty tiring nights, I admitted, but I loved seeing her like this.

I shifted a little on my feet, and my movements must have caught Elodie’s attention, because she turned to me, shooting me her mother’s smile.

“Daddy!”

She ran over to me and I bent down to pick her up, letting her wrap those small chubby arms around my neck and pulling her close to me.

“Having tea, princess?”

She nodded. “Yes! We’re having tea.” She wiggled, signaling that she wanted me to put her down, and when I did, she grabbed my hand and pulled me further into the room. I could feel Emilia’s eyes on me, but I didn’t look at her until Elodie directed me to the seat next to her.

“Sorry, Mr. Tail,” she said to her stuffed monkey. “But this is Daddy's seat.”

We watched in amusement as she carefully moved Mr. Tail back to his place on her desk in the corner before moving back and pouring me some tea.

I clinked glasses with Emilia, whose green eyes had been focused on me for some time. “I think your Daddy needs a tiara,” she said suddenly to Elodie, a hint of mischief entering her eyes.

Joke was on her. She was wearing the tiara that Elodie had picked out specifically for me.

I knew Elodie thought that, too, because she looked a little indecisive, eyeing the tiara on Emilia’s head.

“Why don’t you bring me the red one?” I suggested to Elodie, who brightened when she realized I wasn’t hurt that she gave my tiara away.

She all but ran across her room to get it, opening her tiara drawers.

“Jesus, how many tiaras did you buy her?” Emilia asked, amusement in her voice.

I looked her dead in the eyes and answered seriously, “Twenty-six.”

Emilia threw her head back and laughed, and I couldn’t help but take her in. That was until Elodie came back and plopped the plastic tiara crookedly on my head.

Emilia took one look at me and laughed again, harder this time. I did a little feminine pose with my hands, which threw her off.

“I think you look very pretty,” she said.

I winked at her. “Thank you. I think so, too.”

Before she could say anymore, Elodie pushed her way between us, placing a small hand on each of our shoulders. “You have to try the tea, Daddy,” she said excitedly.

I kept my eyes on Emilia as I picked up the cup and took a sip.

“Hmmm. Delicious.”

* * *

Dinner was a happy affair,during which Elodie had dominated most of the dinner conversation. I’d never actually seen my little girl so excited over a dinner guest before, and I knew Emilia was feeling overwhelmed, but she indulged Elodie in her endless questions.

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