Josh leans over me as Melly’s face fills the screen.

“Daddy!” she shrieks.

“Hey, baby.”

“I miss you.” She pouts, and my heart melts at the sight.

“I miss you too, but I’m coming to see you soon. Just gotta finish this movie, and I’ll be all yours for a few weeks.”

Turning to him, I shoot him a look that I hope says really?

“My plans have changed a little during the past week. I got rid of something that was holding me back, and now I can pay some attention to you.”

Melly claps, and I swallow hard. He’d better come through for her.

“I’m going to take your mother to dinner, but I just wanted to say hi and tell you that I love you very much.”

“I miss Mummy.” She sniffs.

“I know you do, baby, but I’ll be home in a week. And then it sounds like we’re getting ready for Daddy to come and stay with us.” I nudge Josh’s arm.

“Pania makes nice pancakes. We have them every morning for breakfast,” Melly says.

“Do you? Better than silly old cereal.” I smile. My heart pangs seeing her. This is the longest we’ve been separated, and I can’t wait to get home to her. Especially if Josh is following me.

We make small talk for a bit, and then Pania calls her in the background.

“We gotta go to the diner, Mummy.” She purses her lips.

“Okay. Be good for Pania. Love you, baby.”

My heart lunges as the screen goes blank and I lose sight of her. That little girl has been my whole life for the past few years. I feel like I’m missing a limb without her.

“Next time we come here, we’ll bring Amelia.”

I shoot Josh the side-eye. “Were you just reading my mind?”

“Something like that.” His smirk is unbearable.

“And what’s this about coming to stay with us for a few weeks? Don’t you have another project after this?”

He captures one of my curls and loops it around his finger. “Nothing that’s going to stop me being with my girl.”

I sigh. “I’m right here. Give a girl a warning, will you?”

“I’m sorry. Amelia was right there, and—”

“We’re her parents. We need to discuss this first. You can’t just come and go out of her life like that.”

He drops his hand.

Letting out a sigh, I take his hands in mine. “And I love you for it, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t just drop the news without talking to me first. If something happens and you can’t make it, how hurt do you think Melly will be?”

He searches my expression. “I won’t let you down, Delaney.”

“You won’t let me down—but you’re not in charge of your schedule. What if it changes again?”