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“How’s your dad?”
Taking another drag on the cigarette, I blow the smoke out the window and close it, choosing to sit on the armchair in the corner of the room.
“He’ll be okay.”
“Does this kind of thing happen all the time?”
I can understand why she would think this, but I shake my head.
“There’re always risks, and we all live with that. But most of the time, it’s pretty quiet.”
Unless I shoot a man in the head and further a war, getting the people closest to me killed, that is.
“How was Rayna?”
I already know from Bonnie, but I want to hear it from Holly.
“She was fine. Bonnie came over and told me dinner was ready here at the house, and then she played for a while. Bonnie bathed her, and then I read to her until she fell asleep. She kept asking for you, but I kept reading to distract her.”
The kid already has so many books because it distracts me as much as it does her. India would’ve liked her collecting books rather than dolls, though she has a shitload of them too.
“You like working at the diner?”
“No,” she snorts. “I doubt I’ve still got a job. Even if I did, no one’s going to want me serving their food with my…”
I’ve not heard her once complete a sentence when she talks about her hands yet. Not that I blame her.
“With my dad…” I can’t bring myself to finish that sentence either. “My mom’s going to be busy, and I need someone to help me with my daughter. I’ll pay you well, more than what you earn at the diner, and I’ll keep you…safe.”
I choke on the last word, not believing it completely. I only say it because my intentions are truthful.
She looks down at Rayna, and I’m glad when she thinks on it. She must know that it’ll be a lot more work than shifts at the diner.
“I’m not trained with kids or anything.”
I shrug. “She fell asleep with you. Know this, though: she is the most important part of me and all I have.”
“I understand that.” She smiles. “Where’s her mom?”
The usual pain in my chest when someone asks after her returns, causing my chest to tighten.
“I don’t talk about her. She’s not here, and none of your concern.”
My tone is harsher than I mean it to be, but I need it to sink in for her to never ask again.
Tension falls over the room, and she lays back down.
“I’ll help you till the end of the summer. That’s all I’ll commit to.”
I can deal with that.
“Leo?” she whispers, my name on her lips making my head spin.
“Go to sleep, Holly. You’ll need your rest. My kid wakes up early.”
“Will you still be here?”
“I’ll stay to say good morning to her, and then I’ll head back to the hospital.”
