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They were soon pulling out of the parking space and heading through town. Both were aware of the small child in the back seat talking softly to her Bicky. The loss she had suffered was so vast, Piper didn’t know how to start explaining it to her.
“I don’t know what to say if she asks for Joanie.”
“I guess you have to tell her that she’s gone away for now.”
Piper nodded. “I need to call my family.”
“We’ll get to the hotel, then you can do it when Grace is not listening.”
They found a place, one level, and it looked clean. Piper carried Grace, who had fallen asleep, and followed him into reception.
“I’ll need a credit card,” the person behind the counter said.
“Get my purse out of my handbag, Dylan.”
“I got it.”
“I’ll settle the bill in the morning then,” she said.
“Sure.”
The room was simple, with a table and chairs, two rooms, bathroom, and a TV. Piper stood swaying slowly with Grace while Dylan got her cot and set it up. It took a few minutes, but luckily he found a set of instructions on the underside. Who knew this stuff was so hard?
“I’m not an unintelligent man, but this baby stuff is hard to assemble. I have a whole new respect for parents,” he said, coming out of the room.
She put Grace down and covered her with a blanket, then stood looking down at her. This child was now her responsibility. The thought was terrifying. She didn’t know how to look after a child. Didn’t know if she’d had any lunch, or needed some? Didn’t know how long she should sleep for. She wasn’t equipped to be a mother.
Backing out, she shut the door, then leaned her forehead on the cool wood.
“I don’t know if she should be napping now. I mean, surely it’s close to her bedtime?”
“She looked tired.”
“I don’t know how to be her mother.”
“You seem to be doing okay.”
She turned to find Dylan sitting in one of the chairs. His blue eyes were on her.
“I don’t know what she needs to eat or when she should eat it. I don’t know how long she sleeps for, or how many teeth she should have. How the hell can I raise a child when I struggle to get myself out of the house each day with my clothes on the right way?”
The panic she’d held at bay was now clawing at her throat.
“Take a breath, Piper.” He got to his feet. “And another, that’s it. This is a shock for you. You woke to your normal life this morning, and that’s now been turned on its head.”
“I’m scared, Dylan.”
“You’d be a fool not to be.” He pulled her into his chest, a place she was fast learning was pretty special. “But you have an amazing family, and from where I’m standing you’re pretty amazing yourself. I remember Ava, and how hard it was having a little sister nine years younger than me. It was crazy when she was first born. I remember saying to Dad ‘Where’s the manual?’ Even at nine, I was totally at sea how to handle her. But in time I got the hang of it, and you will too.”
Piper listened as he spoke and felt herself calming. Thank God he’d been there when her family hadn’t. Going through this would have been hell without him. Easing out of his arms, she stood on her toes and kissed him softly.
“Thank you for being here today. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He leaned in and kissed her again.
Slow and soft, it made her head spin. She pulled back again, because now more than before there could be no hot sex in her future. Grace was her priority.
“You can go now, Dylan, and I’ll call my family.”
