“Are you cold?” Eric caught sight of her hunched form and barked at the driver. “Turn the heat on!”

“Yes, Mr. Scott.” The driver obeyed, though the day was unusually warm. He couldn’t shake the thought that Hadley was fragile, and that Eric spoiled her beyond measure.

They pulled into Jewel Avenue just as lunch beckoned.

“Daddy! Mommy! You’re back!” Footsteps thundered across the floor as Joy burst toward them, her voice bright with excitement. “Daddy! Mommy! I’m starving!”

A smile broke across Hadley’s face as she swooped down to gather Joy in her arms. “We’re about to eat. Did you wash your hands?”

“Not yet,” Joy confessed, melting into Hadley’s embrace while lifting her small hands. “I was waiting for you. Mommy! Come on; let’s go!”

“Alright.” Hadley’s nod came warm and gentle.

With Joy watching, Hadley kept her silence, carrying her daughter to the bathroom. After scrubbing Joy’s hands clean, she carried her back to the dining room.

“Daddy!” Joy, acting as the family’s self-appointed inspector, whirled toward Eric. “Did you wash your hands?”

“I did,” Eric said, lifting his hands for her inspection. “Want to make sure?”

“Yes!” Joy seized Eric’s hands, touching and sniffing them with serious concentration. “They smell fresh and clean!”

Content with her investigation, she released his hands and snatched up her training spoon and fork. “Time to eat!”

A servant set a glass of warm milk before her with quiet efficiency.

“Daddy!” Joy’s finger shot toward a platter of meat dominating the table’s center. “I want some of that!”

“Got it,” Eric said, his smile radiating pure affection as he lifted the serving fork. He selected pieces of meat and arranged them on Joy’s plate.

Joy had always adored meat above all other foods.

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“Good girl, now dig in.”

“Okay!” Joy’s face lit up with pure joy, her eyes crinkling into crescents that mirrored Eric’s exactly. “Thank you, Daddy.”

With that declaration, she stabbed her fork into the meat and took an enormous bite.

Suddenly, Joy realized that Hadley had remained completely silent. She spun toward Eric, her voice taking on a bossy tone. “Daddy, you need to take care of Mommy too! Hurry up!”

“I know,” Eric answered, his smile soft and understanding.

He selected a tender pork rib and transferred it to Hadley’s plate. “Eat more. You’ve gotten way too thin lately.”

Eric set down the serving fork, his hands trembling slightly as he wondered if Hadley might hurl the meat right back at his face.

But she didn’t move.

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