In Her Mind (Mountain High Valley Low ) by Renee Daniel Flagler Page B

couldn’t remember the last time he’d called me Shelly.
I was still contemplating my story. I had to get this one right.
“Shelly, answer me! Who did this to you? Tell me now!” Daddy demanded.
“I can’t, Daddy,” I said, and tears flowed quietly down my cheeks. The truth hurt and I couldn’t get my lips to push the words out. Brian let that woman put her hands on me. How dare he allow that? I was the mother of his child, not her.
“Can we go inside, Daddy? I’ll explain everything to you then,” I said.
“Sure, baby. Come on,” Daddy agreed as he walked me inside under the security of his reassuring embrace.
Once we entered the house, my father went straight into daddy mode. He ordered me to go to the bathroom and clean myself up while he put on some tea. By the time I emerged from my bedroom freshly dressed, Daddy had a platter sitting on the coffee table with our favorite tea biscuits, my bamboo-decorated teapot, two matching cups, and an array of herbal teas to choose from.
I averted my eyes from his gaze so he wouldn’t see the truth. I knew the questions would come hard and fast. My father wasn’t one to waste time.
“Come sit down,” he ordered with both love and urgency as he patted the space next to him on the sofa.
Slowly, I walked toward him with my eyes cast downward. I sat next to my father and settled into the crook of his armpit with my feet curled beside me. He had always been my strong tower, my safe haven.
“Now tell me what the hell happened to you today!” His big voice boomed with assertion.
I shifted under his arm, making myself more comfortable as I mentally prepared what I was about to say. I could feel my father’s impatience in his breathing as his large chest rose and fell.
“Did Brandon do this, Shelly?” He was calling me Shelly again. “Talk to me now. I’m not leaving until you tell me something. Whoever did this to you will pay! Did Brandon do this to you? I told him earlier to give this thing some time,” he said, moving me from his side, forcing me to face him.
“You saw him today?!” I sat straight up. “When did you see him?” I asked, recalculating my story as I spoke.
“Yes. He came to me because he wanted to talk about what you two were going through. He wants you to come back home with the baby, but you told him you’d gotten back with Brice’s real father. What’s this all about, Shelly? I didn’t even know you’d left Long Island until I spoke to him earlier. Why didn’t you tell me? I came here to talk to you about all of this and when I get here you look like you’ve been attacked.”
I was on my feet pacing in circles on the plush pink carpet. That stupid Brandon went running to my father about our problems. Daddy was the last person I wanted to tell. Everything needed to be in place before I clued him in to what was going on.
My father stood, his imposing frame hovering over me, stopping me in my tracks. He crossed his strong arms before his chest and glared at me with his piercing black eyes. His taut jaw line moved from side to side as it always did when he was losing his patience with someone. His dark chocolate complexion seemed to radiate as irritation percolated just beneath his skin. My story began just before he exploded.
“Daddy, he didn’t mean it. I know he didn’t,” I said with pleading eyes, conjuring up a few convincing tears. “He was so upset because I said awful things to him. I just wanted him to leave because I don’t want to go back. I don’t want him anymore. I pushed him to make him mad, thinking he would just go. I kept pushing him until he finally grabbed me to stop me and I just lost it. I don’t even know what happened next. He didn’t mean to hurt me. I’m sure he didn’t mean to do it. I pushed him.” I spilled all of that made-up information out in a manner worthy of an Oscar.
My father’s strong jaw began to twitch and his black eyes narrowed to tight slits. His crossed arms dropped to his sides for