Twenty-Two | Avery
Twenty-Two
Avery
“H oney!” I exclaimed , jumping off Sam quicker than a bucking bronco in the rodeo.
Kennedy rubbed her eyes and frowned.
“Were you two kissing?”
I rubbed my lips together as I tugged my shirt down, hoping she hadn’t seen his hand up it as he fondled my breast.
“Umm,” I said, hesitating to answer.
“Yeah, we were,” Sam answered coolly.
I gave him an angry look and swatted his chest before climbing off the couch and rushing over to her.
“What? Why bother lying to her when she clearly saw us? She’s not stupid,” he said quietly for only me to hear.
I knew that she had seen us, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to live in denial for as long as possible. Admitting it only forced it to be more real, and I wasn’t ready to explain whatever this thing between him and I was to her yet.
“Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you up?”
“I had a bad dream.”
“I’m sorry. Do you want to tell me what it was about while we go lie down in your bed?”
She shook her head, and tears filled her eyes.
“Oh, honey,” I said, pulling her into me for a hug. “Whatever it was, it was just a dream. I promise.”
“I want Sam to tuck me in. He’s the only one who can protect me!”
I pressed a hand to my heart and frowned, wondering what in the world could have upset her so badly. Within an instant, Sam was off the couch and headed right for her.
“What happened in your dream, sweetheart?” he asked, concern heavy on his face.
“A monster came and tried to take me from my mommy,” she said, crying hard as she let him pick her up and hold her.
I was torn between feeling an endless amount of love toward this man who was comforting my daughter right now and jealousy that she had picked him over me. For five beautiful years, I had always been the one she went to.
“Monsters aren’t real, honey. No one can take you from me,” I assured her as I rubbed her back while she laid her head on Sam’s chest.
“It wasn’t a real monster,” she cried. “It was daddy.”
I turned away and waved my hand in front of my eyes to keep them from letting out the tears that were begging to be set free.
I knew Sam was right behind me because of the way my body instantly reacted. But I couldn’t deal with that right now. My world felt like it was crumbling around me, and it was taking everything in me to try to stay standing.
“I think we should talk about this,” Sam said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I nodded and sucked in another deep breath, struggling to keep it together.
“Yes. You’re right. We should talk about it. That’s a great idea.” I smiled and wiped the tears from Kennedy’s face as I followed Sam to the couch and sat beside them.
Kennedy stayed glued to his side like a little baby koala, too afraid to let go. I took a moment to lock the memory of him holding her right now into my heart because this was something I would never want to forget.
“I know your dream must have felt really scary, sweetie,” Sam started, making eye contact with Kennedy as she barely lifted her head to see him. “But I promise, no one will ever take you from your mommy.”
“How do you know? What if my dad comes back and tries to take me just to hurt Mommy?”
“Even if he did, he would have to get through me first.”
“And he can’t do that because you’re strong?”
“The strongest.”
“And you protect me and Mommy?”
“Always and forever.”
“And even if daddy came back, you would stop him?”
“If your daddy ever came back, your mom would take care of things. There are a lot of things that are for adults to worry about, and this would be one of them. But no matter what, I would be there to take care of your mommy.”
“And the baby?”
I leaned forward and frowned, confused about this turn of events.
“What baby?” I asked.
“The baby in your tummy. Uncle Sam’s baby. You guys would protect that baby too, right?”
I felt all of the color drain from my face. This was too much. Way too much to process or deal with right now.
She had just barely seen us kissing a few minutes ago, so why was she having a dream that I was carrying his child?