I tucked Aurora in while Evelyn got Anna settled. After pulling the covers up to my daughter’s chin, I leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“Goodnight, princess.”
She gave me her sweetest smile and made the sign I now looked forward to more than any other in the world.
Good
Night
Daddy.
Daddy...
It was the first time she had ever called me that.
I froze, sitting on the edge of her mattress, staring at the little girl I loved so completely. Her smile faded as she noticed the tears welling in my eyes, her small face clouding with concern.
“I love you, you know that?” I whispered, my voice thick.
Her smile returned, and she signed the words back to me.I love you, too.I tucked the covers around her once more, pressed another kiss to her forehead, and stood to switch places with Evelyn, moving to Anna’s bedside.
“I love you too,” I told Anna, brushing the hair from her face.
“Whatever,” she mumbled, before rolling onto her side and closing her eyes.
Things with her were still a slow, gentle progression, and I was learning to respect her pace.
Only when Evelyn and I had quietly closed the bedroom door behind us did I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Did you see that?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Evelyn’s eyes were shimmering with shared emotion. “Yes, I saw,Daddy.” She reached up, her thumbs gently wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I saw.”
“I never imagined I could become this… emotional. Overwhelmed by two such tiny humans. But they… God, Evelyn, I love them so much it physically aches.”
“I know,” she said softly. “I feel it, too.”
I nodded, about to pull her into an embrace, when the sound of my phone cut through the quiet.
“No work coming home, remember?” Evelyn teased, pointing a finger at me in a gesture that was only half-joking. It was a promise I’d worked hard to keep.
“It’s not work,” I said, pulling the phone from my pocket. “It could be someone from Los Angeles.”
“Alright then…”
She smiled, and I gave her a quick, reassuring kiss before she turned toward our bedroom. I glanced at the screen. It was Janet, the family’s lawyer.
“Janet? Is there a problem with the company?” It was my first thought, even though I was rarely involved in the architecture firm’s day-to-day affairs.
“No, Logan. I’m calling about that other matter.”
It took me a moment to shift gears. “The investigation into Ellie? Did the detective find something?”
“More than that, Logan. Are you near the children? If so, I recommend you find some privacy for this.”
“They’re asleep. You’re worrying me, Janet. What is it? Was she found? Does she want no contact? Or is she trying to take them? I’ll fight her for custody, I swear she won’t—”
“Logan, please, just listen.” Her voice was firm but gentle. “Eleanor won’t be taking your daughters from you.” I sighed in relief, but the feeling was short-lived. “She’s dead, Logan.”
