“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Just don’t spill anything.”

Daniel chuckled as she passed. “As if.”

LUCKILY, ANNIKA’S SHIFT had only three hours left in it. Unfortunately, they were the busiest three hours of the night. Annika donned her apron and started taking table orders. Daniel waited by the bar. The first of Annika’s orders was filled, and Daniel grabbed the tray before Annika could protest.

True to his word, Daniel carried all of Annika’s drink and food orders and did not so much as spill a drop anywhere. While Annika did not seem any less irritated with her shadow, she did at least seem grateful.

By 1:00 a.m. the stragglers had left, and Annika went into the kitchen to help Mrs. P. with the next day’s menu.

Daniel found himself standing in front of the bar piano. It was an older upright with a dark wood finish, covered in a thin layer of dust. As far as he knew, no one played it anymore. Bobby had mentioned that it used to be played every night, but none of the current employees knew how to play.

His muscles tensed at the familiar keys. He used to play for Sara when she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—sleep. The last time he played was the night before...well, the last time he played for her was the last time he’d played.

“PLAY THE GOOD-NIGHT song for me, Daddy, pleeeaase?” He agreed, but before he started, she held up two fingers. “Two times, Daddy, okay?”

“I just got home from work, honey. I only have time for one song.” She pouted, but took the song only one time.

It would’ve taken him five minutes to play it a second time. His shift had been long and grueling, and he was covering the early shift for a sick colleague the next day. He had wanted to get her to bed so he could eat and get some sleep. The agony of regret was a hole in his gut. Not to mention the irony of the fact that he never slept well anymore and routinely forgot to eat.

An image of Annika laughing in the car, followed by the pain on her face as she opened up to him, flashed through his mind. Without thought, he sat down on the bench, his fingers automatically finding the cool keys. He ran his fingers up and down the keyboard a few times, the keys all at once familiar and foreign. He had expected to find fear and anguish here, but instead he found that warm feeling of greeting a long-lost friend, a level of peace he hadn’t known for years. Without thought, he played out a soft lullaby.