Read Online The Firefighter Daddy by Margaret Daley - Free Book Online

kitchen.
    Katie took Liam’s hand. “She doesn’t want her hair cut. She wants to see how far it will grow.” The child looked at Sarah. “But you can cut mine.”
    â€œThat would be great. Your uncle can call to set up an appointment with whatever works for you two.”
    The little girl grinned and took Sarah’s hand, too. Her daughter wouldn’t have been much younger than Katie if she’d lived. Again Sarah fought the emotions threatening to take over. She wasn’t going to ruin their evening because she hadn’t worked through her grief. Instead she’d run away from it, but she was discovering that that didn’t really work.
    * * *
    A half hour later, everyone sated, Liam put his napkin on the table. “I have dessert. We can eat it in the den while working on the posters, if you all want.”
    Katie’s eyes grew round. “We can?”
    â€œI thought we couldn’t eat in there.” Madison pinched her lips together.
    â€œSo long as you clean up any mess you make, I don’t see why not.” He recalled his first month with them and the food he’d found everywhere, some with mold growing on it. That was when he’d put his foot down and restricted eating and drinking outside the kitchen. He was going to try this. Maybe Sarah was right.
    Madison’s solemn expression eased. “In our bedrooms, too?”
    Apparently his brother had let them. The memory of the half-eaten grilled-cheese sandwich under Madison’s bed with ants crawling on it taunted him. He had second thoughts. He wasn’t sure if he should allow them to take food upstairs. “How about we try downstairs for a month, and if you clean up after yourselves, then I’ll let you also in your bedroom? But again, you have to take care of any mess you make. Okay?”
    â€œYes!” Katie pumped her arm in the air.
    â€œWhat if we don’t, or Katie doesn’t and I do?”
    â€œThen Katie can’t take food or drink out of the kitchen. You can.” Liam slid his gaze to first Madison then Katie before it settled on Sarah. The smile she sent him warmed him. He felt as though he’d taken a step in the right direction.
    Madison took the last bite of her meat loaf. “Sarah, I want to help with the kittens. I hate seeing them in the shed all day.”
    Katie dropped her fork on the plate, the clinking sound echoing in the kitchen. “You can’t let them out. They could get lost. If their mama comes back, they won’t be there.”
    Madison glared at her younger sister. “If you would let me finish, I have a solution. After school we could come down and play with them in the backyard.”
    â€œAnd Gabe,” Katie inserted quickly, receiving another glare for interrupting again.
    â€œI know you’ll be tired after working all day, so you need us to care and feed them. Also to play with Gabe,” Madison said in a rush then blew out a large breath.
    Sarah’s gaze riveted on Liam. “What do you think?”
    â€œWe could, at least the days I’m home, but I hate to ask Aunt Betty.”
    â€œWe can, can’t we, Madison?” Katie asked.
    His eldest niece nodded while her teeth dug into her bottom lip, a sign she was nervous, unsure.
    Liam wanted to erase Madison’s worry. She struggled to figure out what she was feeling. “It’ll only be for a while until they’re placed in homes if their owner doesn’t come forward first.”
    â€œMaybe a month or less. I’m okay with it if your uncle is. I know Gabe would love to see you.” Sarah turned her attention to Liam.
    This was a chance for him to bond with his nieces. He couldn’t pass it up. “I’m all-in. But I don’t want you both to become too attached to the kittens. I haven’t talked to Aunt Betty about getting a pet yet.”
    â€œWe won’t.” Katie glanced at Madison.