Page 26 of Worship Him

The kitchen is dimly lit by early morning light filtering through the blinds. I pour myself a cup of coffee and lean against the counter, savoring the warmth spreading through my hands.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. I set my coffee down, taking a moment to collect myself before heading to answer it.

I set my coffee cup down and open the door to Barrett’s concerned face.

“Hey,” he says, stepping inside. “I wanted to meet in person. You okay with that?”

“Yeah,” I nod, closing the door behind him. “It’s just... easier here.” I sink into a chair opposite him, my hands trembling slightly. “I can’t face Adam, Barrett. Not when he doesn’t know the truth.”

He leans forward, his expression softening. “This is exactly why you’ve got to tell him. Plus, you need to know that they’re pushing for the next date because nothing was achieved the last time.” He sighs. “Also…the judge wasn’t impressed with you storming out. It looks bad, if I’m being honest.”

I know I made things worse, but everything just came crashing down so suddenly. Tears blur my vision as I stare at the floor. “You know how hard it was to stand there while he looked at me like I’m... like I’m some sort of cheater. I didn’t mean to be so dramatic. It’s like everything we had means nothing to him now.”

Barrett reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. “He needs to know, no matter how hard facing him is. The longer you wait, the worse it’ll get.”

“I know,” I whisper, tears slipping down my cheeks. “But every time I think about telling him, I freeze up. He’ll want to getback together for Avery’s sake, and I don’t want that kind of life for her.”

His eyes are kind but firm. “It’s not just about what you want anymore, Destiny. It’s about what’s best for Avery too.”

I pull my hand away and wipe my tears with the back of my sleeve. “And what if he hates me even more when he finds out? What if he thinks I kept her from him out of spite?”

“You’ve got to trust that he’ll understand eventually,” Barrett says gently. “He might be angry at first, but Adam loves you—or at least he used to. That counts for something.”

I stand up and walk to the window, looking out at the bustling street below. “I never thought it would come to this,” I say softly.

Barrett stands too and comes up beside me. “You’re stronger than you think. You’ve built an amazing company while raising a beautiful daughter all on your own. You can do this too.”

“I’m scared,” I admit.

“It’s okay to be scared,” he replies. “Just don’t let it stop you from doing what needs to be done.”

I take a deep breath and turn to face him. “Okay,” I say finally. “I’ll do the right thing.”

He smiles, a mixture of relief and encouragement in his eyes. “Good. We’ll get through this together.”

We go silent and he watches me with that patient look he’s mastered. “Look, I’ll hold find a way to hold them off a little longer,” he says, his tone calm. “But you need to talk to Adam soon. He should know that Avery is his.”

I nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you, Barrett. I know I’m making this more complicated.”

He shakes his head. “You’re doing what you think is best for Avery. No one can fault you for that.”

The tension in my shoulders eases a bit. “I appreciate you understanding that.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Jackie and I are having dinner at our place this weekend. Why don’t you come? Bring Avery. It’ll be good for you to be around friends.”

I hesitate, the idea of socializing feeling foreign after months of isolation. “I don’t know, Barrett…”

“Come on,” he insists gently. “It’ll be fun. Marionette’s been asking about Avery since the last time she saw her.”

His words warm me in a way I didn’t expect. Marionette is always so sweet with Avery, and Jackie’s presence is always calming. “Alright,” I say finally. “We’ll come.”

Barrett grins, relief evident in his eyes. “Great. Saturday at six?”

“Six it is.”

He stands up and gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading to the door. “You will get through this.”

As the door closes behind him, the apartment feels quieter than ever. I walk back to Avery’s room, where her soft breathing fills the space with a sense of peace.

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