Page 78 of Tinley's Daddy
Then her aunt showing up was another wrinkle in the things she was being forced to deal with. She was close to her breaking point.
I couldn’t blame her. I understood the logic. I didn’t know if what I imagined happened to her was better or worse than it actually was. I feared worse. When she asked if Kyler could go with her, I had to admit it hurt, but her thoughts on how I felt about what she’d been through and the reality of what I thought about what happened to her were also different.
With her aunt showing up and no doubt wanting to take her away, it felt like I was losing her before I even had the chance to have her.
All I could control in the chaos was myself and it seemed truly inadequate.
We arrived back at the house. Rayna jumped off the couch where I left her and hugged Tyler.
“Daddy, are you still mad?” She stepped back to look up at Kyler.
“No, sweetheart.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead and then took her one good hand. “I’m no longer mad.”
“Oh, shoot.” Rayna pouted and hung her head. Kyler leaned in to whisper in her ear. She nodded. She walked over to Tinley and gave her a hug.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Tinley nodded. They stared at each other for what felt like five minutes, speaking some secret telepathic language only littles understood. They hugged again and Rayna hung her head and scurried off toward their room.
Tinley yawned and covered her mouth.
“Let’s get you to bed.” I nudged her toward our room.
“One second,” she whispered and held up a finger. I nodded.
“Mr. Kyler.” She walked over to him. “Can I hug you?”
Kyler and Tinley stared at each other for a few seconds, and he nodded. She wrapped her arms around his waist. She was even shorter than Rayna.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Tinley.” He kissed the top of her head, and he released her. Jealousy flared in my brain, but it went away when Tinley let him go and turned to me.
“Come on.” I reached out and she took my hand.
I led her into the bedroom and sat down on the bed. She stood in front of me. “You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s going on in that brain of yours?” I caressed her cheek.
“My brain is fine, but I still feel yucky here.” She rubbed her tummy. She looked toward the door. “Why was Rayna sad when Kyler said he wasn’t mad?”
“Well.” I pulled her onto my lap. “I imagine she’s going to get quite the spanking before she goes to bed. Kyler doesn’t like things to fester.”
“But what about her arm?” Tinley stiffened and turned, ready to sprint.
I turned her face toward me.
“Do you think Kyler would do anything to hurt Rayna?” I asked.
“Spankings hurt.” Tinley leaned her head on my shoulder. “I remember.”
“Spankings do hurt, but it would probably hurt Rayna more to know she broke a rule they both agreed upon and Kyler didn’t care enough to punish her for breaking her promise.” I rubbed up and down her back.
“If Rayna deserves a spanking, then I deserve one, too.” Tinley lifted her head. “Instead of calling for help, I ran away.”
“True. But we don’t exactly have a relationship like theirs.” I paused and her eyes grew wide. “Yet.”
