Page 82 of Sinner's Salvation

“You’re scared,” Leia says.

“Was that a guess?”

“No. My daddy showed me how to read emotions on people’s faces.” I don’t know if that’s a lesson a three-year-old should learn.

“We’ll be fine. I will take care of you,” she adds with a confidence I don’t possess. I smile at this amazing little being. I hope she will never know fear.

Alessandra descends the stairs, putting her hair in a messy bun. She takes Leia into her arms and peppers her face with kisses, sending me another thankful glance.

“The girls should be here any minute.”

When I’m alone with Leia, I freeze.

“I won’t touch you. Mommy said to respect other people’s boundaries, but why don’t you like touches?”

A blush heats my neck. I like Cameron’s touch just fine, which is absurd because I deny the people I actually like from touching me. “Can you keep a secret?”

Excitement transforms her little face, and she nods eagerly.

“When I was little, I got sick. Really sick.”

Her lips turn down and I add through a lump in my throat, “And it was so bad that no one could touch me.”

“I won’t let anyone touch you either.”

My heart swells at how sweet she is. “Thank you.”

“Mommy says girls have to look after each other.”

“You have great parents.”

“I do. Now, let’s play.”

She hops off the couch, and I follow her upstairs toward a bedroom of what most little girls could only dream of. The walls and the furniture are white and pink. There’s a nook where books are scattered across a cozy blanket. Fairy lights dangle over the window, and countless plush animals line the bed.

“This is my favorite.” Leia shows me a turtle. “Is it dangerous if you touch it? They are clean, but we shouldn’t risk it.”

Fighting with strong emotions, I sit cross-legged on a soft carpet in the middle of the room. She tells me the animals’ names and even their family relationships. A squirrel who is the descendant of a bear, and a snake that’s cousins with a rabbit. It is so cute that I have to suppress a smile. While she plays, emotions overwhelm me. I missed this with my sister. I’m sure Serena was just as adorable as Leia.

Her small face scrunches up. “Why are you crying?”

I dab at the corners of my eyes, wiping the tears away. “I just remembered something.”

She pads toward me. “It’s okay to be sad from time to time.”

The doorbell rings, and she rushes from the room while I run after her. The moment she sees Chiara’s daughter, Celia, they take off up the stairs. Chiara yells after them not to run.

“Does that ever work?” Aurora asks.

Chiara shakes her head at her daughter.

“She takes after him.”

“Please. I prayed she’d take after Cato,” Aurora adds.

Chiara shoves Aurora playfully. I smile at the deep bond between them. They continue to bicker, but even for an outsider like me, it’s obvious they are anything but at ease.

“Hi,” I say.

---