Page 132 of Beautiful Scars

“Why?”

“You made the mess.”

Maddie huffs. “But...you’re the one who wanted to play Legos in the first place!”

Katie chuckles at her. “The quicker you do it, the quicker you get your movie.”

“Granny Annie willyouhelp me?”

Anne-Marie smiles at her but shakes her head. “Big girls tidy up their own mess.”

“Man,” she shouts.

Man? Fuck.

“Will you help me?”

They all turn to look at me. All three of them.

What the fuck do I do?

Help her? Is that spoiling her already?

But if I say no, what if she marks my card and hates me forever? Her mum already hates me. And her mum’s mum, for that matter. Do I really want to tangle with three generations of Fords?

“Aye,” I laugh, nervously, and hope she doesn’t notice this sign of obvious weakness. “Alright.”

I spend the next five minutes on my knees picking up Lego blocks and feeling like the village idiot when the little thing tells me we’re not allowed to throw stuff. Ever.

We’re not allowed to put the barbies back in the box unless they have their dresses on either.

And the books? The fucking books? Don’t even think about putting the big ones in front of the small ones.

She looks at me like I’m in big trouble because I should automatically know all of this.

So I pretend to steal her nose.

Her hand flies to her face. “You didn’t.”

“I did so. It’s in my hand.” I show her my thumb between my two fingers.

“You better give me that back,” she orders.

I shrug my shoulders. “I might keep it.” Then she wouldn’t have to smell Anne-Marie’s overpowering perfume from the moment she opens her eyes.

Maddie pets her lip, and just like that, there’s her mother. Except twenty times more adorable. Same silver eyes and brown hair, minus the freckles.

“Go on then. Have it back.”

I put her nose back on her face and she double checks to make sure it’s there. I hold my hands up, both of them, so she can be certain.

She nods at me then smiles, and I get the feeling we’re friends when she tries to take my hand and lead me over to the story corner.

I stop her. I shouldn’t be doing this. Not without Meisie. “I need to go. I’ll read you a story next time.”

“Next time?”

“Aye. Next time.”