Page 51 of Forbidden to Fall

James looked torn between discomfort and the urge to lean into the protective posture.

I went over to Mia. “We fed the horses like you wanted. Now we can go to my apartment.”

“You didn’t feed the horsies,” she pointed out.

I smiled at this desperation disguised as thoughtfulness. “Thanks for looking out for me, Mimi, but I feed them a couple of times a week.”

She slipped out of James’s arms. “You didn’t even pet one yet! James can hold you up.” She looked up at him, her head tilting consideringly until her brow furrowed. “Maybe you’re not that strong.”

Laughter burst from our mouths at the same time.

Amazing how a child could so innocently insult two people at once.

“I’m actually tall enough to see through the bars on my own,” I said. “See?” I demonstrated, holding out my hand to Miss Mahogany. “Let’s go to my apartment, and we’ll stop by the bakery for a little treat, okay?”

She let out a sigh worthy of the stage, then trudged toward the exit like she was heading for the gallows.

James watched her with his mouth quirked at one edge.

“Thanks for humoring her,” I said as we followed behind her.

“Is there another option?” he asked.

“No. Unless you’re prepared for the most heart-wrenching lip tremble of your life.”

He shook his head.

“Me neither. She’s a spoiled little thing.”

When we reached the end of the stalls, Mia suddenly took off running.

“Look!” she cried out. “An orange leaf!”

I shot a look at James, and his eyes twinkled appreciatively.

“Can’t blame a girl for trying,” he said.

I walked over to where Mia was crouched under a tree. She was holding a leaf that was mid-color change from green to orange.

“Pretty,” I said.

Holding the stem in her fingers, she twirled it, then looked up to see where it had come from.

The tree was mostly green, but a couple of its branches had started shifting to orange.

“Can we find more pretty ones?” Mia asked. “I want to make a bouquet! For Mommy.”

I hesitated. I’d learned over the years that, if Mia suggested an activity that didn’t involve screens, it was in both of our interests to pursue it. Leaf-finding was a perfect way to pass some time—we still had a few hours, and my apartment was…small, even for someone Mia’s size.

“Sure,” I said. “Let’s go on a leaf hunt for a few minutes.”

“Yay!” She jumped up. “Come on, Mr. James!”

I opened my mouth wordlessly. In my mind, our leaf-hunting expedition had not included him.

“Mr. James has other things to do, Mimi.”

“Like what?” She asked it as though the thought of an adult having anything to do but cater to her whims was inconceivable.