Page 3 of Because You Loved Me

Tobias seems to think Ellie’s suggestion is funny because he’s having trouble keeping a straight face. He hides it with his coffee cup. For some reason this irks me. What does he know? Maybe I’m a famous quilter. He doesn’t even know me. “Sure. I can help,” I blurt out.

Ellie clasps her hands together. “Wonderful! Come over this afternoon and I’ll show you what we’re working on.”

CHAPTER 2

TOBIAS BARRETT

Ilet out a sigh and rub my temples, my headache back. The figures on my spreadsheet blur together, and I shut my laptop. No matter how I run the numbers, the gallery just isn’t cutting it. If I don’t do something now, I’ll just have to close them down in another six months. I hate to pull the plug on them, but I’m not a philanthropist and this is becoming a huge financial suck.

The thought of telling Josephine and Ellie that I’m pulling their funding makes me a little sick. I grab my water bottle and take a long swig. Maybe I can help bring more traffic to the gallery. If I can create traffic, it’s possible we won’t have to shut it down.

Noah walks into my office. He’s in his police uniform, his hands on his hips, and my daughter hangs from his forearm, giggling. “I’m heading out for my shift. I just don’t know what to do about this growth I have.”

Skyler’s giggles escalate as she swings from his arm. She’s changed out of her Sunday dress and is now wearing purple leggings and mismatched socks. “I’m not a growth.”

“Yeah, well you can’t come to work with me,” Noah teases. “I have bad guys to catch.”

“I wanna catch the bad guys, too!” Skyler yells, dropping from his arm. She jumps up and down. “Please? Can I go catch some?”

“Thanks for watching her.” I stand and walk to the door. “Come on, Sky. Let’s give Uncle Noah a break.”

Skyler wanders over to my desk to play with my office supplies. Noah hitches up his pants and scrutinizes me. “I heard you turned down a nanny today.”

I scoff. Of course everyone in town is going to know about the newcomer, and what happened at church. I unbutton the top of my white dress shirt because it’s suddenly hot in here. “What nanny? I think the woman is a drug dealer. Sorry, but I know nothing about her. I’m not inviting her into my home to take care of my daughter.”

Noah gives me a flat look. “You need some help around here. You can’t do everything yourself.”

“I can try.” I grin at him, but he doesn’t return my smile.

“You’re a control freak. I’m sure the woman is a fine, upstanding citizen.”

Skyler climbs on my chair and starts swiveling it back and forth. I raise my eyebrows at Noah. “Did youseeher?”

“She was at church. How bad can she be?”

I roll my eyes. “So, you didn’t see her.”

Noah shoots me an exasperated frown. “You need someone. I heard she could use a job, and that she’s good with kids.”

Skyler stands on my office chair. Before I can tell her to get down, it jerks back and she topples forward. She shrieks as shefalls and hits her chin on the desk. I rush to her, scooping her up in my arms.

“Are you okay?” Even as the words come out, I know she’s not. Her wails fill the air as blood drips from her lip down her chin. “She’s bleeding,” I shout to Noah.

He’s next to me in a flash. “Where is she hurt?”

I find a bite mark on her lower lip. “Here.”

“It doesn’t look too deep. I’ll get some ice. You calm her down.”

I hug her to my chest. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Daddy will take care of it.”

Her cries subside as she clings to me. “You’ll make it all better?”

The faith she has in me tugs on my heart. What if there comes a time when I can’t make it all better? I couldn’t even give her what every little girl deserves. A mother who loves her. Despite everything I did, I couldn’t make Courtney stay. “Yes,” I say, shoving the disturbing thoughts away.

Noah brings me a washcloth with ice wrapped inside. “Hold this to her lip.”

I do as he says, already noticing the swelling. “Here, sweetie. This will make it feel better.”

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