"Daddy. I'm so sorry. I went to buy tacos, and I got lost."
I crouched down to her level, caressing her hair. "Elena told us you left because you were upset."
“Just a bit. But I also wanted tacos. They make everything better. I thought for sure I’d be back before you came.”
So, she hadn’t run away, but still, she could have gotten injured.
“Baby, this isn’t right. You can’t go off by yourself. We’ve talked about this.”
“I’m really sorry, Daddy.”
I knew I had to reinforce that point more, but right now I was too relieved that she was okay to scold her.
Lexi lowered herself on her haunches too.
“Why do you have red eyes, Lexi?”
“I’ve been crying.”
"Why?" Paisley asked, looking struck.
"Because I was afraid we weren’t going to find you. I love you."
"I love you too. I'm sorry," Paisley said again.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. It happens," Lexi said.
My daughter went straight into her arms, and Lexi hugged her quietly. We'd found her. She was safe. That was all that mattered.
"You gave us quite the scare, nugget," Declan said.
"I'm so sorry, Uncle Declan."
"No biggie, just don't do it again."
"I won't," she promised.
"Thank you for coming," I told Declan. Then I turned to the rest of my family. Tyler was leaning against a huge oak tree, his eyes fixed on Paisley. Luke was pacing the yard, not saying anything. His shoulders were hunched. He was like me in that regard—it always took him a while to calm down after a scare.
Mom was on the phone with Gran. “Beatrice, she’s completely fine. I promise. She took the wrong turn to the food truck.”
Dad and Lexi were sitting with Paisley. I went straight to them, lowering myself on my haunches until I was eye level with my daughter.
“Paisley, are you ready to go home?”
“Yes, Daddy. Let’s go.” She took my hand and then held her other little one out to Lexi.
I just about proposed on the spot. This woman was my rock—my everything. We were a family. There was no doubt in my mind about it.
I rose to my feet. After thanking my family for coming to help, Paisley, Lexi, and I went to the car.
Paisley fell asleep on the drive home. After parking, I carried her in my arms, bringing her up the stairs. Lexi went ahead of me, opening the doors as we entered the house, and headed to my daughter’s bedroom, where she threw back the blankets on the bed. Paisley didn’t nap during the day, and it was far too early for her to go to bed, but she was obviously exhausted from all the commotion.
I laid her on the mattress, taking off her shoes before drawing the covers up to her chin.
“I’m going to stay with her for a bit,” I whispered to Lexi.
She nodded, watching us from the doorway for a few minutes before going downstairs.
