I thought you could Google shit like how to get a kid to go to bed, but apparently by the time they're Dany's age, most people have that all figured out. The only information I can find online has to do with babies and toddlers, and I suspect swaddling Dany in a lightweight blanket and singing her a lullaby wouldn't work quite the same.

It's nine p.m., and I do have the vaguest idea that kids her age should be in bed by now.

It's the first night she's been in my place, since Winnie offered to handle the first few evenings when I had early morning travel plans.

Her clothes are in the guest room, including appropriately sized pajamas, robe and fluffy socks, and a toothbrush. Killian and Winnie went shopping, and we're well stocked.

Dany's wearing soft cotton pajamas with the tags still on them.

"C'mere," I say, reaching for her shoulder.

She flinches.

Why does she flinch?

Did someone hurt her?

"Okay, so. Go to bed," I try.

"Now? I'm not sleepy," she says, "and I've never slept alone."

"Did you share a room with your mom?"

"Yeah. We only had one bedroom. I had my own bed, but I didn't sleep alone."

Well, she sure as hell has to start sleeping alone, for obvious reasons.

"You could… count sheep or something."

"What?"

"Like in your head. You lie in bed and close your eyes and pretend sheep are jumping over a fence. You count each one, until you fall asleep."

She tips her head to the side. "What? Why?"

"I have no idea."

"Does it work for you?"

I shake my head. "Never tried it."

"Then why should I?"

Good question.

Jesus.

Why isn't there a checklist or something, like when you buy a new pet at the pet store and they give you a list of things you need.

Aquarium, fish food, tank heater, net.

Kids are so much more valuable than pets. So why is this the best we can do? I could be a serial killer or an ax murderer for all they know, background checks be damned.

"Movie?" I have work to do, trying to close a deal on some international chains. I've had emails sitting in my inbox since noon that are in desperate need of my attention.

She frowns as I flip through the seven thousand channels I have.

"What do you watch, Sesame Street or something?"

She squinches up her nose. "I'm not four."

Right.

I let her settle on something that looks fairly innocuous while I fire up my laptop and get work done. I figure I can wait until she falls asleep on the couch and then… do something.

It's midnight when I look up to see her sprawled out on the couch. I get up and stretch, yawning. I shut off the laptop and stare at the girl on the couch.

Now I have to figure out what the hell to do with her.

It's way too late to call Winnie. She goes to bed at like nine o'clock. Killian might be awake, but he doesn't know any more about what to do with a kid than I do.

I don't know if it's because I can't get her out of my mind, or if the stars have aligned for just this purpose, but my first thought is to text Regina.

Before I can second-guess myself, my fingers move of their own accord.

Me: Hey. It's Emmett Swan.

Her response comes back a second later.

Regina: Hello, Emmett Swan.

My lips actually quirk a bit. I feel like smiling.

Me: Shouldn't you be sleeping?

Regina: I am. I'm sleep-texting. And anyway, shouldn't you?

Now that makes me full-fledge smile.

Me: Sleeping's overrated. I don't do much of it. Listen, I don't want to bother you, I just need some help.

Regina: Oh?

Me: I… didn't know how to get Dany to go to sleep, so she fell asleep on the couch watching… something. I don't know what. And now I don't really know what I'm supposed to do with her? Sorry. I don't know anything about this kinda thing.

Regina: I imagine that's frustrating.

I blow out a breath. She has no idea.

Me: Yeah.

Regina: So what I would do is see if you can wake her and sort of lead her to bed. Kids can sometimes half-sleep-walk to bed. Or you could carry her up to bed. I'm assuming you have a guest room or something. Or you could just cover her with a blanket and let her spend the night there.

Oh. Well, that's so obvious, I'm not sure why I didn't think of it myself.

I nod, then realize she can't see me.

Me: Thank you. I'll try it.

Regina: Anytime. See you tomorrow.

She sends me a little happy-faced emoji with a curly-haired girl. God, that's fucking cute.

I don't know if I should send her… like a heart or… moon or … meme or something?

Me: Goodnight.

Lame, Emmett. So fucking lame.

She sends me a little sleepy moon. She has more personality in a text than I do in my whole goddamn body.

I shake Dany's shoulder and she turns over and does a whiffling snore. I consider carrying her, but I'm afraid of waking her, or having her wake up in the middle of the night and not know where she is or something. In the end, I find a fluffy blanket and throw it over her.

I go to bed myself, but the whole time I'm worried about the little girl sleeping on my couch. This isn't right. She should be safely tucked in bed up here, where I can defend her if anything goes wrong. I've never worried about burglars until tonight.

So I end up taking my blanket, dragging it downstairs, and sleeping fitfully in the armchair across from Dany. I wake up with a crick in my neck and my eyes heavy as lead, to find Dany staring at me like an inch away.

"Ahhh!" I scream in surprise and nearly fall out of the chair.

She snorts. "Did I scare you?"

"No, I normally like to scream my f—silly head off first thing in the morning. God, you shouldn't do that to a person."

I look at my phone to see a few texts from Regina.

Regina: How'd it go?

Me: Horrible. I suck at this.

Regina: You don't. You're just new to this.

Why is she so nice to me? I'm an asshole, who has every intention of running her out of fucking business.

Me: Thanks, but I really am. I didn't want to wake her but I didn't want her to get hurt so I slept in my armchair and let's just say, that stupid thing isn't cut out for a good night's sleep.

Regina: If you'd like, I'll come by and help you tonight, okay?

Oh, Jesus, there is a God.

Me: Like? Yes, I'd like. And I would be eternally grateful.

Regina: Okay I'll see you later. All you have to do now is feed her breakfast, make sure she cleans up, and gets dressed.

Me: She can… like, do that herself and shit, right?

Regina: ::crying laughing face emoji::

I huff out a half-laugh, not sure if she's mocking me.

Regina: Yes. Yes, she can. I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh at your expense.

No, she shouldn't, the little brat.

Me: Go ahead. See where that'll get you.

No reply. Did I push too far?

Regina: Game on.

Ah. Well then.

I manage not to fuck things up too much. Dany comes with me to work, and Winnie whisks her away to do business. The day flies by. Killian orders more smoothies and I steal one for lunch.

I wonder if Regina has made any progress.

I wonder what she's thinking about.

I wonder what she's doing right this very minute.

Jesus.

Finally, around five o'clock, Winnie brings Dany around and smiles. "She's been a great help to me today, Mr. Swan." Winnie is so getting a Christmas bonus.

"Can we go see Regina and Prince now? Please? Pretty please?"

I nod. "Yeah, but I have one final email to send first. Will take about ten minutes."

"I can take her over for you, sir, if you'd like," Winnie offers. Double bonus.

"Please."

When I look up it's six o'clock, and I'm well over the time I said I'd come. I sigh and stretch, guilt pricking at my conscience. I don't want Regina thinking I took advantage of her.

I shoot her a text.

Me: Hey. I'm sorry I got caught up in work, on my way over. Sorry about that.

Regina: All good.

Me: I don't want to take advantage.

Regina: Yes, we definitely don't want you to be taking advantage of me, do we?

Is that a flirt text?

Me: Well… if you insist…

She doesn't respond, and the entire way over to see her, I list the very many ways I can do. Just. That.