was still worried about Horton and his tiny friends. Kristen felt an unexpected rush of affection for the little girl, touched by her concern.
“I’m sure Miss Kristen knows that,” Sam assured Maddy, but Kristen heard a hint of puzzlement in his voice. She guessed he hadn’t fallen for the “tears of laughter” attempt.
“Did your call go okay?” she asked.
He caught her meaning and gave a nod. “Let me finish reading this with Maddy and then we’ll talk.”
She settled against the door frame, watching Maddy cuddle close to Sam as he finished the story. By the time the jungle animals pledged to protect the imperiled Whovillians, Maddy’s eyes had drooped closed. Sam bent and kissed her pink cheek, lingering a moment. Kristen had to look away, a dozen different emotions roiling through her. She’d never shared those kinds of moments with her father, who’d left the family when she was just six years old, and who’d been distant long before then.
Sam finally eased himself away from Maddy and joined her at the door. “Outside,” he whispered, opening the door for her.
He guided her away from the door, stopping in the middle of the living room. “I don’t want Maddy to overhear.”
“Overhear what?” Kristen asked.
“That her mother’s booked a flight to Alabama, arriving tomorrow,” he answered grimly.
Chapter Five
“We’re going to play a game, Maddy. Is that okay?”
Maddy looked up at Kristen, her expression curious. “But I’m coloring right now.”
“I know. This is a coloring game.” Kristen sat on the low stool beside Maddy’s play table and pulled a blank piece of paper in front of her.
“A coloring game?” Instantly intrigued, Maddy scooted closer.
“I’m going to draw something, and you’re going to help me color it in. Does that sound like fun?”
Maddy nodded, reaching for the crayons.
“I bet you have a good memory,” Kristen continued, trying not to let Maddy’s little girl smell distract her. She’d agreed to take this assignment to help Maddy remember more about the night of the attack. This might be one of the few moments she had alone with Maddy for a while, since her mother’s impending arrival promised to be a major distraction over the next couple of days.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
