My thoughts drifted to Juniper. I’d never thought much about kids, but spending time with the little girl made me realize what I’d been missing as well.
Alone with my thoughts, I stared out the window until the limo took me back home. I thanked the driver and hurried in with my own suitcases. He didn’t seem to understand my reluctance for his help, but I was hoping that at least he could have a good night since I wasn’t.
I opened the door and trudged inside, my sodden coat dripping on the floor. Arla wouldn’t be in until the morning, and I didn’t even have the boys there to greet me.
A crushing weight descended on me.
Welcome back to America, and welcome back to loneliness.
I pulled off my coat and placed it in the closet. I left my suitcase by the front door and headed for the stairs. I wanted to fall into my bed and sleep.
Sure, I’d traveled halfway across the world and was dealing with some jet lag, but really, I wanted the comforting embrace of unconsciousness.
I dragged myself into my bedroom and removed my clothes, tossing them on the floor next to my bed. I slipped under the covers and closed my eyes.
The darkness crept up on me in the next few minutes, but not before my mind drifted again to an image of Emily’s lips swollen from a kiss.
Love and lust. A perfect and painful pair.
I was so screwed.
Chapter Twenty-three
EMILY
I stifled a yawn as I made my way to Juniper’s bedroom. Getting up early on a Monday after flying in on a Sunday wasn’t exactly fun, but my little girl still needed to head to preschool, and I had to head to work, so it wasn’t like I had any choice.
Knowing her father, she’d probably not gone to bed at a decent time the entire week. It was easy for him to set himself as the fun dad since he didn’t have to deal with consequences most of the time.
I rapped my knuckles on the door. “It’s time to get up, sweet pea.”
She didn’t respond. Not with words anyway. A loud, hacking cough sounded from the room.
I frowned and opened the door. Juniper sat up on her bed, her hair matted with sweat, dark circles under her eyes.
“Mama, I don’t feel so good,” she said.
Sitting down beside her, I placed my hand on her forehead. A fever and cough. Not good.
“Open your mouth for me, sweet pea,” I said.
She complied, and I looked inside with the help of the light on my phone. White splotches covered her reddened tonsils.
I sighed. Probably strep throat, which meant I couldn’t have her sleep it off.
“Okay, Juniper,” I said sweetly. “I’m going to get you some medicine, and then I’ll make some calls. I think we should go to the doctor.”
“What about school, Mama?” she said, between coughs.
“You’re going to probably miss a few days. Lie back down for now.”
Juniper nodded and laid back down, pulling the covers over her.
The next few minutes were a master class in motherly efficiency. First, I called and set up an appointment with her pediatrician. Then, I called my boss.
Fortunately, I pretty much never took any time off, so I had a month of time off saved up. It also helped that my boss liked me, and I was a hard worker. He had no problem telling me not to come in that day.
That helped a lot. I didn’t want to think I was leaving my boss or the other people at the bank in a bind. More guilt was the last thing I needed.