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"She bought us clothes?" Her eyes filled with tears and I juht?"

She nodded and asked, "Did you know she was going to do that?"

"Babe, I knew you guys couldn’t continue switching between two outfits like you have been" Her arms were instantly aroundI ith it and wrappedeach other, she finally spoke "Should I be concerned she knew uesstiot it correct?" I ned indignation before laughing hysterically

She playfully swattedto enjoy this girl’s company a little tooto decide how our sleeping arrange to work out There were two bedroo bed in it, and then there was Kate’s nursery It still held her crib and a full-size bed, which Raegan used to sleep on with Braden when she spent the night So far, neither of us had made any move toward that room

That’s where they were all taken

"You guys go pile in the big bed I can etting a glass of water from the kitchen

"That’s silly, I’ll just…" she started to say, but then thought better of it I had a feeling she was going to say she could sleep on the full-size bed in the nursery, but we both knew neither of us could stomach that room

"You’ll just sleep in the o" She grabbed for their hands and I watched as they vacated the little living roo back here I used to rock Kate in the recliner in the corner on the rare night I was ho quilt on the ground in front of the couch for her to lie on her stomach and have what Ash called "tummy time" This whole place was filled with rabbed a blanket out of the hall closet and caught the whiff of fresh detergent Mom must have re-washed so a stale closet odor I really did need to thank her for being so a--I’m sure it hadn’t been easy for her to be here either

I sat down on the creaky old couch and pulled y would have to do for the night The couch groaned as I tried to find its sweet spot--the spot that would allowjabbed into my back and I reached underneath myself to remove the annoyance Between the cushions, I pulled out a blue stick of lip balm

Ash used to have these all over the house and in her purse She never went anywhere without them I stared at the small reminder of Kate’s mom My ex-wife I really wished she could see Kate now Why did she have to go and get into a car after she had been drinking? I still wanted to berate her for her callousness Did she just give up all hope of ever finding Kate? And did she really care so little for her own life? I wished she were here so I could yell and give her a piece of my mind!

A tear slipped down my cheek and I chuckled at the tornado of e I missed Ash Maybe I hadn’t been in love with her, but I still wished that she could see the beautiful girl Kate had become I still cared deeply for her She was the uess that wasn’t entirely true though, because I didn’t fight for her--I fought for Kate instead I hoped if she was looking do that she understood I would always love her for giving hter

I watched the small hand of the clock slowly tick its way past all the nuet my mind to calm down I just couldn’t seeood So

I startled when Kate tiptoed into the living roo her teddy bear, and her golden hair was already ?" I asked softly

"Daddy, why do you have to sleep out here?"

"Well, I don’t think I would fit in that bed with all of you Daddy is "

"I’ll just stay out here, okay?" Kate’s tired eyes searched the room for a place to rest When I watched her make her way toward the recliner, I popped up

"How about I sit with you in the bedroom until you fall asleep?"

"Yeah," she replied sleepily, still clutching her bear tightly

I lifted her up and walked down the hall, trying to reroans were in the wood floors Ito wake the others

The bedroolow through the thin curtains I could juston one side of the bed Braden was curled up in the ently slide Kate onto the bed, but her grip onShe really did not want o sleep in the other room There was no ould all four be able to sleep comfortably in this bed, but I would stay until she fell asleep

"Okay, Kit Kat, I’ll stay for a bit," I whispered

I sat with ainst the headboard and Kate relaxed her head onable to cootten alone on that couch Her fingers rasp on the edge of my ear She had done this at the station when she passed out onat the ti herself

It didn’t take long for s onherpushed off runted froht from the s blinded me and I immediately slammed them shut Kate’s body slid off of round She called out Braden’s name and I listened as she skipped out of the rooot you with the ear tug, huh?" Raegan’s voice startled ain to see her still tucked under the covers on the opposite side of the bed The white quilt was pulled high up to her chin, and her eyes looked as if she had just opened theed me I only came in here to lay with her until she fell asleep," I croaked out while stretchingas a weapon now She used to put herself to sleep doing it, and now she’s realized she can put others to sleep" Raegan chuckled lightly and I sht position against the headboard and my back and shoulders protested froht and now roan as I lay flat on my back I couldn’t believe I had slept so hard, all while leaning against the headboard