Page 145 of Time To Learn

She looks down, placing her hands in her lap and grips them tightly.

So much for peaceful.

As I watch her fidget, I turn to face her, giving her my undivided attention.

“Are you okay?” I’m not used to seeing her so nervous—it’s strange.

Her eyes flicker to mine as she nods quickly.

“Yes. I was just wondering…” She stops, holding her breath, and instinctively I know I have to give her the time she clearly needs to sort out her thoughts.

All the Turley women have taught me a lot about patience.

“Are you going back to Denmark?”

Fuck.

I wish I was prepared for this conversation.

“That was the original plan, yes,” I answer carefully and run a hand through my hair. I hardly register the twinge in my scalp when I touch the stitches at the back of my head—I’m too focussed on our conversation.

Ailith scrunches up hernose.

“When?”

I need to tread carefully here, but I don’t want to lie toher.

“I was only supposed to be here for six months so around Christmastime, I guess.”

Nerves dance in my belly at the inscrutable look in her eyes and I push my hands into the pockets of my jacket, waiting for her to goon.

“But, what about Mummy?” she asksthen.

I swallow the thickness in my throat and take a step closer toher.

“Look, Ailith, I don’t want to go back. Really, I don’t. But…” I sigh and shake my head a little as I lean against the fence. “Well, it kind of depends on your mum. On whether she wants me to stay ornot.”

I hold my breath a few seconds and, going entirely on instinct, I let it out, raise my arm, and take her small hand in mine, holding it lightly. I don’t want to alarm her, but I’m so nervous right now, I’m having a hard time making my mouth obey me. Her hand twitches once, but the fact that she doesn’t pull away from me gives me the opening Ineed.

“It also depends on you, Ailith.”

Her eyes widen slightly.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” I smile gently at her. “Your mum isn’t the only one who gets to make that decision. I need to know if you want me to stay here, too? If you’ll let me be a part of your life? It’s very important tome.”

She looks down once and I give her more time to think about what I’ve justsaid.

“Why?”

I jerk my chin at her and give her hand a gentle squeeze.

“Because you are just as important to me as your mum is. Both of you come first, and you always will. Please believeme.”

As her lips start to quiver, I wish for the hundredth time I knew the right words to say. Clearly, the ones I just said were the wrongones.

But it seems that Ailith has a knack for surprising me just as much as her mother.