Page 37 of His Daughter

She closed the door. I stood in the hallway and stared at it.

Mr. Hale. She was going to be the death of me.

Lena lasted nine minutes in the crib. I was in the nursery doorway seconds after the crying started — sharp, sudden, the same furious wail from the car. Thea was there before I crossed the threshold. She picked Lena up, settled her against her chest, and the crying stopped like someone had flipped a switch.

"She doesn't want to be put down," Thea said. "Not yet. She needs to feel someone."

"What do we do?"

"We hold her."

She sat in the rocking chair with Lena on her chest. I stood in the doorway, useless. I took a step into the room. Then another. Thea was adjusting the blanket, checking the temperature of Lena's forehead with the back of her hand.

She looked up. Caught me.

"Go to sleep, Mr. Hale."

"I don't want to leave."

"Then sit there or make yourself useful."

I decided to make coffee. I used the machine in the kitchen. I carried both mugs to the nursery. Thea took one look at the color, set Lena on her shoulder, walked to the kitchen, and adjusted the machine with one hand.

She didn't say a word.

The coffee from the second attempt was dark, rich, and perfect. I drank it in the chair across from her while Lena slept on her chest.

"Does the penthouse have enough emergency exits for you?" I asked.

She scoffed.

“It’s never going to be enough as long as you’re here.”

She didn't like me. That much was clear. She was here for the baby, not for me. I was going to change that. I didn't know how or when, but I was going to find the crack in that wall if it took me the rest of the year.

Lena was finally asleep. Deeply, this time. Thea slowly laid her down in the crib. She stepped back. We both held our breath. Lena didn’t make a sound.

"I'll stay up…" I whispered. "I'll watch her. If she wakes up, I'll come get you… You should sleep. I'll sit right here on the couch. I won't fall asleep. If she makes a sound, I'll…"

I fell asleep before I finished the sentence. My head dropped back against the cushion, and the last thing I saw was Thea standing over the crib with her hand on Lena's back, and then there was nothing.

I woke up with a stiff neck and the taste of bad coffee still in my mouth. I didn’t realize I was that exhausted. The nursery couch was not built for sleeping.

Morning light came through the curtains. I was confused for a second. Then I remembered where I was and what was real.

I groaned and slapped a hand on my forehead. I told her I wouldn't fall asleep. Seven hours in, and I'd already proven myself a liar.

My phone was in my pocket. I pulled it out. Six messages from Graham. Two from Julian. A calendar full of meetings starting at nine. I called the office.

Graham picked up on the first ring. "You have the Breslin call at nine. The Lassiter compliance review at ten. And Julian wants — "

"I'll be late."

"How late?"

"I don't know."

I hung up without explaining. I got up and followed the sound of singing.