Lakeside Redemption

Riley barked from somewhere deeper in the house, then raced down the hall with something in his mouth. He rushed over to Sully, dropped it at his master’s feet, barked, then waited for expected praise over his trophy.

Sully scooped the toy off the floor, stared at it, then groaned. He thrust it behind his back and scrubbed his free hand over his face.

He glanced at Zoe. “We have a lot of work to do.”

For some reason, she didn’t think he was referring to only dog training. The man looked exhausted, and it was only nine in the morning.

They decided to schedule their appointments for mornings when the girls would be refreshed and wide-awake after breakfast. Then Sully could work for a couple of hours while they napped. Seemed ideal on paper.

“Daddy, are you holding Melly Moon?”

Sully’s shoulders sagged. Looking at his oldest daughter, he held out a headless doll. “I’m sorry, Ella. Riley found Melly Moon.”

Ella snatched the doll from him and crushed it to her chest. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over her rounded cheeks. “No, Daddy. Not my Melly.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Maybe we can fix it.”

“But she won’t be the same.”

Caleb Sullivan, the person she admired so much in college, who used to lock up criminals and preserve justice, looked about wiped out after a few hours with two young girls and a frisky pup.

Riley bounded back into the room and dropped something at Zoe’s feet. She picked it up to find an orange-haired chubby face adorned with glittery stars and moons smiling at her. The newly decapitated Melly Moon.

At that moment, Ella glanced at Zoe, then let out a wail. She jumped into Sully’s arms and buried her face in his chest, sobbing as if her heart were broken.

His other daughter stood rooted to the spot with a fearful look on her face.

The pitiful sight tugged at Zoe’s heart.

She examined the doll head and realized it was made of cloth. Riley had ripped it off at the seam. She dug through her purse to find her travel-size sewing kit, then stepped closer to Sully and Ella. Sitting cross-legged on the floor next to him, her knee brushed his, but she didn’t move, savoring the very brief contact.

She touched the sobbing child’s shoulder, then carefully slid the girl’s tangled hair behind her ear. “Ella, I can fix Melly Moon.”

Sniffling, Ella peeked out from behind Sully’s shoulder. “But it won’t be the same.”

“No, maybe not exactly the same, but I think you’ll still love Melly anyway, won’t you?”

She nodded.

Zoe held out her hand. “May I see Melly Moon?”

Ella tightened her grip on the headless doll and shook her head.

Sully shuffled his position and winced. “Let’s move into the living room.”

Still holding Ella, he reached for Ava’s hand. Zoe followed them into the living room and sat on the end of the leather couch opposite from Sully.

He lifted the hem of the oversize T-shirt Ella wore and wiped the traces of tears from her face. “Hey, Ella, remember when Ava cut her finger?

Ella nodded again. “There was a lot of blood, and she cried.”

“Yes, she did. It hurt a lot.” Caleb reached for Ava and pulled her gently to him. He opened his youngest daughter’s hand and rubbed his thumb across the tiny knuckles on her pointer finger. “The doctor put two small stitches in it. Her finger isn’t the way it was before because now it has a tiny scar, but her finger still works just as well. If Zoe sews Melly Moon’s head back on, you may be able to see where she stitched, but Melly Moon will be in one piece and almost as good as new.”

Ella considered that a moment, then handed the doll over to Zoe. She plopped onto Sully’s leg to watch.

Sully’s face twisted in pain as he readjusted both girls on his lap.

The man needed a shower, strong coffee and a nap...not necessarily in that order.

Zoe threaded her needle. With three pairs of expectant eyes watching her, she felt more nervous about this than training Riley. Dogs were her superpower. Sewing, on the other hand...

With small, even stitches, she secured Melly’s head to her body, knotted the thread, then bit off the excess. She gave the head a gentle tug. Pleased with its strength, she handed the doll to Ella. “Here you go, sweetie.”

Ella took the doll and inspected its neck. “I can’t see where you sewed.”

That was the point.

Sully nudged his daughter. “What do you say to Miss Zoe?”

Ella flew off Sully’s lap and flung her arms around Zoe’s neck, taking her by surprise. “Thank you, Miss Zoe. You saved Melly Moon. You’re the best.”

The girl’s words pricked the fragile shell around Zoe’s heart. It had been a long time since anyone had considered her the best at anything. The warmth of the little girl’s body pressing against Zoe’s chest seeped into her soul, fanning the flicker of a spark she thought had been snuffed out long ago.

Hope.

Careful not to poke the child with her needle, Zoe wrapped her arms around Ella and hugged her close. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

Ella pulled away from Zoe and hugged Melly while she twirled through the living room. “Look, Avie, isn’t Miss Zoe the best?”

Ava cast a shy glance in Zoe’s direction and gave her a small smile. Then she nodded.

Did Sully realize how blessed he was to have such sweet daughters?

The look of love he wore answered her question. He would never stop loving his daughters, no matter what they did.

A pang pinched her heart. She wasn’t going there.

Eyes up and feet forward. Her new mantra.

Sully pushed to his feet, not quite swallowing a groan, then held out a hand to her. She took it and stood, not wanting to release his warm, strong grip.

He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before releasing them. “You’re amazing. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“What a morning.”

“What happened?” Zoe returned the needle and thread to its case, then stowed everything back in her purse.