Page 42 of Stripping Little Seraphina
I held her tighter, stroking her back in long, steady lines. “Little one…” My heart ached with pride and fury all at once. “You were brave. Braver than most. And I’m so damn proud of you.”
She shook her head against me. “But you didn’t answer. I needed you. I called and called and—” Her words broke into a sob. “I thought I was alone.”
I kissed the crown of her head, voice low but fierce. “You will never be alone. Not while we’re together.”
Her sobs slowed, shoulders trembling against me until all that was left were sniffles and hiccups. I brushed her hair back and kissed her temple.
“You did so good, little one. I know it hurts but telling the truth… that’s power. That’s yours now.”
She leaned heavier into me, quiet for a long time. And then her eyes flicked up, tentative. “I… I never asked.”
I tilted my head. “Asked what, baby?”
Her throat worked, shame coloring her cheeks. “What the emergency was. I was so caught up in myself that I didn’t even think?—”
I hushed her softly, thumb brushing her cheek. “You’re allowed to feel what you feel. But… since you’re asking, I’ll tell you.”
I guided us both down to sit on the edge of the bed. Her hands curled into mine as I spoke. “Emerson got into a small car accident. He’d gone to pick up Audrey—she’d been drinking—and he was trying to do the right thing. Nobody was hurt, thank God. But the car was damaged, and Audrey… she blamed him.”
Sera’s lips parted in shock, her fingers tightening around mine.
“He ran off. Scared. Angry. So he went home to my place.” My chest ached just remembering his face. “We had a long talk. About everything. And by the end of it… we decided he’s going to move in with me permanently. That was the emergency.”
Sera’s face crumpled. “Oh my God, Daddy. I’m so sorry. I was sitting here falling apart while you were?—”
I shook my head, firm but soft. “No guilt, little one. Both things were true. You needed me, and he did too. That’s life—it throws it all at once sometimes.” I cupped her chin until her eyes met mine. “You’re not a burden. Not ever.”
Her tears welled again, this time quieter, heavier.
I kissed her forehead and spoke low, carefully. “But I do think we need help. Not because I don’t want to be here with you—I do, more than anything. But because spiraling like that? Carrying all that trauma alone? It’s not fair to you.”
Her breath caught, lips trembling.
“I think you should talk to a therapist, babygirl. About your grief. About your mom. About everything.” My thumb stroked her jaw, grounding her. “And if you want, I’ll go with you. So I can learn too. So I have the tools to take care of you the way you deserve.”
Her eyes widened, searching mine, vulnerable and afraid but also… hopeful.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sera,” I whispered. “But I want us to have every chance to thrive. Not just survive.”
She nodded and I took a minute before saying what I said next.
“I’m sorry for how I treated you that day when you came to my house to talk. I was going through a lot and I took it out on you. What Emerson doesn’t know is that Audrey and I have still been having issues even though we’re not together. I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but she’s always angry, throwing tantrums, and going to do reckless things. Also, had it not been for you, she would have been on the road somewhere wrapped around a pole. Because Emerson went to get her, they were both safe. The only reason he crashed is because he swerved to prevent hitting a deer.”
Sera exhaled a long sigh.
“He did all the right things, minus the parked car. And he would’ve done even better if Audrey wouldn’t have tried to grab the wheel. No matter how many times I’ve told him that it’s not his fault, he can’t see it yet.” I exhaled. “For now, my mother is there with him. He said that he’d been fine alone, but she’s oneof his favorite people in the world. He promised to call every day. He’s going to wait until you’re back in order to go back to driving school.”
“He wants to go back?” she inquired.
“He does. He asked for you specifically.”
Sera couldn’t hold back the beam she was feeling. “I don’t know if I’m going to pick up that job again. I mainly had it to fund my vacation. But I can still teach him.”
“Where are you going?”
“Disney World. But, I’m not sure if I’ll go.”
“You should. It seems like a place where you’ll have more fun that you’ll know what to do with.”
