The dispatcher told me officers were on their way to take a report. I hung up the phone and Travis came into the kitchen, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I buried my head into his shoulder, fighting to breathe. The knowledge that I’d have to recount it all to them when they arrived sat heavily onme.
I remained in his arms for a few moments before I pulled away, drawing in a pain-laced breath. I rubbed at my collar bone and turned my head, looking back out into the livingroom.
Aiden knew his father wasn’t a good person and that was why he wasn’t involved in our lives, but he didn’t know just how terrible his father was. I’d wanted to protect him from it, because I knew the knowledge would shake him. I worried that it would ruin his innocence, or at least a portion ofit.
“We should call your brothers,” Travis said, bringing my attention back to him. My hand pressed harder against mychest.
“I can’t, Travis,” I bit my lip, shaking my head. “If Brock finds out, he’ll go after Richie again and he’s got a record already. I don’t want him back in jail, but I’m not about to let Richie blackmail meeither.”
“What did hewant?”
I dreaded this question, and the last thing I wanted to do was answer it. “He wanted money from me, and lots of it…or else he’d come afterAiden.”
The tick in Travis’s jaw was back, and his usually warm eyes hardened. “We’re not letting him anywhere near Aiden, Becs. Oryou.”
The doorbell rang, and my feet refused to move toward it. Travis seemed to understand, and he took it upon himself to open it to two policeofficers.
After the police officers took my statement, they assured me that they’d be on the lookout for a vehicle that matched my description. I opted to press charges against Richie for harassment and extortion, because I knew that he wasn’t going to go away on hisown.
Officer Browning had assured me they would call with any updates, but I wasn’t feeling so sure. Richie had a devious glint in his eyes, and I knew he was willing to do whatever it took to get what hewanted.
I watched the police cruiser pull out from our driveway before I turned my head. “Aiden, please start getting ready for bed. I’ll be there in a fewminutes.”
He nodded, abandoning the video game he’d been half-heartedly playing without complaint, and said goodnight to Travis before making his way down the hall to the bathroom. I could hear the tell-tale sound of the sink running as he brushed his teeth, followed by a pause and the flush of thetoilet.
Facing Travis, I opened my mouth to thank him—but no words came out. While I was busy talking to the police officers on the back porch, he had heated up a plate of lasagna for Aiden and kept himbusy.
I couldn’t seem to formulate words to thank him—but he inheritably seemed to know how grateful I was. He stepped toward me, taking me in his arms and planted a kiss on myforehead.
“I understand why you don’t want to tell your brothers, but…” he trailed off, leaning back a little so that he could look me in theeyes.
“But what?” I demanded harshly, stepping away from his embrace. I didn’t mean to snap at him, but the whole situation made my body and head thrum withanxiety.
“I don’t like the idea of them not knowing. How can they be diligent if they don’t know he’s back?” Travis explained patiently, his eyes imploring me tolisten.
I hesitated. He had a point. I didn’t think Richie had any friends in town still, but someone could recognize him. Telling my brothers would prepare them in case they caught wind of his return, or happened to see him themselves. I shuddered to think what Brock would do without fairwarning.
“You’re right,” I relented, my shoulders deflating with a sigh. “I’ll text them and ask them to comeover.”
“I’ll call them, you go tuck Aiden in,” Travis said, pulling me back into his arms. He kissed my lips softly and looked at me with reverence. “You are not alone, Becky. You don’t have to handle this by yourself. I’ve gotyou.”
I nodded, giving him the tiniest smile I could muster before I turned and walked down the hall, knocking lightly against Aiden’s door before I opened it. He was sitting on his bed with his legs crossed, dressed in his pajamas, just waiting for me. He looked up when I opened thedoor.
“I’m sorry I took so long,” I apologized, drawing in a deep breath as I walked across his room and sank down on his mattress. I reached out, brushing his fringe out of his eyes. “Are youokay?”
“Yeah,” Aiden nodded, unsmiling. “Who was that man really,Mom?”
I took a moment to glance around my son’s bedroom. It was still decorated in the dinosaur theme he’d picked when he was three. I had to close my eyes for a moment, trying to prepare myself for thisconversation.
“Remember how I told you that your biological father wasn’t a good person, and that’s why he wasn’t involved in our lives?” Aiden nodded, his brow furrowing with confusion. “When I was pregnant with you, he hurt me really bad. I had to go to the hospital. He went tojail.”
“Was that him?” Aiden’s blue eyes were full of worry, and I hated that we had to have this horrible conversation. I hated that this was our reality, but I knewnottelling him wasn’t an option. He’d already seen—and likely overheard—too much. I nodded, my eyes watering. “Why is he back? Is he going to hurt youagain?”
“I don’t want you to worry about that. I am safe, so are you. The police are going to take care of it to make sure he doesn’t come back. They’re going to take him back tojail.”
Aiden was still young enough to believe that the police would solve any issue, because they were the good guys, so my words were able to console him. Pulling his bedding down, I helped him get comfortable before laying down beside him. “I love you, buddy,” I whispered, kissing him on the tip of hisnose.
“I love you too,” he said, the last word stretching with his yawn. When I went to stand, he grabbed my arm, his eyes pleading with mine. “Can you stay until I fall asleep,Mommy?”
