Page 23 of Because You Loved Me

I reach out my arms as if I could catch her. She runs toward me until I scoop her up in my arms and tickle her again.

Tobias pats my arm. “Are you feeling better?” His voice is sincere, and something about that makes me emotional. It’s been a long time since anyone really cared about me.

“Yes.”

Skyler plays evade the tickle monster with me as Tobias sits and watches us. After a moment, his gaze flicks to the doorway, and I can see the worry etched on his features.

I feel terrible for being so unaware of how all of this made him feel. I touch his arm lightly. His skin is warm through his white shirt. “She’s worked for you for a long time, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He shakes his head. “She’ll be fine.”

“Does this remind you of when…” I stop. That’s way too personal to ask. “Never mind.”

He closes his eyes a moment. “No. It’s not the same at all. My parents died in a car accident. I was at school when I got the news.”

Noah enters the room and Tobias and I stand. He looks exhausted. “She’s on her way to the hospital. They think it might have been a stroke, but they have to assess her at the hospital.”

“Will she be all right?” I ask.

“They think so. It could have been a lot worse.” Noah rakes his hand through his hair, which it looks like he’s been doing a lot because it sticks up at odd angles.

“I can make us dinner tonight,” I say, trying to be helpful.

Tobias glances at me. “I don’t want to make you do that.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Are you sure?” Tobias gives me a pained look. “I don’t want to impose.”

“I make a really good chili.”

“Sounds delicious,” Noah says. “Save some for me.”

“I will. You’d better get some sleep,” I say to Noah. “You look like you’re going to fall over.”

He nods. “Okay.”

I want to say something else to Tobias, to console him somehow, but the words stick in my throat. Who am I to sayanything? We’re not close. And I can’t pretend to be. I know I’m living on borrowed time. At some point I’m going to have to leave before Tobias finds out who I really am.

CHAPTER 9

KIKI EMMERSON

Itry to calm myself as I watch Skyler eat some cereal. Tobias is in his office with the door closed, Noah went to bed, and Levi is cleaning the kitchen. I do my best to push all thoughts of the day my grandmother died out of my head. This is a totally different situation, and as I watch Skyler eat I start to feel better.

After Skyler finishes, I get her dressed in a cute tank top and shorts, which mirrors my own outfit, and we go outside. Skyler grabs a pail and shovel. “Can we go play with the sand on the beach?”

“Sure.” I walk with her down the slope to where the backyard turns into beach. A light breeze blows, and I sit down next to her.

“Can I bury you in the sand?”

I laugh. “If you want to.”

“Yes! Lay down.” Skyler starts to scoop up sand and put it on my feet. It tickles as it goes between my toes.

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