Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

Chapter 0523

When Nicholas reached out to embrace me, the touch of his skin felt almost magical, as if it peeled away my soul from my body.

My spirit floated above, watching the two people who should never have intersected, now tightly wrapped in each other's arms.

To make me more comfortable, Nicholas adjusted the hem of his shirt again and again, eventually taking off his coat and draping it over me. He treated me as gently as if I were an infant and even patted my back softly.

In that instant, my soul felt nourished. It seemed like it had been years since I had felt this relaxed, where I could let go of everything and focus on the simple act of sleeping. I found the most comfortable position and drifted off.

I have no idea how long I slept. But when my consciousness returned to my body, I was jolted awake.

scheduled today's gathering for noon so I could pick

What if all the other kids had been picked up by their parents, leaving her alone

I was. I just knew I sprang from the bed, rushing toward the door bare feet. But when I flung it open

other was raised as if he were about

large and small, stared at me. For a moment, I didn't know how to tum from a near-broken mother into the

to cry along with

Nicholas's momentary panic. If her first experience with the man she might one day call "Daddy" left her with nothing

reacted faster than I did. He lifted his hand to shield Tabitha's eyes and

go grab a storybook, and later you can

repeating

my strength drain away. My grip on the doorknob