Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
My knees knock together, and I have to grip the bedrail to keep upright. Johnny...dead? Is that what she is saying?
“Next time we should bring Johnny mint chocolate chip. That’s his favorite with marshmallows. He likes marshmallows a lot. He once fitted twenty in his mouth.”
Paige. I rush out of the room and pick Paige up before she can see her dad.
“Bear.” She wiggles. “Put me down. My daddy is asking for me.”
Honey grimaces and puts her hands up. Somehow the wires got crossed, I guess. I am not equipped for this. I sink down to my haunches and set Paige on her two feet, still keeping her inside the circle of my arms like I can protect her from all of the hurts in the world. “Kid, you know how your daddy got hit in the head?”
Paige nods.
“He’s not going to wake up from it. Doctor said his head is hurt too bad so he’s going upstairs to box with the angels.”
The chocolate ice cream scoop slides off of Paige’s cone and onto the floor. None of us bother to clean it up. “You’re wrong. Daddy said he needs to see me. That’s what Shannon said.”
“Oh shit, honey.” I gather the little girl to my chest and push her head on to my shoulder. “He’s seeing you right now. He said he wants me to take care of you down here while he watches both of us from upstairs.”
As understanding sets in, Paige starts crying—not loud wails, but sobs that shake her tiny frame. Honey puts her hand on Paige’s head. I close my eyes and try to absorb as much of Paige’s hurt as possible. I didn’t sign up for this kind of pain, but then again neither did she.
Chapter Fourteen
Honey
I lean up against the door frame watching Bear read Paige her bedtime story. Sometimes she asks him to read her a story from a book and other times she wants Bear to tell her stories about her dad. I don’t know why, but this is my favorite part of the day.
The two of them together always warms my insides. The way she looks at him, with so much trust in her eyes, brings tears to my eyes. Bear can be a gruff man but here at home he’s this gentle giant. I think Johnny knew exactly what he was doing when he entrusted Paige’s care to Bear.
It’s been over a month since Paige’s father passed. One that I wish none of us ever had to experience. The first week was horrible. It was worse than the first week I’d gone into the witness protection program. Each tear that Paige shed had felt as though it were a knife to my heart.
Bear had put his life on hold once Johnny passed to spend time with Paige. He’d cancelled his scheduled fight with Fargo and spent the majority of his time at home. He made sure to be there for as much of her day as possible and to never miss her bedtime story.
Slowly but surely, her mood has started to brighten with each day that passes. There is no sweeter sound than when one of us gets her to let out a giggle. Bear is the best at it. That man has no problem making a total ass out of himself to get her to smile.
My phone in the back pocket of my jean shorts starts to ring. Both Paige and Bear turn to look my way. I pull it out to see that it’s Agent Roberts. My stomach tightens. I never know what I’m going to get when Simon calls.
“Who is it?” Paige asks, her voice filled with sleep. She’s ready to pass out.
“No one, honey.” I step into the room to give her a kiss on the head. Bear’s eyes stay trained on my phone in my hand. I silenced it so it would stop ringing. But I know Simon will call over and over again until I answer. “Good night,” I say before I slip from Paige’s bedroom to answer.
“You never answer when I call,” Simon says when I finally pick up. I roll my eyes.
“I was in the middle of something.” I hate having to defend myself, but with him I always feel as though I have to.
He’s been pushier lately. Or maybe I only think that because I’m hiding what I’m up to. I know he would be beyond pissed if he knew I picked up a nannying job. Not going into the same profession was one of the first things I’d been advised against when I’d gone into WITSEC.
“Your landlord said you haven't been staying at your place.” What the hell? I get him having to check in with me, but if I’m telling him I’m fine why is he digging into what I’m doing?