Mercy sensed Judah’s presence the moment he entered the room, only seconds after she had spoken.
“I’m surprised that one of your Raintree psychics wasn’t able to predict the fire,” he said.
Mercy didn’t respond as she crossed the room to the pantry, removed paper napkins and laid one at each place setting. Sidonia glowered at him but also said nothing.
“We need to talk,” Judah told Mercy. “Privately.”
“Sidonia is preparing breakfast. Will you join us? Eve will be down soon, and I assume you would like to see her before you leave.”
Judah’s lips curved slightly, as if he were amused with Mercy. “Interesting. A Raintree being hospitable to an Ansara.”
“Not just any Ansara. You are, after all, Eve’s father.”
“A fact you would prefer to forget, one that you kept secret from me and your brothers for six years.”
“I can be reasonable if you can,” Mercy said, finally looking directly at Judah. She wished she hadn’t. He was not a man she could ignore on any level. Physical, mental…sexual…
“And being reasonable would entail…?” he asked.
“I am willing for you to visit Eve. We can arrange a—”
“No.”
“If you prefer not to see her, that’s—”
“I prefer to take her with me.”
“I won’t allow you to do that.”
“I didn’t say I would take her with me, only that it’s what I’d prefer to do.”
The kitchen door swung open. Wearing pink footed pajamas and carrying a seen-better-days stuffed lion in one hand, Eve bounded into the room. She rushed first to Mercy, who scooped her into her arms and gave her a good morning hug and kiss. With Eve on her hip, Mercy eyed Judah. “We will finish our discussion in private after breakfast.”
“Is Daddy going to eat breakfast with us?” Eve asked.
“Yes, he is,” Mercy replied.
Eve squirmed until Mercy set her on her feet, at which point she walked over to Judah and looked up at him. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Judah studied his daughter.
Eve waited. Mercy knew her child expected Judah to respond to her in some fatherly way, to ruffle her hair or kiss her or begin a conversation with her. When he didn’t, Eve took matters into her own hands. She held her stuffed lion up in front of her, showing him to Judah.
“I have lots of animals and dolls,” Eve said. “This one is my favorite. I picked him out myself when I was little, didn’t I, Mother?” She glanced at Eve, who nodded agreement. “His name is Jasper.”
Judah’s expression hardened as if Eve had said something that upset him.
“Are you mad at me, Daddy?” Eve asked.
“No.”
“What are you thinking?” Eve stared questioningly at Judah. “I can’
t read your thoughts at all, but that’s okay. Mommy won’t let me read hers, either.”
“When I was a boy, I had a pet lion—a real one,” Judah said.
“And his name was Jasper, wasn’t it?” Eve beamed with delight, as if she had solved some important puzzle.