Page 132

No, it was better if I just made a clean break. Dani would forget about me. Danny and Dante would take her back to New York. I could give them a copy of her records and therapy plan. Dante knew Dr. Scott. He could take over her care.

Right now, though. Right now, I would enjoy being in the arms of this man. Feeling safe and secure. Loved by someone I loved. I would find a way to bottle this feeling and take it with me.

Tomorrow, I would find a new home. Take steps to build a new practice. Then, once I was settled, I would make new friends.

A light knock on the door woke us both. Travis jumped from his bed and walked to the door.

“Wait!”

“What?” he asked, scratching his chest.

“You’re naked.”

He looked down as if he didn’t believe me. “So?”

“Melissa?” Amber’s voice was heard through the door. Bugging my eyes at him, I pointed to the bathroom. Shaking his head, he huffed in annoyance and walked into the bathroom.

Gathering the sheet around me, I crept to the door and opened it a sliver.

“Sorry, Dante asked if I could come get you.”

Opening the door wider, I tried to keep my voice calm when I asked, “Is Dani ok?” I stepped toward Amber, forgetting about the sheet wrapped around my naked body.

“Dani is fine,” she chuckled, preventing me from leaving the room. “They just need a little help.”

“Ok, I’ll be right there.”

I closed the door and Travis stepped back into the room. “Everything ok?” he asked as I dashed by him to quickly use the bathroom.

“No. Dante needs my help,” I said when I came back out and threw on some clothes. Without another word, I dashed out of the room and down the stairs.

“Dante, calm down.” I heard Danny trying to calm the frantic man when I entered the room.

“I don’t understand what she’s doing.”

Dani moved her hands in the air. I placed my hand on Dante’s back as I stepped up behind them.

“Words, Dani.”

“No,” she said, pointing at the door.

“I don’t know want she wants. She points to the door but says no. The girls went outside. Does she want them to come back? Is she lonely?”

“Dante, calm down,” I said, and Danny smirked. Giving him a look meant to chastise him only made him grin bigger.

“Dani wants to play in the snow. She is still learning her words, so they don’t always sound the right way.”

“We don’t have winter stuff for her.” Dante sounded defeated, and I pulled him into my arms for a hug.

“You are doing great, Dante.”

“We have some extra things here for Tabby. I’ll go grab them.”

“Thanks, Ryder,” Danny said.

“I don’t feel like it. She just kept swinging her hands around.”

“Dani and I learned sign language. It’s easier for babies to learn sign language than it is for them to learn to talk. So, in order to communicate, she and I would watch YouTube videos in the evening.”