Scott carried Holly into the house. She was awake and watching him with her bright blue eyes.
"Hey, baby girl." Scott cooed. "Aren't you feeling sleepy? It's bedtime. You should be sleepy."
Holly just giggled at him and reached up a podgy hand to catch his nose.
Scott grinned, giggling was a new development.
"Have you been learning new tricks while I've been away? Have you? Have you?"
Holly giggled again as he bounced her in his arms.
Scott settled on the couch and gazed lovingly at his daughter. He was struck as always by how much she looked like her mother. He tried to find himself in her face, maybe her chin, maybe the curl of her hair… but her wide blue eyes belonged to Madison.
While he gazed at his daughter his thoughts took him back to the island. He remembered all the times it crossed his mind that he would never see her again. That is what drove him to run and run because he needed to get back home. He needed to get home to his family…
He swallowed guiltily as his thoughts turned to Madison. He missed her… he missed her so much! Only now he was home she still wasn't here with him, and maybe she wouldn't be for a long time. He had spoken to her doctors while they were at the embassy. She was still in isolation but now she was back on her medication she was making good progress. Dr Stanhope said that she would be ready for visitors by the end of the week.
That was good news, wasn't it?
Cara flickered into his thoughts too. She was laid back and fun, just like Madison used to be. Was that why he was drawn to her, because she reminded him of Madison?
Scott realised Holly was no longer smiling at him. Instead she was mirroring his own expression. He hadn't realised he looked so sad.
Scott found a smile and Holly giggled again.
"What's wrong with me; hey Holly?" Scott asked his daughter adding a playful tone to his voice. "Why is your daddy such a fool? I love your mommy, I do. I just don't know if she will be the same person when she comes back home to us… but I shouldn't be having these thoughts, I'm not that guy. We're a family aren't we? We need to be a happy family! And we will be when mommy comes home!"
Holly's returned smile seemed to agree with him.
…