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Carly’s voice echoed through the lobby—yelling something at Jax as he walked her out—and Tillie flinched, her eyes darting toward the sound before swinging back to mine. Then a scowl carved across her face, rage spilling out in hot tears.
“I hate her,” she cried. “I really,reallyhate her.” A sob cracked through her chest. “And I hate her stupid gifts. She brought that soshecould feel better—not forme.”
Jesus, she was too smart for her own good.
“Does that—” another sob “—make m-me a bad k-kid?”
“Tillie. Look at me.” When her eyes flitted to my chest instead, I gently palmed her head, brushing the long strands back. “You are not—and haveneverbeen—a bad kid. You areallowedto be angry. You’re allowed to stand up for yourself, just like you did. And I am so proud of you. You shouldn’t have to be, but you were so strong back there.”
I cradled the back of her neck, pulling her little forehead to mine as she fidgeted and fought to hold it all in.
“You don’t have to be okay right now. You don’t even have to pretend to be. But I need you to hear something. You listening?”
She gave a small nod, her gaze still dropped to the floor, shoulders hunched.
“What she said isn’t true. None of this is your fault. You are a spectacular kid. The sweetest little girl. And you are so damn loved. No ifs, ands, or buts. Look at all these people who came today—just for you.”
Her watery eyes lifted to mine. “Is Leigh my friend because you pay her to be?”
Oh,fuck.
“Oh, baby girl,no.” I shook my head, my heart cracking open. “Think back. She was our friend before she ever worked for me. I hired herbecauseof how much she already loved you—not the other way around.”
“Okay.” Her throat bobbed. “I yelled at her… in front of everyone. That was cruel.”
She looked up through those wet lashes, guilt spilling from her expression.
“What if I grow up to be just as mean and terrible as she is?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Sometimes we say mean things when we’re hurting. That doesn’t make us mean. And sometimes people need to hear how they’ve hurt us. I know it probably didn’t come out like you wanted it to, but it took guts to stand up to her.”
“Yeah?” she asked, her voice soft.
“Yeah.”
“What if…” her chin trembled, and I had to resist the urge to lift her face again. “What if she makes you guys love me less?”
“Impossible.”
“But—”
“I’m gonna stop you right there.” I brushed my thumb over her cheek. “There isnothingyou could ever say or do that would make me go anywhere. You know that, right?”
She nodded, this time with more certainty. Her spine straightened just a bit. “Leighton either?”
“Leighton either.”
“I don’t want to live with her, Daddy. She can’t make me live with her, right?”
“No, baby.” My voice was steel. “That isnothappening. I won’t let it.”
She gave a final little nod and one last sniffle.
“Can we just go home?”
* * *
I collapsedonto the couch after tucking both kids in that night. Face buried in my palms, I blew out a breath that carried the full weight of the day. When I finally looked up, Leighton climbed over my lap, straddling me, her hand settling against my face. I dropped a kiss into her palm, my hands finding her waist as she sank onto my legs. Wordless, my girl pressed her forehead to mine, our noses brushing as we both dragged in a much-needed breath.