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Logan looked like he wanted to shove me to the ground and race inside the house, but he knew I was right. No matter how angry he was with me, he couldn’t put his own needs above Lillianna’s. She needed to be prepared for what was about to happen.

I stepped around Logan and made my way up to the front door. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Audra opened the door with a smile.

“You’re early,” she said. “We didn’t expect you until later.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Um… something came up and I need to talk to Lillianna. Now.”

“Okay,” Audra frowned. She stepped aside and let me in. “Piper, what’s going on?”

“I told Logan,” I said. “He’s here to meet her.”

“Oh my God.”

“Where is she?” I asked.

“Upstairs.” Audra pointed to the stairs. She touched my shoulder as I walked by.

The kids were playing in the playroom, all of them giggling. I leaned against the wall and watched them for a few seconds. I wanted to imprint the image onto my brain.

“Hey guys,” I finally said. “Can you go find your mom while I talk to Lili for a minute?”

“Mom!” Lili said. “We’re playing!”

“I know, sweetheart,” I told her. “But this is really important, okay?”

“Fine,” she rolled her eyes as her cousins ran downstairs. “What is it?”

“Come here,” I said. I gestured for her to come stand in front of me. I knelt so I was level with her. I smiled and smoothed her curls down. She had grown up so much that there were times when I forgot how little she still was. She was just a little girl, after all. She hadn’t even started kindergarten yet.

“Mommy,” she said with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you remember when you asked me about your daddy?” I asked.

“Yes,” Lili nodded. “You said he was a brave soldier. You said he was busy fighting for our country.”

“He was,” I nodded. “He did that for a long time, but now he’s done. He’s retired and he’s here to meet you. Is that something you want?”

Lili thought about it for a second and frowned. She took a step backward and looked down at her shoes. I could see the wheels of thought turning in her five-year-old mind.

“Am I going to live with him now?” she asked.

“No,” I shook my head. “You’ll stay with me. I promise.”

“Is he nice?” she asked.

“You’ll love him,” I told her with a smile. “He’s really nice.”

“Okay,” she nodded. “Then, I want to meet him.”

Twenty- Four

Piper

Logan walked up the stairs slowly. He looked like he was heading for trial. I could see his hands shaking as he stuffed them nervously in his pockets.

“She doesn’t bite,” I promised. “You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”

“If she’s anything like you, I do,” he said softly.