Page 57 of Absolution

“I’m so sorry, I should’ve called to let you know we’re alive and stink.” She laughs with me.

“Well, I rescheduled my appointment. So, I’ll be home soon if you need any more help.” I can’t believe she’d go through so much trouble for me. Emmie murmurs in her sleep, and my heart skips a beat. Yeah, I can understand it now.

“Thank you, I appreciate it. How’s my girl?” I’m sure Doc is in good hands with them, but I miss her. She’ll be with me from now on, I just wanted some time with these two.

“Crawford said they’re having a blast.”

“Good, thanks again. I’ll be by tomorrow to see y’all.”

“We’ll see you then, sweetheart.” She ends the call, and it’s then I realize I’m smiling.

Chapter Eighteen

Scarlet

The house is dark when I pull up, my stomach pits immediately. Michelle assured me Creed was perfectly fine with staying with Emmie today. I only wish I had known sooner than right now.

“He’s been with her for a little over ten hours, Michelle. But I can report, the house is still standing, and there are no fire or rescue people around it.”

“Will you stop, please! Creed is more than capable of handling a toddler. He’s a friggin’ navy SEAL, woman! His hand to hand combat is top rated. He’s a trained assassin!” She squeaks.

I purse my lips. “I have no idea what his hand to hand tactics involve and right now, I’m not sure I care until I know my daughter is alive. Or he’ll need protection from me.”

“Call me after you find out she’s perfectly fine and breathing.” I know she’s rolling her eyes as she ends the call, but I’m worried.

I ease the door open, peeking in before I barge in and have a heart attack at what I’m faced with. There’s no sound, and the living room is clean. I sneak through, searching as I go.

The television is on in the family room, I round the corner and stop dead in my tracks. The cushions to every piece of furniture are lying around the floor, every toy Emmie owns is littered about.

A trash can sits to one side of the couch, and another beside a mound in the middle of the floor. Tiptoeing over, I kneel in front of the opening and gape at the sight in front of me.

Emmie’s head is laying on Creed’s chest, her knees are on the floor, and his hand rests on the small of her back. They’re both sound asleep and from the looks of it, alive.

I reach in, shaking Creed’s foot until he rouses. He blinks slowly, suddenly dawning on him where he is. He looks around and then catches my gaze with a shy wave.

“Hi…”

He throws his head back slightly. “Hey.”

“Rough day?”

He shrugs gently, so not to disturb Emmie. “Piece of cake.”

“It looks like it.” My chest fills with all the warm and fuzzy feelings. He did it, and she’s okay. I can’t ask for more. His phone beeps, drawing my attention. A message from Liam.

“Who is it?” His brows pull tight.

“Liam.”

And now, they’re in the opposite direction. “I’ll get back to him later.”

“It’s nothing to worry about, he’s just asking if you remembered to clean out the tub. If not, you should do it before I get home.”

“Emmie got the stomach bug from Michelle or her boys. She vomited like a waterfall and then shot it across the room with the precision of a sniper.” His eyes grow wider as the story goes on. “What do you feed this kid? Because my suggestion is that you should lay off the green stuff.”

My cheeks puff up as I hold back the laughter that’s ready to burst from them, I can’t stop it, I scramble from the makeshift fort, hoping to get away before I wake Emmie with the jovial sound.

“This is classic! I’ll be telling this story when I’m old and gray.” My giggles turn into boisterous, gut-busting, cackling.