Page 59 of The Refiner

Keagan: Feed her? Burp her? Rock her?

Me: Yes, yes, and yes. I even enlisted the help of Vance, which shows my desperation.

Also, the truth. When I couldn’t get Tatum to sleep, I broke down and called Vance, thinking something was wrong with her. We went over her symptoms and vitals and agreed I should take her to the hospital, but then Halle came on the phone and asked if I had tried talking to Tatum.

Vance and I both snorted.

But Tatum… completely hushed as soon as she heard Halle’s voice on speaker.

“She’s used to hearing her mother’s voice in the womb,” Halle had said. “Talk to her, Astor, she’ll learn to get used to your voice too.”

My heart shattered inside my chest.

Rebekah was right—I couldn’t be a good father, even if I wanted to be. I didn’t know how. My daughter was living, breathing proof of that fact.

Tatum needed her mother.

She needed her mother’s words—her comfort.

I was never going to soothe her like Piper.

I can never give her the comfort of her mother.

But Keys… she could try.

But she wasn’t speaking to me.

Until now.

Keagan: And what did he suggest?

Me: You.

Several minutes go by before she responds, but when she does, a tremendous weight is lifted off my chest.

Keagan: I’m on the way.

Half an hour later, she’s knocking on my door, looking disheveled and exhausted.

“Hey.”

She’s also been crying—a fact I’m quite sure she wants me to ignore.

“Hey.” I open the door wider, allowing her to step inside. “Tatum is in the bassinet—crying. Again. All that kangaroo care has her thinking she’s supposed to be held all day.”

A slight smile appears through the obvious pain on Key’s face. “Only weak men complain.”

Ah, there is the Keys I’m used to. For a moment there, with the wild hair, smeared mascara, and tear-stained face, I thought she might be lost forever.

Clearly, my concern was unwarranted.

“I’m not complaining, just merely pointing out facts,” I argue.

She brushes past me and smacks my chest. “Sounds like a whole lot of excuses to me.”

Chuckling, I close the door, watching Keys scoop Tatum out of the bassinet, cuddling her to her chest and placing soft kisses to the fine dusting of dark hair on the top of her head.

“Halle said Tatum probably misses Piper’s voice and…”

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