Finding Her Forever Family by Traci Douglass

Author:Traci Douglass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-02-12T19:25:19+00:00

* * *

He was late. Dammit. It had been a busy morning and an even busier afternoon. By the time Tom was able to get away and head back downstairs it was about four-twenty. He slipped into the room marked “Family Lounge” at the end of the hall and spotted Wendy across the space, busily shelving books and putting away toys. She stopped to chat quietly with a few parents sitting at a table in the back of the room, while Sam held story time to occupy five small kids ranging in age from maybe six all the way down to one year, both boys and girls. They sat in a circle on the floor while she read their selection.

Wendy caught his gaze and motioned for him to be quiet and come stand near her.

Engrossed in her task, Sam didn’t seem to notice his arrival as she made an exaggerated honking noise that sent the kids into a fit of giggles.

Tom felt a mix of awe and disbelief as he watched his daughter.

“Welcome to Storytime,” Wendy whispered as he moved in beside her. “This helps all of them forget about their troubles for a while.” Wendy looked up at him. “Your daughter included.”

Sam finished the book and, with a big smile, accepted a round of applause from her audience. Then the circle shifted, as a few of the kids departed with their parents while a couple of new ones arrived, and she began to read again.

“I can’t believe it,” Tom whispered, his eyes locked on Sam. “She’s actually smiling.”

“She has a beautiful smile,” Wendy pointed out.

“It’s been so long, I’d forgotten.”

They watched through two more stories before Sam finally looked up and spotted Tom. She finished the book and excused herself to the kids, her grin fading as she walked over to join Wendy and Tom.

“Dad.” Sam stopped before them, arms crossed, a defensive pose he was far too familiar with these days. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh, sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.” Tom felt unaccountably nervous. He really wanted this to go well. Please, God, let this go well. “I came to check on a case from earlier and saw you reading in here as I passed by.”

Wendy gave him a nod and a wink.

Sam’s posture relaxed slightly, though her gaze remained wary. “Before you lecture me, my homework’s already finished. And you said I should get involved in something after school.”

Tom frowned. “Why would I lecture you?”

“Because that’s what you always do when I don’t follow your rules.”

He blinked at his daughter, not sure how to respond. It was like that final argument with Nikki all over again. “I’m leaving you because I’m sick of living with your rules. You can’t control everything, Tom. Get used to it.” He’d thought he was getting better, had tried so hard not to repeat his mistakes, but apparently all of that had gone right out the window when his daughter had come on the scene.

“Sam.” Wendy cocked her head at his daughter.

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