Chapter7
Pat,pat,pat.
Reed awoke to three gentle slaps totheface.
“Daddy.”
He cracked his eyes. Brielle stood at the side of the bed, her face so close to his, her breath touched his nose. She was clutching Mr. Elephant—one of three companions she alternated between eachnight.
“Are you awake?” she whispered, making direct eye contact. Maybe he should get her eyeschecked.
“I am now,” Reedmuttered.
“I think there’s a monster inmyroom.”
“Honey, we’ve been through this. There’s no such thing asmonsters.”
“B-but I heard something, Daddy.” No way he could resist the gentle whine of hervoice.
Online research confirmed he was doing all the right things on the monster front—acknowledging her fear, telling the truth that monsters didn’t exist, and establishing trust by showing her there was nothing in the closet or under the bed. He hoped she’d soon grow accustomed to the house and wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night anymore, fearful of theunknown.
Reed swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat there for a minute, rubbing sleep from his eyes with the heels of his palms. Damn, he was tired. Tax season would be over soon, but his schedule was packed and stressful until mid-April.
Reed removed the flashlight from the drawer of his nightstand. “All right baby, let’s go check the room.” He took her hand and they walked downthehall.
A battery-powered mermaid nightlight rested on the round white table next to Brielle’s bed. It gave off a rose-hued glow, but alternated to purple, blue, and other colors during thenight.
“Where’d you hear the monster?” Reedasked.
“In there.” Brielle pointed at thecloset.
Reed flicked on the flashlight and swung open the door. Only shoes and clothes were inside. He made sure to turn the light into every corner so Brielle, who peered from behind his leg, couldclearlysee.
“I don’t see anything. Do you?” heasked.
“No.”
He closed the door and then crouched before the bed. Lifting the skirt, he waved the flashlight under it. Brielle laid down on the floor beside him, watching the light flicker over thecarpet.
“I don’t see anything? Do you?” Reedasked.
“No.”
They both stood and he set the flashlight on the table byherbed.
“I thought I heard something. I’m not a liar,” Brielle said, her voice sounding wobbly. Reed knew she felt guilty for wakinghimup.
He lowered to his haunches. “I believe you, sweetheart, but there’s nothing there. We checked together. I checked and you checked with me, right?” She nodded. “Okay, let’s get you in bed now.It’slate.”
He pulled back the sheets and helped her intothebed.
“Remember, there are no monsters. They’re only pretend on TV and inbooks.”
“I know,Daddy.”
Now she sounded impatient. Reed smiledslightly.
Carefully tucking her in, he asked, “Are youcomfy?”
