A Mommy for Easter by Linda Goodnight

Author:Linda Goodnight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-12-05T16:55:58+00:00

* * *

Rachel carried the sleeping Daley to the truck while Jake settled Moose onto the back seat next to her. This time, the drugs kept him comfortable and calm. The dog was too woozy to care.

“Drive to your house,” Rachel said. “I’ll help you get them inside and then cut through the alley home.”

“Are you sure?”

“I insist.”

With a heavy sigh, he nodded. “Thanks.”

The short drive home was somber. The adrenaline high was starting to subside, leaving them both exhausted.

Nothing sounded as good right now to Rachel as a hot shower and a long sleep. She hoped her mind would settle enough to let the latter happen without bad dreams.

“I’ll see to your tire in the morning.”

Rachel looked at Jake, his profile in relief from the dash lights. “Forget the tire. I can get a ride to work and figure out the tire later.”

“Then, I’ll drive you to work.”

“Okay.” She was too emotionally spent to argue.

As they passed the sign leading into their neighborhood, Daley stirred and suddenly cried out. “Moosey. Moosey!”

“Shh, baby.” Rachel turned in the seat. “Moosey’s asleep.”

Hands and feet flailing, Daley strained toward the inert dog on the seat next to her. “Moose died. The car killt him.”

Another ear-splitting wail reverberated through the truck cab.

Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt and reached back to touch the child with a calming hand. “No, sugar, he’s not dead. He’s asleep. Daddy gave him some medicine.”

“I want him. Moosey. He died. The car hurted my Moosey.” Gaining momentum, near hysteria, she kicked and cried even more.

Jake pulled the truck to a hard stop in his driveway. “I’ll get her.”

Quickly, before Rachel could decide the best course of action to calm the child, he hopped out and jogged to his daughter’s side. As he took her from the seat and started toward the house, she wailed and struggled, begging for her Moosey.

Nothing they said could convince her that the dog was alive.

Rachel’s heart ached for the traumatized child. Whatever she’d seen happen had taken a toll on her little mind.

Over one shoulder, Jake asked, “Will you come in and stay with her while I take care of Moose?”

How did he manage all this by himself? “She needs you, Jake. Take her up to bed. I’ll bring the dog.”

“No. Leave him. If he awakens and starts to thrash, he could reinjure himself. He’s strong and heavy. I’ll come back for him once Daley calms down.”

He pressed the crying Daley into his shoulder and uttered shushing sounds, murmuring reassurances that Moose was okay.

Rachel followed him inside and up the stairs. This was the first time she’d entered this personal space, although the layout was the same as her townhouse.

Daley’s room, on the left end of a short hallway, was a jumble of toys and boxes, her bed rumpled and loaded with stuffed animals, including the bunny she’d carried to Rachel’s house that first day.

Jake had his hands full with work, volunteering, settling into a new home, and parenting this little girl.

While Jake got the child into her pajamas, Rachel found a lidded cup and filled it with water from the hall bathroom.

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