Page 23 of In Stockings
I slice my knife through the rubbery egg and let the yellow yoke bleed into the toast.
Lyra swings her legs under the table. “Where are we going today, Granny?”
“I thought we might go swimming.”
“Can TwinkleToes come too?”
“Oh, I’ve got some schoolwork to finish today.”
“You’re studying?” Granny Hart asks.
“To be a nurse.”
She nods with approval. Then nudges her granddaughter, reminding her to eat up.
“Are you going to stay here and do your schoolwork?” Lyra asks, taking a bite of egg and toast.
“No, I’m going back to my house.”
“But my daddies would want you to stay.”
“I think your daddies will be sleeping all day.”
Lyra turns to her Granny. “Daddy thinks she’s pretty, and so does Pops. I heard them talking about it last night. They said they wanted to climb into bed with her.”
I choke on my egg. The damn thing lodges in my throat, causing tears to stream down my cheeks, and Granny Hart has to run around the table and thump me three times on the back.
“Thank you,” I croak, taking several gulps from a glass of water she passes me.
“Lyra,” her grandmother says, “you shouldn’t be listening to your daddies’ private conversations, and you certainly shouldn’t be repeating what you heard.”
“Why not? I like TwinkleToes too. I think they need a girlfriend.”
I put down my knife and fork. “Lyra,” I ask, “have you been trying to set me up with your daddies?” She shrugs. I turn to her granny. “Does she do this a lot?”
“Not to my knowledge. In fact,” she says, clearing away Lyra’s empty plate and dropping it into the sink , “you’re the first young lady I’ve bumped into under such circumstances.”
“My daddies need a girlfriend.”
“Hmmm,” Granny Hart agrees, nodding her head.
“I’m sure they’d have a lot of options,” I mutter under my breath, “if they really wanted one.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” the older woman’s shoulder tighten a little, “It’s hard enough when there are only two people in a relationship. But when there are three of you … when you have a young child …”
I look over at Lyra and smile. Three alphas and this little girl. I’d be so lucky to have them. It almost seems too greedy. “Yes,” I say, “I’m sure it must be.”
Granny Hart claps her hands. “Right, Lyra. Let’s make a move. I’ve already packed your swimming things. Say goodbye to Astrid.”
“Goodbye,” She jumps down from her chair and runs around to fling her arms around my neck and kiss my cheek. “You smell lovely,” she tells me.
“Goodbye, Lyra.” I squeeze her tiny frame back.
“Nice to meet you,” Grandma Hart says, taking Lyra’s hand. “I hope to see you again.” She gives me a knowing look. Did I win her approval? I have no idea how.
The front door slams shut, and I finish my egg. Then wash up the dishes and the pan in the sink. There’s no movement or sound from upstairs. I don’t want to disturb them, not when they’ve been working all night to save people’s lives.
I tiptoe up the stairs, retrieve my clothes, and then retreat back to the kitchen. I find an old envelope, scribble a note on the back, and then hunt for my boots and coat by the door.
