“Melody said it was the best brand.”

“God bless Melody.”

When the bowl was cleared she went for a sachet that held fruit and yogurt. That went down the same way. She then drank some water.

“She was hungry.”

“What worries me is that it will come out in a diaper next, and I’m putting my hand up right here and now to say I am not changing that one.”

Piper gave him a look. “I thought you said you were evolving into a better man.”

“Not that much!”

“Chicken.”

Dylan made small clucking noises as Piper cleared away the mess. Grace looked at him, so he turned her to face him, and they studied each other.

“How you doing, sweet cheeks?”

He touched her chin; it was like silk. Her big eyes looked at him solemnly.

“You play pat-a-cake?”

Taking both her little hands in his he began to sing the song and clap her hands together. She enjoyed it, because he got that soft little chuckle he’d received at the police station when the blocks tumbled over.

So small, he thought. So vulnerable and trusting. She had to rely on Piper now for her care, because there were no other options.

“You got her a bunny onesie.”

“Melody said her daughter liked it, and Bicky weighed heavily in the bunny’s favor. There’s plenty of nappies, and an extra blanket too.”

“Thank you.”

Piper gripped the onesie hard, her eyes on Grace.

“It’s okay,” Dylan said.

“Nothing is okay.”

“Not today maybe, but next week it will be better.”

Piper bathed Grace with Dylan watching, then it was bedtime again.

“I got a book in there somewhere. Melody said she’d want a bedtime story.”

Dylan got it for her, and fixed the bottle. Piper went into the bedroom and sat with Grace on the bed. He heard her soft voice talking as she fed Grace the bottle.

Hell of a day, he thought. But one he would walk away from unscathed, unlike Piper.

Dylan cleaned up then went out to his car to retrieve his wallet, which he’d left in there. Piper was on the phone when he came back.

“Joe,” she said, finishing the call. “He’s worried.”

“Understandably.”

“You okay to listen for her, and I’ll shower? She’s sleeping.”

“Of course, and I got you a T-shirt and toothbrush, plus some other girlie stuff.”

“Oh, Dylan.” She didn’t continue, instead taking the bag he held out to her and heading for the bathroom.

He spent some time clearing his emails, of which there were plenty. When he surfaced, close to forty minutes had passed and Piper still hadn’t returned.

He gave her another ten minutes, then knocked.

“You okay?”

He got no reply, but the shower had stopped running.

“Piper?”

Something muffled came back.

“I’m coming in.”