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"Right now, I just need my bed," Jake said, yawning, but that wasn't entirely true. Against his will, his mind conjured an image of Melody and Sally sitting at the breakfast bar, smiles on their faces as they waited to greet him from a day at work.
He shoved it away quickly. That was never going to happen. He had to do what was right for them, not for him.
Lewis silently left and Jake carefully clicked the door closed, hoping not to wake Sally. No sooner had he turned around than her feet pounded on the floor above his head and she appeared at the top of the stairs. As usual, Mr. Fuzzy dangled from her hand. He swung madly as she rushed down the stairs, one foot then the other on each step, coming down in a way that only a child could.
"Daddy, where is Melody? I thought you went to bring her home."
Jake's teeth gritted. He dropped down into a crouch to look her in the eye and said, "She's still in the infirmary, little wolf, but she's okay."
"She will be coming home soon though, right?" Sally insisted, and Jake's insides churned.
"She will be going home, next door, yes, I'm sure."
Sally snatched her hand free of his where he had gripped her to offer comfort. "But she belongs here, with us!"
Jake closed his eyes tightly, his daughter's words whipping him. He held his breath as he waited for the sting to ease before opening his eyes again.
"I understand that you are upset, but you will understand one day when you are older," Jake said, reaching for her hand again. "Things are complicated."
Pain lanced through his chest when Sally stepped back out of his reach, onto the bottom step of the stairs. She gazed down at him with a scowl, an odd look of ageless wisdom in her little blue six-year-old eyes.
"It is not complicated at all, Daddy," Sally protested, shaking her head so vigorously that Mr. Fuzzy bounced against her leg. "It is quite simple, really. You like her, a lot, and I like her, a lot, a lot."
Jake wished it were that simple. He sighed and looked at his daughter with desperation, trying to think how to explain to a six-year-old that sometimes adults had to do things that didn't always make sense.
"Just because you like someone doesn't mean you—"
"Daddy, you listen to me!" Sally protested. "I heard you talking to Uncle Lewis about how angry you were with Melody for trying to rescue me without you, but she didn't do it on purpose. She didn't do it to hurt you. She was just trying to protect me. You can't stay mad at her forever!"
Jake's lips twitched into a smile. The truth was he was no longer angry. He was only sad, lonely, wishing things could be different. But he had no idea what Melody was to him, a nanny or a friend, a lover or even more than that? Maybe she was all those things, and that was as complicated as it got. She didn't deserve complicated. Her life had been harsh enough already. He knew that well enough from the rumors all around the pack about the wolves who had come from Mario's pack.
"I'm not mad at her anymore, little wolf," Jake said, cupping her cheek. "But she can't be your nanny anymore. I'm afraid it’s…it’s just too complicated."
At that, Sally rolled her eyes. Jake was startled by the continued wisdom in her gaze. She looked him dead in the eye and growled, "Sometimes, you adults are so dumb."
Taken aback, Jake gaped at her, "Excuse me, young lady?"
Sally dropped Mr. Fuzzy for what was perhaps the first time and crossed her arms over her chest. She glowered at him as she said, "Aren't you the one who always told me that as a pack we all have to stick together?"
Jake opened his mouth to say it wasn't exactly like they had to invite the entire pack to live with them. But Sally continued.
"And Melody said before she fought with mom that I am going to need the whole pack when I'm older, but I won't. I just need you and Melody! She makes me feel safe, and I know you like her, like her, Daddy, and that's okay."
She unfolded her arms then and laid a hand on his shoulder. Jake felt astonishment giving way to the sensation of his heart melting.
"She's not Mommy, Daddy, but I think that's a good thing," Sally said, and Jake realized he had never been more astonished at the wisdom of children. "Uncle Lewis was right, daddy. You found a good thing. Go get her."
Sally smirked and Jake gulped. He only hoped his daughter hadn't heard everything Lewis had said. He was never exactly one for keeping things innocent, especially when they were talking women.
"When did you grow up?" Jake asked.
Sally shrugged and smirked back at him. "I'm not grown up, daddy, but I do have eyes."
Jake flinched. So all this time he had been trying to keep his distance, trying not to let his daughter see his feelings for her nanny, but she had seen them the entire time. Maybe he hadn't been fooling anyone but himself.
"Alright, alright. I'll go and talk to her in the morning."
Sally eyed him. "No, now."
