It’s a simple question.Two words that should be so easy to answer.
They’re not.
Simple words shouldn’t scald you—burn you so deep that each syllable robs you of breath.
Where’s Daddy?
I chicken out.I shouldn’t…
But… I do.
“I don’t know baby.I really don’t know.”
Truth and lies are sometimes so fucking close together they destroy you.I let them, but I can’t let them destroy Ryan.I just can’t.
“He’ll find us,” Ryan whispers.“He’ll come for us.”
“Ryan, I… don’t…”
“Every time someone tried to hurt me Rory, my daddy would come for me.He’d save me.”
“Ryan…”
“He’ll come for me this time too.”
“Ryan…”
“He’ll come for me.”
“Okay, baby,” I finally say, holding him close and putting the side of my face against the top of his head, trying to envelope him…protect him.
“He’ll come for me,” he repeats.
“Okay, baby.”
“He’ll come for you too, Rory.”
“Okay, baby.”
“I know he will,” Ryan whispers, his fingers getting so tight when they bite into my skin that I know he’s scared.He’s worried this time his Dad won’t be there.
I can’t let the truth destroy him.
“Okay,” I whisper, rocking him, ignoring the silent tears that run down my face.“Okay.”
Chapter7
Rory
One Week Later
“No,”Ryan says stubbornly.His little body solid, his face still pale but defiant.
“Sweetheart,” I start, but I have no idea what in the hell I’m going to say.
“No, Rory!I am not going to call him my dad!I have a Dad!He is not my dad!”
“I know, honey,” I tell him, feeling a little hopeless.