“Don’t kill her, Dad.” Greg laughed at his father’s enthusiasm and I let a sob break free from me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him tighter to me. My legs were far enough from the ground that, if I were dropped, I probably wouldn’t land on my feet.
He pulled back and held me with only one arm as he used his free hand to wipe away the tears streaming freely down my face.
“You okay, munchkin?” I loved and hated his nickname for me. I wasn’t that short at all. In fact, I was the same height as Greg and Jack, but since I was shorter than David he always loved to tease me.
“I’m good, Dad.” I felt relieved once I said the name I knew he wanted me to call him by. Everyone in this house had always heard me call David “Dad,” and it wasn’t something anyone was uncomfortable with, even Delilah. I was a part of this family forever.
David set me on the ground and I looked around at all the bright faces in this room. I so desperately wanted to be a part of this family in a bigger way than they even knew, but as my eyes landed on Greg’s, my heart sank because the smile on his face reminded me that one day this could all be gone.
With one word. With one drive. He could be out of my life.
I just couldn’t chance it.
I wouldn’t chance it.
I needed this marriage to be over.
