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“Hmm.” Amelia was barely listening to Liam. Her attention was focused on the little girl at the end of the hallway, who was clutching a washcloth to her chest. The little girl looked back at her warily, and Amelia’s heart broke for the child. How confusing it must be to lose your mother and move in with a stranger, in a bare house, all within a few days. Amelia sank down to her knees, so that she’d be closer to Grace’s height. Then she smiled at the little girl.
CHAPTER 8
LIAM
Within a little over twenty-four hours, Liam’s life had changed completely. Before, he’d been an independent bachelor with only his company to worry about. Now he had a daughter and was married — if only in name.
Now, he stood in the hallway beside Amelia, both of them looking at little Grace at the end of the hallway. In another world, if Liam were a different kind of man, he might have walked to the end of the corridor and scooped the little girl into his arms. He might have carried her to Amelia and introduced the two of them. Perhaps he’d have bounced Grace a little to make her giggle.
But Liam wasn’t that kind of man, and he couldn’t do any of those things.
The moment stretched. Then Amelia sank to the floor on her knees. She lifted her head to Grace, smiled, and waved. “Hi, there.”
Grace shifted from foot to foot. She seemed unsure what to do.
“My name is Amelia. And you’re Grace, right?”
The little girl nodded, almost imperceptibly.
“That’s a beautiful name. Did your mommy pick it?” Amelia asked.
Liam’s blood turned cold, and he laid a staying hand on Amelia’s shoulder.
“Don’t bring up her mother,” he instructed. “She’s so young and it’ll just make her sad.”
But, to Liam’s surprise, Grace didn’t seem sad at all. She nodded, her blue eyes lighting up, and took a cautious step closer to Amelia.
“I bet you miss her, right?” Amelia continued. She was dedicated to ignoring Liam’s instructions, which annoyed him, yet the results were immediate. Grace nodded again and tears welled up in her blue eyes.
“I miss my mom, too.” Amelia pressed a hand to her heart. “She isn’t here anymore, but I know she loves me very much. Your mommy loves you very much, too.”
Grace nodded again. “Mommy.”
It was the first word she’d spoken since Liam had met her, and he froze, hardly believing that this was happening.
Amelia nodded as though Grace had said more. “Exactly. Your mommy loves you. That’s why she asked us to take really good care of you.”
Grace shuffled closer, her blue eyes wide.
“Hey, it looks like you’ve got a friend,” Amelia said, pointing to the washcloth with the smiley face that Liam had given Grace the night before.
“She didn’t have any toys with her,” Liam said apologetically. “And I didn’t have any around the house…”
“It looks really nice,” Amelia said. It seemed she was speaking half to Grace and half to Liam. “Does it have a name?”
“Washie.” Grace held up the washcloth toy.
“Washie — I love it!” Amelia beamed as though this really was the best name for a washcloth she’d ever heard. “I also brought you a new friend.” She held out the toy polar bear she’d kept under her arm. Grace eagerly approached and held out her arms for the toy bear.
“Fanks.” She had an absolutely adorable lisp that Liam hadn’t had the chance to hear before.
“How about we have a little snack?” Amelia suggested. “Are you hungry?”
Grace nodded. “Hungwy.” Then she slipped her hand into Amelia’s. Amelia straightened up and smiled at Liam.
“It looks like I’ve made a new friend.”
“It looks like it.”
