I looked at the intruder, my breath hitching as the silhouette became clear. I couldn't hold back the sheer shock that flooded through me, and a single word escaped my lips before I could think to keep it quiet.
"Dad."
My voice came out much louder and more cheerful than I intended, echoing through the quiet, dimly lit suite. The sudden noise did exactly what I was trying to avoid; Lucy stirred beside me, her groggy eyes fluttering open as she tried to make sense of the new faces in the room. She looked at my dad, then back at me, her expression a mix of confusion and sleepiness.
"I’m so sorry I woke you up, honey," I whispered, stroking her hair apologetically. I beckoned her closer to me, and in her hazy, half-awake state, she didn’t offer a bit of resistance. She just curled right ba
