Page 93 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

“I’m so proud of you.” His eyes shone. “You were right.”

Somehow his praise meant even more than her boss’s. He knew everything. He understood what was at stake for her.

“You must be exhausted.”

“I am.” Considering she’d yawned for the third time, his conclusion was hardly surprising. “It’s been an emotional day.”

“So why don’t you get into bed, and I’ll make you a hot chocolate?”

Suddenly the day’s emotions threatened to overwhelm her. He’d sensed her flagging energy even before she had. “Hot chocolate sounds perfect.”

With that, he headed for the kitchen.

She made a beeline to their bedroom where she changed into her old pajamas and got under the covers. Propped up against the headboard, she inhaled deeply as he entered the room, two mugs in hand. To her raised eyebrow, he smiled sheepishly.

“I had a good day too.”

“What happened?”

“Standard stuff. Daycare, Toddlers and Books, swimming. But Calleigh seemed more engaged than she’s been in a while.”

A wave of guilt hit her. She was missing out on the little stuff. The everyday things that made up her sister’s life.

“Don’t feel guilty, Remy. We talk about you almost every day, and she understands you have to work.”

“She’s three. How can she possibly understand?”

“Because we talk about it. I tell her you’ll be home every night, and she believes me.”

“I didn’t make it home tonight.” Guilt. Omnipresent and overwhelming guilt.

“That doesn’t matter in the long run. You’ll be here in the morning when she wakes up. You’re the first thing she looks for each morning.”

She took a sip of her cooling drink. “How do working mothers cope?”

“The same as you do. With a few regrets, but also knowing they’re doing what they have to in order to survive. I don’t judge.” He gave her a gentle smile. “And neither should you. You might not have noticed, but you’re more engaged than you were before. Most nights you’re home for dinner. You handle baths like a pro, and the girls adore it when you read the bedtime story. Your time with them is all the more special because you can’t be there every moment. I’m the boring one. They tire of me.”

“Did they actually say that?” She didn’t believe it for a moment. The girls adored him. The affection was clear in their words and their physical comfort with him.

He grinned. “Actually, Mira’s exact words the other day were,Daddy go away, it’s girl playtime.”

Unbidden, laughter burst out.

He feigned hurt. All for show, of course. “It felt good. They’re bonding, you know? Calleigh is becoming more of a participant and less of a hanger-on.” He removed the empty mug from her hands and placed it on the bedside table with his own. “You must be proud of both her and yourself. You haven’t had an easy time of it, but you’re both making your way through.”

“Does she ever…talk about my parents?”

“Sometimes she toddles over to their picture. She points to it and tells Mira that they’re in heaven.”

“Does she understand what that means? Does Mira?”

He smiled with a touch of wistfulness. “They know heaven is a place where people go and are happy. Calleigh understands they won’t be coming back. Her nightmares are gone. That’s in no small part due to you.”

“Me?”What in the world is he talking about?

“You’ve shown her. She idolizes you. She sees you making your way through each day, and she wants to do the same thing.”

“Kennedy says she won’t forget, but the pain will fade.”

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