I frowned. “Why is that bad? I—”

“It’s not. Go.” She shooed me into my bedroom and closed the door on me.

I stared at the wood, then walked to my bed and sat down. I looked up Dauphine’s contact where I’d saved it on my phone. Then I kicked off my shoes and waited as it rang.

Chapter Forty-Eight

My phone screen opened to darkness. “Allo?” a tiny voice answered.

“Dauphine? It’s me, Josie, calling you back.”

There was a squeal and some rustling. She was obviously in bed. “Josie!” The brightness of the tablet she held gently lit her soft features. I looked at my watch, it was around two in the morning there. “Are you okay? You said you had a bad dream.”

“Oui. But now I do not remember.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I must be quiet.”

“Yes, um, why do you have your iPad in bed?” I knew her father didn’t like her sleeping with her electronics in her room.

“I took it from Papa’s room while he was sleeping.”

I tutted a gentle reprimand. “So, you woke up from a bad dream and went to your father’s room, but you didn’t wake him up?” My eyebrows were raised.

“Non. I wanted to talk to you. I wish you were here, Josie. I miss you so much.”

I pressed and released my lips, a hand coming to my chest. “I miss you too, sweetheart. Where are you right now? At home or on the boat? It’s so dark, I can’t see where you are.”

“At home. Today I started school again. And the girls were so mean! I told them I had an American friend and they told me I was lying. You are my best friend. Tu sais? Tu me manques. I miss you,” she said again.

“I miss you too,” I repeated and bit my lip.

“Mémé even told Papa he is irritable because he misses you too. And he got very angry at her. But en secret, I think he does.”

Ah, my gut clenched, along with my teeth. “Well, I’m sure he’s irritable because he’s stressed with important work things.”

“Josie? Why could you not stay?” Her nose scrunched up and her chin wobbled like she was trying very hard not to cry.

“Oh, sweetheart. I—I don’t live there, I live here and I—”

“But you could live here. With us. I—I thought maybe you and my papa could fall in love and maybe you could be my belle-mère. Can you come back?”