Page 46 of Every Breath

What devastated him the most was to see the suffering of children. Tina had been through so much, and she deserved some happiness. Paul realized that because of the considerable trauma she had been through, it wouldn’t be a good idea to drag her into the middle of Mason’s problems. They would try to find another way to bring down Rodney, but unfortunately, she was already involved.

Paul closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was inside Tina’s mind. There she was, in a dark corner, holding her knees to her chest, weeping silently to herself. He approached her with silent steps before kneeling next to her.

“Tina, don’t cry, sweetheart, everything will be okay.” He touched her hair in a soothing gesture.

Tina looked at him, her hazel eyes filled with fear. She opened her mouth and let out a silent scream, rolling herself into a protective ball.

“Please don’t be afraid of me, Tina. I’m your friend. I want to help you.”

The little girl didn’t respond as she rocked herself back and forth.

“I know you don’t want to talk and that’s understandable, but I would like to talk to you, okay?” he asked gently.

Still no response.

Paul sighed. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. He sat down beside her.

“Sweetheart, I know you’re frightened, and you don’t understand why this has happened to you, but I want you to know that you have a friend. I will do everything I can to make sure the bad man doesn’t hurt you again.”

She looked at him then. Tina opened her mouth as though to say something but didn’t.

“Do you remember when I helped you out of the house? I said I wouldn’t leave you if you needed me.”

There was recognition in her eyes then. “You helped me,” she said slowly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it wasn’t your time.”

“Oh.”

“Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”

She shook her head.

“I want you to get better, so you can grow strong. One day, when you get to be old, we’d see each other again in heaven.”

“Daddy said there’s no heaven,” Tina said, eyeing him suspiciously.

Paul gently patted her cheek and this time she didn’t flinch. “Your father was a very troubled man, sweetie. I can assure you that there is a heaven. I live there.”

“Is my mama there?”

“Yes.” Jessica Reed, although not a Watcher, was indeed in heaven and said a little prayer for her daughter every day.

“She is?” Tina asked with wide eyes.

“Yes, and she’s very proud of you. You look just like her, you know.”

“Mama was so pretty. Daddy said….” Her voice trailed off.

“I can imagine what your Daddy said, but he was wrong.”

“MomMom and PopPop are in heaven now, aren’t they?” she asked with a solemn expression.

She was referring to the Thornton’s. Damn Rodney. This child suffered too much loss for one so young. He was more than happy to reassure her that they, too, survived the fire.

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