Page 31 of Leland

I turned Rouge in my lap and let her sob into my chest. Picking up the piece of paper, I read over it and immediately understood her tears. My sweet baby probably felt free. I kissed her forehead gently as I rocked her back and forth.

“It’s over,” she sobbed.

“It’s always been over, baby, now it just feels real for you.”

“You’re safe, Rouge. He’s in Hell where he belongs,” Emily said, climbing into Onyx’s lap and seeking her own comfort.

“Can I take your…” The waitress trailed off when she saw the emotion at the table. I looked up to ask her for a minute when I recognized her as the waitress fromThe Baker’s Dozen. Poor girl. We’d traumatized her twice.

“How about we take this back to my place?” I asked Onyx.

“Definitely,” he agreed, standing with Emily in his arms.

***

“Do you want the pink one or the yellow one?” Rouge asked Emily. The Little girls sat playing with playdough at the large kitchen island. I’d dug out some old cookie cutters for them to use. Rouge seemed to be about six when in Little space soBarbies, Polly Pockets, and crafting kits had taken up part of my living room and I couldn’t have been happier.

“Yellow, please,” Emily answered.

“What are you Little girls making?” I asked, reaching into the fridge and grabbing another soda for Onyx.

“Unicorn poops.”

“Oh, wow. Is it super smelly?” I asked, playing along.

“So stinky!” they shrieked in unison.

“The pizza will be here in fifteen,” Onyx said, setting his phone down.

“I have pretty new princess plates,” Rouge told Emily. “Daddy got them for me from Target.”

“Ohhhhh. Fancy.”

“You can have the Belle one!”

“I love Belle!”

“I know, silly. It’s why I said you could have that one.”

My phone chimed and I checked my messages before smiling. Things were about to get more fun for my Little one.

Fifteen minutes later, someone knocked on the door and I asked Rouge to answer it.

I knew she was pleased with my surprise when Kay, Blade, Smoke, and Bash filled my house. “We heard there was a pizza party,” Bash said, grocery bags with cartons of ice cream inside on the counter.

“Is that ice cream?” Rouge asked, looking so damn hopeful.

“It is. I thought we could have some dessert after lunch.”

“That’s why you’re my favorite,” Rouge said, making me snort.

“Iamher favorite,” Bash defended before booping her nose.

“Now that is one-hundred-percent not true. I am this sweet girl's favorite,” Kay teased, coming to give her a hug.

“Did you bring ice cream?” Rouge asked.

“I didn’t.”

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