Page 15

In Fair Haven, Lina was able to tag along with me to work because my boss was kind. Plus, my daughter did bring in more customers with her cuteness. Here, not so much.

I can’t take her with me even though I want to. It’s my first day as a secretary, and the last thing I need is to start off on the wrong foot, especially when my new boss has a reputation for being ruthless and utterly terrifying.

“I have to go to work today, baby, and you can’t come with me this time around.” I swallow hard, cradling her cheek.

She pushes herself up, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists. “No! Stay.”

She’s about to cry.

I see it in the way her bottom lip quivers and her green eyes well with unshed tears.

I hug her close, and she wraps her hands around my neck. “I wish I could, but I have to go, sweetheart.”

She shakes her head against my shoulder. “Don’t want you to go.”

Rubbing circles on her back, I try my best to soothe her, and yet my voice still cracks. “Patty is coming, remember? She’s gonna take you to meet some really cool kids at the daycare. And you get to color and paint and play all day.”

Lina sniffles. I can tell my enthusiasm isn't rubbing off on her. Then, lifting her head, she asks, “What if I don’t like her?”

I want to both chuckle at her expression and cry at the same time.

Tucking a curl behind her ear, I whisper, “I think you will. And I’ll be back before you know it. Mommy will come to pick you up once she’s done with work.”

Her lips tremble, and her little fingers grab at my blouse again. “What if you don’t come back?”

Goddess, not come back when she’s my entire world? When she’s the only constant in my life, the one person who has never abandoned me?

Lina has never known her father. I could have told her that he abandoned us out of my own bitterness, but that would mean seeing my little girl’s heart break, and I can’t do that.

So, every time she’s asked about her father, I’ve tried to explain it in the gentlest way possible, that sometimes, fathers can’t stay. Sometimes, they go to heaven to watch over us as angels. And every time, I’ve had to swallow the guilt of that lie, forcing a smile onto my face as her eyes light up with hope when she asks me if her father is going to come down from heaven to visit us one day.

I’ve raised Lina all by myself and it hasn’t been easy. There were the nights where I worked till my fingers ached—wiping down tables, taking the night shifts, volunteering to take out thetrash for a few bucks. Then there were the days when I skipped meals just to make sure she got a cake for her birthday party.

I’ve fought, sacrificed, and struggled for my girl, so if lying to her about her father keeps her heart from breaking, I’ll do so because she’s worth it. She’s worth everything.

Pain slices through me as I cup her small face in my hands, making sure she’s looking right at me. “I will always come back to you, baby. Always.”

As if she’s doubting me, her eyebrows scrunch, and she asks, “Promise?”

I kiss her forehead. “Promise.”

The knock on Lina’s bedroom door makes her jolt and cling to me tighter. I don’t know how many times I kiss her, trying to act like I'm not freaked out about leaving her with a stranger.

Though to be fair, Patty is a nice woman and a werewolf. She also happens to run one of the few werewolf-exclusive daycares in the city that's hidden in plain sight. That's the reason why I trust her with Lina. Since today is Lina's first day at the daycare, she volunteered to pick my daughter up, get her ready, and drive her to the daycare.

Apparently, they do that with all the new pups to build trust. She also promised to call me if anything happens to Lina.

“No, Mommy. Don’t go,” Lina sobs.

Her sobs cut another piece out of my heart, but I remain strong.

“You are my brave little girl, aren’t you? Come on, baby. Look at me.”

She wipes her tears and looks at me. “Mmh.”

“Then you’ll get ready with Patty, go make some new friends, and wait for mommy to come pick you up, right?”

“O-okay.”