Chapter 25

He’d give her a few minutes, but she was usually pretty quick with showers.

When Sofia was all washed and dried, and in clean pyjamas, she trotted into the bedroom. Luke had the night light on, and tucked her into bed with her plushies.

“Will you read me a story, Dad?”

Luke wasn’t keen on stories, because he felt silly reading them aloud, but Sofia loved them.

“Which one do you want?” he asked, sitting on the chair and flicking through the pile of bedtime books.

“That one!” Sofia said, picking out a very long and repetitive book.

Luke sighed inwardly, but opened up the chosen story. He cleared his throat. “The tiger and the unicorn,” he started out, “were the very best of friends.”

He’d only gotten through two pages when Sofia butted in. “Dad?”

“Yes?”

“Who looks after you when you’re sick?” she asked.

“I hardly ever get sick, Sofia,” he reminded her.

“But if you were sick, who would look after you?”