Erik’s eyes followed Michelle’s movements as she uncurled from the pillow and rose to her feet. When her gaze locked with his, he saw the uncertainty in her eyes. After last night, the tension between them was understandably tenuous. It wouldn’t take much to shatter it completely.
“I’ll go... for a walk or something,” she said heading toward the door.
It was Saturday, and Mrs. Hayes was off for the weekend. Holly used to have every other weekend off, depending on his schedule. She would have been free today, thus Michelle was free. But he wanted to keep her around. He told himself it was because it was her third day on the job, and she needed to get used to her new routine, but his heart knew better.
“Wait, Michelle. After my talk with Precious, I’d like to take us out to breakfast, that is if you have no other plans.”
“You don’t have to, Erik. I’m—”
“It’s a peace offering after last night.” He wanted to apologize for the insensitive words he’d said to her, but couldn’t do so in front of Precious. She’d done him a wealth of good. He wondered how he could ever repay her.
She nodded her head in acknowledgment then left him alone with his daughter.
“I had a dream last night, Daddy.” Precious jumped on his lap the minute he dropped onto the sofa.
“Was it good, or bad?”
“Good, Daddy. If it was bad then it would be a nightmare.”
“You’re so wise.” He nudged her nose with his. “So what did you dream about? Me?”
She laughed. “No. I dreamt about Mommy. She was brushing her hair and I was putting on all her jewelry in her jewelry box. She said I looked pretty. And then she said she loved me.”
Erik’s heart stopped for a minute and he tightened his hold on her. She must have heard Michelle tell him about the lost bracelet then cried herself to sleep. Erik was not a superstitious man, but something told him that Cassie had seen her daughter’s pain and had visited her dreams to comfort her. “And she does love you, honey,” he said, his voice cracking a little.
“Even in heaven?”
“Even in heaven.” He took a deep breath, and cradling her face in his hand, he gazed into her eyes. “Michelle told me what happened the day Mommy died. It wasn’t your fault, Precious. You had nothing to do with what happened to her. You must always remember that she did love you, very much. You were the most important thing in the world to her. The last thing she said to me was how much she loved you.”
“She did?”
“Yes. Would you like to have this?” He placed the bracelet in her hand. “It was your mother’s favorite and I’m sure she would love for you to have it.”
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at the bracelet glittering against her palm. “I’m sorry I took it, and made Mommy mad.”
Erik pulled her close. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy isn’t mad anymore. And, Precious,” he continued, “I am not going anywhere. I will always be here for you.” Erik prayed in his heart that he wasn’t making a promise he couldn’t keep. But the child needed to be reassured that she had one parent she could count on. “If you ever think I’m being too hard on you, I want you to tell me. I won’t get upset and I won’t leave you. Okay?” He searched her face for an inkling of understanding.#p#分页标题#e#
“Okay, Daddy. You know what else?” she said after a brief pause.
Her brown eyes beamed with excitement, touching Erik in the deepest part of his soul. “What else?”
“Last night I dreamt you came into my room, and you were holding me, and you told me you loved me.”
“I had that very same dream, Precious.”
“Oh, Daddy. We were in each other’s dreams.” She pressed her lips against her father’s cheek then wrapped her arms around his neck.
“We will always be in each other’s dreams, my darling Precious. Always. Now, where would you like to go for breakfast?” he asked as he set her on the floor.
“McDonald’s.”
“Oh, Precious…”
“But, I love the pancakes.”
Erik grimaced, getting to his feet. “Go get Michelle. She’ll be delighted to know I’m taking her to McDonald’s on our first date.”
As Precious ran in search of Michelle, Erik pondered on his choice of words. Date? Did he actually say, date?
He went into the study, got his cell from his desk and slipped it into his shirt pocket. On his way out, he stopped at the door and gazed up at the picture of his wife. He instantly felt like a traitor for even thinking about taking another woman out for a simple breakfast.