Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Cammie, he never has the right to hit you. To emotionally manipulate you. Abuse is never excusable.”
The other woman nodded, although Faith didn’t know if she was getting through to her.
“Eric invested our savings in this scheme and lost it all. That’s why we needed the money. I wanted you to stay upstairs, but he . . . he couldn’t handle that. I don’t know why, but he’s never liked you or your family. I think he was always jealous, and he got a kick out of the idea of one of the Blossoms sleeping in his basement. I thought it would be all right. You’d stay for a while, and we’d be able to keep the house. But he got angrier, and I started to resent you being there because it made him so upset. I’m sorry, Faith.”
“I know. I’m sorry, too.”
“What happens now? Where is Eric?” Cammie dared to glance up at Reuben.
“Eric is at home,” Reuben said, surprising Faith who turned to look back at him. “Do you want to see him?”
Faith turned back to Cammie who was obviously struggling. “I . . . I don’t know.”
“We can help you get away from him, Cammie,” Faith told her. “Get a divorce, a place of your own. You don’t have to stay with him.”
Cammie stared at her for a long moment. Then she nodded. “I don’t want to go back to living like that.”
Faith let out a long breath.
“Excuse me a moment.” Cammie stood and walked out of the kitchen.
53
Reuben walked over and sat next to Faith before lifting her into his lap. She wrapped her arms around him.
“Thanks for letting me talk to her.”
He kissed the top of her head. “It wasn’t easy. I wanted to tell her exactly what I think of her for the way she treated you.”
“But you didn’t. Because you’re the best Daddy ever.”
“This is true.” He placed a finger under her chin to tilt her face back. “Enough about your friend. What do you need, baby?”
She needed some time with him in her playroom. But she couldn’t do that with Cammie here and they needed to go to work.
“We should go to work.”
“Baby, you’re tired and you just went through something terrifying last night. You need to rest.”
“I can’t rest. There’s work to do.”
He cupped her face between his hands. “You are going to take today and rest. Daddy’s orders.”
She gave him a small smile. “Can I stay here while I work everything out?”
He narrowed his gaze. “I’m insulted that you thought you have to ask. Or that there’s any question of where you’ll be staying. You’re staying here. Now, what do you need?” he asked again.
Faith wished she could tell him what she needed, but she just didn’t know.
So, she buried her face in his chest.
Hiding as usual.
She let out a disgruntled noise.
“What is it?” He rubbed his hand up and down her back.
“I just . . . I hate asking people for things. I feel like such a burden.”
“You could never be a burden.”
“I hide. When things go wrong . . . when I can’t handle stuff, I run and hide. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“That’s good, because there’s no running from me, baby. There’s no hiding.” He drew her head back, staring down at her as he cupped her face. “What do you need?”
“To spend time with Daddy. As Little Blossom. But I can’t.” Her lip wobbled.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I can’t relax enough knowing Cammie is in the apartment. She’s not . . . she thinks I need to grow up.”
“I’m starting to really dislike this woman.”
“She used to be so kind and loving. She never used to think I was silly or babyish.”
“People change.”
Faith nodded sadly.
“You look tired.”
“I am.”
“I have an idea of what we can do.” Standing, he carried her out of the kitchen.
“I should clean up the breakfast things.” She hated leaving a mess for his housekeeper.
“Anita will deal with it.”
“She’s here?” she whispered.
He grinned. “She popped out. She’ll likely be back later.”
“Mysterious.”
Reuben carried her into a room she hadn’t been in before. It was a smaller, cozier living room. There was a huge television on one wall and an L-shaped sofa that looked so comfortable, she sighed.
He set her down on the couch and she immediately reached for him again, before pulling back.
“Sorry.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And why would you be apologizing, Little Blossom?”
“Well, uh, I’m having trouble with you leaving me. Sorry.”
“I still don’t see why you should apologize. You should know by now that I like it when you need me.”
“Being needed is your love language.”
“I guess it might be.” Cupping her cheek, he ran a thumb along her lip. “I’ll be right back. I’m just getting a blanket.”
They ended up snuggled together on the sofa. He was lying on his back while she was on her side between him and the back of the couch. Her face was resting on his chest.