“I’m doing fine,” I said. “Honestly, I’m doing a lot better than I was a few weeks ago.”
She turned her gaze to me, and for a moment she seemed to look over my face before lifting her hand to my cheek. “Are you sleeping better?”
“It’s getting better,” I said. “I started seeing a therapist.”
Her brows rose. “Really?”
I nodded. “She’s amazing, and patient. We’re taking it slow, but I think it’s gonna help.”
“Dad will warm up. Just give him some time,” she said, her voice full of the love that had gotten me through so many dark times in my life. “Show him he’s wrong to worry. Let him see you and them together. Let him see your happiness as I do.”
Warmth filled my chest, and it was a relief that she saw what I did.
I glanced at Ethel. “Is there any way I can help?”
“Nah, love. Zephyr and Vincent are chopping firewood out back, and Ah’ve got all the help Ah need here,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “Ye relax.”
“I’d fuckin’ love to hear you say that again!” Barrett’s voice cut across the chatter in the kitchen. I stiffened, my eyes flying to the hallway, and before I could think to act, Damien was rushing through the doorway.
“Stay here,” I pleaded to the others before Mom and I hurried after him.
“You don’t know half the shit he’s done for her,” Barrett growled as Damien stepped between them. “Where were you when they took her? I didn’t see you searching the woods with us. No you relied on the police to find her.”
“Guys, this is not the time or place,” Damien said, glancing between them, arms outstretched.
“She’s changed sincehecame into the picture,” Dad said, gesturing to Damien. “She doesn’t talk to us anymore, rarely visits—"
“Did you ever think that maybe she needed to get out? That you were suffocating her?” Barrett pressed against Damien’s hand, his eyes locked on Dad in a way that promised violence. “What about how her apartment looked after she was taken?”
Damien shot Barrett a look of warning. “Barrett.”
“No! This is bullshit.” Barrett’s steel eyes were full of a kind of anger that left me speechless. “You wanna be here? You’ll respect her fuckin’ decision. Don’t forget the reason she’s here is because ofhim,” he shouted, nodding to Damien. “Becausehedidn’t give up!”
“Barrett!” Damien yelled, and Barrett’s gaze snapped to him.
Dad’s hands were balled into fists at his side. “You think I liked waiting at home for her to possibly never come back? I didn’t know where to even begin to look for her. Her whole life all I wanted to do was keep her safe, get her to her next birthday. Now I’m powerless to do that.”
I stiffened, and my eyes flitted to Damien, fearful he might have caught onto the near slip up.
Dad continued. “She’s been so secretive since she started hanging out with you guys, and then after her birthday, she just cuts off communication with us for days. What am I supposed to think of that?”
I stormed forward. “You can think that I’m a grown woman and I’m going through things.”
His eyes shot to me, as if he hadn’t even realized I’d been standing there through everything he said.
“I hit a low spot. I’ve had my bad days. But it’s because of them—because of Damien—that I’m here right now. He’s been there for me every waking moment. He’s comforted me when the nightmares keep me from sleep, pushing me to be healthier, to exercise and get out of the house, to go to therapy. He’s pushing me to better myself, and I’m thankful every day I have him,” I said, my voice breaking at the admission of just how bad I’d been, how low I’d gotten.
“Apologize,” I said, my hands tightening into fits. “Now. Or you can leave.”
He swallowed, and Mom remained in the doorway, silent, her fear sending waves of frost over my skin.
“I—” Dad’s eyes flitted to Damien before they returned to me. “I just want to make sure you’re safe, that you’re okay.”
“I am,” I said, my words clipped. “Now apologize.”
He let out a ragged sigh. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Damien nodded his head before glancing to Barrett, whose gaze remained fixed on Dad.
