GoodReadMy CEO 74 74 You're Safe. I Promise (Jayden) I hand soda out to the kids who are dripping on my deck. "You lot have worked up a real thirst. Is anyone hungry?" I ask.
Bobby and Sarah both look down and shake their heads, their expressions guarded. Abby bounces up down, full of energy. "I am!" she exclaims.
"I have sstrawberries here and I'll cut sbanana and watermelon," I offer, hoping to coax the other kids into shealthy food.
"Oh," Abby says, looking a little crestfallen.
I smile, trying to make it sound fun. "No junk food till after dinner, Abby." "I need to go potty," she announces suddenly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtand "Mommy is inside; she'll help you get your wet swimsuit off," I tell her, watching as she runs inside where Winona is resting after her incident.
She really lost it at that guy. I'm worried about her mental health at this point. I think she may need sprofessional advice, and we need to get her father out of her life. I'll have the bastard jailed if I can.
I peel bananas and cut them up for the fruit platter, then chop swatermelon. "I have sgrapes too. Do you two like grapes?" I ask Bobby, trying to engage him.
He shrugs and doesn't look at me, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Have yo you had grapes before?" I probe gently.
He shakes his head, his face impassive.
"Have you had fresh fruit before?" I continue, my voice softening even more.
He shrugs again, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.
Man. I get this sickening feeling in my gut. Things like fresh fruit that I take for granted, these kids have probably never had before. This makesangry, and I drop the knife, which clatters on the counter. Both Bobby and Sarah jump and step back, their eyes wide with fear.
Fear is etched on their faces, and Bobby instinctively places his hand on Sarah's shoulder to make her step behind him. I can see the protective instinct in his eyes, and it tugs at my heart.
Fuck. What have these kids seen? What did Winona go through? If she ever toldabout her childhood,! don't remember it now. Maybe I'll ask her later.
I kneel down in front of Bobby, trying to look him in the eye. "It's okay, Bobby. I can see you take care of your little sister. I promise you, I will make sure you never have to go back to your father again. I'll find you a safe place to live." He just shrugs again, his face a mask of indifference.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Now, would you like sfruit?" I offer, hoping to break through his shell.
74 You're Safe Premise +25 BONUS Sarah's little voice pipes up from behind him. "We didn't do a job first." My heart is in my throat. Have these two kids had to earn every morsel they've ever gotten from that asshole? "You know what? You can eat anyway. You don't have to do any job. Actually, you did the best thing. You both played with Abby, and she's been very sick and she really needs sfriends right now. So, thank you." I put the platter down. They stare at it, hesitant.
"Go ahead, try some. I bet you'll love the banana the best," I encourage them, trying to sound enthusiastic, Abby comes running back out in a fresh swimsuit. "Yummy!" she exclaims, reaching for a piece of banana. Bobby takes sbanana and hands it to Sarah, nodding to her to go ahead.
She pops it in her mouth and chews a little. Then her eyes light up and she smiles. Bobby tries snow, quickly chews and swallows, and grabs another piece "You three enjoy. Stay on the deck for now." I go and lock the gate on my enclosed deck leading area and beach. I don't want to stress out Winona anymore today. I head inside.
the "Hey, you feeling better?" I ask. She's making a salad in the kitchen, her movements slow and deliberate
She nods, but I can tell by her face that she's only going through the motions. I have to reach het om somehow to make her feel safe again. "The kids are eating fruit. I locked them on the deck." "Thanks. I'm so sorry about before..." she trails off, her voice breaking. "Winona, look... I've just seen that Bobby and Sarah hadn't even tried fresh fruit before, and they asked if they had to do a job before they ate." I see the tears roll down her face. She doesn't look at me, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs "I'm not sure if I knew this already and lost the memories, or if you never toldabout how you grew up." She shrugs, clearly trying to hold herself together. "You never really asked. We were busy with life. That was my past I wanted to forget." I go around the counter and bring her into my arms. "I'm asking now," I say softly.
Her sobs increase, her body trembling in my embrace....I can't..." "You're safe. I promise. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again," I whisper, my voice firm with conviction.
"You used to say that. Then you hatedfor so long. I can't that again, Jayden, It would kill me," she says, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.
I look her in the eyes, my heart aching. "I will spend the rest of mx life proving to you that you can trust life Nand that no one will ever hurt you like that again. Not you, not Abby, and not my new baby."
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