Page 122 of Protecting You

He had made that promise. And he’d intended to keep it. And then he’d broken it, but for good reason.

He could explain to Mom everything that’d happened to get him to this place. He could call her and justify his decisions.

But Mom’s mind was made up.

And Dad’s health mattered. How could Callan risk it?

He scrambled for another solution, but none came to mind. If he were in the city, he could ask a coworker to help, but they had to be in Shadow Cove in a couple of hours. There wasn’t enough time to drive Peri to Boston, and even if there were, was he really going to foist his daughter off?

“You okay over there?” Alyssa asked.

He appreciated her kindness despite how he’d treated her the night before. All for Peri’s sake, he knew, but even so, he appreciated it.

He settled back at the table. “Sure. I’m great.”

Peri shoved a few bites of food into her mouth, then asked Alyssa, “How come you didn’t sleep in Daddy’s room?”

Callan nearly choked on his coffee.

Alyssa’s fork froze halfway to her mouth. But the pause was short before she took her bite. She took her time chewing and swallowing, maybe waiting for him to jump in.

He had no idea what to say.

“I used to have sleepovers when I lived with Mommy,” Peri said. “Gigi and Papi said I’m too young for sleepovers, but Mommy let me. My friends always slept in my bed.”

“I bet that was fun.” Alyssa’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “You were with good friends. But grown-ups don’t have sleepovers like that.”

“Mommy said it was okay as long as he was a very good friend.”

Whoa. What?

Callan stood abruptly. “I forgot the fruit. You want an apple? I’m going to cut one up.” He grabbed a knife from the block and searched for a cutting board. He’d grown up here. He should know where they were. But he was having trouble concentrating.

“Hmm, that makes sense,” Alyssa said. “Your daddy and I are friends, but maybe not that good of friends. Besides, I bet your daddy snores like a buzzsaw.”

“Do not.” He worked to keep his tone lighthearted as he found the cutting board and sliced through the apple, needing to do something with his hands.

“And he probably passes gas in his sleep.” Alyssa waved her hand in front of her face. “Stinky.”

Peri giggled. “Do you toot in your sleep, Daddy?”

“Probably, but I’m sleeping so…” He shrugged. “You girls are silly.”

Alyssa must’ve made a face because Peri’s laugh only grew louder.

“I wonder if Mommy’s friends tooted in their sleep,” Peri said.

“Did your mommy have a lot of sleepovers?” Alyssa asked.

“Uh-huh.”

Slice. Just slice the apple and don’t think about whatfriendsMegan entertained while my daughter slept in the next room.

Was it wrong to want to murder a woman who was already dead?

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

After her shower, Alyssa slipped on a new T-shirt and yesterday’s jeans, then added the cardigan to stave off the chill. Her hair was dry, her makeup applied, as she reclined on the twin bed where she’d slept the night before, checking her email. Nothing important, but she liked to clean it out every day, just in case.

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