Chapter 309

Tiny sobs racked her body. She cried herself out before she looked up into my face. "Did Daddy really say that?" I nodded and showed her the letter.

"You've seen your dad's handwriting, right?" I asked softly, but she shook her head. "Well, this was written by him." I watched her tiny finger trace the words.

"I can't read it." I leaned my head against hers.

"I'll teach you."

She took the letter gently. "Is this mine?"

I kissed her head. "Your daddy wrote you a ton of letters, and you get to keep them all." I was going to push up from the ground, but Carly stopped me.

She handed it back to me. "I don't want to lose it." I took the letter and folded it back up. "Can you keep it for me?" She sniffled and then stood. She made her way over to the mirror and twirled in a circle. "My daddy is right."

"Oh?"

"You made me beautiful." She gave me a tiny smile as I got up off the floor.

"No, Carly girl. You are already beautiful. I just did your hair." I tucked the letter into my sweatpants. "Do you want to head downstairs? I’m going to go get dressed so I can be ready."

"Okay, Amy." She walked back to me. Then she gave me a hug. "Hurry, so the pancakes don’t get cold." I patted her hair and then she turned and ran out of her room.

I smiled before I made my way back to my room, and then I grabbed clothes for the day. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and slipped my slippers on. Then I headed to the door, but something in the mirror caught my attention—something I overlooked last night. I turned back to the closet and made my way to the random door in the back wall. "Now, why would you be here?"

I opened the door to find…nothing. It was a short hallway to nowhere. I went in, spun in a circle, and then came out. "What the hell are you doing?" I spun to see Wendy standing in my doorway, watching me with a confused face.

"I don't know where this is supposed to go?" I stood back and pointed to the door to nowhere.

Wendy came over and opened the door herself. She went in, closed the door, then came back out with a letter. She handed it to me. "I think this is for you." I grabbed it.

"Thanks." I went to open it, but Hanna came in. "Hey."

“Carly is looking for you.” I just nodded and tucked the letter into my pocket, then we headed downstairs.

“Hey darling,” I called as I rounded the corner. She was sitting in a chair at the table, kicking her feet, waiting, with a plate of food in front of her and one next to her. “You needed me?”

Carly nodded. “I helped make you a plate so we could go see Daddy sooner.”

I gave her a quick smile. “Thank you.” I slid in next to her and dug in. “This is great.”

She smiled at me as she ate a few bites. “Daddy likes his pancakes like this.”

“He has good taste.” I smiled as I finished another bite. “And you are such an amazing girl to make me breakfast.” Everyone else made their way to the table with their plates. They all said good morning to both of us.

Chapter 309

“So what’s the plan?” Hanna looked between Carly and me. “You both look very nice.”

“We are going to say goodbye to my daddy after breakfast.” Carly took another bite and missed the pitying looks everyone flashed at her. She turned to me. “Can we plant flowers?”

I ran my hand down her hair. “Of course we can, baby girl.” I nodded toward her food. “Eat. The faster you eat, the faster we can go see your daddy.” I turned to look at Hanna. “After we go sit with Carl, I’ll take you guys back to school.” I turned to look at Toya and Wendy. “Which one of you two would be willing to stay here?”

Carly looked up at me. “You aren’t staying?” Her eyes filled with tears.

I grabbed her hands. “Hey. Don’t cry. I’ll be back later. I just ran directly here last night, and I have things to collect. Move over and get ready.”

She wiped her face. “You promise?”

I nodded. “Of course I do. I’ll be here every night, but I will have to be gone during the day. Wendy and Toya here are going to help me with you.” Carly turned to them.

“Like babysitters?”

Hanna and Micca laughed. I smiled but shook my head. “More than that.”

Carly furrowed her brow. “Like…aunts?”

“Exactly.” Wendy and Toya nodded. “They will be your aunts.” I twirled her ponytail. “The most important thing to remember though, bug, is that you can call us by our names, call us aunties, whatever you are comfortable with.”