Page 43 of Stripping Little Seraphina
“I really want to go on the cruise, it’s a little more than going on land.”
“How about this, keep saving and we’ll see how much you’re short when the time comes? You deserve it, don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’ll think about it.” She curled into me. “I’m sorry that I was such a brat. You really did need to be with him and the entire time, I couldn’t cope with my own stuff.” Sera swallowed and then looked up at me. “I’ll start looking for somebody for therapy. I think I saw an office here, I’ll ask about it tomorrow.”
I nodded. “There’s my brave girl.”
“How are you feeling about all of this?” Sera asked me. Her fingers tightened around mine. “But… what about you? How do you feel about all this? About me losing it like that, and Emerson, and Audrey blaming him for everything? It’s too much, isn’t it?”
I exhaled slowly, brushing my thumb across the back of her hand. “Itisa lot, little one. I won’t lie. Watching you spiral last night broke my heart because I couldn’t reach you. And Emerson… he’s my son. Seeing him blame himself, seeingAudrey twist the knife—of course that hurts. I wish I could protect you both from everything.”
Her eyes went glassy, shame flickering there, but I tipped her chin so she couldn’t look away.
“But listen to me. Just because it’s heavy doesn’t mean it’stoo much.I chose this life. I chose you. I chose him. None of this scares me off. It just means I have to dig deeper, stay steadier, so that when the people I love are breaking, I can hold them until they aren’t.”
Her breath hitched. “Even when I scream at you? Even when I make it harder?”
“Especially then.” My voice softened. “That’s when you need me most. And I’d rather be here for the messy, painful moments than not at all. Do you understand that?”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, silent and raw.
I kissed them away, whispering against her skin, “You’re not too much, Sera. And neither is Emerson. Audrey’s anger? That’s hers to carry. Not yours, not his. What I feel is tired, yes… but grateful. Because you’re both still here. And I still get to love you through it.”
“Loveus?” she asked.
“Mhm… I do.” I kissed the top of her head.
Sera was quiet so I continued on.
“I don’t think Audrey is doing well with Emerson. I honestly don’t think she ever really wanted to be a mother. So, I’m going to adjust things to the way they need to be. I’ve already spoken to her and she thinks that I’m overreacting. But she was drunk. I’m going to call her tomorrow and try again. I don’t think she’s going to handle this easily, but it needs to happen.” I sighed.
“You sound stressed.”
“I am. Sometimes things have to feel heavy for a while so that you can make it lighter. I don’t ever want to feel like this again. So I’ll make sure there’s not a repeat. Other than that,I’m worried about you. But I think you going to therapy and us having more open communication is going to fix that. I’ve been thinking about settling down and not traveling for work as much. People need hygienic mouths locally, right?” I joked.
Sera giggled. “We do, Daddy.”
“Then everything will be alright.”
I truly believed it would.
Chapter Eighteen
Seraphina
I bounded to the cabin, heart in my throat. I hadn’t meant to run the whole way, but I was buzzing too much to walk. Dr. Catherine Denton. A real therapist. Someone who might actually help me untangle the knots inside my chest. I’d tried calling Daddy—but she hadn’t answered, so I thought maybe I’d surprise her.
The second I pushed the cabin door open, I froze.
A low, throaty moan carried down the hall. My face burned instantly. My breath caught. I knew that sound.
I stood there, rooted, caught between bolting and listening. But I couldn’t move. My chest squeezed tighter with every ragged sound until tears blurred my eyes. I moved quietly down the hall to see her lying in the middle of the bed pleasing herself. Why… why would she do this alone? Why not with me?
I retreated quickly back to the living room where I sank onto the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest, waiting. By the time she emerged—hair messy, skin glowing, wearing that loose t-shirt she loved—my face was wet.
“Sera?” she gasped, startled. Then the concern rushed in as she hurried over, dropping to her knees in front of me. “Babygirl, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
I shook my head, my voice small but sharp. “Is there… is there a reason we’re not having sex? Do you not want me that way?”
