Page 108 of Healing Fate

“I’m really sorry it’s so late.”

“Don’t be,” she insisted, cutting off my apology. “We’re just grateful that you trusted us to care for her tonight. You have no idea how much that meant to the both of us. I know this isn’t easy on you, and we’ve learned enough to understand why, but we couldn’t possibly love that girl more if she was our own flesh and blood.”

“Pretty sure she’d fight anyone who tried to argue that’s not our granddaughter,” Mallick teased.

“Damn straight I would,” Lorraine cursed.

I followed them back to the playroom they had set up for Vada, complete with a bed fit for a princess. She was sound asleep.

I leaned down and kissed her sweet head. She smelled freshly bathed and I didn’t recognize the pajamas she wore, but I didn’t question it.

“You know, we do have a guest room and you’re welcome to stay if you’d rather not wake her,” Lorraine said. That optimistic tone was back in her voice.

“Are you sure?” I asked. I was too tired to argue it and honestly my bed felt empty without Micah in it. Perhaps a change of scenery would help.

“The bathroom connects the two rooms, so you can leave the doors open in case she wakes in the night.”

Mallick rolled his eyes and handed me a nursery camera.

“Or you can just keep this, and you’ll hear her when she wakes. We wanted to make sure we could get to her quickly so she wouldn’t get too scared in a new place.”

Again, I was blown away by how thoughtful they both were.

“Thank you,” I said, surprising us all when I hugged Lorraine and then Mallick. “It’s funny. It’s just been me and Vada for so long, and now the house feels so empty without Micah.”

They nodded in understanding.

“We’ll leave you be. Get a good night’s sleep. I’ll make breakfast in the morning,” she said before dragging her mate out of the nursery before I could protest.

I just smiled, grateful for the both of them.

I checked on Vada one last time and then headed to the room next door, climbed into bed, and fell fast asleep.

*****

Vada slept through the night, and miraculously, I did too. True to her word, Lorraine had breakfast ready. I thought I was going to have to swing by the house to get her dressed for school, but I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised when I discovered a whole closet full of clothes for Vada.

Shaking my head, I let her pick out an outfit and helped her dress for the day before we followed our noses to the kitchen.

“Lorraine, you didn’t have to make a feast for us.”

“Nonsense. A growing pup needs a good strong breakfast to start the day.”

I laughed and just shook my head.

We both ate our fill before thanking them again for the thousandth time as I rushed out of the door to get Vada to school.

Afterwards, I contemplated my options and decided the others were right. No one was going to be seeking medical treatment knowing Micah was out of town. Plus, it was Friday and I was supposed to be moving the next day.

I had no way of knowing if Micah would be back in time, but I wanted to be ready just in case, so I drove home, changed into comfy clothes, and got to work packing.

Shortly before lunch, Lorraine called to see what I was up to and invite me to lunch.

I looked down at my watch, surprised to see the time.

“Wow, I didn’t even realize the morning had snuck by me. I’m just here packing.”

“Packing?”