The Haunted Memories (Forgotten Series, #4)

Chapter 26

Two weeks later

"High-er, Daddy!" Madeline's voice was clear in the spring air and I gently pushed her as she swung back towards me. I couldn't help the grin I had on my face as I listened to her giggling.

"I think you are going too high, Madeline. We should slow down." I watched as she wiggled her legs, giving a loud shriek of laughter.

"No!" She clung tighter to the chains of the swing, kicking out her legs as she came back towards me.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the loud and firm denial. "No?" I gently pushed her forward, adding to her momentum.

"No!" She shook her head, her pigtails swaying frantically as she laughed.

"Well I don't know." I drew the words out and she shook her head even more.

Her black curls caught the sunlight and her laughter filled the air. "I wanna sw-" She paused, her laughter ceasing for a brief moment. "I wannnnt tooo swiiiinnnng." She drug the words out and I smiled at her.

"That's good, Madeline." Sorrel's voice carried from where she was sitting at a picnic table. She was wearing a baggy and dark sweater, her black hair was pulled up into a messy bun. Her skin was still overly pale and she still looked ill but I always bit my tongue around her. Despite how my wolf and I worried about her health, there were barriers between us and I didn't want to lose her coming out with us on our excursions.

It had been startling at first, seeing her slowly follow us towards the park. She hung around the edges, watching me and Madeline as we went about our visits. I had thought she had been watching me but the longer it happened the more I realized she seemed to not want to be away from Madeline. It had been a bit angering for me because she had her for a majority of the time and I felt like she was intruding on my time with Madeline, trying to take even more time from me.

That had lasted until Madeline had quietly told me that Sorrel was sad. That she was lonely and she missed Madeline when she was gone. I hadn't realized that because she was cut off from the coven she would immediately cling to the only family she had left. It had lessened the anger because she had merely wanted to be closer to Madeline because she felt alone. It had made me feel a bit guilty for the anger I had felt towards her.

"Push, daddy!" At the demand I shook myself of the thoughts, focusing on Madeline once more. I gently pushed her as she started onto her back swing.

"How is her sessions coming along?" I asked the question a bit louder, wanting a reaction from the female sitting at the picnic table. I had already visited with Elissa-May, had even attended sessions with her and Madeline so I knew her progress but I wanted to bring her into the aspect of our days. I had been trying for the last few outings but she hadn't said much. Although I had been making progress, the first time she had simply ignored me but she had been moving up to sounds of acknowledgement or irritation.

"Why didn't you ask Elissa-May when you picked Maddy up?" It was almost harshly said but I could hear how hard she tried to keep it from her tone. She made great pains in not showing the anger she had towards me in front of Madeline. I appreciated it and it gave me a bit of hope that perhaps Madeline wouldn't pick up on it and have it negatively affect her.

"He did!" Madeline said it cheekily and I tried to tamp down the embarrassment that surged up at Madeline calling me out on my little lie.

"Did he?" Sorrel's eyebrow rose as she glanced at me. I could feel her gaze on my skin and I resisted the urge to shiver under it. It was strange how affected I was by her but she seemed unmoved and unbothered by my presence.

Maddy nodded her head quickly. "Yah!" She gave another giggle before she looked over her shoulder at me. "Daddy, I wanna-" She paused as gave a small frown, working her mouth slightly that let me know she was focusing on what she was going to say. "Go plaaay onnn thhhhe jun'le gym." She beamed at me and I couldn't help but smile back.