Lost Soul (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 16) by Karen Ann Hopkins

Author:Karen Ann Hopkins [Hopkins, Karen Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

14

Bending over the crib’s railing, I touched Willa’s warm cheek. She had on her favorite Eeyore pajamas—or should I say, Daniel’s favorite PJ’s for her—and her staticky blond curls were sticking out all over her head. The nightlight gave off a soft glow that made the little pink room feel extra cozy. The weight of Hope sitting on my foot felt good, bringing a touch of normalcy to a chaotic day.

“Good night, sweet girl. Mommy loves you,” I whispered, before silently backing away from the crib. Even though my girl was a toddler, I was still anxious about waking her from a sound, angelic sleep. Hope watched me leave with her snout resting on her crossed paws.

The storm had moved off to the east, leaving heavy rain in its wake. When I walked past the front porch, I could hear the deluge. There was something calming about the sound of a million little simultaneous taps on a tin roof. Walking through the dark, I caught a whiff of coffee and something sweet and followed my nose, going straight to the kitchen and the only lit room in the house.

Daniel pulled out a plate from the microwave. He handed me the heated cinnamon roll after a dramatic bow meant to lighten the mood. He had a fork ready, and I took that as well, trailing him into the living room. When he switched the light on, I noticed that the room was much cleaner than when I had left. The laundry was neatly folded in the basket next to the hallway and the carpet had been vacuumed. Willa’s toys were put away and the cereal bowl from breakfast that I’d left on the coffee table was gone. I’m sure it was washed and back in the cupboard.

I was a lucky woman. Not only had I married a ruggedly handsome man who made love to me whenever I asked, but he also cleaned, cooked, cared for the kid, and managed to bring home a good income at the same time.

Sitting down in the recliner, I propped my feet up and dug into the gooey roll. Nancy’s deserts rivaled the Amish women’s and that was saying something.

Nym padded over and sat on her haunches beside the armrest. Her head tilted and with sharp eyes focused on my roll, I could imagine her saying, “Hey, do you have anything for me?”

I patted her head. “Thanks for letting her stay.”

Daniel took the other recliner and plopped down. “She’s a smart dog. When Hope growled at her earlier, she just went and sat down in the corner of the room. It’s hard to believe she bit Randal.”

“Think about it, Daniel. She witnessed her mistress being murdered. Nym might not be a trained police dog, but she has guardian instincts.”

“How long is she staying?” When Nym shifted so that Daniel could pet her, he began stroking her forehead.

“I’m not really sure. Even if we find evidence to exonerate Bill, Nym was more Linda and Dustin’s pet. I’m not sure Bill would want her back.

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