Page 121 of The Sea Witch's Son

Another successful performance by the Jack of Hearts, and dare I say, he suits the victim much better than the king.

Although he was not the only one delivering a performance today.

It would seem the bumbling fool was not so lost, after all.

Chapter 42

MELODY

Erik is waiting for me at the end of the driveway.

“Do you know what I found when I woke up this morning?”

He sounds just as pissed as he looks. The crossed arms and offensive stance has my heart sinking as I think back on the last twelve hours.

“I meant to tell you-

“I spent the night inside your stepdaughter, so I figured it was time to escort her properly. Consider this my official application to the family.”Erik grinds his teeth and flips the note over,“Sincerely, Every Father’s Nightmare.”

My mouth opens and closes.

“It’s Marlin.”

“Of course it’s Marlin, I’m not a fucking idiot.” Disappointment shines in his eyes, “After the Finley incident, Ithought you were going to talk to me. Not leave me in the dark to discover psychotic notes in my bedroom.”

“I didn’t mean...” My voice cracks, “I-I didn’t want this to happen. You have to believe me.”

The sight of tears welling up in my eyes has Erik’s anger deflating faster than a ballon. He lets out a long sigh and walks over to pull me into a hug.

“I will always believe you.”

Sniffing into his shirt, I cling to the one man who has never let me down.

“He wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry, Erik. I’m so sorry.”

And that’s all it takes for me to start sobbing into his shirt. Erik holds me close, letting my tears stain his clothes just like they did all those years ago.

“Come on. Let’s talk inside.”

We climb the rickety stairs and enter the house that has somehow become our home.

Bypassing the kitchen stools and the floral furniture, we wind up in the one place we always return to.

I reach out and stroke the black and white keys, feeling my mother’s presence lingering along the surface. She’s always been here, idly waiting for the day when I return.

Erik sits quietly beside me, watching my fingers dance over the keyboard the way my mother’s used to. I never shared herlove for musical instruments, never bothered to spend the time to learn how to play.

I thought my mom would always be there to play for me.

“I miss her so much, Erik.” My voice breaks with another piece of my heart, “I miss her so fucking much and there isn’t anything I can do about it.”

“I miss her too.”

“Would you do it again? Knowing this is how it ends, would you do it again?”

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