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"Looks like it was fun," I chuckle, giving Mr. Bear a playful poke.
Carmen giggles, her laughter music to my ears. "Daddy, stay and play?"
"Sorry, baby girl, but Daddy has to go to work, and you have to go and have breakfast," I tell her gently, wishing I could stay all day.
"OK," she pouts, her lower lip jutting out adorably. "Bye, Daddy."
"Bye, sweetheart." I kiss her forehead and hug her tightly. "Be good for Maddie, all right? And go to the kitchen soon for breakfast."
"Uh-huh," she nods solemnly.
"Love you," I whisper, pressing another kiss to her temple.
"Love you too, Daddy."
With that, I rise to my feet and head toward the front door. I glance back at Carmen one last time, my heart swelling with love and determination. I've built a successful business from the ground up; I'm not about to let Sofia tear my family apart.
As I pass the kitchen, I stick my head inside to greet Gina, but find Leo and Erin in there too.
"Morning," I say. "Carmen's awake. She's playing with the stuffed animals in bed, so go get her if she doesn't come here soon. She'll need to pee. Leo, how about you drive me to work today?"
"Sure thing, boss," Leo replies, swallowing what looks like the last pieces of a croissant.
"Have you been baking?" I ask Gina. She nods.
"I have packed some croissants for you," she says.
"You're the best." I give a wave and head toward the door, grabbing my satchel with the work laptop and a jacket, thinking I have the best staff a man could wish for. And by extension, Carmen has the best care she could possibly get. Organizing more activities and, oh, taking that online parenting class Maddie talked about are the last two things I need to do to have peace of mind that Carmen is getting the best of everything.
"Bring it on, Sofia," I murmur, steeling my resolve. "You don't stand a chance."
Chapter seventeen
Maddie
Maddie
I sit cross-legged with Carmen, both of us giggling as we play with her colorful building blocks. She's sporting a pink tutu and a tiara, declaring herself queen of our tiny block kingdom. Despite the laughter and fun, there's a nagging feeling in the back of my mind.
"More blocks, Maddie!" Carmen exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Of course, Your Highness," I reply, passing her another handful of blocks. Our laughter fills the room, but I can't help thinking about Roland. He was so edgy this morning, his usual charm replaced by a curt demeanor that reminds me of when we first met. I get why, but it brings up why it still puts me on edge. Will the mess with Sofia means he will pull back?
"Castle taller!" Carmen demands, concentrating on stacking the blocks higher and higher. I help her build it up, steadying the base as she adds more layers.
"Careful, Carmen," I warn gently, watching her tiny hands place another block on top. "We don't want it to topple over."
"Uh-huh," she mumbles, completely absorbed in her task. The innocence of her focus makes me smile, wishing I could forget my concerns about her father as easily.
"Great job, sweetheart," I praise her as the castle grows taller. "You're a fantastic builder."
"Thank you, Maddie!" she beams, clearly proud of her accomplishment.
It's hard not to let my own fears seep through, but for now, I push them aside and focus on the joy of playing with Carmen. We continue building our castle, laughing and creating memories together, even as the shadows of uncertainty loom just beyond the sunlight that's casting a warm glow in the room.
Not moments later, I hear the front door open, and Erin greets Roland.
"Daddy," Carmen says, looking up happily.
