When he returned, he dried me off, slipped pajamas on me, and then carried me to bed, laying me down with such care I shivered from the tenderness. Then he threw on a pair of sweats and slipped in beside me.
We snuggled close together, facing one another. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he whispered. Then he leaned in a few inches and brushed his lips over mine. He pulled back and stared into my eyes.
“You don’t have to keep saying that. It’s not your fault.” I hated that he was tearing himself up about it.
Reaching over, he brushed a strand of hair away that had fallen into my face and let his hand rest on my cheek.
“I told you I would take care of you and I fucked up. I should have made sure you weren’t alone.”
“Lyric, you can’t be everywhere at once. You are busy.”
He ran his thumb softly up and down, caressing my cheek. “I’m going to be less busy really soon and that will allow more time for the two most important things in my life.” He kissed my forehead. “You.” Then he kissed my lips again. “And our family.”
What in the world? “I don’t understand.”
“Babe, I’m resigning from the police force and going to work forNo Surrenderfull-time. It will free up so much time. That way I can be there for you, the family, and for us so much more.”
He didn’t mention, maybe less dangerous. I worried about him all the time, but it was his job and I knew it was important to him. How could I let him give that up for me or us?
“I can’t let you do that.It was me that barged into your world and you have been the knight in shining armor I needed, but I can’t let you give up what you love.”
“Red. I love you.” He took a deep breath. “Are you worried we are moving too fast? Are there second thoughts running through your head about me being here and about us?”
“There are no second thoughts. I love you, Lyric. And that’s something I never thought I would say to anyone. But since the first time I saw you, I have been drawn to you. I just want you to do what makes you happy and don’t want you to have regrets later.”
“This is what I want. Me, you, the family,forever.” His hand slipped from my face and brushed down my side. Then moved up and down in soft strokes.
Goosebumps pebbled along every inch of my skin.
“I wish we—”
The bedroom door squeaked and my words died on my lips. Lyric turned to look over his shoulder, as I lifted slightly on my arm to peer over him.
And then there silhouetted by the soft glow of the moon shining through my blinds, combined with the nightlight in the hall was a tiny little angel.
When I heard the soft sniffles my heart broke.
Lyric got out of bed and grabbed a shirt from the chair sitting in the corner of the room, then he went to Autumn who stood frozen in her spot. Going to his knees in front of her, he reached out and touched her head.
“Hey, Pumpkin. What’s wrong?”
There were a few more sniffles.
Did my baby sister cry in her room at night and none of us know? She always seemed happy to be in her room for bed. Then a lightbulb went on and I wondered if that was because our mother made her stay there when she left her and she was used to it, but also too scared to come out.
We’d always told her we were right next door and she could come to us anytime. But that didn’t mean she truly believed us when everything was still so new. This was a different world than she’d been used to.
Autumn’s arm came up and she pointed toward me in the bed. “Me, pease.”
“Come here, sweet girl.” I patted the bed.
She squeezed past Lyric, ran to the side of the bed, and scrambled up. I heard Lyric’s intake of breath. He was probably worried she would hurt me, but once Autumn was on the mattress she moved ever so slowly until she was tucked right next to me, her back to my front.
Lyric moved back to the bed and peered down. “My girls,” he whispered. “You two make a beautiful sight.”
Then leaving his sweats and shirt on, he slipped back into bed on the other side of Autumn. Once again we were laying on our sides with the precious girl in the middle of us.
“Seep with Sissy and Wryic.”
