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“But Mommy won’t like that. She doesn’t like people who take me away from her. Like her boss.”

Oh, Goddess. My stomach plummets.

Alaric’s brows lift. “Her boss?”

“Mm-hmm. Mommy says her boss makes her work late, so we don’t get to spend much time together like we—”

Before she can say anything else, before she can reveal too much, Alaric’s phone rings sharply. His attention shifts, and at the same moment, Patty appears, breathless and clearly flustered.

“Patty!” Lina squeals.

Alaric glances at the older woman, assessing her for a beat, before explaining, “I kept her company.” Then he turns back to Lina, handing her Bear. “I have to go, kiddo. No more cookies, deal?”

“Deal,” Lina sighs, clearly disappointed.

Alaric waits until Patty sits beside Lina before answering his call and striding out of the ward. His scent lingers, wrapping around me like a ghost, impossible to ignore.

I wait for a moment before stepping out from my hiding spot. My legs feel weak as I move toward my daughter, my ears still ringing with Alaric’s words.

“Mommy! You came!” Lina squeals.

“Lila,” Patty says with equal surprise.

I hug Lina in my arms, the image of her and Alaric together ingrained in my mind.

I can’t shake that image of them sharing a moment that should have never happened. A moment that shouldn’t hurt this much.

Tears cascade down my cheeks as I kiss my daughter’s cheeks over and over.

“I came, baby, and mommy is so sorry for not taking better care of you. I should have been here sooner.”

Lina wraps her hands around my neck tighter, “Don’t be sad, mommy. I promise, no more cookies.”

“Lina is right, Lila. She had an allergic reaction to some cookies that had nuts in them. I know I promised to take better care of her, so this is on me. I’m so sorry, Lila. This is not your fault, dear,” Patty sympathizes.

I untangle myself from my daughter, wiping her hair from my face, “Are you okay?”

“Mmhm. I was itchy, but I'm fine now, Mommy. The big man kept me company. He was nice.”

I know what big man she’s talking about, and yet, I still chastise her. “What did we say about talking to strangers, baby?”

She pouts. “He didn’t smell like a bad man. He was nice.”

Didn’t smell like a bad man?

“Strangers are still strangers, baby. Promise me, no more talking to strangers, okay?”

“Okay.”

I stand up, about to have a word with Patty, when a middle-aged man with a white overcoat and a warm smile stops short of where we are all standing.

“Hi Lina. Are you feeling better?”

My daughter looks at me innocently before nodding at the man.

“That’s good. I’m told by one of my nurses you are Lina’s mother?” The man is the healer here, and he extends a hand. “I’m Dr. Well. Can I have a word with you in private, Miss Winter?”

I assure Lina that I’ll be back, and the healer pulls me aside for a chat. Although I’ve been told everything is okay, I can’t help but get anxious about what the healer is about to say to me.