She gave me a sad look as she slowly nodded her head. “Wait,” she spoke. “Can I lay Luna next to her?”

“You sure can but make sure you don’t wake her up. Your mom needs all the rest she can get right now so she can get better.”

I followed Hope back inside Lorelei’s room and she carefully placed Luna beside her.

“Now my daddy can be with her while she gets better.”

My heart ached when she said that. A feeling washed over me that I’d never felt before. This little girl, Lorelei’s little girl, was probably the most thoughtful person I’d ever known. Walking up to the nurse’s desk, I told Lorelei’s nurse to be sure to tell her that we had been there when she woke up. We met Tony outside and headed home.

I sent Hope upstairs to get into her pajamas. As I was pouring myself a scotch, she came down and sat on the couch.

“All ready for bed?” I asked.

“Yep. Can you read me a bedtime story? My mom reads to me every night.”

Oh shit. She’s kidding, right?

“Umm. Sure. Did you bring any books?”

“Yeah. I brought Charlotte’s Web. Wilbur just met Charlotte.” She smiled.

“Shouldn’t you be reading that yourself? Practicing?”

“I read a lot of other books, but every night, my mom reads me to sleep. She said it’s our quiet time together.”

This was something I didn’t want to do. The only thing I read was the newspaper or the internet. I sighed.

“Only a couple of pages, okay?”

“Okay.”

I walked up the stairs and Hope followed behind. When we reached her room, she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. I looked at her and narrowed my eye.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked.

“Yes. Right after I changed into my pajamas.”

She handed me Charlotte’s Web and I opened to the page that was bookmarked.

“I’ve never read this book.”

Hope laid her head on her pillow and I sat down on the edge of the bed and started reading from the pages. I had read ten pages of the book when Hope asked me to stop.

“I’m going to sleep now.”

I placed the bookmark on the page where I left off and pulled the covers up over her. As I got up from the bed, she reached her hand out and grabbed mine. I turned and looked at her.

“Good night, Mr. Sutton,” she sleepily spoke.

I stared at her for a moment as she closed her eyes.

“Good night, Hope.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jack

The next morning, I got up, showered, and woke Hope up to get ready for school. I headed downstairs and made a pot of coffee. A few moments later, she walked into the kitchen.

“What’s for breakfast?” she asked.

Oh shit. “Umm…what do you want?” Of all times for Madeline to be gone.

“Pancakes,” she spoke as she climbed up on the stool in front of the island.

“I don’t have pancakes.”

“What do you have?” She propped her elbows on the counter.

“Let me look.” Opening the pantry, I found it was pretty bare. I walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. “I have eggs.”

“Okay. I’ll have scrambled eggs and toast.”

“I only have wheat bread.”

“Yuck.” She made a face. “Just eggs then.” She sighed.

I took out the carton of eggs and grabbed a frying pan from the bottom cabinet. After cracking them in a bowl, I heated the pan and poured them in.

“Coffee?” I asked as I held up the pot.

“I don’t drink coffee.” She giggled.

“You don’t? I thought all kids drank coffee.” I smiled.

“I’ll have orange juice please because I’m sure you don’t have apple.”

A burnt smell suddenly filled the air. “Oh shit! The eggs!” I ran over to the pan.

“You said a bad word.”

“Sorry. Don’t tell your mom.” I tried to scrape the eggs from the pan.

“Did you put butter in the pan before pouring the eggs in?” she asked.

“No.” I sighed and looked at my watch. “Grab your school stuff. We’re going out to breakfast.”

“But I’ll be late for school.”

“No you won’t. Hurry up.”

I threw the pan in the sink and grabbed my phone from the counter.

“Hello, Jack.”

“Tony, I’m taking Hope down the street to that diner for breakfast. Pick us up there in about forty-five minutes. We have to hurry or she’ll be late for school.”

I heard snickering on the other end. “I will be there.”

“Ready,” Hope said as she walked into the kitchen with her coat on and her backpack over her shoulder.

We walked out of the building and down to the diner. When we were seated, I told the waitress that we were in a hurry and I slipped her a twenty-dollar bill to expedite our breakfast. Hope got her pancakes and orange juice and I just ordered a bagel and coffee.

“I’m going to pick you up from school today and we’ll go visit your mom, but we have to go to the grocery store after to get some food.”

“Okay. Mr. Sutton?”

“Yes, Hope.”

“You didn’t pack me a lunch.”

“Shit!”

“You said a bad word again.”

“I’m stressed, Hope. I can say that when I’m stressed. Just don’t tell your mom. Can you buy lunch?”

“I don’t like the school’s food.”

“Just this once? Please?” I begged.

She sat across from me shaking her head no.

“Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your lunch is delivered. What do you like?”

“Peanut butter and jelly is fine. Or I like ham and cheese.”

After rushing through breakfast, I told Tony to step on it.

“We’re going to be late,” Hope said.

“No, we aren’t.”

“Yes, we are.”

“Hope, we won’t be late.”

We were late. Just as Tony pulled up to the building, the doors shut and we were locked out.

“Ugh!” I placed my hand on my head.

“Told ya we were going to be late. Just push this button.”

I did and the door unlocked. As we stepped inside, there was a manly looking woman standing at the entrance with her arms folded.

“I apologize. Traffic was bad.”

The woman glared at me and then looked down at Hope. “You may go to your classroom, honey.”

“Bye, Mr. Sutton.” Hope smiled as she waved.

“Bye, Hope. Have a good day.”

****

By time I got to the hospital, I was exhausted. I had no idea how Lorelei did this full-time and by herself. I carefully opened the door to her room and saw she was awake. As I stepped inside, she looked at me.

“Jack,” she softly spoke.

Walking over to her bed, I placed my hand on hers. “How are you feeling?”

She shrugged. “Like shit.”

I gave her a small smile.

“How’s Hope?”

“She’s good. I just dropped her off at school.”

“Thank you.” She picked up Luna. “I’m sorry I missed you both last night.”

“Don’t apologize. You need your rest. I’ll be bringing her by after school.”

“She isn’t giving you a hard time, is she?”

“Nah. She’s a good kid.”

“Good. Words can’t express how grateful I am that you’re looking after her. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

I gave her a tender smile as I lightly squeezed her hand.

“It’s the least I can do since you do so much for me.”

“What do I do for you, Jack?”

“God, I don’t think there’s enough time to list everything. You get my coffee every morning, you put up with my yelling, you pick up my clothes from the cleaners. Hell, Lorelei, you even buy my condoms.”

“All those things are part of my job.”

“Maybe so, but this is my way of repaying you.”

“Can you do me a favor?” she asked.

“Anything.”

“Could you go back to my apartment and get my phone. It’s on my nightstand.”

“Of course. I’ll bring it by later. I better get going. You need your rest and I have to get to the office.” I leaned over and pressed my lips against her forehead. “I’ll see you later, Lorelei.”

“Bye, Jack.”

After Tony dropped me off at the office, I handed him the keys to Lorelei’s apartment and asked him to get her phone and bring it to me. I also asked him to grab her sketchbook. Maybe once she started to feel a little better, she would want it.