Addison looked up at her with bright eyes. “Can Callie stay here and play with me,Daddy?”
My head jerked back a bit. I didn’t know how to explain what was going on to her. I didn’t want to scare her or hurt her, and I especially didn’t want her to see me upset or find out her mother wassick.
“Do you have to go to work today?” Callie asked. She shifted her weight and swayed Ben with her shoulders. “Because it’s my day off.” She cleared her throat and stammered a bit. “If you need me to look after them today Ican.”
I couldn’t form words. I just collapsed in the chair across from my daughter and nodded my head as a burning sensation welled up behind myeyelids.
“Okay. Do you have some time for pancakes?” she asked, sliding a stack of homemade pancakes in front ofme.
Addison smiled. “Queen Callie makes the bestest pancakes in the kingdom,Daddy.”
I devoured themimmediately.
