Free The Dollmaker by Amanda Stevens

her dim little room. But she must have noticed that his back was to her, and her gaze flew to the outside door. She paused, as if trying to gauge the distance, and then, casting another furtive glance in his direction, she hurried over and twisted the knob.
    The door was locked, of course. He’d made certain of that.
    She tried the knob several times before finally giving up. Turning, she looked back at him, not knowing what to do.
    He couldn’t get over how tiny she was. Much smaller at seven than Maddy had been. She wore blue jeans with elastic in the waist and a little yellow T-shirt with a mermaid on the front.
    Her clothes were all wrong. Too casual for a little girl’s birthday party, but that didn’t matter. He would make her a new dress, something pink and frilly and utterly feminine. What mattered to him now were her features. The upturned nose, the heart-shaped mouth, the exquisite cheekbones. She was perfect. Or at least she would be very soon.
    Several moments went by before the child saw the dolls. And then, for just a split second, the fear left her face and her brown eyes lit with wonderment. He couldn’t blame her. They were wonderful. Beautiful and charming, and he loved them, too.
    Dressed in their finest, they were seated around a small, rectangular table, one at the end and two on either side. At the far end, the sixth chair stood empty. For now.
    The Dollmaker had set the table with Maddy’s best tea set, and he’d made her favorite cake with strawberry icing. Her presents were piled on either side of her chair, as if waiting for tiny fingers to rip off the colorful bows and tear away the tissue paper.
    The child stood transfixed by the scene. Her expression was rapt, and he swiveled around to watch her, but the movement startled her and she backed away.
    “No, don’t go,” he said softly. “They’ve been waiting for you.”
    Sliding off his stool, he walked over to the little table and knelt beside the doll with the turquoise eyes.
    “This is Maddy. Today is her birthday.”
    The little girl said nothing, but she didn’t try to run away. She was captivated by the dolls.
    He went around the table and made the introductions, and when he finished, he motioned to the empty chair at the end. “Come join the party.”
    The child shook her head. “I want to call my mama.”
    “In a little while perhaps.”
    “I want to go home.”
    He sighed, his shoulders sagging dejectedly. “Please don’t be tiresome about this. Remember what happened the last time?”
    The little girl flinched as fear crept back into her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled. Slowly she nodded.
    “Then come sit down and have some cake.”
    She walked over to the table and sat down at the empty space. A tear spilled over and ran down her cheek. She scrubbed it away with her knuckles.
    “You’ll feel better after you eat.” He cut a piece of the strawberry cake and placed it on the table in front of her. Then he cut pieces for everyone at the table and one for himself. He sat cross-legged on the floor and ate, his gaze never leaving the child’s face.
    At that moment he felt happier than he had in a long time. All that business in New Orleans was behind him now. Maddy was home safe and sound, and all was well in the private little world he’d created.
    In spite of her tears, the child’s company made him almost euphoric. He loved having her companionship. He always did. But he couldn’t keep her here much longer. Once the doll was finished, he would have to send her away.
    He wouldn’t worry about that now, though. He didn’t want to spoil the party. Besides, even after she was gone, a part of her would remain with him always. Just like the others.
    And when they were all finally together, the way they were meant to be, no one would ever take them from him again.

Seven
     
     
    A fter Alex left, Claire managed to convince Charlotte to go home for the night, but Lucille wouldn’t budge. “No kid of mine ever spent