“WE HAVE A lead.”
With those four words I fell out of the chair I occupied in the kitchen.
Hayes quickly helped me up and back into the chair.
“A lead?” I repeated. “What kind of lead?”
“Someone spotted what we believe to be Todd’s vehicle outside an abandoned warehouse in the New York area. Officers in that area are heading over to investigate now.”
For the first time in the five days since Mia went missing I was able to breathe.
I pulled in a lungful of air, letting it soothe my aching soul.
“Remember, this is only a lead,” Officer Myers reminded me, “it could be nothing.”
“But for now it’s something.” I said, my body relaxing with relief at finally having some sort of information. “She might be there.” I looked from the officers around the room to Hayes. “Right?”
“Possibly,” Officer Myers replied.
“How long until we know more?” I pleaded.
He shrugged. “Within the hour, I’d say.”
I smiled and my face felt stiff and awkward from the motion since I hadn’t smiled in days.
“I’m going to call my mom and let her know.” I told Hayes as I jumped up from the chair. I kissed his cheek as I passed.
Out in the hallway I pulled my phone from my pocket and called my mom. She answered on the first ring.
“Do you know anything?” Were the first words out of her mouth.
“Someone reported a truck that could be Todd’s outside an abandoned warehouse.”
Her sigh of relief echoed across the line. “Oh I hope this is it. I hope they find her.”
“Me too.” I leaned my head against the wall. “It’s the first lead we’ve had, so I hope it’s not too good to be true.”
“Think positive, sweetie. Do you want your dad and I to head up there to be with you?”
I shook my head, which was silly since she couldn’t even see me. “No,” I tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear, “it’s too far for you guys to come here. I’m fine. I have Hayes and the officers are here right now.”
“Okay. Well, we’ll come if you want us. Just call.”
“I know. I love you, mom.”
“Love you, sweetie.”
I hung up the phone and tucked it against my chest, saying a silent prayer that they finally found my daughter.
Hayes and I sat on the couch in the family room while we waited for news.
Well, he sat.
I paced.
Up and down the room I walked, over and over again.
I couldn’t sit still if my life depended on it.
“Arden,” he warned lowly, “you’re wearing a hole in the rug. Sit down, please.”
“I can’t!” I wrung my hands together and continued my pacing.
Hayes sighed, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
“I hate waiting,” I muttered, walking by him.
“At least we know something,” he replied. “It’s better than the whole lot of nothing we’ve been hearing the past few days.”
“That’s true,” I agreed, but didn’t cease my endless pacing.
“Arden.” He snagged my arm the next time I passed him and pulled me down on the couch beside him. “You’re giving me heartburn just watching you.”
“I don’t know how that would happen, but whatever.” I crossed my arms over my chest, but one of my legs bounced restlessly.
In front of us the news played. They were talking about Mia’s abduction and pleading with the public for help—they hadn’t been given the updated information on the lead yet.
“I hope she’s okay,” I whispered, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“She is okay,” he vowed, resting his head on top of mine, “we just have to find her. That’s all.”
“He hit me, Hayes. He abused me over and over again. What’s to say he won’t do the same to Mia?”
He let out a weary sigh. “There is no guarantee, but I have to believe that even he isn’t so fucked up that he’d hurt a child. His child.”
Beyond the room I heard a flurry of activity and the officers voices rose.
I ran from the room and into the kitchen where they’d taken residence.
“What is it? What do you know?” I clasped my hands together and bounced on the balls of my feet.
Officer Myers stepped forward and he was grinning.
“You found her!” I exclaimed. He had to be smiling because they found her, right? “Please tell me you found her!”
He nodded his head eagerly. “We found her. She was in the abandoned warehouse and the truck that was spotted belonged to Todd James.”
“So, she’s okay? She’s not hurt? When do I get to see her?” I rattled off question after question.
“She appears to be fine, maybe a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. A medical team will be looking her over to be sure, though. Once they know she’s indeed okay, and stable enough to travel, she’ll be brought back.”
“Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I basically tackled the poor officer in my haste to hug him.
Officer Myers lifted his arms and awkwardly patted my back in his pathetic attempt to show affection.
Pulling away from him I stepped back into Hayes’ embrace. He held me tight, burying his face into the skin of my neck and that was when I felt his wet tears.
He’d had to be the strong one through all of this, and now was his moment to break.
I held him tight. “I love you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being you. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for everything.”
“That’s what love is,” he murmured against my neck, “it’s loving someone through every storm. You don’t ever need to thank me for that.”
“Yes, I do.” I assured him, pressing a wet kiss to his cheek.
I turned to Officer Myers and Hayes wrapped his arms around me, his front to my back, not wanting to let me go.
“Is it possible for us to meet them halfway and get her ourselves?” I questioned—throwing in some puppy dog eyes for good measure.
Officer Myers winced, his lips twisted with displeasure. “Well, you see…there’s a bit of a problem.”
My blood ran cold. “What kind of problem? You said she was okay? What could possibly be wrong?”
Office Myers looked behind him at another officer. When that officer nodded he turned back to us.
“We found Mia.”
“Yes, I got that.” I grinned. “You found her and she’s okay.”
“But that’s it,” he said, his dark brows furrowed with worry. “We only found her. Todd was not in the warehouse.”
“Oh my God.” My eyes widened in horror. “So you mean he’s still out there? He could do this again?”
Officer Myers nodded sadly. “I’m afraid so. We’ll be releasing a statement soon about Mia being found, and we’ll blast Todd’s face everywhere. We will find him.”
“So what does that have to do with us not being allowed to get her?”
Officer Myers nodded to himself. “This has been a high profile case due to your…uh…status.” He glanced at Hayes. “We just want to make sure we do this right and keep her safe so she’ll be in police custody the whole way here. It’s the safest option with Todd still on the loose.”
“I understand.” I was disappointed, but I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize Mia.
I couldn’t believe she was safe and okay and that she was coming home.
“I need to call my mom and our friends, to let them know.”
“Of course,” Officer Myers nodded, taking a step back. “We’ll be here until she arrives and if there are any updates regarding Todd I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you,” I said again.
I backed out of the room and called my mom while Hayes called his.
When his mom found out that Mia was missing she’d been beyond hysterical that this was happening. Hayes told me she was the one that had made the soup he’d gotten me to eat. She’d driven all the way here to deliver the soup herself, and had wanted to see me, but Hayes had talked her out of seeing me since I hadn’t been in the best frame of mind. Thank God for that, since I might’ve thrown something at her. Not that I’d thrown things at people or anything. Okay, only once, and it was at Casey.
My mom answered on the first ring, just like the last time. I was pretty sure her phone was permanently glued to her hand at this point.
“Anything?” She said in greeting.
“They found her.” A sob bubbled out of my throat. I was so relieved and now my emotions were all over the place.
“Oh thank God!” She cried and her own sobs filled the line.
“I feel like I can finally breathe,” I admitted.
“Oh, I’m sure sweetie. I can’t believe this happened, but at least she’s been found and safe.”
“I know. But Todd wasn’t with her, which means he’s still out there and could try something like this again.”
She clucked her tongue. “That isn’t good.”
“No, it’s not,” I sighed, “but Mia’s okay and that’s all that matters.”
“When will she be home?”
“Hopefully tonight.” I pushed my hair away from my face. “I don’t know if I could stand it if they made me wait until tomorrow.”
“Once she’s there and everything is settled your dad and I want to come see her.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for all your help, mom.”
“Of course. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up and called Sadie to let her know everything and she promptly burst into tears of relief. We were all an emotional bunch right now—but I was thankful to have friends that cared so deeply.
By the time Hayes and I finished making our rounds of phone calls I felt more exhausted than I had in days. Now that I knew that Mia was safe my adrenaline had faded.
We found ourselves back on the couch, and I lay down on my side with my head in his lap.
“It’s over,” Hayes said, stroking his fingers through my hair before settling his hand on my neck.
“Is it?” I questioned, worry still plaguing me.
“It has to be,” he whispered.
The sky was dark, completely black with not even the hint of stars or the moon, when the cop car containing Mia pulled into Hayes’ driveway.
I’d been on the front steps for the last fifteen minutes, waiting anxiously for her arrival, despite Hayes’ demand that it was too cold for me to sit outside. He’d joined me anyway, and wrapped a big fluffy blanket around my shoulders to help keep me warm.
When I saw the car turn into the driveway I took off running. I didn’t think I’d ever run that fast in my entire life.
The car stopped and I pulled the door open.
Almost immediately Mia dove into my arms, her tears dampening my shirt.
“Oh, baby girl,” I sobbed holding her tight and inhaling her scent in an effort to convince myself of the fact that she was really here, “I’m never letting you go,” I vowed.
“Momma,” she sobbed, “I twas so scared.”
“I know, baby, I’m so sorry.” I squeezed her tight and then peppered her face with kisses. There was a small scratch on her nose, but other than that she appeared to be fine. “I love you so much.” I held her tight again.
I felt the warmth of Hayes’ hand on my shoulder and I turned to look up at him, surprised to see that he was fighting back tears.
“Come here,” I told him.
Without hesitation he squatted down beside me and wrapped his arms around Mia and me.
“I was so worried about you, Mia,” he choked. “I missed you.”
I watched in quiet fascination as tears streaked his face.
“I’m so happy to have my family back,” he whispered, kissing my forehead and then Mia’s.
Mia pulled from my arms and dove into his, squeezing him as tight as she had me. “I mwissed you too. I wuv you.” She sniffled, choking on her own tears.
“I love you too.” He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, laying his head on hers.
He stood, picking up Mia in the process. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight as we trekked back to the house.
The officers were standing outside waiting for us, unable to hide their own smiles.
“Thank you,” I said again for the millionth time, and proceeded to hug each and every one of them.
I’d admit, I hadn’t been the nicest to them—when you were worried out of your mind about your child you weren’t nice to anyone—but they’d done their job and brought my daughter back to me. I knew some parents weren’t as lucky as I was.
This could’ve been a whole lot worse.
Hayes set Mia down inside the foyer and thanked the officers like I had.
“We’re going to continue searching for Todd, this isn’t over yet,” Officer Myers warned us forlornly. “The officers discovered some evidence in the warehouse that he was planning to hold her for ransom.” He glanced at Hayes when he said this. “Just be careful, alright?”
“We will,” I promised, reaching out and holding Mia’s hand.
I wouldn’t be letting Mia out of my sight until she was like…thirty, and maybe not even then. I was going to be taking ‘over-protective’ to a whole new level.
“We’ll pack up our stuff and head out. If you see anything suspicious call me.” Officer Myers handed me a card with his information and headed back into the kitchen with the other officers following him.
“I’m going to go give her a bath and put her to bed,” I told Hayes as I absentmindedly stroked my fingers down Mia’s cheek, “can you stay and see them out?”
“Yeah, of course.” He nodded.
I picked Mia up and carried her upstairs—despite the fact that she was now too big for me to do this—I just needed to hold her close.
I set her down in the bathroom and began to run warm water, adding in a dash of bubbles.
“Momma missed you so much, baby girl.” I took her face in my hands before helping her undress.
She had a few more scrapes aside from the one on her nose, and a couple of bruises too. I felt relieved, because I knew it could’ve been a lot worse.
“I mwissed you too.” She sniffled, wiping at her nose.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and into bed.”
I lifted her into the bathtub since it was too high for her to climb in by herself.
She splashed in the bubbles for a minute, before she said, “Momma?”
“Yes, baby girl?” I rested my arms on the top of the bathtub.
“Will you sweep in my bed tonight?” She wouldn’t look at me when she asked the question, like she was embarrassed.
“Of course, honey.”
I’d always do anything for her, and if she wanted me to sleep in her bed tonight then I would. But I was beyond worried about what kind of effect this would have on her. Could children develop PTSD? I’d have to Google that later, although knowing Google that would only scare me further.
I figured I’d need to have Mia see a therapist. That seemed a bit drastic at her age, but she’d been kidnapped by her own father and he’d planned to hold her for ransom, so in my book that seemed like something a therapist would need to help with. I didn’t want to do nothing and have this affect her for the rest of her life.
Mia grew quiet, so I quickly washed her hair and body before helping her out and wrapping her up in the fluffiest towel I could find.
“You’re a brave, strong girl,” I told her as I put her pajamas on her.
“I am?”
I nodded emphatically. “The strongest.”
That got her to smile and I felt the vice around my heart start to lessen a bit.
Neither one of us was going to be okay tonight, or tomorrow, or even the next day, but eventually all would be well again.
Mia fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
I propped my head in my hands and lay watching her sleep. I was afraid if I closed my eyes I’d wake up and find that this was all a dream and she was still missing. I wasn’t sure my heart could take that. It’d been beaten enough.
Eventually the door creaked open and between the slice of light from the hallway I could see Hayes’ silhouette.
I waved him forward and he tiptoed into the room so that he didn’t wake Mia.
Leaning over the bed, he whispered, “They’re gone.”
I nodded in response and patted the empty space beside me in the large bed. “She wants me to sleep in here tonight. Will you stay too?”
His eyes shimmered with relief. “I don’t want to be without either of you,” he confessed, slipping into bed behind me and leaned around me to look at Mia. He smoothed his large fingers over her small cheek. “I didn’t know it was humanly possible to experience what I’ve felt the past few days.”
“I didn’t either,” I concurred, burrowing under the covers.
Hayes lay back and wrapped his arms around me. “Go to sleep, Little Bird. It’s over now. Rest.” His lips brushed against my ear as he spoke, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Try,” another brush of his lips, “she needs you to be strong for her and you can’t do that if you’re dead on your feet.”
I peered around him at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was nearing one in the morning.
“I’ll try.”
His hand slid up my back, settling on my neck and he massaged the tense muscle. My eyes grew heavy and I yawned.
When he started humming I was a goner, and sleep claimed me peacefully.
I sat bolt upright from a dead sleep.
The clock flashed that it was nearing five o’ clock in the morning, so I’d only been asleep for a few hours.
Beside me, Mia slept peacefully and Hayes was completely knocked out with his arm crossed over his face.
My heart raced inside my chest and I rubbed my hand over it, like somehow that gesture would slow it.
And that’s when I heard it.
Footsteps downstairs.
Casey and Greg were staying in the guesthouse over the garage, and it was complete with a kitchen and everything, so there was no logical reason as to why one of them would be in the house.
My throat closed and I shook with fear.
Something told me that this was bad.
Very bad.
Bad with a capital B.
I shook Hayes awake.
He startled awake, slinging his arms around. “Huh? What is it?”
I slapped a hand over his mouth and his eyes widened.
“What?” He mumbled against my hand.
I made a shushing gesture against my mouth.
“Listen,” I mouthed.
He grew quiet and we both heard the sound of someone coming upstairs.
“Take her and get into the closet or…just fucking hide,” he hissed, rolling out of bed.
“What about you?” I whispered as he tiptoed to the bedroom door.
“I’ll be fine,” he mouthed back, slipping from the room.
I watched in horror as he left the room. I wanted to run after him, to stop him from whatever he was going to do, but Mia was my top priority.
I grabbed her into my arms and she startled awake. I immediately put my hand over her mouth so that she wouldn’t scream. Her mouth opened beneath my hand, like she was going to bite me, but when she saw that it was me she relaxed.
I carried her into the closet and eased the door closed just as I heard the person top the stairs.
The closet was large and I carried her all the way into the back, sitting her on the floor behind a box filled with blankets.
“Mia, listen to mommy…I need you to be very quiet. Do you hear me?” I waited for her to nod. “Whatever you do, don’t make a sound.”
She nodded again.
“I love you. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
Before I could talk myself out of leaving her I eased out of the closet and tiptoed into the bathroom.
I heard the sound of whoever was in the house rummaging through a room a few doors down. They were close, too close for comfort, and I needed a weapon. I refused to be defenseless.
I remembered seeing a heavy-duty flashlight in one of the bathroom drawers, but I couldn’t remember which one.
With my heart beating unsteadily I rummaged through the drawers as quietly as I could.
I found the flashlight in the third drawer I checked, and I held it tightly in my hand.
I eased the drawer closed, taking a deep breath before I passed out.
“Mia, come out, come out, where ever you are.”
Todd.
He laughed manically, and I knew then that he was truly off his rocker.
I started to ease out of the bathroom but I caught sight of his shadow approaching the room, so I quickly ducked back inside, holding my breath.
“Mia, I just want to play. Don’t you want to play with your daddy?”
I held the flashlight so tight in my hands that my fingers started to go numb.
I heard his feet shuffling against the carpet and I pressed my back against the wall, praying he didn’t glance in the bathroom and see my reflection.
“Mia, where are you?” He called. Clucking his tongue, he said, “It’s not very nice to hide from your daddy.”
In the reflection of the mirror I saw him bend down and peer under the bed.
He reached under it and when he pulled his arm out I saw that he was clutching one of her many stuff animals. He held the panda tightly in his hands, gritting his teeth as he stood.
“I know you’re here, you little brat!” He yelled, his voice echoing off of the high ceilings. “Where are you?”
With another cry he stripped off the bed covers and threw them on the floor.
“Arden! I know you’re here too! You whore!”
I pressed a shaking hand over my mouth.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know about your transgressions? You belong to me, and only me.” He spun around the room, looking for any sign of us. When he wasn’t looking towards the bathroom I eased down behind the counter, squatting on the floor.
I couldn’t see him from this vantage point, but I hoped that meant he couldn’t see me either.
I had counted to thirty in my head when he finally crossed the threshold into the bathroom.
I was shaking like a leaf, but I knew I had to do something.
I jumped up, taking him by surprise.
“Arden!” He made to grab for me, but by some miracle I was faster. My arm had reared back with the flashlight and I brought it down on his face.
His nose shattered with a satisfying crack and blood spurted all over the bathroom as he stumbled back.
I ran from the bathroom, but my foot stumbled over the stupid stuffed panda and I went tumbling to the floor. My knee sliced with pain and I rolled over in time to see Todd running from the bathroom.
He collapsed on top of me, pinning me to the floor with his weight.
My face stung with a sharp slap from his hand and I whimpered.
“Fucking bitch.” He spat blood on my face.
“Get off of me,” I cried, struggling against his hold.
When I’d fallen the flashlight had rolled from my grip and I had no idea where it’d gone.
Now, I was completely and utterly defenseless.
“I can’t believe you ever thought you could get rid of me.” He held my arms above my head.
“You left me, remember?” I bucked against him, my face wet with tears.
“Bitch,” he shook me, and my head rolled on my neck, “you were still mine. That pretty boy thought he could have you, but he was wrong.” Smiling sadistically he made a show of looking around, and said, “And where is he? Because he’s certainly not here.”
“Look again.”
My whole body sagged with relief at the sound of Hayes’ voice.
Todd’s lips twisted in a smile and he glanced over his shoulder to see that Hayes had emerged from the closet.
I heard the click of a gun and my body froze before I realized that Hayes was the one with the gun.
“If you know what’s good for you,” Hayes said slowly, like he was speaking to someone stupid, “you’ll get off of her.”
“You’re not going to shoot me.” Todd laughed. In the face of a gun the fucker actually laughed.
“Do you really want to tempt the guy with the gun?”
“Have it your way then.” Todd stood slowly.
“Hands in the air,” Hayes warned him.
Todd chuckled. “What are you? The police?”
“No, but they’re on their way and they have even bigger guns.”
Todd threw his head back and laughed. Once he was completely standing Hayes directed him to step away from me—which he did, after he managed a good kick to my stomach.
Hayes growled his disapproval, but kept his eyes and the gun trained on Todd.
“Are you okay?” He asked me.
“Yeah,” I squeaked, clutching my side and trying to regain my breath.
“Well aren’t you two just the sweetest.” Todd’s voice dripped with false sweetness and then he lunged toward Hayes.
I screamed, crying out like I was the one that had been hurt.
The gun went off with a loud pop and I was sure my heart had stopped with it.
“HAYES!” I yelled out as he stumbled back.
Todd fell to the ground, clutching the bloody area of his groin, and I sobbed in relief that Hayes wasn’t the one hurt.
Todd bellowed on the ground, crying out in pain.
“Oh shut up,” Hayes groaned, pushing a piece of hair from his eyes before reaching down to help me up.
“Ow,” I mumbled, holding onto my ribs.
“Do you think they’re broken?” Hayes asked me, keeping his eyes on Todd in case he decided to lunge for us again.
“No,” I breathed out through the pain, “just sore.”
“Momma! Momma!” Mia cried from inside the closet.
The pain I felt was momentarily washed away by a burst of adrenaline.
I ran past Hayes and into the open closet. Mia was still hiding behind the box and I pushed it out of the way, dropping to my knees, and wrapping my arms around her.
Her tears wet my shoulder and she clutched at me like she was terrified I might be ripped away at any second.
“Is da bad man gone?” She sniffled, her little hands clinging to my shirt like it was the only thing holding her up.
“He will be,” I promised. “It’s over this time. He’ll never bother us again.”
Outside I heard the sound of sirens and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Mia sobbed against me. “I twas so scared momma.”
“I know, baby girl, but you did good. You kept quiet just like I asked.”
She hiccupped and I pushed her back slightly so I could dry her face with my hands.
“The police are here and they’re going to arrest the bad man,” I promised her. “You’ll never see him again.”
She continued to shake in my arms and I picked her up, carrying her out of the closet.
Todd still clutched the injured area on his upper thigh; sweat beading on his top lip.
Hayes kept the gun trained on him, just in case, and I held Mia’s head against my shoulder so she wouldn’t see it. I was sure the sound of the gunshot had traumatized her enough.
Downstairs we heard the front door being busted open.
“We’re up here!” Hayes called.
Feet pounded on the steps and a moment later at least five cops burst into the room, guns aimed at the ready.
It was like something you’d see in a movie or a TV show, only this was very much real.
The officers grabbed Todd and handcuffed him roughly.
“Hey, careful, I’ve been shot,” Todd whined.
“Oh, shut up.” Officer Myers shook him a bit before pushing him forward. “Anyone that kidnaps a little girl and breaks into a house to…I don’t even want to know…deserves a lot worse than what you got.”
Todd growled and started shouting out obscenities, his eyes roaming around crazily. It seemed that he’d only now realized he was actually being arrested and there was no way he was getting out of this.
The officers escorted him from the room and a paramedic came into the room to look all of us over.
Mia flinched away from the paramedic and tears stung my eyes. My poor baby girl had been through more than most adults. I was beyond worried about her well-being, but I kept comforting myself with the fact that kids were resilient.
“Sweetie,” the paramedic coaxed, “I need to make sure you’re okay. Do you want your mommy to hold your hand while I check you?” He kept his voice as calm and even as possible.
Mia nodded against my shoulder and I set her down on the bed. I didn’t move from her side as he checked her over.
“All good.” He smiled at her and with a flourish produced a sticker from his pocket. It was a pink glittery unicorn. “That’s for you.”
“Tank you,” she said, and quickly scurried back into my arms.
Several officers returned then, taking our report of the account for their records.
Mia clung to me tightly, like a little monkey.
Hayes smoothed his hand down her back, trying to comfort her.
“What the hell is going on?” Greg asked, strolling into the bedroom.
Hayes rolled his eyes. “I was doing your job, that’s what. Thank God Trace insisted I get a gun license and learn to shoot, it sure came in handy tonight.” He glanced down at the bloodstain on the carpet from Todd’s injury.
“Ah, hell,” Greg groaned, tugging at the strands of his hair.
Casey appeared in the doorway behind him with his shirt on backwards and wearing two different shoes. “We heard sirens.”
“Really?” Hayes said sarcastically. “I must’ve missed that.”
“So…he showed up here?” Greg asked, staring around the room nervously.
“Obviously…and just so you know, if Mia wasn’t here right now I’d call you some pretty colorful names but I’m trying to be a grownup.”
“I’ll let you pity punch me later,” Greg mumbled.
“We’re heading out now,” one of the officers spoke, tossing a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s all we need from you, but once this thing heads to court you’ll both need to testify.”
“Of course,” Hayes sighed. “I’ll walk you out. You two, come with me.” He eyed his bodyguards.
Everyone filed out of the room and it was just Mia and me.
“I don’t wanna be in hwere,” she confessed, looking up at me with wide blue eyes.
“I don’t blame you, baby girl. I don’t want to be in here either.”
I stood and carried her into Hayes’ room. She scurried up the bed and under the covers.
“Can I watch a mwovie?” She asked, drawing the blankets up to her chin.
“Yeah, sweetie,” I said, rummaging through the DVDs in the bedroom. There were a few of Mia’s movies in here so I held them aloft and let her pick. I wasn’t surprised when she chose The Little Mermaid.
The movie had just started when I heard Hayes top the stairs.
“We’re in your room!” I called, knowing he’d check the guestroom first and freak when he didn’t see us.
Stepping into the room he leveled me with a look. “Our room.”
I shook my head. “Nope, your house, your room.” I climbed into the middle of the bed beside Mia.
She watched the TV like the movie was the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen. I hoped the movie helped to ease the thoughts that were no doubt plaguing her. I brushed her hair away from her forehead and kissed the skin there.
Hayes looked down at me sternly before getting in the bed.
“I want you guys to stay here.”
“Hayes,” I mumbled. “You have to be kidding. After everything you want us to stay?”
“I’m serious,” he said adamantly. “The thought of staying in this house without my girls…it makes me sad. I love having you both here. I thought I was content by myself, but this short time with you guys has shown me how empty this place was. Now that it’s filled with laughter and love I don’t want to see it barren again.”
“You really have a way with words,” I told him.
He chuckled. “Maybe I was Shakespeare in another life.”
I patted his chest mockingly. “That’s cute that you think that, but no.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest. “It doesn’t feel like I should be able to laugh right now,” he admitted, “not after everything we’ve been through.”
“It’s over,” I whispered. “We can’t dwell on it forever.” I glanced over at Mia and was surprised to find that she’d fallen asleep. I sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t have any nightmares, but I doubted that would be enough to keep the demons away. Rolling back towards Hayes, I said, “We were supposed to leave for Disney in two days.”
“I know,” he winced, “I guess I should cancel that.”
I shook my head. “I think the opposite. It would probably be good for Mia to get away from here for a while—instead of surprising her I think we should just tell her though. I wouldn’t want to scare her.”
He nodded and a small smile graced his lips. “Sounds good. We’ll tell her in the morning.”
I rolled over onto my other side then and snuggled close to Mia. I wasn’t at all surprised when his body wound around mine.
Neither of us were perfect, and everything we’d been through was enough to tear us apart, but we were both fighters and nothing would ever bring us down.