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“Now, why can’t you sleep, Little Princess Starlight?”

Sarah smiled as they left the room, the name landing right in the middle of her chest for how perfectly it suited Lexi.

“Well, it’s cold in my room.”

“Is it? We’ll have to turn the heating up then.”

“And I had a bad dream.”

“A bad dream, huh?” He carried her towards the kitchen, depositing her on the counter and smiling at her reassuringly. She was so like Sarah it was impossible not to adore her. That was before one factored in the four-year-old’s perennially sunny disposition.

“You know, when I was a boy, I used to have bad dreams.”

“Did you?” Lexi looked unconvinced.

“You don’t believe me?” Syed reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of milk, sloshing a good measure into a mug before placing it into the microwave.

“I don’t know. I get scared when I have bad dreams.”

“So did I.”

Lexi tilted her head to one side, consideringly. “I can’t imagine you being scared of anything.”

“Oh, I was terrified. Of snakes and monsters, and even storms.”

“Storms?” Lexi giggled.

Syed pulled the milk from the microwave and stirred in a good measure of honey then checked the temperature. It was warm, not hot. Perfect for a little girl in need of settling. “Here you go, little star.” He handed the drink to her, propping his hip on the bench beside her.

“I don’t think storms are scary,” she prompted, her curiosity obviously not diminished.

“That’s good; they’re not. But when you’re young, sometimes even perfectly harmless things can frighten you. Like curtains that blow in the breeze, or sounds you can’t explain.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “The important thing to remember is that you’re here with us, and we’ll keep you safe.”

Lexi’s grin was contagious. “I like it here.” She looked around the lounge room, her eyes huge in her face. So like Sarah’s.

“Yeah? I’m glad.”

“I like you,” she said quietly. “You’re kind.”

His heart did a funny flip flop. “Thanks.”

“And you make mommy happy. She smiles a lot now.”

Flip flop, flip flop. His stomach felt like it was on a bad acid trip. “Yeah?” A gravelled question. “Didn’t she used to?”

Lexi wrinkled her nose then sipped her milk.

“Smile?” She asked thoughtfully. “Sometimes.”

He resisted – barely – the urge to ask her more. To find out just when Sarah smiled, when she didn’t. To ask the four-year-old about their lives before he’d swooped in and brought them with him.

It didn’t feel right to pump an innocent kid for information. “Okay, starlight. Are you less afraid now?”

She nodded slowly. “I guess so.” But her voice was timid again.

“Do you know, when I was young and afraid, my mother would sing a song to calm me down. Would you like to hear it?”

She nodded, her eyes scanning his face with undisguised curiosity.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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