Page 28 of Rising Star

Nothing more.

I relaxed my shoulders at the name that flashed on my screen.

Riley: Click the link below. It was a hit. You’re a genius. You should be proud of yourself. I know I am. It was even more emotional than we thought it would be. Check his reaction. It’s priceless. I filmed it for you.

Riley: Great job, Madison.

Riley: Don’t have too many awesome ideas, or I’ll have to hire you full-time, working for me. Just kidding. I recognize talent, and you’re exceptional at what you do. Working with kids is your calling.

Riley: [link]

Tears burned the back of my eyes the instant they landed on Sam, hearing his daughters’ voices, just when he was singing the first line of his new song. The one he wrote for them. He looked around as if searching for them, then found the video playing on the screen at the back. The same video I had shot of the girls running around in the backyard last summer, their faces split with huge grins, and laughter in the air. Pure happiness. Raw moments between a devoted father and his adoring daughters.

My hand cupped my overexcited heart as I watched it for a second and a third time.

Even on the tiny screen, Sam looked handsome. This video clicked by Riley or one of his team from backstage showed a side of Sam that none of the other clips I’d watched online displayed. A lightness. A sense of belonging. Of calm. Something that wasn’t visible in his earlier days.

Me: Thank you for sending this to me. It means a lot. I’m glad it was a success.

An emotion I couldn’t name wrapped my heart tightly, and I sealed my lids, wishing sleep would claim me again so I could escape the torment of my heart.

By the morning, my good spirits had returned, and the girls and I spent the day making craft projects in the den, the rain outside taming their bubbling excitement.

It was almost two at night when cries woke me up this time.

“Monster. Monster. The monster is here.”

I climbed the stairs two at a time when I heard Justine screaming in her sleep. It was the last night before Sam got home. We had chatted with him earlier, and he told the girls he would be here after breakfast the following day. I adjusted my tank top and night shorts before entering the room.

Pushing the door open, I tiptoed inside the barely lit room. The sight of Justine, her face and neckline soaked in tears, broke my heart.

“Hey sweetie. It was just a bad dream,” I told her, pulling her into my embrace as I squatted before her, dabbing her tears with my fingertips, and sprinkling kisses along her hairline. “I’m here. It’s okay now. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

Nightmares.

Growing up, they had been a nightly occurrence.

Until they appeared further and further apart and stopped. And now that they had made a comeback, I prayed they would leave me alone soon enough.

“I’m here, and I’ll chase all the monsters away.”

She heaved and hiccupped, never loosening her grip on me.

“Want me to lie down beside you until you fall asleep?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook with the remnants of her nightmare.

“Then scoot over. Let’s cuddle.”

We settled ourselves under the covers. I kept my arms around her, and she pressed her face into my chest.

“Sing Daddy’s song.”

“You want me to sing it to you or play it on my phone.”

“Sing.”

I cleared my throat, and the lyrics flew from my lips. Each girl had a few favorite songs from their daddy’s repertoire and without asking, I knew which one would soothe her better. Justine’s eyes fluttered close, and before I was even done, she had fallen back asleep, her digits fastened around mine. A spark shone in me. I had become someone else’s safe harbor. The tiny gesture confirmed I hadn’t landed in the Stevenses’ lives by chance. I was always meant to be here. And help them heal. The same way people did for me all those years ago.