Page 14 of Love Me Like You Do

“No. Just red. I’ll make hers.” Paisley reached for the red pen and began drawing.

In the quiet kitchen with nothing but the scritch of markers and Cole’s footsteps on the floor above, Hailey calmed down for the first time since she’d read the attorney’s letter. After the rush and drag of travel, the research on grief, and the anxiety of the unknown, she finally let out a breath.

But it didn’t last long.Nope. In the quiet, all the questions broke loose and chased each other around her mind.

How long do I need to stay here?

Is someone currently looking for extended family who can take the girls?I mean, if social services hasn’t found anyone, who can?And how long would it take?

What about her job? Fear pinched the back of her neck. Abbott’s of London was a family-owned company, so she hoped they’d understand why she needed to be in Wyoming right now. As it was, she worked remotely three days a week. If she got everything done, it shouldn’t be that big a deal.

God, she couldn’t lose her job over this.I mean, I will. I won’t abandon the girls, but… There were just so many unanswered questions.

Those big blue eyes watched her carefully. “Are you scared?”

Yikes. She had to be careful. Paisley might be six, but she picked up on adult emotions. On the other hand, here was an opportunity to get the girl talking. “It’s always a little scary to be in a new place with people you don’t know very well, right?”

Paisley shrugged. “Are you going to live here with us?”

Oh, boy. Go for the hard-hitting question right off the bat, why don’t you?“For now, yes.”

Paisley’s features tightened. “Are we going to have Christmas here with you?”

She couldn’t even commit to something that was twelve days away. “I would like that very much.” What if they found a home for the girls tomorrow? A week from now? She wouldn’t make promises she couldn’t keep.

“What about Cole?”

She couldn’t speak for him. “Tell you what. While you guys are swimming, Cole and I will come up with a plan. Does that sound good?”

“I guess.”

“But while we’re waiting, let’s make some pretty pictures because this house might have nice furniture and fancy chandeliers, but it’s definitely missing the fun stuff like drawings and seashells and cute magnets.”

A secret smile curved Paisley’s mouth, and she went back to work.

Ever since the conversation with the attorney, she’d been in a race to get here and assess the situation. But now, she knew her purpose, and it energized her, sweeping away her doubts and fears.

No matter the personal cost, I’ll get these girls settled in the right situation as soon as possible.

Could she count on Cole? She honestly had no idea.

ChapterFour

In the warmhumidity of the lap pool room, Hailey stood at the window overlooking a snowy forest. It was literally a winter wonderland, and given the circumstance, she couldn’t think of a better place for the kids to spend Christmas. Behind her, they splashed and giggled, and for one precious moment, all seemed right in their world.

For them, this was a vacation, a weekend away.

But she knew on a deeper level, they had to miss their mom and dad. They had to sense something was wrong. They had to be scared.

Water ran through her toes, and she turned to find that a red plastic cup had tipped over. They didn’t have real toys, but the girls seemed content to play with cups and corks. It might be relatively shallow, but until they bought floaties, they’d confined the girls to the stairs.

They’re just babies, just starting out, and now their lives are shattered.

She felt so helpless. She and Cole needed to come up with a plan to make things right for them. Joining him at a café table, she said, “Hey, so, Paisley asked me about Christmas.” She sat down. “We need to figure things out.”

His big frame slouched low in the padded chair. “Well, we’re doing Christmas with them.” He watched the girls like they were the most adorable things he’d ever seen. “That’s for sure.”

“Iam.” Her stomach squeezed. “You’ll be gone by Thursday.”And then I’m in this alone.