AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hullo, there.”
The child looked up at him with wide gray eyes. Her giggling stopped, and she stared at him with an intense curiosity.
“I’m William. Who are you? Are you Evie?”
Doubtless, she was, but she said nothing. William surmised that it was strange, maybe even frightening for some strange man to be in her house, towering over her. He sat on the floor, hoping someone had cleaned the tiles this year, crossed his legs, and folded his hands between them.
“Are you hiding from Kristie? Promise I won’t tell,” William said gently. “I’m not much for the authorities myself.”
Evie sat up, and her little brow furrowed as she looked up at him. Finally, she said, “You talk funny!”
William grinned. “I do, don’t I? I’m from England. Grew up there, anyway. Did you grow up here?”
“’S my house!” She pursed her lips and made a stubborn expression.
At that moment, there was absolutely no doubt that this was Anne’s daughter. Anne Sutton had a daughter. And Anne had not said a word. Well, why would she? She’d been keeping him at a distance. Why tell your ex about your family if you mean for him to disappear from your life the moment the case is over?
William swallowed hard. “You live here with you mum and sis?”
“Mum?”
“Your mommy?” William clarified, putting emphasis on the American “O” sound.
Evie bobbed her head and pushed herself up. She was so small she could stand upright under the table and still have room to reach her arms up.
“Oh, there you are! God, Evie! Every day!” Kristie huffed and went down to grab her.
“’S Willum,” Evie declared, pointing at William.
“Right. That’s a friend of your mom’s, and you’re gonna stay with him for a little while until your aunt gets home, okay?” Kristie set Evie down in a chair.
“She is?” William rose.
“I really have to go, and Michelle is late. Can you please watch her?” Kristie begged. “I’m sure it won’t be more than twenty minutes more, but if I don’t get going, my son is never going to forgive me for not picking him up.”
“Well. All right then.” William looked at Evie like she were a bomb about to go off. “Is there anything I need to do?”
“No, not really. She’s had lunch and a nap. If she gets hungry, there are some carrot and apple sticks in the fridge. She probably won’t though. It’s practically an act of war to get her to put things in her mouth that are food.” Kristie chuckled. “Just play with her a little. And make sure she doesn’t climb on anything. That’s her favorite game.”
Kristie narrowed her eyes at Evie, who giggled.
Then, Kristie was gone, and William was alone. Babysitting.
William stared at Evie for a few minutes. Then, she started giggling, looking away, and then giggling again.
“Lord, you’re just a ball of sunshine, aren’t you?” William went to crouch by her again, so he was on eye level with her. “What would you like to do? What would you do if your Auntie Michelle were home?”
Evie scrunched her face up like she was thinking. “Um... Um, um, um…”
William fought a smile. He offered her a hand, and she blinked at it for a moment before taking it. She hopped off the chair and followed him back into the living room, where William scanned the debris on the floor for something toddler appropriate. He had about as much experience with small children as he had with flying to Mars, but it
couldn’t be terribly complicated, keeping a child occupied for twenty minutes, and Anne would appreciate the save.
He couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for her to raise Evie on her own, with no one but a teenager for help.
“Well, if you hadn’t got yourself arrested,” William muttered as he spotted Evie reaching for a ball. He picked it up for her and set them both on the ground. He rolled the ball to her, causing another peal of laughter.
There. He could do this.
