“Can we have cookies?” she asks hopefully as we walk toward the family room.
“After you have something healthy,” I compromise, guiding her to the plush sofa. “Why don’t you get your homework out while I go make you a snack?”
While she digs through her backpack, I slip into the adjacent kitchen, grateful for a moment to collect my thoughts. My mind is still reeling from what I overheard. The brothers are fighting over me. They want me as their omega. And Kieran is willing to fire me to prevent that from happening.
I’m totally embarrassed. But for now, I’ll pretend everything is normal before I ditch them, and Carmen has to explain why I’m gone.
A part of me is also thrilled at the thought of being wanted so fiercely by these powerful men.
I arrange apple slices, cheese cubes, and a few crackers on a plate, adding a small cookie as a treat. When I return to the family room, Nora has her math workbook open on the coffee table, her small face scrunched in concentration.
“Here you go,” I say, setting the plate beside her. “How was school today?”
She immediately grabs a piece of cheese and pops it into her mouth. “It was okay. We’re learning about families in social studies. I told everyone my real parents died.”
My heart stops. “What, how?”
“In a fire.”
“Fire?”
“Yep,” she says casually. “There was a big fire at the building where they worked. Kieran was supposed to be there too, but he was late that day. He feels really bad about it.”
My mouth goes dry as the pieces click into place—a fire.
“I’m so sorry, Nora,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “That’s... that must have been really hard for you.”
She shrugs with the resilience that only children seem capable of. “I was little. I don’t remember them that much anymore.” She looks up at me, her brown eyes suddenly serious. “Did you know your parents?”
The question is innocent, but it hits like a punch to the gut. “I did. My... my fathers died when I was young, too. And my mother just passed away recently.”
Nora’s eyes widen. “You had two dads like me? And they died too?”
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
“That’s why Kieran and my brothers take such good care of me,” Nora continues, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “They don’t want me to be sad about Mom and Dad. And now I have you too!” Her face brightens. “It’s like having a big sister. Or maybe... a mom?”
The innocent suggestion nearly breaks me.
“I’m happy to be here for you,” I manage to say, smoothing a hand over her wild curls. “Now, how about that math homework?”
She groans dramatically but turns her attention to the workbook. I help her through the problems, forcing myself to focus on the present moment, on this child who needs me, rather than the tangled web of past tragedies.
“Oh!” Nora exclaims suddenly, nearly knocking over her plate in her excitement. “I forgot to tell you! We’re going on a school trip next week! It’s for three whole days at Camp Pinewood!”
“Three days?” I echo, grateful for the change in subject. “That sounds exciting.”
“It’s going to be amazing,” she gushes, abandoning her homework to tell me about it. “We’re going to sleep in cabins and go hiking, make s’mores, and learn about nature. My teacher says we might even see real wolves!”
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself smiling despite the heaviness in my chest. “That does sound wonderful. When do you leave?”
“Monday!” She bounces in her seat. “I need to pack my sleeping bag, my flashlight, and my special wolf stuffie that Rowan gave me.”
“We’ll make sure you have everything you need,” I promise. “We can make a packing list tonight.”
“You’ll help me pack?” Her eyes shine with excitement. “And will you be here when I get back to hear all my stories?”
The question hits me anew with the precariousness of my position.Will I still be here in a week? Or will Kieran make good on his threat to fire me?
