Seven Nights of Sin (Penthouse Affair #2) novel Chapter 42

Three years later

The girls said we could drop them off at the school’s curb and Presley thirded the motion, saying the building wasn’t that big. But I vetoed that idea. No way am I going to abandon them to fumble their own way to their classroom. Maybe in a few weeks . . . or years . . . but definitely not today.

It’s their very first day of kindergarten, after all. The first time they’ve been away from home all day long without me, Presley, or Francine.

As we escort them through the halls, I’m fidgeting like crazy, twisting my wedding ring around and around my finger. “You sure you’ve got your lunches in your backpacks? You know what to do if you need to come home?”

“Call Franny,” Emilia answers dutifully. Lacey is already distracted, taking in the colorful posters and noisy crowd all around us with a wide-eyed grin.

“And do you remember her number?”

“Um . . .”

“Dom,” Presley says. “Relax. The teacher has Francine’s number. And our numbers, and their pediatrician’s, and the National Guard’s . . .”

I frown. “I know that. It’s just an extra precaution.”

“And this is just a school—a private school, even,” she says. “It’s only until three. Francine will pick them up and take them home, and we’ll see them again tonight.”

“You say ‘only three,’ but that’s six hours away. What if they miss us during the day? What if they need help using the potty? What if the other kids are mean? What if they don’t eat their lunch? You know they’ve been so picky lately. What if—”

Presley squeezes my shoulder, loving but firm. “Honey. Chill out. Stop acting like we’re throwing them to the wolves.”

“Wolves? Can I see?” Emilia asks.

“It’s only a figure of speech, honey. The only wolves around here are at the zoo.”

“I’m perfectly chill,” I say, frowning. “But we have to be sure they’re ready.”

“Somehow I don’t think they’re the ones who aren’t ready,” Presley teases. “Seriously, they can handle it. They’re more than old enough, and they did great in preschool.”

“But preschool was only a half day. This might—”

“I’m a big girl,” Lacey says.

“Yes, you are, sweet pea. I quite agree.” Presley squats down. “Show me on your hands?”

After thinking for a few moments, Lacey holds up five fingers.

“And how many is that?”

Lacey says, “Five,” at the same instant Emilia answers for her. “Five!”

Presley shoots a smile back over her shoulder at me before asking them, “And how much do Mommy and Daddy and Franny love you?”

“Infinity!” they both shout, flinging their arms open wide.

“Absolutely right.” She hugs them, then stands up again. “See? They’re rocket scientists.” She lays her hand gently on my arm. “We always knew we’d have to let go sometime.”

Throwing her arms around my hips, Emilia says, “Don’t cry, Daddy.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna be okay!” Lacey says, trying to reassure me.

I have to laugh at how thoroughly we’ve switched roles here. “Thanks, you two. But for your information, I’m not crying. A bug just flew into my eye.” I wipe my sleeve across my face.

Shit. I am totally about to cry. What’s happening to me?

“Are you ready, girls?” their teacher calls.

After one last round of kisses, they run inside and the door shuts behind them. If I squint through the frosted glass, I can just barely see the blobs of color that belong to our precious daughters. Then they move farther into the classroom and are lost.

Presley pats my lower back. “Poor thing. You’re going to be useless at the office today, aren’t you?”

“Oh, hush,” I grunt.

“But, seriously, I love this side to you. It’s adorable.” Taking my hand, she kisses me warmly.