Page 42 of Happily Ever After

Alina was hiding under her bed, so Flicka lowered herself to the thick rug and laid her cheek againstthe softness to peer into the dark space under the mattress. She hoped the housekeepers vacuumed under there. “Alina-baby?”

“Mama, can I come out now?”

“Yes, Alina. I told you it’s okay to come out with the lady housekeepers.”

Alina clawed her way out from under the bed. “I don’t want to go back to that place.”

“No, honey. Never. We’ll never go back to that warehouse. Alina, do you rememberUncle Wulfie?”

The child shook her head, her blond hair floating around her eyes.

“You’ll remember him when you see him. You remember Suze-mama?”

Alina shrugged and stuck her finger in her mouth.

Little kids forget things so quickly. “Uncle Wulfie is going to take you home with him, and you’ll be safe there. No one will ever take you again. Suze-mama will be there, and she’ll take care ofyou. Auntie Rae will be there, too.”

Alina peered up at Flicka with her huge, pale green eyes. “I don’t want to go, Mama. I want to stay with you.”

Flicka’s chest cramped. “I’ll come as soon as I can, but I want you to go with Uncle Wulfie for now. He’s strong and good, just like Daddy. He’ll keep you safe, and I’ll come soon, okay?”

“I don’t want to go. Want to stay with Mama.”

Time to pullout the big guns. “Uncle Wulfie has cookies on his airplane.”

“Airplane?” She looked suspiciously at Flicka. “On an airplane?”

“Yes, you’ll go on the airplane with Uncle Wulfie.”

“Promise the airplane.”

“Yes,two kindsof airplane. The noisy airplane like a few days ago,hel-i-cop-ter,and then another airplane.”

“Okay,” Alina said. “Okay,airplane.”

Alina clung to Flicka, her chubby armswrapped tightly around Flicka’s neck. Flicka held her under her legs and with her arm wrapped around the child’s back, feeling her breathe, warm in her arms.

She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to let Alina go.

It was best if Alina went and lived with Wulf. She would be safe, far away in America and behind Wulfram’s security lines. If Alina could be safe anywhere in the world, she wouldbe safe with Wulf.

Flicka’s heart was breaking wide open.

It was the best thing for Alina. The safest place for Alina was with Wulfram.

Flicka held her child tightly until she reached the throne room, breathing in her fresh baby scent and treasuring the feel of her softness in her arms, and then she carefully transferred the child to Wulf.

Wulf carried the child with a practiced arm aroundher waist.

The cramp in Flicka’s chest deepened, hurting, and she felt ripped open.

She choked back sobs because she didn’t want to scare Alina, but she didn’t want Alina to go. She missed her already. Keeping the child safe was worth every bit of her own pain.

Her knees weakened, and Flicka nearly fell. Somehow, she remained standing.

Wulf was perfect with Alina, talking gently to the childand telling her it would be all right, that he was glad to see her, and that they had cookies on his airplane.

Alina asked him, her baby eyes holding a world of dubious thoughts, “Airplane?”