Pauline's POV
I crawled back under the covers, feeling the mattress give way beneath me. The silence of the night wrapped around our small home, but my mind refused to quiet. I tugged the blanket up to my neck just as movement beside me made me pause.
Echo shifted toward me, her small hands wiping sleepily at her eyes. "Where did Mister go?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.
"He had to leave," I whispered, smoothing her hair away from her face with gentle fingers.
"But why?" she whimpered, her bottom lip jutting out in disappointment. "I really liked him."
"I know you did, sweetheart," I murmured, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. The ache in my chest deepened at her innocent words. "But he doesn't live here with us."
She nodded sleepily, her trust in me absolute despite her disappointment. Within minutes, her breathing became steady and even, leaving me alone with my churning thoughts.
