“Uh-huh.” She ate a piece of French toast.
“We have a house guest,” Dakota said after pouring himself coffee.
“What’s that?” Sammy asked.
“A visitor who stays for sleepovers.”
“Who?”
“Providence is staying with us for a little while.”
Sammy gasped and her eyes grew large. She set down her fork and started to climb out of her booster seat.
“Whoa, there, Missy, where do you think you’re going?” Dakota asked.
“To see her.”
“Samantha, she’s getting ready and we have to give her privacy.”
“Good morning,” Providence said as she entered the kitchen.
“Provi!” Sammy smiled at her.
“Wow, what a great greeting,” Providence said. “Hi, Sammy. Morning, Miranda.”
“Can I make you something?” Miranda asked.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
Miranda smiled. “I’m making French toast. One slice or two?”
“Two would be great, thanks.” After pouring herself coffee, she sat at the table.
Sammy climbed back into her booster seat and resumed eating her breakfast.
After Sammy talked about what she and Miranda were doing that morning, Dakota said, “Samantha, Providence and I will be working here today.”
“I won’t int-rupt you,” Sammy said.
“Thank you, honey.”
When Sammy finished, she played in the family room. With just the adults in the room, Dakota said, “Miranda, with everything going on, we need to be extra vigilant with Sammy’s safety.”
“I don’t take tai chi for the hell of it, Dakota.”
Providence laughed. “Girl power is strong in this house.”
“I am so outnumbered,” he replied.
After breakfast, Dakota and Providence retreated into his office and shut the door.
“I need to let Luther know someone broke into my place and stole my backup weapon.” Providence dialed, put the call on speaker.
“Good morning, Providence,” Luther said. “How are things going?”
“You’re on speaker and Dakota is with me. Things are progressing slower than we’d like. Someone broke into my home last night and stole my secondary weapon.”
“Are you okay?”
