wasn’t. I don’t know, though, Kenzie. Are the police keeping you safe?”
I shivered. After throwing a blanket over my shoulders, I pulled my legs to my chest and hugged them to me. Mom moved around in the family room and I found comfort in knowing she was close by.
“Yeah, they said they would.” I didn’t tell her how scared I still felt, though.
“It’s a good thing Tanner showed up when he did. He’s your regular knight in shining armor, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess he is.”
When I hung up with her, I mulled over what she said. The idea that maybe she’d guessed what my dad was involved with sickened me.
Later that night I laid down in my bed and pulled the covers up to my chin. It felt good to finally rest my weary body. The emotional roller coaster I’d ridden that day had left me worn out and exhausted. My room was dark, except for the beam that shone in from the streetlight. I wiggled my toes and stretched my legs. The comforter felt good and warm against them.
As difficult as it had been, I was glad I had told Mom and Detective Sharp about everything. To my surprise, Mom didn’t even get mad. She was so relieved I was alive that she fawned all over me. The last thing I wanted was for my dad to get in trouble but the detective assured me that I was helping people; maybe even saving lives by telling what I knew.
Shuddering, I sunk lower into my bed. What was my dad involved in that was so bad that lives were at stake? Honestly, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know. I just hoped the police found him soon. The thought of him running around out there made me fearful. What if he came after me again? What if Tanner wasn’t there to save me this time?
The injustice of it all angered me. Why should I be frightened of my own dad? Why couldn’t I have a dad who loved me?
It had been the one thing I’d wanted more than anything. I had prayed for it my entire life. The fantasy of it had filled my dreams both during the day and at night.
Why wasn’t I worthy of it coming true?
Bitter tears coursed down my cheeks, upsetting me further. I was so tired of crying. I was so tired of being sad.
I balled my hands into fists and hit my covers to keep myself from crying out. I was so mad at God for not giving me what I wanted. My thoughts drifted to Haley, Tanner, Isaac, Janna and Rich. What made them so special that they could have a dad who loved them?
What made me so awful that my dad only wanted to use me? Was I so unlovable?
A touch on my arm startled me. I flinched and scoured my room. No one was there.
Kenzie, you are my beloved child.
I froze. That’s when I saw the light in the dark room. It was fuzzy around the edges and it spread until it illuminated me. The touch on my arm grew more firm. Peace descended on me. Warmth spread through me.
Strong arms embraced me, cocooning me in safety and love. I melted into them, allowing myself to believe. I leaned into the light and rested in it. With a smile on my lips and a joyful tear in my eye, I gave myself over completely.
That’s when I heard it. The words I’d longed for my entire life.
Kenzie, you are my daughter, and I love you.
Hours later, I awoke with the sensation of being watched. Opening my eyes, I blinked away the sleepiness and attempted to adjust to the darkness. A figure loomed over me. I screamed.
“It’s okay. It’s just me.”
I clamped my mouth shut and sat upright. “Mom?” Fear gripped me. Was she sleepwalking again? I didn’t think I could handle that on top of everything else. Right now I needed Mom to be stable. There had to be one parent I could count on.
She reached out, placed a gentle hand on my arm. I didn’t pull away. “Mom? Are you asleep?”
“No, honey. I’m wide awake.”
She sounded normal, not trance-like. I relaxed. Lowering herself, she sat on the edge of my bed. I felt the mattress slope with her weight.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“When you were a baby, I used to watch you
I shivered. After throwing a blanket over my shoulders, I pulled my legs to my chest and hugged them to me. Mom moved around in the family room and I found comfort in knowing she was close by.
“Yeah, they said they would.” I didn’t tell her how scared I still felt, though.
“It’s a good thing Tanner showed up when he did. He’s your regular knight in shining armor, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess he is.”
When I hung up with her, I mulled over what she said. The idea that maybe she’d guessed what my dad was involved with sickened me.
Later that night I laid down in my bed and pulled the covers up to my chin. It felt good to finally rest my weary body. The emotional roller coaster I’d ridden that day had left me worn out and exhausted. My room was dark, except for the beam that shone in from the streetlight. I wiggled my toes and stretched my legs. The comforter felt good and warm against them.
As difficult as it had been, I was glad I had told Mom and Detective Sharp about everything. To my surprise, Mom didn’t even get mad. She was so relieved I was alive that she fawned all over me. The last thing I wanted was for my dad to get in trouble but the detective assured me that I was helping people; maybe even saving lives by telling what I knew.
Shuddering, I sunk lower into my bed. What was my dad involved in that was so bad that lives were at stake? Honestly, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know. I just hoped the police found him soon. The thought of him running around out there made me fearful. What if he came after me again? What if Tanner wasn’t there to save me this time?
The injustice of it all angered me. Why should I be frightened of my own dad? Why couldn’t I have a dad who loved me?
It had been the one thing I’d wanted more than anything. I had prayed for it my entire life. The fantasy of it had filled my dreams both during the day and at night.
Why wasn’t I worthy of it coming true?
Bitter tears coursed down my cheeks, upsetting me further. I was so tired of crying. I was so tired of being sad.
I balled my hands into fists and hit my covers to keep myself from crying out. I was so mad at God for not giving me what I wanted. My thoughts drifted to Haley, Tanner, Isaac, Janna and Rich. What made them so special that they could have a dad who loved them?
What made me so awful that my dad only wanted to use me? Was I so unlovable?
A touch on my arm startled me. I flinched and scoured my room. No one was there.
Kenzie, you are my beloved child.
I froze. That’s when I saw the light in the dark room. It was fuzzy around the edges and it spread until it illuminated me. The touch on my arm grew more firm. Peace descended on me. Warmth spread through me.
Strong arms embraced me, cocooning me in safety and love. I melted into them, allowing myself to believe. I leaned into the light and rested in it. With a smile on my lips and a joyful tear in my eye, I gave myself over completely.
That’s when I heard it. The words I’d longed for my entire life.
Kenzie, you are my daughter, and I love you.
Hours later, I awoke with the sensation of being watched. Opening my eyes, I blinked away the sleepiness and attempted to adjust to the darkness. A figure loomed over me. I screamed.
“It’s okay. It’s just me.”
I clamped my mouth shut and sat upright. “Mom?” Fear gripped me. Was she sleepwalking again? I didn’t think I could handle that on top of everything else. Right now I needed Mom to be stable. There had to be one parent I could count on.
She reached out, placed a gentle hand on my arm. I didn’t pull away. “Mom? Are you asleep?”
“No, honey. I’m wide awake.”
She sounded normal, not trance-like. I relaxed. Lowering herself, she sat on the edge of my bed. I felt the mattress slope with her weight.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“When you were a baby, I used to watch you
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