Chapter 117
Chapter One Hundred-Seventeen
Jay
It’s heart-breaking to see Robin crumble under this news about her mother.
She seems so frozen as she tells me, her tone empty.
I hug her and help her get ready for bed.
She’s in a daze as I strip out of my clothing and get under the sheets beside her, and she barely reacts as I wrap my arms around her rigid body.
A few seconds like that, and the dam breaks.
She weeps against my chest, crying her heart out.
The tears don’t stop, and her breathing becomes ragged as she gets them all out.
I whisper reassuringly while I hold her, part of me wishing Harper was awake right now.
Our Omega could calm her a lot faster than I can, but maybe that’s not what she needs.
Her tears are so relentless. It’s as if she’s spent her whole life bottling up every last emotion.
Now that they’re coming out, there’s nothing that can stop them.
She sobs, and hiccups, and the tears continue to flow.
“You’re okay, Robin. I’ve got you. You’re safe. It’s all good.”
My words don’t seem to be making a single bit of difference, but I don’t know what more I can do to help her, and maybe I can’t. Maybe all she needs is for me to be here for her to hold onto.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper, kissing her head and keeping her close.
I start to hum under my breath as her cries become whimpers, hoping somehow that the sound will soothe her to sleep.
She gasps lightly and it feels like maybe it’s working.
I’m not the world’s best singer, but I give it a try, for her.
The only song I can think of is the one that Harper played for us yesterday.
I know it means something to her, that it reminds her of her mother.
It’s a song I learned when I was a kid, when my parents were still together.
I wouldn’t say my father was a bastard, but he was never exactly a great guy, either.
My mom had good reasons to leave him, and there were plenty of them to count.
The one thing I remember clearly about the time before they split was my father coming home at strange hours, whistling this song.
It made him sound cheerful. That’s what I liked about it.
Robin sniffles a bit while I sing for her, and it sounds like she’s starting to calm down.
She cries quietly for a little longer, but the urgency of her tears has slowed.
She’s worn herself out. She’s emotionally drained.
I stop singing and find she’s fallen asleep.
I made her feel better.
At least, better enough to get some rest.
I hold her for a while longer, not letting go until I think I can move without waking her.
She’s out cold when I get out of the bed.
I unhook the phone so it can’t disturb her.
Leaving the room feels wrong, but I decide I’ll bring Harper in beside her since he’s sleeping on the couch. If nothing else, she’ll have company when she wakes up.