Page 39 of Daddy's Treat

“Yes. No. I don’t know,” I can’t seem to make up my mind if it would do more harm than good to bring something like this up with Louise.

“Come on, Kade. You know you can tell me anything. Maybe I can help?”

Well, here goes nothing. “Penny thinks you’re in love with me.”

Louise doesn’t look one bit shocked. “She’s such a smartlittle girl,” Louise says those words like she despises them. “She’s right, you know. I do love you.”

“I love you too. As a sister,” I qualify.

“I’minlove with you, Kade. You have to know that. I’ve been in love with you for years. After Walter… you were just there. No matter what we needed, you were right there. Can’t you see how well we fit together? Walt loves you like a father. We could be so good for each other.”

Louise raises to her tiptoes, and before I can stop her, she kisses me. It lasts for all of half a second before I firmly set her away from me, holding her and arm’s length. Penny was right. How did she something that I’ve been missing for years?

“Louise, I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I wanted more from you. You’re Walter’s wife.My sister. I just don’t love you that way. I love Walt as if he were my own son, but all I will ever be to him is Uncle Kade.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “I could make you so much happier thanher.” She spits that last word out like it’s something bitter. Maybe for her, it is.

“I’m in love with Penny. I want to be with her. She makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”

I don’t say it to hurt her, but when she leaves the room, she looks miserable and dejected, and I feel like an asshole. I barely get any sleep. I toss and turn, worrying about Penny. About Louise and if she will keep Walt from me as some sort of punishment for not returning her feelings.

* * *

After an unexpected delayat the airport and a huge traffic jam on the freeway, I’m finally home. I’m exhausted. The only thing I want to do is get Penny back into my arms. She hasn’t answered any of my texts today. After our conversation last night, it has me properly paranoid.

“Penny, I’m home,” I call out after I drop my bags to the floor. “Penny?”

I’m met with complete silence. A sinking pit opens up in my stomach. She’s not here. She wouldn’t have left without talking to me first. Shewouldn’thave. I check the bedroom just to make sure she’s not napping. The bed is made, and the teddy bear I left for her is sitting in the middle.

I check the rest of the house and see little signs of her everywhere. She’s got a book on the coffee table. A pair of shoes on the mat by the backdoor. Her sweater hanging on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. She didn’t leave me, she’s just not home.

I try calling her and the phone rings straight to voicemail, I don’t bother leaving a message. What the hell. Penny, where are you?

Then I see a note on the fridge. Instant relief floods through my veins.

Daddy,

I had to go get some things from Z.T. Sorry I didn’t text or call. Something is wrong with my phone. Mainly that I dropped it in the toilet this morning. I should be home before you get back, but just in case I wanted to leave you a note.

Miss you.

Shortcake

If her phone quit working this morning, that means she didn’t know my flight was delayed. Which means she thought I would be home over an hour ago… she should be here. That sick pit of worry that I thought I had before? That was nothing compared to what I feel now. Not even a drop in the bucket.

I run to my car and drive like a madman to the Zeta Tau house. I don’t even bother trying to find a parking spot, I drive up into the yard and throw the car in park. There is a party raging in the house. The music is so loud you couldn’t hear a person yelling directly in your ear. I scan the room for Penny but don’t see her. I do, however, see Lucy, who looks guilty as hell. Her eyes keep glancing toward the hallway where Penny’s room is. I push my way through the crowd, not giving a fuck about spilled drinks and ruined clothes.

My baby girl needs me. I just know it.

There is a cluster of people outside Penny’s bedroom. I have to shove my way through to get into the room, and when I do, I’m horrified by what I see.

Penny is passed out on the bed with fucking Carsen on top of her. He’s fondling her breasts and working his way between her splayed legs. Carsen turns toward the corner of the room where I see Smith standing on a chair with his phone in the air. He’s recording Carsen violatingmyPenny.

It takes approximately two seconds to comprehend what’s happening. It takes half a second to pull Carsen off of Penny and fling him against the wall. Time stands still as my fist crashes into his face over and over again. People are screaming and trying to stay out of my way. Smith makes the mistake of trying to sneak out of the room. Carsen is no longer a moving target, so my rage finds a new outlet in Smith.

It’s Shepherd and Troy who pull me off of Smith. They talk me down and tell me they’ve got Carsen and Smith. That Penny needs me now. Those words are like ice water jarring me awake.

Penny is still splayed on the bed just as she was when Carsen was on top of… I can’t even think it. It’s then that I notice what Penny is wearing. She’s dressed like a little kid. A pink frilly dress and those shiny black shoes little girls wear. She’s in her Halloween costume. I can’t make sense out of why she would be wearing that.

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