Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
He had to force himself to breathe because he was caught between impotent rage and an aching sorrow. It was everything he’d feared—this well of emotion he only felt for the people he loved. He had to suck it up and deal with the first part of the problem. “I did not lie to you, Natasha. I knew your father, and he is why we’re taking you in. When we get back to our house, I’m going to show you pictures to prove that what I say is true. I am not going to make you do anything…no bad things. Ever. Tasha, did they make you do bad things at the orphanage?”
“No, but the older girls tell me this. They tell me Americans are bad and will probably hurt me.”
It was good to know mean girls were the same across the globe. “They lied to you. I know you’re scared, and I can’t tell you how much that makes my heart ache. We want you to be our daughter. Just like Kenzie and Kala. You don’t have to earn your keep beyond the few chores we’ll ask you to do and trying hard in school.”
Her lips pursed. “They tell me I must call you Papa, but you are not my papa.”
There was the fire she would need. Good. It hadn’t been beaten out of her, and he would stoke that ember. Despite what he joked about, he didn’t want to raise kids who never questioned him. He was their dad not their god, and teaching them to be strong and independent meant they would all butt heads from time to time. Teaching them how to fight was one of his main jobs in life. “I’m not today, but one day I will earn the right to be your dad. I will work very hard to earn that title. Do you understand?”
A single tear fell from her eyes, rolling across her cheek. “You are an odd man.”
He wanted to wipe that tear away, but he wasn’t going to push her. He would be patient, and the hugs would come someday. One day she would hold his hand because she would trust that he would never hurt her, that he owed her affection and comfort.
“You are not the first to point that out, Tash.” He sat back.
“Hey, you’re missing the best part.” Kenzie took her new sister’s hand.
Tasha let her guide her back to their seats. She slid the headphones back on, and he noticed she reached for Kenzie’s hand again.
“You need some Scotch to go with this sandwich?” Chelsea sighed as she handed him a plate.
He glanced up at her, setting the plate on the tray at his side. “You heard what she’s scared of?”
She nodded. “Yes. I heard a scared little girl, and I heard you handle it beautifully. Ian…that was…I’m going to say something, and you should listen to me because I won’t ever admit I said it.”
“Okay.” He was worried she was about to tell him he’d said something terrible he hadn’t meant to say and that he should give up on the Russian.
“I wish Charlotte and I had someone like you when we were her age.” Chelsea sniffled and then sighed. “You’re a good dad, and she’s lucky. Now we will forget we had this moment.”
He smiled up at her. “Forgotten. And I’ll skip the Scotch. I think I’ll be pretty saintly for a while. She needs to trust me before she figures out what a flawed person I am.”
Patience. He was going to need so much of it. Patience and some faith that he could earn her trust.
* * * *
“She doesn’t want her own room.” Charlie stepped inside their bedroom and closed the door behind her.
It was hours after he’d managed to get through the airport. Immigration had been easy. They’d checked the paperwork, asked a couple of questions, and waved him through.
God, he was glad he hadn’t murdered all the people he’d thought he should. Sometimes they came in handy, and having a couple of politicians who owed him had likely saved him a lot of trouble. “Well, it’s not exactly a great room at this point. It’s pretty much a bed and a desk and a bookcase without any books yet.”
He was on the bed, his whole body sinking into the mattress. Home. He’d been all over the world, and nothing ever felt as good as this bed with this woman beside him. But then his Charlie knew how to turn something simple like walls and ceilings and rooms into a home.
Charlie had been waiting for their arrival. The whole house had smelled like cookies, and she’d planned a big dinner. Tasha had been surprised when Charlie had asked if she would help shape the pelmeni. She’d had Tasha talking as all the girls made the little meat-filled dumplings.