“You promise?” she asked so quietly, I almost had to lean forward to hear her.
“Promise.”
“O-kay,” she drawled out.
Chris headed to his room to get tweezers while I went to find Charlie. I found him in the girls’ room, guarding Ash while she lay asleep in the crib. How she hadn’t woken up from a scream that would make Jamie Lee Curtis proud, I didn’t know. But I was thankful. Ash had been extra cranky lately, and the internet searches I’d conducted told me she was probably teething ... or grieving. I hated that I didn’t know which was which.
“All right, Cheyenne. I’ve got my make-you-feel-better kit ready,” Chris said.
This. This was why it was hard to keep my wits about me. How was Chris so kind, charming, and just downright sweet? The part of my heart I’d buried deep inside seemed to awaken with every act of kindness he performed.
Cheye wrapped an arm around Charlie, and he snuggled in closer. She squeezed her eyes tight and held out her forefinger.
“Wow, you’re so brave,” Chris said.
I watched as he pulled the splinter out in one go. My heart swelled at how calm he was. Chris was an amazing man.
“Ta-da.” Chris held up the splinter in front of Cheyenne.
Her mouth dropped open. “But it’s so tiny.”
“I know. Sometimes it’s the tiniest of things that really hurt.”
Her brow furrowed, but she said nothing else.
I turned to Chris and mouthed,Thank you.
Of course, he mouthed back.
I let my cheeks curve upward in hopes that the feelings gathering steam in my chest would lessen. He just had to keep saving us over and over again. Surely this wasn’t real affection filling my heart to the brim, but some kind of love-of-rescuer complex. I shook my head. Was that a real thing?
“Are you okay now?” I asked Cheyenne.
“Yeah.”
“Hug?” I held out my arms, hoping this was the right next step.
Cheyenne launched herself at me, and I had to brace myself to prevent us from tipping backward. My forty-plus-year-old body didnotlike the catapult motion. Still, I wrapped my arms around her and murmured, “All better now.”
It’s what I imagined a mom would say, maybe even what Ellynn had said to soothe her daughter in the past.I’ll make you proud, Ell. The girls will know how much you loved them and how much I do too.I swallowed.
“I miss Mommy and Daddy,” Cheye whispered.
“I miss them too.” I kept my tone low, not wanting to ruin the moment. She wasn’t as vocal as I thought she should be on the subject. I didn’t want Cheyenne becoming closed off like I had when my parents hadn’t provided the care I needed as a child. Growing up to be the mother figure to Ellynn had taken a lot out of me. All I wanted was for Cheye to progress naturally and not have any disasters grow her up faster than necessary. Was that even possible?
“I’m glad you’re here, Auntie Erykah.”
“So am I, sweetie.” I drew in a steadying breath. “I’ll be here for a long time.”
Please.
I didn’t know who I was pleading to, but then again, there was only one entity I was trying to determine the existence of. If He was real, maybe He’d make sure Cheyenne didn’t lose another person close to her.
Please.
Cheyenne drew back, and her brown eyes were luminous. “I’m hungry.”
“Good, because dinner’s ready.” This I could handle. Istood up and helped her to her feet. We walked into the kitchen, and Chris followed.
