Johannas pov

I woke up and reached over to touch Katie. My eyes snapped open when I didn't feel her body. I sat up quickly and looked around the room to make sure she wasn't playing somewhere, when I didn't find her I checked the rest of the apartment. No where, I ran back to my room and called her phone.

Ring

Ring

Ring

Ring

Ring

Voicemail....I called again, she picked up on the 4th ring. "Hey I-"

"Katie! You scared the shit out of me! Where are you?!" I yelled into the phone.

This was one of our rules, to tell each other when we leave. "I just went to get us breakfast." She said softly, "I'm walking up the stairs now." I hung up the phone and walked to the door, opening it right as she stepped in front of it. She had my favorite breakfast in her hands and a black coffee for me. "Katie..." she looked down at the ground, guilt all over her face. I pulled her into the apartment and hugged her, kissing her head softly. "I'm not upset.." I said, taking the food from her and putting it on the counter. I grabbed her face and pointed it up towards me, "I'm not upset, but we have a rule Katie, you're supposed to tell me when you leave the house. You left super early, the sun is barely up yet Kiddo." I said pushing her hair behind her ears. "Just let me know next time." I told her, letting her off easy.

Yes, I'm a push over.

We ate breakfast and talked about what she was gonna do today, she had chores to do around the house and I had to go down to the shop.

"So clean up the apartment, I made sure I cleaned everything I needed to so you're just cleaning up after yourself." I told her as I kissed her head. "Come get me if you need anything, and I'll be back for lunch okay? And we can take a nap." She nodded her head and I kissed her lips before leaving.

I unlocked the shop and got everything ready, making sure I had enough cash in the register. I heard a knock at the door and I looked up, it's Marlo.

I walked over to the door and opened it, "I hope you had a nice vacation." I said to her as she walked into the store. Marlo was my friend from college, she was about 5'9,long brown hair and big green eyes, she always wore black and never really smiled. It was comforting.

She was my only employee and I planned on keeping that way.

We opened and the shop filled up in less than an hour, I had customers back to back. Trying on clothes, requesting for a certain type of soap or jewelry. I didn't even get to make it up stairs to eat lunch with Katie. I didn't even realize it was 4:00 until I saw Katie's big eyes in front of me. "Well hello." I said to her, she kept a blank expression across her face. "Is everything okay?" I asked, she pointed to the clock on the wall. "Oh baby!" I rubbed my temples and sighed, "we were very busy today. Did you at least eat?" I asked her, she nodded her head. "Did you take a nap?" I asked, looking down at her. "No ma'am." I nodded my head "that's okay." I told her, I squatted down and grabbed her hands. "I will be up stairs for dinner. We close at 6 tonight, do you think you can wait a couple of more hours?" I asked her, holding onto her waist tightly. She nodded her head. "Okay sweet girl, how about you color mama some pretty pictures? I'd really like that.." I said to her, she smiled and nodded her head "Otay mama." I smiled and patted her butt before she ran back upstairs.

Marlo walked over and smiled, "she's so cute, Kaiden misses her." I smiled when she mentioned Kaiden. He was Marlos little boy, and him and Katie have been really close since Marlo and him got together a couple years ago. "She misses him too Mar, but you know how things are right now. I don't want them getting sick." She nodded her head "oh no I completely agree. Play dates are out of mind until the virus clears up some more."

As much as I wish they could hang out, they liked to put things in their mouths, and Katie gets sick very easily. I couldn't chance her catching covid.

The next two hours went fast, I locked the door after I let Marlo out and then closed everything up.

"Mamas home!" I sang as I opened the door. I walked into the living room to see my baby sleeping on the floor, her thumb in her mouth and crayons and coloring pages everywhere. I smiled and slowly walked closer. Her hair was wet, so she took a bath.

Well that's good. I slowly walked into the bathroom and stripped down naked, turning the hot water on and stepping under it.

I took my time, exfoliating and shaving, did a face mask and drank some wine. I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around my body before I walked to the room. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a tank top and got dressed.

When I was finally done I went back into the living room to see Katie still asleep on the floor. I walked over and picked her up, cradling her in my arms as I walked us into our room. "Mama.." she whispered sleepily. I kissed her head "I'm just putting you in bed baby." I told her as I laid her down and got into bed next to her, I pulled her closer to me and held her as she fell back asleep. Scratching her scalp gently.

I laid up for about another hour, just thinking about things. My lease is about to end and I think I'd like us to get an actual house, nothing too big, just something homey.

I'll call around tomorrow and see what I can find out.