Page 72 of A Whirlwind of Color (The Light to My Darkness 2)

Chapter 27

Monday

“Daddy!” Scarlett screamed when he opened the front door. She flew into his arms as soon as he got down on his knees to catch her.

“I thought you disappeared,” she sobbed into his shoulder. “You weren’t here when I woke up. I thought you left like Mommy.”

Ouch.

“I’m right here, pumpkin.” He slowly stood up, hugging her close. “And I’m not going anywhere. We’ve talked about this. People don’t just disappear, okay? I’m right here. And your mom is here too.”

“We talked about that. But you also promised you’d be here when I woke up. You promised, Daddy.” She was holding on to him so tightly I thought she might be strangling him.

“I know, I’m sorry. We were visiting Liam and it took a little longer than we thought.”

“You could have taken me with you. Don’t leave me again.” She sniffled.

He ran his hand up and down her back. He looked stressed, and strained, and tired. She was angry with him and it was my fault. I was the one that had kept saying one more minute when I was holding Liam. It was my fault that he broke his promise.

I gently touched Scarlett’s arms. “It’s my fault, Scarlett. It was my first time meeting him. He’s cute, isn’t he? It’s hard to leave him at the hospital when he’s so cute.”

She lifted her head over James' shoulder. “You left me.”

Oh, Scarlett. That wasn’t what I meant at all. I watched her blink her tear stained eyes. “I’m back now. And I’m not going anywhere.”

She shook her head and hid against James’ chest.

I guess she didn’t believe me. I had broken her trust. And I didn’t know how to get it back. Because I didn’t know her. “What do you want to do today, Scarlett?” I asked. “We can do anything you want. You just name it.”

James started shaking his head back and forth.

“The zoo!” she screamed.

James sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He needed a break from sick kids and demanding ones. I was here to help. And I wanted to spend time with Scarlett.

“How about just us girls?” I asked. “It’ll be fun.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” James said.

Couldn’t he see that I was doing it for him? He needed a break. “It’ll be fun. Scarlett, do you want to go get ready? We’ll leave in a few minutes.”

She practically leapt out of James’ arms and ran toward the stairs.

James was glaring at me. I doubted he had any idea how handsome he was when he glared. I certainly wasn’t going to tell him. Him looking hot as sin was the one thing that made the daggers he was throwing with his gaze bearable.

“Penny, I really don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“I saw your face when she mentioned the zoo. I know you don’t want to tell me what’s going on with you, but I can tell you need rest. Let me do this.”

“I’m not comfortable with you taking her by yourself.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because you ran out on us a couple days ago. Because…”

“I didn’t know about her.”

“That's fair.” His Adam’s apple rose and fell. “You ran out on me. Not her. But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t know anything about her. You’re taking her to a crowded public place. She likes to run off when she’s excited.”

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