After the photoshoot of Claudia watching Deacon —who stayed late to work with Marshall — through her office window, I asked if I could grab Savannah for a few minutes from the team’s childcare facility. She sends a text.
“They’ll bring her up, it’s almost time for her to eat.” She looks up at me, and I try not to search all her features to find ones we may share.
A phone rings from somewhere, “You mind if I?”
“Of course, do what you need to do.”
“Hey Dr. Bennetti, how are you?” she pauses and listens intently. “Okay.” Pause. “Is she willing to speak on the record?” Pause. “No, no, no, no, no.” She says, pain evident in her tone. “If getting him and whoever else she’s done that to healthy wasn’t a priority, I swear I’d kill her.” She nods, “Yeah, my daughter too.” Pause. “I’ll get that information to Vale.” Pause. “Can you do me a favor?” Pause. “Can you think hard if Johnson’s issues align with theirs? Maybe see how many Tri Gams may be willing to talk to us? I’m going to do the same.” Pause. “Chat soon.”
Claudia closes her eyes and sighs, “I think you were on to something.”
“Me?” I ask.
“Girls’ night and sleepover at the mansion tomorrow.” I blink a few times. “Noelle’s?”
“Sounds good to me.”
She cocks her head to the side, “Aleks said something to Deacon. I thought it was your idea.”
“He what?” I laugh.
She smiles softly, “If the song you’ve been humming for the past hour wasn’t a sign, then?—”
“What song?” I scoff.
She holds up a finger and hums a familiar tune, and it comes through her phone’s speaker, “Daylight.”
“I mean, how can you not hum along to that song?” I ask face heating.
“I don’t wanna look at anything now that I saw you,” she sings along as she stands.
“We having a sing along?” I ask as she continues singing softly as she walks to her office door.
“I've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night, and now I see daylight, I only see daylight,” she opens the door, still singing, and takes Savannah from a girl, who freaking joins in.
“They’re insane, sweet girl,” I laugh as I get up to save her from their madness. I take her from Claudia, who seriously has a fantastic voice, and Savanah squeals.
“You have to sing to her,” the girl says.
So, I do, “Maybe you ran with the wolves and refused to settle down. Maybe I've stormed out of every single room in this town.” I kiss her little cheeks and finish, “It’s brighter now, now.” She giggles. “You, my sweet, sweet, little Savannah, are golden.”
“You all good in here?” Deacon’s voice comes from the doorway, and I turn.
“Golden,” I smile, and Savannah starts kicking and squealing, grabby little hands reaching for him.
“Come see Daddy?” He stops as he passes Claudia and gives her a quick kiss before heading to us.
“Are you coming to steal my joy?” I ask joking… sort of.
“I gotta get Hank to the Pad, so just for a minute.” She all but dives for him. “You’re lucky I have good hands, little one.”
When Deacon and I walk into Pembrooke Books, Noelle looks past me.
“Um, hello, I brought lunch,” I say, lifting the bags slightly. “For my favorite porn peddler.”
“I was expecting?—”
“Sofie said she was coming over to see you, and I was heading this way and need to grab a few books to take with me out of town to read to Savannah.” Deacon nods to the children’s section.
