Page 31 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Wanting to give Logan a moment, I cleared my throat. “I’m going to put these flowers in some water. Then I’ll bring Charlie in.”

He didn’t turn away from Charlie’s face. “All right.”

I darted back to the kitchen and scrambled to put the sunflowers in a vase. As it filled with water, I peered out the window over the sink to the backyard. A streak of flying brown hair caught my eye as Charlie ran from her fort to the shoreline of the lake.

I shut off the faucet and left the flowers to hurry to the back door before she could get herself wet.

“Charlie!” I shouted. “Time to come inside.”

Her feet skidded to a stop on the grass, then her frame slumped as she changed direction, plodding toward the house and up the porch steps.

“Let’s get you washed up, okay?” I placed my hand on her neck as she came through the door, then steered her right for the sink.

As we both scrubbed her hands, she looked up at me. “Is he here?”

“Yes, he’s in the living room.”

Her tiny shoulders drooped so low my heart ached. It wasn’t Logan, just his presence. My girl struggled so much with change. It was just who she was. It didn’t help that her friend Katie had told her horror stories of trading homes every three days after her parents had divorced.

I shut off the water and knelt next to Charlie, caressing her cheek. “Logan is really excited to meet you and have dinner with us. Do you think you can be brave and give him a chance? We don’t need to worry about all of the other stuff tonight. Okay?”

She nodded and fell into my arms.

I held her tight, hoping to give her some of the courage she often gave me. Then I let her go and stood, holding out my hand.

When her little fingers slipped into mine, I smiled and led her out of the kitchen toward the living room.

Logan was sitting on the edge of the couch, his hands steepled together by his chin as one of his feet bounced. When he saw us come into the room, he stood fast. His eyes zeroed in on Charlie. “Hi.”

Her hand gripped mine harder.

“Come on, honey.” I walked farther into the living room as Logan stepped around the coffee table to meet us in the middle. “Charlie, this is Logan. Logan, this is Charlie.”

He knelt down in front of her and held out his hand. “Hi, Charlie.”

I tensed, holding my breath as I waited for her to react.

She was staring at his hand like it was the pink headband I’d tried to get her to wear once.

Logan’s eyes darted up to mine, then back to Charlie. His hand was still between them, begging for a touch.

It hurt to watch as she rejected him. My heart ached as the longing on his face grew while his hope dimmed.

Finally, the pain in my chest was too much and I pried Charlie’s hand out of my own. “Charlie,” I scolded, pushing her forward a step. “Don’t be rude.”

Reluctantly, she put her hand in Logan’s.

He swallowed hard as they touched, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She looked over her shoulder to me with panic and whispered, “What do I call him?”

Logan chuckled and let her hand go. “How about Logan?”

She nodded and met his gaze, studying him for a moment. “Mommy said you live far away.”

“That’s right. I live in New York City.”

“And that’s why you didn’t visit me before?”