Page 22 of Broken Strings

I hope you never lose that ferocity, Bug.

“I’m so sorry I took so long. Washing that Joker out of my hair was tough going.”

The corner of her bow-lips twitches for a split second before she gets a rein on her emotions. “Well, I think I deservetwosongs after waiting so long…”

She holds two fingers up as though flipping me the bird, even though I know she’s only displaying the number of songs she wants, and the intense determination on her face almost cracks me up.

“Okay then, Bug. You’ve got it. Two songs. Which ones?”

Straightening herself up, my little girl smiles brightly in anticipation of this part of her nightly routine. “The sunshine song, please.”

Smiling, I climb onto her bed and gather my baby girl close to my chest. Dropping a kiss to the top of her head, I begin to sing, “You Are My Sunshine,” and before I’ve hit the second chorus, she’s softly snoring in the safety of my embrace.

Taking another couple of moments to ready myself to go back downstairs, I inhale my daughter’s comforting scent to bolster my now flagging confidence.

“A week to fall back in love with me, Bam.”

I swallow harshly, suddenly doubtful of my abilities and my willingness to overlook the last fifteen years, but I push it down, deep down, and tell myself I can have this one week before inviting reality back into the mix.

Because I’m not stupid. I know that eventually, we’ll have to discuss everything, but I’m hoping that by the time we do, I’ll have won her heart back so that she’ll stick around, regardless of what made her leave before.

Easing myself out from underneath my sleeping Bug, I slide the covers over her prone form and tuck her favourite plush toy, Huddles Bunny, a gift from Uncle Nate, under her arm. I press a soft kiss to her brow, and she mumbles something about “too many princesses” before snuggling closer to Huddles.

As I back out of her room, I dim the light but don’t turn it off, aware that my girl hates sleeping alone in the dark.

I head for the stairs, only to hear Serena behind me.

“Mr North?”

“Yes, Serena. Is everything okay?”

She nods once. “Well, umm…I was hoping that I might be able to begin work a little later tomorrow morning. My sister needs me—”

I hold up my palm and smile. “Of course. How about you take a couple of days, Serena? We’ll see you back here on Monday.”

Her kind face lights up with a smile. “That would be such a help, Mr North. Thank you!”

I wave her away and move off in the direction of the stairs once again. “Not at all. You’ve not had time off in months now. You’re overdue this break.”

“Don’t forget the monitor for Bella’s room, Mr North. You’ll need to take it overnight.”

Taking the stairs two at a time, I grab the room monitor for Bug’s bedroom that Serena usually takes overnight. Our nanny smiles in acknowledgement when I flick it on and drop it into my pocket before entering the kitchen.

“And that’s how you make the perfect sponge mix.”

Summer and Maggie have their backs to the door I’ve just entered through, so I take a moment to observe them with my shoulder propped against the door.

“I’ve never used room temperature ingredients, Maggie. I’m pretty sure you’re pulling my leg with that one.”

I can hear the teasing mirth in Summer’s American-twinged tone, which brings a smile to my lips.

“Just you wait and see, dearie.”

“You bake?”

My words clearly shock her. Summer spins around and drops an egg to the marble floor at her feet with a loudcrackthat sounds throughout the silence of the kitchen.

“I’ll go and finish the laundry—”

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