82. Mommy Where's Daddy

"Mommy," Kelly muttered, her voice weak but clearer than before as her eyes slowly fluttered open. "Where's daddy?"

The question hit me like a ton of bricks. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. I could feel the weight of her words settling on my shoulders, the weight of everything that had happened between Ivan, Nathaniel, and me. How could I explain all of that to a child who just wanted to see her father?

I leaned closer, brushing her hair gently away from her face. "Daddy... Daddy's away right now, sweetheart," I said softly, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. "But he loves you very much."

Kelly blinked, looking up at me with her big, innocent eyes. "Will he come to see me?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the sting of tears behind my eyes. "I don’t know, baby," I whispered, my heart aching as I said the words. "But I’m sure he’s thinking about you every minute."

She nodded slowly, seeming to accept my answer, though I could tell she was s