AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The door opened and she grinned at Zach. 'The cavalry has arrived.'
'Well, am I glad to hear that,' he muttered, his eyes showing how tired he was. 'She's lost her favourite bear and I can't find the damn thing anywhere.'
Keely frowned. The man hadn't been to bed for almost three days if her calculations were correct. Which just showed how tough Zach was—a lesser mortal would have collapsed by now and all he had to show for it was some fine lines around those gorgeous eyes.
'Go upstairs and run yourself a hot bath,' she suggested, plopping herself down on the hall floor next to Phoebe, who was still screaming and drumming her heels. 'And then go to bed. If I need help I'll yell.'
Zach hesitated. Keely knew that he wasn't going to leave his daughter without some evidence that she could cope with the situation, so she reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the toys she'd had the foresight to buy in the hospital shop.
She didn't say anything to the toddler, just started playing with the car herself, exaggerating the engine noises and giggling just to show what fun it was. Sure enough, the screaming ceased almost instantly and a tear-stained face lifted itself from the carpet to stare at her.
'Brrmmm...' Keely pushed the car towards the wall and was gratified when Phoebe knelt up and held out a hand.
'Phoebe's turn.'
'Great idea.' Keely passed her the car, and when the little girl started to play she glanced up at Zach. 'You see? We're fine. Now, go and have that bath. Then go to bed and get some sleep. If I need you, I'll call.'
He hesitated, obviously still unsure about leaving her in charge. 'She's a pretty difficult child to handle...'
Keely gave him a gentle smile. 'Sick toddlers are always difficult. Go to bed.'
'All right, if you're sure.' He paused, still reluctant to leave her. 'If you need me—'
'I'll call,' she finished quickly, rescuing the car which had become entangled in the hall curtain. 'Goodnight, Zach.'
She pushed the car back to Phoebe and Zach gave her a tired smile.
'I haven't got the energy to argue. She needs more paracetamol in two hours. Thanks, Keely.'
Keely watched him go and then got stuck into the task of occupying a very fractious toddler. Zach hadn't been joking, she thought wryly as she coaxed and cajoled the little girl into playing with her.
Two hours later she was exhausted and running out of ideas.
'Want Daddy,' Phoebe said flatly, plopping down on the floor of the playroom which Keely had discovered at the back of the house.
'Oh, Phoebe, look, is this the bear you lost?' Looking round frantically for a distraction, she scooped up a large brown bear and handed it over with a flourish, relieved to see a smile light up the little girl's face. Thank goodness. Another crisis averted.
She quickly assembled a few other toys which she thought might be useful and then found the kitchen and made some tea for the child.
'No!!' Phoebe flung the toast onto the kitchen floor and Keely picked it up calmly and put it in the bin.
'Aren't you hungry? Don't you want anything at all?' She could see another tantrum brewing and searched quickly for another diversion. Fortunately, at that moment a cat jumped onto the window-sill and Keely silently blessed it.
'Look, Phoebe. Cat. What does the cat say?'
Phoebe looked doubtfully at the cat and her face started to crumple. 'Daddy. Want Daddy.'
'That isn't what the cat says!' Keely scooped her out of the high chair and gave her a hug. 'Cat says meow.'
Phoebe rubbed her eyes. 'Want Daddy.'
'I know you do, sausage,' Keely murmured, 'so here's what we'll do. We'll put you to bed, and later on Daddy will come in and see you.'
The poor mite was obviously still feeling poorly and upset by her trip to hospital.
Keely whisked her upstairs, bathed her and settled her in a fresh cotton T-shirt. She didn't want to put too much clothing on her in case she spiked a temperature again, and with that in mind she made herself a little bed on the sofa in Phoebe's room. Zach was too tired to listen out for the little girl tonight and at least she'd had some sleep the night before.
After two stories Phoebe snuggled into her bed, stuck her thumb in her mouth and promptly fell asleep.
