The Sweetest Gift - Scarlett Cole Page 0,22

intended. Thin and burnt. Elliott respected his need for macabre humor, his mom, on the other hand, lost her shit every time he made a joke along the same lines. At first, he’d kept on doing it, but then he’d heard Elliott comforting her while she cried about it. And then Elliott had come to talk to him and explained how their ways of coping with what happened were different and he needed to respect what his mom had gone through, being by his side all those months in the hospital.

He looked over to where Elliott was holding Holly, who was in a foul mood. He was so patient with her, even when Holly grabbed a handful of his long hair and tugged on it really hard. He simply took hold of her little hand gently until she released it. And he never got mad.

Not like his own dad, who was perpetually angry. He hated his father. Daniel had long ago gotten over the fact his father had sided with his brother, Daniel’s abuser, when Daniel had first confessed to what had been happening. But what he couldn’t forgive was his father’s refusal to give consent for Elliott to adopt him.

His father knew Elliott was a better man in every way. Richer, better looking, more successful, younger. But more than that, he’d seen the impact Elliott had on Daniel’s life. And seeing Daniel wanted nothing more than to be Elliott’s official child, just like Holly and Noah were, his father had point-blank refused to give his permission.

The only thing his dad could control was who Daniel legally belonged to. But not for long. He’d asked Elliott and his mom, his real parents, if they’d help him legally emancipate from his father so Elliott could adopt him. It was the only thing he wanted for Christmas because he knew such things weren’t cheap and needed lawyers and stuff.

In the meantime, Elliott had written a contract for the two of them. That he was Daniel’s dad in every way that mattered, no matter what the law said.

Daniel scanned the room for Petal. He felt kinda crappy for shooing her away when he’d been eating. All she’d wanted from him was a moment to teach him this damn routine she’d chirped on about all day. When they’d gone for their walk, she’d stood studying some dancers on the boardwalk for an age, trying to copy what they were doing. And if he was honest, it was the cutest freaking thing to watch her with her furrowed brow and tongue slightly sticking out as she concentrated.

“Did you see where Petal went?” he asked Cujo.

Cujo shook his head but joined him in scanning the room. “No. I didn’t. Perhaps she went to Jordan.”

The room was busy with lots of Lia and Reid’s wedding party. Daniel got up and walked around the room, looking under tables as he passed, behind curtains. “Uncle Jordan, have you seen Petal?”

His uncle stood immediately. “No. Have you looked for her?”

Daniel sighed. “Not thoroughly. She wanted to dance, and I said no. Feeling kinda shitty.”

Jordan ran his hand through his beard. “She asked me and Lex, too… and we said no.”

“Dred,” Jordan called across a couple of tables. “Is Petal with you?”

The concern in Jordan’s voice had those in hearing distance looking for Petal, too.

Fear began to trickle down Daniel’s spine, and he forced himself to take a deep breath.

Dred stood and scanned the room. “Pix?” he yelled. “Petal with you?”

Voices began to join the chorus. Her name rippled through the restaurant as people began to look around.

“I’ll check the bathroom,” Lia said, jumping to her feet. He watched as she hurried in the direction of the washrooms, holding his breath until Lia came back out. “She’s not in there.”

Panic began to build, a tangible change in the energy of the room.

His Uncle Nik came to stand by Uncle Dred, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s split…a few people stay here to search the restaurant, the rest of us hit the street.”

The room began to empty as people headed out to search. “Dad, wait,” he shouted as Elliott ran for the door.

“Sorry, Bud. I need to go.”

“No, Dad. I think I know where she went.”

Elliott stopped. “Tell me.”

“We went for a walk today with Uncle Jordan. We went down the boardwalk from the hotel and there were these dancers. And you know how she’s been trying to build this dance troupe for the party tomorrow night. Well, I said