Page 199 of Sins of Innocence

Chapter forty-four

The Need for Space

WRAITH

Áine is out with McLaren and Maureen is in the kitchen with her tea and whatever branch of the Dougal family tree she's currently excavating when the girls ask if they can talk to me.

Sadie turns off the television they've been watching while I worked on my laptop. I don’t go into the office on the weekends now and only conduct critically necessary mob business.

I'm a family man now.

Neeve shifts from the couch to sit on the coffee table facing me. Sadie turns in her corner of the couch so she's facing me too. Joy slides up to perch on the arm of the couch.

Sadie speaks first. "You're rich, right?" She blushes. "I mean, you took us to Disneyland in a private jet. You make more money than mom."

"I am and I do," I confirm easily.

I don't want the girls to worry about asking me anything they want to know. I won't always be able to answer, especially when they get old enough to realize what it means for me to work for Mick Fitzgerald, but when I can, I will.

Sadie twists the hem of her T-shirt around one finger. "We were wondering something."

"Okay."

She shoots me a look that is half exasperation and half embarrassment. "It's kind of a big thing."

"Nothing is too big for you to ask me." That's something they need to know.

I'm their dad. I won't always give them what they want. Maybe. But I will always give them a listening ear.

She glances at her sisters.

Neeve nods.

Joy gives two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Sadie takes a breath. "We think we should move into a bigger apartment." The words tumble out so fast they almost run together.

"We'll help pack," Sadie offers quickly.

Neeve nods. "All of us."

Joy points at herself. "I'm really good at carrying stuffed animals."

"I've seen your technique."

She beams.

I wasn't expecting this. "Your mom doesn't want to throw too many changes at you girls at once."

Áine's pretty adamant the girls aren't ready to move to a house, but that's not what they're saying.

Joy starts swinging her legs against the side of the couch.

"I think this would be a good change," Sadie says. "It's not too much when it's good, right?"

Neeve smiles shyly at me. "The best change. Like when mom married you."

These girls.