Fiona slides her hand into mine and squeezes it hard, and I squeeze back, letting her know I’m going to be right beside her the entire time.
She adjusts the bag on her arm, which contains a multitude of sweet treats that Elena made. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
We walk hand in hand down the path toward the blue front door. “You’ve got this. Amber and Skye are going to be thrilled to see you.”
Her shoulders relax slightly, and I see the first flicker of confidence on her face since we left Washington Heights.
Fiona takes a step forward, then pauses before quickly glancing back at me.
I give her a small nod, letting her know I’m not going anywhere, and she smiles.
I stand back, watching as she sucks in a breath before knocking.
The sound of tiny feet pounding down the hall can be heard almost immediately, and then the front door swings open, and two blonde-haired girls launch themselves at Fiona.
“AUNTIE FI!”
Fiona’s legs buckle, and she drops to her knees in a desperate attempt to catch the girls.
My heart stops, and I throw myself forward to try to help, but then I realize it’s useless because all three girls break out into a fit of laughter as they go tumbling to the floor.
“You came! You came!” the younger girl, Skye, cries at the top of her voice.
Fiona hugs her niece. “I told you I would.”
“We missed you!” the older girl, Amber, cries.
“Oh, I missed you too! You guys have gotten so big, you’re almost as tall as me!”
Skye places her hands on her hips. “I’m the tallest in my class.”
“I bet you are. So, where’s your dad?” Fiona glances down the hall.
Skye pouts. “He’s in the kitchen.”
Amber shrugs. “He has work to do.”
Fiona glances over her shoulder at me, and I roll my eyes, letting her know exactly how I feel about that.
The asshole is that much of a coward that he’s hiding out in the kitchen because he’s not man enough to come and face us.
I want to be mad, but honestly, I think it’s for the best. I don’t want Fiona’s time with Amber and Skye to become clouded by his presence.
Amber narrows her eyes at me. “Who are you?”
I have to bite back a laugh.
It’s like looking at Fiona, but in a child’s form. She has the same shining blue eyes and blonde hair, and her mouth even pulls down at the edges when she’s frowning.
I have to admit, it’s adorable.
“Uh…” I start, looking to Fiona for help.
Suddenly, I feel incredibly uncomfortable in my own skin.
I shift my weight between my feet and tuck my hands into my pockets as Amber refuses to break her stare.
Apparently, I can walk into a shootout no problem, but being stared down by a six-year-old girl in a princess dress is enough to make me want to bolt.
