The Nanny's Secret Child by Lorraine Beatty

Author:Lorraine Beatty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-10-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Gil stopped at the top of the stairs, his mind flashing through all the reasons why Julie would bring Abby to the shop. None of them good. One glance at his daughter’s face as she topped the stairs and his heart seized. He looked at Julie for an explanation. “What’s going on?”

“Abby needed to see you.” Julie released Abby’s hand, and she came to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. The gesture shot his concern a level higher.

Inside Gil’s office he led his daughter to the small seating area in the corner and pulled her down beside him on the sofa. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Abby looked up at him, her brown eyes troubled and her lower lip puckered out. “I saw my aunt.”

“You mean Gemma?”

“No. Aunt Pam. She was in the park. I don’t want to go back with her. Don’t make me go. I want to stay with you.”

He hugged her to his side. “Of course you’re staying here. I won’t ever let you go away. Are you sure it was Aunt Pam? Maybe it was just someone who looked like her.”

“No. It was her. I know.” Abby laid her head on his chest and cried. Julie handed her tissues from her purse.

He glanced at Julie, her expression contorted in concern. “It’s all right, Abby. Even if she is here, she can’t take you back with her. She’s not allowed. You’re going to stay here with me and Miss Julie.”

Reassured by his words, Abby stopped crying. She wiped her cheeks and glanced around the office.

Julie cleared her throat. “Gil, Abby has never been here before. Maybe she’d like to see what you do when you’re at work.”

He frowned, puzzled at her suggestion. She raised her eyebrows and stared pointedly back at him. She was trying to distract Abby and give her something else to think about. “Oh, sure. Would you like that, sweet pea?” She nodded and sniffled.

Julie drew him aside as Abby began to wander around the office. “Do you think she really saw your sister-in-law?”

He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. Maybe. But she knows I have a restraining order. Though I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s a very manipulative woman.”

Abby held up a framed photo on his desk. “That’s you and that’s Grandma.”

Gil pointed out his dad and his siblings, then he picked up a picture of Abby when she was smaller. “Guess who this is.”

Abby smiled as she took the frame in her hand. “It’s me.”

“That’s right.” He picked up the other frame. “And here’s one of you and Ruffles. I keep it here so I can look at you when I miss you.”

“Can I have a picture of you to keep in my room?”

Such a simple request, but it took him a moment to find his voice. “Of course.”

Julie dug into her purse. “Let’s take one right now to remember your first visit to your daddy’s office.” She activated the camera on her smartphone. “Stand in front of the desk and smile.

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