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He smirked. “She says it’s a ghost.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“I think the ghost is her way of covering up what’s really going on,” he said.
“What do you think is going on?” I asked with concern. I hoped he didn’t think I did something. Unless it was just exhaustion.
“I took her to talk to a therapist about a year ago when the nightmares were really bad,” he said. “They happen less frequently, but they still happen.”
My heart leapt in my chest. “About ghosts?”
Was I asking too much? Was it any of my business. I didn’t know, but I knew I was worried about her. I didn’t want her to suffer. I really did care about her.
“The ghosts aren’t really the thing,” he said with a look of pain on his face. “She’s worried about being abandoned.”
“Abandoned?” I repeated. I couldn’t imagine a nine-year-old feeling like that. Then again, I spent most of my childhood waiting for the day I would come home and find my parents dead or in jail.
“She’s got an idea in her head I’m going to leave her,” he said. “I swear, every fucking nanny who has left her has just made it worse.”
I felt a pang of sadness for the little girl. It wasn’t fair for her to feel that way, especially when she had someone like him who clearly cared so deeply for her.
“Do you think there’s anything we can do to help her?” I asked, hoping there was something—anything—I could do to alleviate her fears.
“I don’t know,” he said, running a hand over his face. “I’ve tried everything. Therapy, talking to her, even taking her to work with me so she knows I’m not going anywhere. But nothing seems to work.”
I could tell how exhausted he was, and it made my heart ache to see him like this. I wanted to help him in any way I could, even if it meant just being there for him.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help,” I said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Just let me know what you need.”
He turned to me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he finally nodded. “Thank you,” he said. “It means a lot.”
“I think I’m going to bed. Thank you for letting me crash for the night.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
I didn’t want to bring up the kiss or what it meant. I went to the guestroom and closed the door. I didn’t want him to think I was inviting him into my room.
I closed my eyes and thought about Lily and her nightmares. She was a good kid. An amazing kid. I couldn’t imagine anyone abandoning her. She was a total sweetheart and today she let down the little guard she had put up at the ripe age of nine.
I woke up to the sun shining through the blinds and a little finger poking my arm. “Dee,” Lily whispered.
I opened my eyes and smiled. “Good morning.”
“Are you awake?”
“I am now.” I laughed.
“Dad’s making breakfast,” she said. “Do you want to take me to school?”
“I would love to,” I replied and sat up. “How did you sleep?”
“Good.” She smiled. She didn’t seem to be the least bit disturbed by the nightmare from the night before.
“I better go get my clothes from the laundry room,” I said.
“Dad already brought them,” she said and pointed to the small, neatly folded stack on the dresser.
“Oh.”
