Free The Wildwood Sisters by Mandy Magro Page B

showgrounds and the national park, so if she ever found herself in trouble, all she had to do was push a button on the side and it would notify him by text so then he could use the locator’s special map application on his iPhone to get to her. It at least gave him a little reprieve from his worry. If only he could get her to wear something like that when she became a teenager—he imagined that would make his life a hell of a lot easier.
    Now able to draw a decent lungful of oxygen, he willed his heart to relax by taking a few deep breaths. Then, when his breathing was back to normal, he threw his legs over the side of the bed and hung his head in his hands.
    When were the nightmares going to stop? He had relived Shelley’s death over and over, at least once a week since she had passed almost three years ago, and still it shattered him every time. He couldn’t go on like this. It made him dread going to sleep, for fear of having to go through it all again. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept through the night and woken refreshed. Maybe he should listen to his mum’s advice and go to the shrink in town. He had to do something. He needed peace. This wasn’t living—it was barely surviving. He wanted his life back, his happiness back. Shelley would forever live in his heart, but he needed to get on with his life, especially for Annie’s sake.
    The bedroom door flew open and Annie stood in the doorway with a plate in her hands, her Minnie Mouse pyjamas covered in spots of what looked like Vegemite, and with purple mulberry juice stains on her hands, lips and face. She had obviously been feasting from the laden mulberry tree in the backyard.
    â€˜Morning, Daddy. Grammy and I made you some toast.’ She walked over and placed the plate on the end of the bed, beaming proudly. Two bits of toast were thickly spread with Vegemite, and a few squashed mulberries sat beside them.
    Dylan smiled from the heart as he stood and strolled over to her, kissing her on the cheek as he ruffled her dishevelled hair. ‘Oh, sweetheart, you and Grammy are so thoughtful. Thanks.’ Taking the piece of toast with almost half a jar of Vegemite smeared on it, Dylan took a bite, making sure to leave traces of it around his mouth. He beamed a tooth-filled grin, his teeth also covered in the Aussie staple. ‘Mmm, yummy!’
    Annie giggled, her missing front tooth making her even cuter, if that was possible. ‘Daddy! It’s all over your face, you grommit.’
    â€˜Hey, what do you mean I’m a grommit? That’s your nickname when it comes to getting food all over the place.’ Dylan playfully tried to lick it from the corner of his mouth, while pulling a stupid face. ‘Did I get it?’
    Annie shook her head, still giggling, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ‘No, silly. I think you might need Grammy to wipe your face with the dishcloth, like she wipes mine. But I gotta warn you, it’s a little annoying.’
    Dylan wriggled his eyebrows. ‘Nah, I reckon I know what I can do.’ He scooped his daughter up from the floor and buried his face in her already Vegemite-stained pyjama top as he tickled her ribs. Annie’s raucous laughter was contagious, and his aching heart momentarily mended.
    Annie snorted with merriment while trying to wriggle from his grasp. ‘Daddy, stop it. Your prickly face is tickling me.’ She could barely talk through her giggling.
    A curvy figure appeared at the door, a heartfelt smile on her face, her veiny weathered hands holding a steaming cup of coffee. ‘What are you two scoundrels doing in here? I can hear you laughing all the way from the kitchen.’
    Dylan turned to face his mum, grinning like a mischievous schoolboy. ‘I’m using Annie as a dishcloth. Apparently I’m a grommit because I got Vegemite all over my face. Go figure!’
    Claire Anderson smiled fondly as she fleetingly assessed